Currently Knitting: Ravine is the New Oranje

Pattern: Oranje by Ann Weaver
Yarn: Tanis Fiber Art Purple Label
Colours: Ravine, Charcoal, Natural
Needles: 3.75mm and 4mm round needles
Start of project: December 30th, 2015

On Ravelry

Just before the new year began I finally started the cardigan that I'd originally planned to knit for SSKAL2015.

I'd seen the beautiful Oranje cardigan sometimes last spring and decided that was going to be my sweater project for the summer. I ordered the yarn but then I got sidetracked. Babies were born and needed gifts, Yannick and Andreas wanted their own sweaters and I knit lots of stuff, just never the cardigan I had planned.

I think I got kind of scared of this whole project, lots of fair isle with the unknown territory of the steek at the end of it. Whenever I looked through my stash this beautiful yarn looked at me but I couldn't get myself to get started.

On the 30th I looked through my stash yet again and there it was, looking all unloved and sad and I decided to finally give it a try. I cast on and have been knitting quite a few hours on it this year.

I totally love the colour and the pattern looks beautiful. I think I chose the right size (I will be able to try it on soon) and I managed to do most of the Vikkle Braids. There are two more braids to be knit, one more fair isle pattern (just a few rows), about 15 stripes of charcoal and natural and then I'll have to block it before I will get to the seriously scary part, the steek. I think I'll knit a little test swatch and try to cut it apart because even our handycraft teacher who normally knows everything has never done steeks.

Two days on the Hasliberg

School ended early this year which gave us a couple of days before Christmas. The boys decided to go skiing but Antonia didn't feel like it. So instead we went to the Bernese Alps and stayed at the Hotel Wetterhorn in Hofluh, Hasliberg. On the first day we were too late for the sun, when we got out of the Postauto the last rays were just disappearing behind the mountains on the other side of the valley. The view out of our window was still beautiful.

For me it was a trip back to childhood, because that's the place where I learnt to ski a very long time ago. I remembered a lot, these villages don't change very fast (we actually saw a wooden house that had been built in 1578, imagine that) The ski resort has a few new possibilites but the slopes are still the same so it was easy to remember.

On the second day we woke up to an impressive sunrise, which told us that the blue sky of the day before was not to be repeated. The sunrise was actually the best weather of the whole day, we would encounter clouds, fog, snow and even some rain during our hike.

We took the cable car up to Käserstatt where we felt like the only people alive. Because of the weather and because there was not enough snow on that side we were almost the only ones up there. We decided to hike to Mägisalp and not to be bothered by the weather.

The weather got worse instead of better, the fog started to seriously roll in. Nevertheless we wanted to go further up, so we took the next cable car up to Planplatten. By the time we'd reached the top the visibility was almost zero, but we had a cup of coffee and a hot chocolate and then we braved the fog for a few minutes before we took the cable car back down again.

 

The rest of the way we had to walk in the rain, but we listened to really loud music and had lots of fun even though we got seriously wet. We were back at the home quite early which gave me time to finish my first glove while we watched a movie on Netflix.

We weren't sure if we should stay on for our third day or go shopping to Lucerne instead. But once we woke up, it was clear that the sun was back and that we couldn't leave without some serious sunshine. What a difference a day can make, this is the same spot we went to the day before but it felt like a different world.

We hiked all the way down to the hotel, which took us a bit more than two hours. It was so funny to start in winter and end up almost in spring. Switzerland really needs lots of snow, these last winters have been bad for tourism and the smaller ski resorts are suffering from the lack of snow and the guests who don't come anymore.

We arrived back in Zürich just in time for another spectacular sunset. It was only a short time to be away but it felt like a proper holiday.

Two nights in Brighton

After our second night in London we took the train down to the coast. The weather was still foggy and wet but somehow it didn't feel as oppressive away from all the buildings of London. In Brighton we walked to our hotel next to the beach and it was such a lovely room with a view and with our own bath and toilet (funny how fas these things get really important).

We enjoyed watching the sea roll in and out, went on the pier to gamble away our coins (good thing we don't have anything similar at home, Yannick would be very challenged not to spend all his money at some machine) and we drank lots of coffee (so many lovely coffee shops!)

