19 October, 2015

Veslemøy Hat and Coat



With an always busy schedule,
I admit that my blog has been suffering lately.
I am planning to change this,
and I also have a few designs to show off.


One of my latest designs are 
It started with a small sized coat 
made for my youngest grand child, 
named Veslemøy.


This smaller coat is worked in
Lana Gatto Misina,100% wool,
(similar yarn can be used)
 aran/worsted weight
on US 2.5 needle.
 



I love this bright color combination,
but the good thing is 
that color choices are personal
and one can make their own individual choices.



My slightly older grand daughters
likes a different combination,
and since they live in a very cold climate
I chose a thicker yarn.


This is worked in Cascade 220 wool,
preferable on US 2.5 or 3 needles. 
Yes, this might sound very dense,
but it comes out pretty nice.
I like stranded work to be dense
better than loose,
it also hold its shape better.


This summer I was experimenting with hats
to go with the coat.


The smaller size has a bonnet looking hat.
It sits better on a smaller child's head. 


For the larger sizes I chose berets.
The hat pattern can be sold separate.


Now, - I experimented with different colors,
and also tried this, 
a bit more traditional Norwegian 
color combination.
Always finding the need to change designs
(don't know why?)


I am working on a re-design in this
grey/black/white/blue combination.
This one is worked top-down,
and yarn used is Rowan pure wool worsted.
It is very similar to the above Cascade 200 wool.


The new sweater will be finished 
closer to Christmas,
and most certainly come with me
in the suitcase to Norway,
 as I plan a short trip
to soak up some Christmas spirit.
  

Last, I want to show yet another color combination.
This test-knit sample 
I really like these the grey color tones,
and the orange accent color pops out
just the way I like it.

Have a great knitting day!

30 June, 2015

Hønsestrikk



It seams to me that there are 
never enough time to blog anymore..


Several knitted projects 
are being finished,
all of them in wool,
 off course.


Having grand children 
in colder climates,
gives me the opportunity 
to work up a few projects.


Wool is a natural fiber
to choose for chilly days.


This jacket is maid with
remnants from another project,
and the "other project"
is moms jacket,
pattern design from Ann Myhre.


The child pattern comes in 4 sizes,
1 (2) 3 - 4 (5 - 6) years 


Use leftovers fingering yarn, 
for example:
Rauma Finull, Kauni, PT2, 
Cascade Fingering etc.


4 colors are used in the samples,
but there are no limits to
how many can be used.


The jacket is worked in the round
with steek sts in the front.


Secure the stitches with
sewing machine seams,
 before cutting.


The edges are worked last,
and on the wrong side,
work facing
 to cover the raw edges of the steek. 


Pick up sts using a crochet hook.

Pattern can be found at 
Ravelry and at Etsy



 
 

07 June, 2015

A morning at the Tentmakers in Cairo

Tent-makers?
Yes, they make tents.
For desert camping,
or for your garden.
Whatever you want,
they will make it.
- just not a lot of customers...

Big piles of tents,
how about a miniature tent...

Cairo are very low on visitors these days.
It is sad...
This early morning 
as we walked between
tent makers and quilters,
here was only TWO visitors 
as far as we could see...
It was myself and my friend.


Every few meters
quilters are sitting,
making their fabulous artworks.
The hands moving so fast
that I cant get a sharp picture.


It is all applique,
great color work,

traditional designs,

piles high.

We met this designer,

who started to sew
as a five year old,
like his father and grand father
before him.
A family tradition.

He was very proud of his designs
for good reasons!

But he, as so many others,
need the tourism to come back...

Back on the street

we see other trades.

Woven rugs and pillows,

all colorful
and beautiful,

pottery,

and a cat on his scooter..

Have a nice day!












22 April, 2015

Fayoum Girl Schools



Apache has built and run, 201 Schools 
between Fayoum, Giza and Minya, in Egypt..

Some of them also founded by employees. 
A small handful of people are responsible 
for maintanance and follow-ups, 
with regular visits every week. 
They try to visit each school 
about three times a year.
Visit the Springboard organization, here.

These schools has one classroom, 
where students of several ages 
are divided to study with their own grade level, 
by sitting in smaller groups. 

The area has public schools, 
however, the custom here is 
that boys attend these schools, 
that is often a good walk from home. 
Because of this distance, 
girls are kept closer to home, 
for protection. 


The girl schools are often right inside the village, 
and gives an opportunity for them to attend. 
The ones I visited had 1 to 3 teachers. 
Possibly from the village, 
some of them often bringing their own, 
young, children. 
These girls are a delight, 
sweet, beautiful and eager to learn.
I consider myself very lucky 
to be able to visit some of these schools. 
About once a week, 
a small group is traveling to visit with the girls. 
We have brought water color 
(brought water too, 
- some schools have no running water) 
paper and plastic cups for painting, 
card games, Jenga, 

Twister, beads, 
puzzles,

and what ever else we thought 
they would like to play with. 
The girls has welcomed us with songs,
 role-play and acting. 
Although the language spoken is Arabic, 
we have been communicating 
with single Arabic words (one pick up a few) 
and hand gestures. 
They all know how to count to ten in English, 
and also words like welcome, and bye bye. 
Each time we have visited about 3 schools.
We had so much fun playing with them, 
and I look forward to next time already.


Since some of the schools 
are located in rural areas, 
roads are not always in the most perfect conditions. 
Even a 4- wheel drive land-rover is challenged 
when the road (track) is not wide enough.


I have so far only gone with them to Fayoum,
This is an area south west of Cairo, 
 in the Sahara desert. 
Water is channeled from the Nile, 
and make it possible to farm. 
Life goes on along the channels, 
so passing through an early morning, 
women are cleaning dishes, 
and washing clothes,
kids are swimming, men fishing, 
and animals drinking from the stream. 
Life seams peaceful, 
and the stress of city life is basically none existent. 
In many ways the impression one gets, 
is being back in time,
 
although some technical items have found their way. 
It is not uncommon to meet a farmer 
riding his donkey, 
as he is talking on his cellular phone. 
 
I love the people here,
very friendly and welcoming,
waving and smiling.
I am sure we look very strange to them,
having a totally different picture of "normal"
then we do.
A good opportunity to learn about eachother.
Have a nice day!