Sweater: Stryta

Just an update on my unspun Icelandic wool sweater. 

(Yes there should be an accent over the "y" but I can not get the trusty old computer to do this for a "y"---why who knows!)

I have really grown to like this fiber.  It is far tougher than one would ever think.  It knits up well and yes it does break once in awhile but you just spit-splice it right back together.  I am very curious to see this sweater blocked and to see how the yarn blossoms.

The body--I have about a half inch to go on this part of the sweater.

Of course a sleeve.  Both sleeves are just waiting to meet up with the body.

I did add three sets of short rows to the back of the sweater.  My favorite technique for short rows is the German Short Rows.  These method is the easiest to do create without any weird gaping holes and funky looking spots within the knitted fabric.  I highly recommend learning this technique to have in your arsenal of "knitting ins and outs."  The fit I am trying for is a bit  closer and not so loose.  I am knitting a large but with the unspun my gauge is different from the pattern 4 sts to an inch.  This is never a concern for me as I use EZ's percentage system, measure often and try on the garment. I can adjust as needed.  I have added two sets of  increases as well as I am knitting the body. When I get closer to joining up all the parts i will figure out if I need to increase or decrease to get to the pattern repeat.

Tundra Dust & Unspun Icelandic Wool

Brown spring Tundra and Unalakleet River Ice still in place

I love living on the Alaskan tundra!  The plant life is amazing, the tundra is full of rich colorful lichen.  This year the tundra has not turned colorful yet. Everything is still brown and covered in dust close to the road. Our days now have  over 15 hours of daylight.  Actually, we have more than that as sunrises and sunsets are very exaggerated.  No rain has come through yet and we are a rather brown place.

The "Girls" ejoying the stick pull on the still brown tundra.

Nothing like an afternoon romp with your best buddy!

The migratory birds are just starting to return.  I have seen ducks but nothing else yet.  We will have swans, cranes, geese, and ducks returning.  These birds will be flying even further north if they make it pass the villages and not into freezers.  Spring is bird season here and everyone will be out hunting birds.  I do find this strange but they have a bird season in the spring and fall.

River ice is still in place and hasn't departed.  I would think this weekend the river ice will break-up and headed out to sea.

I really do appreciate the rhythm of the seasons and how life revolves around these changes.

Lopi Sweater:

My sweater is coming right along.  I am enjoying knitting with unspun wool.  I have found it easy to knit with and even enjoy knitting from a cake of yarn.  I am after a closer fitting sweater than I usually knit.  I am a little leary how this one will come out!  I am trying it on as I go to make sure I am knitting up a wearable piece.  Plus, I measure, measure, measure as I knit along.  So far everything seems to me working out well!

Lopi sweater knitted with unspun Icelandic wool which I must admit I really am enjoying!