This is Eleanor. All JAZZED UP!

This is Eleanor my next sweater which is now off the needles.

The sweater is done! 
This is what I call a barn sweater: functional, durable, wearable in many conditions, useful, a workhorse sweater that will be used for hiking and outdoor activities.
Knitted in Jamieson's of Shetland Chunky Weight.

Provisional cast-on, as I am not sure if I will have enough yarn for the sleeve and body ribbing. I did have enough yarn but opted for a hem on sleeves and body. I will use a crochet cast-on for this technique as it can be pulled easier.  Think grain bag of feed and this will make sense to those of you who know about grain bags.

Eleanor is a story in the making and yet Eleanor's story has been lived, is still being lived, and drawing towards a close.  Eleanor is my mother who always went as Betty and NOT Eleanor all my life.  As I was knitting the first sleeve and looking at the colors of the yarn a story started to form.  The name of the sweater, the colors, the mystic of a person's life all came together.

                         

I am not sure others knit like this or in this fashion.  I must have some connection to either place, yarn, design there is something that pulls me to knit an item with a certain yarn that will eventually become a story. This sweater, yarn, and location will meld itself together into Eleanor my mother and her story through my eyes, fingers, needles, and yarn.

I leave tomorrow for a rather long air flight to New Jersey.  For the amount of time, it will take me to travel I could be going to Scotland to walk in the Lake district or the Shetland Isles.  I will fly from the village I live in on the Bering Sea to Anchorage about 400 miles away if the weather allows a plane to land and take off.  Once in Anchorage, I will meet up with some ski friends and head to a dinner.  I will come back to the airport and wait for my 12:33 a.m. departure to Seattle.  I believe I arrive in Seattle close to 5:00 a.m.  I will be off for some good coffee and a nice walk around the airport to get the blood flowing.  I will board another plane and take off for Philadelphia about 8:00 a.m.  Fly non-stop to Philly and land around 4:30 p.m.  My sister will pick me up and hustle me to my mother's home.  

There I will find an aging Eleanor who is struggling with growing old and its limitations.  For me it will be a look into the future will I age like this, will I have the same ailments, the same struggles, will I be alone, will I what?  What will I find? What will I see? What will Mom be like?  Shorter, almost deaf, aging . . . we all age and we all will struggle some more than others. 

                                 

The sweater is coming with me for several reasons!  I need to knit on such a long flight, I need to have something to do once I am at my mom's house.  She can talk and tell her stories I can knit and listen. Those stories will be knitted into my Eleanor that I will wear for years to come.  Like Eleanor the yarn is strong and sturdy it is Shetland chunky weight yarn with depth. Three strands spun together a dark grey, a light grey, and a slate blue-grey.

The soccer champ and his coach/dad.

This is the Jazz part of Eleanor as well this yarn needed a burst of life!  A nice Briggs and Little Regal 100% wool yarn to give this sweater a bit of JAZZ!

Briggs and Little Yarn Regal from Schoolhouse Press.

Eleanor doing one of the things she loves which is working in her yard and garden.  This is one of the things aging is causing issues with for her. 

Eleanor all Jazzed up!

Neck Opening!

This is what happens when you have knitted several (exact number hmmm not sure) Lopi/yoke sweaters!  You just knit around and around and around, tossing in wonderful motifs that fit into the mental picture I have of my new Nordic traditional sweater.  This sweater called Solstice (my name, my creation) is about snow, mountains, and cross-country skiing. Each motif has a connection to one of those three aspects of my world.  

HOWEVER! One will need a NECK no matter what!  I totally forgot about the NECK opening and how or what method would I use to design the neck opening!  YIKES!  The knitting trolls have been rather quiet but sure enough, they were scheming up their next plan of attack and the little nasty trolls once again arrived and tossed me yet another troll attack!  

I may have to frog back two rounds to start my neck work.  Luckily, I was not too far along before the troll attack!

I will use EZ's Kangaroo Pouch for the neck opening.  I now need to think about this, organize my assault, watch the DVD I have from Schoolhouse Press, and set up the Kangaroo Pouch which will be steeked.

Knitting: the challenge completed!

