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 

Veslemøy Coat and Hat.

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.

link for hat only pattern

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 

is made by Liv Marie Fostervold

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!

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

 

 

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!

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!