On Thursday we woke up to a clear blue sky and the promise of sunshine. We strolled around Brighton and had a look at the Royal Pavilion. Of course we also went to the beach and to the pier again.

 
Then we took the Coaster bus towards Eastborne. We got off at Seaford and had a picknick at the beach. I really loved the quiet autumn mood there and I am very fond of the little colourful beach huts where people keep their summer stuff.

Next we went for a hike. At first we only wanted to get on top of the cliffs right next to the beach but then it was all so beautiful that we just kept going. Soon we saw the Seven Sisters in the distance. The intense white of the chalk cliffs looked stunning mixed with all the blue and the green. We had no real plan but I kind of wanted to get on top of at least the first sister. It was obvious that wasn't going to happen when we reached Cuckmere Haven, we would have had to swim across the Cuckmere River to get to the other side. Hiking all the way back didn't seem tempting and we could see lots of buses going up and down the hills in the distance so we walked along the river till we got back to the street at the Cuckmere Inn. Our shoes and trousers got quite muddy but it was fun anyway.

We got back to Brighton just in time for the setting sun. The pier looked so beautiful bathed in the sunlight. I also went to have a look at the old pier - the West Pier - which is only a skeleton by now. When it was almost dark we took a tour on board of the Brighton Wheel and even though I was rather scared at the top it was so worth going up there.

On Friday it was already time to go back home again. But first I did some knitting on the beach and we soaked up as much sun as possible. I am so glad that we got those three days next to the sea, I enjoyed having lots of time to talk with Yannick (who does live in his own special world sometimes but who is also very charming and considerate) and I'll try to remember that I don't like big cities next time ;-)

Perfect Summer Afternoon

Pattern: Gemini by Jane Richmond
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima Fine
Colours: Cranberry
Needles: 3.5mm and 3.75mm Round Needles
Start of project: June 27th, 2015

On Ravelry

Finally I knit outside again! I met Silvia at the Frauenbadi for some swimming, a lot of talking, coffee and a little bit of knitting.

Surprisingly the weather was glorious. At noon it had been pouring down and I was prepared to cancel our outdoor date and meet somewhere inside, but then the weather turned around 180 degrees and it got all beautiful, warm but not too hot and quite windy.

The river was still quite cold, the water temperature was only 18 degrees but we went "swimming" anyway. It's so relaxing to walk up and down the little bit of river and in between we were acutally swimming.

Every time I go to the Frauenbadi I just love the atmosphere. Situated right in the middle of the city, it's such an island of calmness. It's almost never crowded and today was no exeption, especially after the earlier rain. The laid back mood with the self serving kiosk helps making everybody feel welcome and trusted.

Right outside the Frauenbadi there are lots and lots of tourists who are running around Zürich and most of them would never guess what's behind that small door. When some of them accidentally stumble inside, they must feel quite magical.

Definitely one of my favourite spots in the summer time!!!

Finished Object: R&R Hoodie

Pattern: R&R Hoodie by Tanis Lavallée
Yarn: Tanis Fiber Art Green Label
Colours: Lucky Penny
Needles: 4mm and 4.5 mm Round Needle
Start of project: March 30, 2015
End of project: April 3, 2015

On Ravelry

About a year ago, I fell in love with this hoodie. Then I'd only knit wrist warmers and couldn't imagine ever knitting anything like this. I also fell in love with Tanis Lavallee's patterns and her yarns.

Slowly my knitting got better. I brazenly knit my first I heart Cardigan,  then a Trench Hat, a School Boy Vest with a Frosted Alpine Hat, a pair of Business Casual Socks, another Baby Set, a few Love You Forever and a pair of Adelia Mitts. Then I started ordering her yarn too, knit another I heart Cardigan, Antonia's Moses Hoodie (with Amy Christoffers' pattern) and now I've come full circle and knit the first thing that got me on Tanis' homepage: an R&R Hoodie in Lucky Penny.