As many of you readers know, I have been knitting sweaters for my niece and her three girls.  They are a wonderful group to knit for as they wear all items all the time. They get compliments and share those with me. They score high on the knit-able scale!

Photo from their homeschool/school program.

Alice's sweater the final one.  This is knitted in worsted weight yarn from Schoolhouse Press, the pattern is Riddari.

Damp, wet Olympic peninsula makes for wonderful 100% wool fans! 

Wool making it to the news as well!

All the gals in this household are now covered in wool of some kind. What did I learn from this little challenge . . . I love knitting Lopi Sweaters! The Lopi sweater/design is a fast, fun knit, with endless varieties of color to play with.

Knitting: Lopi Designs and Unspun Lopi

I just purchased this book from Schoolhouse Press and it is full of Lopi patterns--yes 65 (not all sweaters)!  I have fallen back in love with Lopi sweaters!  

This angle is to show you that the book is THICK and just full of wonderful information and patterns. I am really enjoying the patterns and have several picked out for future projects.

Unspun Icelandic yarn  this yarn is to be added to the 2 colors I have for a Lopi sweater for myself.  I have yet to decided on the pattern I will use, but I have it narrowed down.

From SchoolHouse Press:

"Plötulopi/Unspun Icelandic

Extraordinary long-fibered fleece unique to Icelandic sheep produces the warmest wool we know of. In a single-strand, this unspun wool knit directly from the wheel is wonderful for lace or sweaters. Work with 2-ply for typical Icelandic pullovers, jackets, scarves, hats, and mittens. Or 3- and 4-ply for coats and blankets. Material: 100% Un-Spun Wool Weight: 3 1/2-oz. wheel. Yardage: 300 yds. Approx. Gauge: Single strand: 6 to 7 to 8 sts to 1 inch or  Double strand/2- ply, 3-1/2 to 4 sts to 1 inch."

Here is a review of this yarn and I feel like it is an excellently written piece answering many of my questions.  I am sure if you are interested int his yarn you will find this piece interesting as well.  From A Knitters Review

Another great source on this unspun wool is of course Ravelry 

"This yarn is also sometimes called “unspun Icelandic” and is the yarn sold by Schoolhouse Press.
From Istex: Plötulopi can be worked one, two or more ply at a time, depending on how bulky a yarn you want. Gently wind the required number of strands together into a ball by taking the end from the centre and the end from the outside of the plate, or plates. Plötulopi is very fragile to knit. We recommend the continental knitting technique as it permits control with very loose tension.
Since Plötulopi is an unspun yarn, it is fragile to knit; however, due to the length of its fibres, it knits into a sweater that is both sturdy and soft.
Gauge for 1 ply: 19 sts to 10 cm (4”) over St st using size 4½ mm (old UK 7) (US 7).
Gauge for 2 ply: 14 sts to 10 cm (4”) over St st using size 5½ mm (old UK 5) (US 9).
100% new wool. Unspun yarn, sold by weight as a one-ply, flat round roll, called a "plate".

All I have left to do is to finish knitting up a Lopi sweater for my niece in Rangely yarn which I just love.  I need to pick the Lopi design for my self and cast on!  I will keep you posted as I work with the icelandic unspun wool.

Good Bye 2015 & Hello 2016!

A new year is always a fun place to start with fresh ideas, goals and challenges.  I love a new beginning, a fresh slate, a chance to move on and leave other items/issues behind.

What I am hoping for is a winter full of snow and already this seems to be a struggle--dang!  We have had temps in the mid to high 30s and how can that be even fair when we live in Alaska.

A bit of a 2015 wrap up here and on to 2016!

Knitting:

This year I knitted these 3 lovely gals each a sweater and a hat.  Two of them received Tomtens.  After knitting two of these great designs my EZ, I decided enough and jumped into a Lopi design for grand niece #3 sweater.  I have fallen back in love with Lopi designs once again.  All sweaters were knitted with Rangely Yarn from Schoolhouse Press. This yarn is not a Lopi yarn but worked great in the pattern I choose for this project. 

This pattern is found on Ravelry and is written by: Sarah Dearne the pattern is called Blossi Icelandic lopi sweater/lopapeysa.

Rangeley Yarn From Schoolhouse Press. This yarn is for the adult sweater I am presently knitting.