Wow, when I look at this list, I realise that I am indeed infatuated ;-)

Anyway, I am so happy with how this turned out and I can't wait to give it to the baby that isn't born yet, which is why I have to wait posting this for a little while longer... (ETA: the baby was finally born on 26th of April. I saw him quickly at the hospital today. He is supercute and I am so glad he is going to wear this ;-)

Currently knitting: Hitofude Cardigan

Pattern: Hitofude Cardigan by Hiroko Fukatsu
Yarn: Madelinetosh Merino Light
Colours: Jade
Needles: 3.5 mm Round Needle
Start of project: April 19, 2015

On Ravelry

Last week I had a lot of time to knit. It was the first week of spring holidays and both kids were at a computer camp in the mountains. I had a few things to do for school and I tried to move my back every day but apart from that it was a relaxed and lazy week which I used for coffee breaks with friends and for knitting. The weather was brilliant the whole week, lots and lots of sunshine, quite cool in the beginning but almost summery warm in the end. I knit on the balcony or on the sofa watching The West Wing and things progressed nicely.

Until I realised that once again I had chosen a size that was going to be at least very tight if not too tight. I don't know why I always do that, I like fitted clothes so there's always a chance that it might end up too small, but still. Also I was too lazy to knit a proper gauge swatch this time.

On Thursday afternoon I tried on my cardigan on which I had already done both arms and the body had started to grow down. It felt too tight, especially around the armpits. I debated forwards and backwards with myself about going back to the arms and make one more pattern and then I just tried. Somehow I wasn't careful enough and I went back too far and in the end I wasn't able to pick up the stitches anymore at all. Which left me with more than half an hour of ribbing and quite a nasty feeling for losing so much effort.

I cast on again (and the second provisional cast on wasn't much more enjoyable than the first one) and then I tried to get back on track. I knit so much that my hand started to hurt intensly but by then I had  lost the joy of knitting and I just wanted to get back to the point where I had been before.

Finally yesterday after almost 4 days of knitting I reached that point and now I can start to relax again. I haven't tried on the cardigan yet (the photos are from the tight version), but I can see that it looks wider and I am pretty sure this time it will be ok. How come I always put so much pressure on myself, there is no dead line to this whole knitting business ;-)

Spring has arrived

Pattern: Faux Cable Socks by Jen Lucas
Yarn: Lang Yarns Jawoll Magic Dégradé
Colours: Brown to Yellow
Needles: 2.5mm DPS
Start of project: April 12, 2015

On Ravelry

The weather has been getting warmer over the last few days and today it really felt like spring for the first time. So I decided to take my newest socks along to my walk with Silvia.

We met at Bürkliplatz, just before the Sechsilüüte started. There were a lot of people around, tourists and everybody who had been locked inside during the winter. But even though it was busy, it was wonderful outside.

We found an empty bench at Badi Mythenquai. It was lovely sitting in the sunshine, people watch, talk, knit and look out at the lake. We even dipped our toes into the water, but it was definitely still too cold to go in with more than just the legs. I'll try again in a few weeks ;-) 

Days like these remind me why I love Zürich...

Finished Object: Moses Hoodie

Pattern: Moses Hoodie by Amy Christoffers
Yarn: Tanis Fiber Art Yellow Label
Colours: Lemongrass and Cobalt
Needles: 3.5mm and 4mm Round Needles
Start of project: March 11, 2015
End of project: March 25, 2015

On Ravelry

After exactly two weeks I finished Antonia's Moses Hoodie yesterday. I went zip shopping in the afternoon and managed to sew it in in the evening. It went better than I expected, it wasn't that scary at all, thanks to Purl Bee. I am not a big fan of sewing but I did it slowly and the fabric of the hoodie stayed nicely flat (it was definitely a good thing I blocked it before the zip).

I also managed to do everything else that was on my to-do and to-learn list.

• The sweater turned out the right size. It is rather fitted but that's what Antonia wanted. The sleeves are actually slightly too long after the blocking, but she can fold them over and when her arms get even longer it will still fit. 

• The pockets came together ok. I am glad I attached the side of the pocket together with the side of hoodie and the i-cord, that looks quite neat. I found it difficult to decide on the right cast off for the pocket ribbing but after the second try that I frogged I used the Sewn Cast-Off and liked the result.

•  I gave up on the Fair Isle pattern. It was too complicated and it looked really messy. I am not so sure about the pattern as it is now and I think the hoodie could have used more Cobalt.

• I used Tanis' way of the i-Cord and I am very happy with it. I found it much easier to pick up the stitches in the first row and only knit the i-Cord in the third row.

Antonia is happy with her hoodie and I hope she'll enjoy wearing it.