Winter Solstice Ski:

We have not been able to do our Winter Solstice Ski or Full Moon ski the last few years due to timing or weather.  This year we were able to get a Solstice head lamp ski in complete with fire, hot chocolate and hot cider.  We had a huge turn out and a lot of fun on skis.

 

We say good-bye to the shortest amount of daylight for the year here in Unalakleet, 4 hours and 16 minutes! We welcome back the daylight slowly.  Our days are already increasing to 18 more minutes of daylight.

Skiing!

We are back to full on skiing.  I get in 6 practices a week as long as we can cross the slough to get to the Dragon's Back.

Elementary skiers

Alumni back for some training commuting on their hot wheels!

My coaching partner in crime from Nome and I at the World Jr. Youth/Jr Biathlon Team Trials in Anchorage last week.  Notice their vanishing snow!

Here I am home on the range zeroing rifles!

My skier who I was able to join for this event.  Aly did a fantastic job racing at this level!

Good Bye 2015 & Hello 2016!  

 

The story of Tomten #2 and not enough yarn!

The Tomten which is a design by Elizabeth Zimmermann is a favorite of many a knitter.  I too enjoy this rather brilliant jacket and I am currently knitting # 2 in the Tomten parade.  ONLY, I ran into a bit of a snafu!  I was dead on certain that I had one more skein of this wonderful green yarn upstairs!  The first mistake of a knitter, is one who is convinced they have more skeins of a certain yarn.  Of course I didn't have any more green!  None at all!  All gone! Zip--zero--none!  At which point knitting came to a grinding halt!

Do you see the right  sleeve is all done and perfect!

 The other sleeve had just run out of yarn, done, none, no more yarn!  I thought about making this left sleeve a fun wild crazy striped arm.  Then I stopped and thought this out a bit!  I could frog the other sleeve back use some of that green to knit a bit more on the other sleeve.  Ok, and then add some striping and get this project off my needles.  I am almost done with this sleeve adjustment.

Since running out of yarn is a bit of a topic on this post. Here is a completed pair of socks.  The goal was to use up some PDS DK Yarn.  I purposely knitted them as opposite socks, but ran out of green.  I knew I would runout of yarn but the goal was to knit up socks and use up some of the left over project yarn in my stash.  I now find this a bit funny as I realized those darn greens are the trouble makers here in my knitting!  I used up all the green and blue and tossed in just a bit of what is called fireweed for the toe.  I love this bright little toe as it certainly add a smile to any day!

Tomten #2: Oh knitting how you continue to humble me! & Ski Update

Tomten #2

Last night, I thought I should count the sts on the sleeve just make sure I have the same amount on the front  and back of the sleeve. Of course I don’t, why would I, and how the heck did I screw that up, and better yet where?  Oh and I am off a sizable amount of sts as well!  UGH!  Thoughts of frogging came running into my mind and then the epiphany of WHO WILL KNOW, WHO WILL KNOW, NO ONE WILL KNOW, UNLESS I TELL SOME ONE!  (Meanwhile you are all saying you just told the WORLD!) Now I am decreasing under the arm at random places on the back side of the sleeve to get down to 25 sts to match the front of the sleeve!  What is a bit funny is I am actually even marking the decrease sts on the top of the sleeve on either side of the knit sts that will fun down the sleeve something I never do and what happens I still screw up my sts count!  Knitting how you continue to humble me!

A little ski update:

Yesterday, I finally got to day 100 of skiing (April 19, 2015) and it was another nice jaunt up the sea ice in the late afternoon.  Up north you could tell they were getting snow but we seemed to be right on the front line, under northern blue sky.  We had a north wind so skiing back was nice and fast.

"The Girls" and I out for an afternoon sea ice ski.

Knitting . . . oh yes I am a knitter!

No matter what once winter arrives my life gets rather busy.  Working, coaching skiing, taking time for my dogs and husband (not necessarily in that order-oops!)---life just takes up a lot of time!  Then there is reading, knitting, yoga, working out, skiing, cooking . . . . the list goes on just like it does for every one.

I do want to get my knitting updated and posted.

Here is Tomten #1 which I  loved knitting.  This is good as I have yes 3 more to knit.  This design comes from Schoolhouse Press, one of my very favorite yarn and knitting suppliers/designers.

This Tomten wasn't knitted for this cutie but she is trying it on for size as she will be Tomten #3.

Here is the proud owner of Tomten #1!  Fits perfect and the smile says it all to her Great-Auntie!

These two photos are Tomten #2.

I am working on adding little color into the garter stitch.  This yarn is a wonderful rich green color way named mountain green.  I must knit something out of it for myself when time allows.

How can an Great-Auntie not love an aspiring knitter!  I order her one of my favorite knitting books for kids.  I even used this book a lot when I was learning how to knit as well.  Kids Knitting is a great book and full of very kid-doable projects!

The next project, I worked on this winter is an all time favorite of mine.  Felted Baby Booties that are wonderful to knit and every new mom I know requests a pair.  A long time friend of mine designed this pattern. The pattern can be purchased  at my very favorite local knitting shoppe in Montana.  If they don't have it please bug them about getting it republished!

I knitted this pair for a friend here who recently adopted a little boy.  The color combo is a mixing of the 2 Scottish flags as dad has a strong Scottish background.

I started this project in August when we were driving back up to Alaska for work.  I am not done but I am certainly closing in on finishing the "Long John" project.  I decided to name this pair of long underwear after a horse I used to ride long ago.  Long John was a 17 hand thoroughbred horse off the track.  He was blind in one eye but a love.  I am sure this is why I love big chestnut horses to this day.

The first leg is done.  I am using a yarn from Polk a Dot Sheep.  If you love color have a look at PDS yarns.   These yarns are so rich in color it is almost impossible to walk away from buying yarn in every colorway!

The legs are now joined and I am working on the BUTT!  I am doing some increasing in that area and German Short Rows  as well. 

Yahoooo! it is Spring Break and I Have a Zillion Things on My TO DO LIST!

My last post was Jan. 17th., 2015.  Don't you just hate when bloggers don't keep their blog up to date.  I know I do!  Work started up after Christmas break and I am all consumed with teaching, trying to run a ski program for about 50 kids which entails 6 practices a week, knit, read, relax, be a wife, love my dogs and my wonderful husband.  I am rather busy! 

I had a  twitter account and I deleted that as I thought how much social media do I need in my life???  Not that much!  I like the blog for several reasons.  It forces me to write which isn't my strong suit in life and my family can see what I am doing.  I mostly just enjoy writing and sharing my world with others.  As being a teacher in rural Alaska is a bit of an adventure!  One I enjoy a lot but like everything in the world it comes with it plus and minuses.

Here I am on Spring Break!  I have a lot of knitting to get done---UFO need to get off my needles!  I did knit one Tomten for my grand niece since December. I have started the second Tomten in a wonderful green from Schoolhouse Press.  I have 4 Tomtens to knit!  I am working on a pair of socks, my Bláithín sweater, and a pair of long underwear which I am now calling Lon John after horse I used to ride.  Long John was a school horse, a thorough bred off the track and older than old.  He was a 17 hand chestnut who was as sweet as pie.

I have traveled to two ski races both of which are on the Iditarod Dog Sled Race trail.

Now here in Unalakleet we have almost no snow, the slough has been under overflow, and it is way to warm for this chica!  I am a snow person and I love weather but mostly I love weather at the right time of the year!  Winter should be winter and summer should be summer.  However, I will always take colder weather over warmer weather anytime.

I will get some photos posted and write a bit more over my break!  I promise!

The Tomten Adventure #1

The first Tomten is just about done!  I had to order some buttons and those should be here next week (I hope).  I went with some nice simple wooden buttons that I bought on Etsy and the bonus is I was able to get 50 of each design for a killer price!

These buttons came from Buttons Craft.  I like that they are simple, made out of wood and the price was perfect!  Another plus is you could use either side.

The first Tomten has come out great!  Two areas that I will change just a tad will be the arm hole depth and my gauge is really 4.5 sts to an inch so that will be adjusted on #2 which will be for the oldest of the grand nieces.

I am knitting a crochet button band which I really like!  I like the ease, and texture this simple button band offers.  I really could not bring myself to knitting an icord!

I did line the inside cuffs with Ultra Alpaca and the icord on the top of the collar is the same nice Alpaca yarn.