when the going gets slow...

After completing three clues quickly and with a smile, I had a huge setback in this week's clue in the mkal. I made one.single.error. in row 10 and didn't discover it until row 20. And oh, the undoing that awaited me! With my busy time in school it literally took days just to set things right. I stuck it out though in the hope of still having a chance of finishing this clue before next Friday. I have an early morning flight to Helsinki tomorrow so I have some spare time, I'd say. 

It's only me and Oddur going so we'll be having a lot of just-us time. Love it. And even though it will be hard to be separated from these sweet little artists of ours they will be in the very safe hands of my mother who's moving into our apartment for the weekend. And she'll have help from Oddur's parents and our sisters and brothers... so, plenty of family my children can count on! We are so very blessed with all this great people around us.

Leftover yarn alien mittens (First day of summer 2015)

Pattern: Pacman-púkar by G. Dagbjört Guðmundsdóttir

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino and Shibui Baby Alpaca

Needles: 2.5 mm and 3.5 mm

Leftover yarn hippie skirt (First day of summer 2015)

Pattern: Dorritarpilsið by Sigríður Margrét Jónsdóttir

Yarn: Tern, Geilsk Uld/Bomuld, Yaku and Gepard Cotton Wool

Hook: 3.5 mm 

MILO

Pattern: Milo by Georgie Hallam

Yarn: Phildar Pur Angora and Shibui Baby Alpaca

Needles: 4.0 mm 

Well. When I have a tough time with my knitting, such as I am having this week due to my stubbornness with the mystery knit-along, it really does brighten my mood to stare long and hard at my already accomplished things, be it actually modeled on my beautiful babies, placed on shelves or in baskets around our home or made eternal by photographs. I did manage to finish the kids' First Day of Summer gifts last week and was rather proud of myself. The skirt is a bit on the larger side for Ósk even though I went down half a hook size but that's fine since I suspect she'll grow into it eventually. The mittens were a hit and as you can see in the photo they have already, in only a couple of days, taken on a worn kind of look. 

To try and further lighten up I also finally got around to photographing the little vest I made for Ósk a few weeks back. It fits so perfectly and is so soft and we just love it. I modified the pattern a bit, inspired by the way Nicole did earlier but instead of the garter stitch going all the way down I switched to stockinette after the yoke was done and then did a little garter trim before casting off. It's a nice little pattern with the cable though and I might just try that when this one starts to look too small. 

I'll be back here on Friday with my second "Moments" photo and then again on Sunday or Monday with photos from the trip (eeek!). Until then - it's Finland, baby!

ps. I'm linking up with Frontier Dreams and can't wait to browse through all the inspiring crafting links being shared!

last day of winter

I am cutting it close with my children's Summer gifts but I am almost done with the mittens and almost done with the skirt. Almost almost. I hope I can finish it tonight since the national holiday of The First Day of Summer is tomorrow. This gift stressing moment ironically enough is a major help with not stressing over my finals and school research deadlines. Such instant gratification crafting can be a real boost of energy when times are stressful. Especially when I feel I don't have time for anything. I find that it is exactly then that it is most important that I make time for some crafting. 

So today is the Last Day of Winter, according to the Icelandic national calender. I am so ready for spring (as readers may have noticed already, ahem) and my future summer salad seems to agree since the lettuce, rocket and spinach have all begun peeking their little green heads out of the soil. Oh, yes, only four days since we put them in there. How I love instant success!

Joining Frontier Dreams for KCCO :)

tern-tastic!

Lillies top for Ósk

Pattern: Lillies top from Babystrik pa pinde 3, by Lene Holme Samsoe

Yarn: Tern, silk and wool blend from Quince&co. 

Needles: 3.0 mm and 2.5 mm

Sunshine balaclava

Pattern: Bríet by Hildur Ýr Ísberg 

Yarn: Tern from Quince and Co.

Hooks: 3.5 mm and 3.0 mm

Another very slow weekend has passed, this time because poor little Ósk came down with a bad flu last Thursday.She was feeling a lot better and had no fever on Saturday so I opened the balcony door and let some fresh air and sunshine into the apartment - much to her satisfaction as you can see in the photos. She just happened to be wearing her new vest so I grabbed the camera and the opportunity and snapped some photos of her. As I mentioned earlier it's a size too large so it's more like a little dress. Still cute though! And the color is fitting since Easter is just around the corner. (With her front teeth gap she sort of looks like a little Ester bunny, too, haha!)

But then on Sunday morning she was feeling much worse again, so I'm taking her to see a doctor later today in case this is something serious. I doubt it, but one can never be too sure. 

I did get around to finishing a few things on my to do list, I tidied up my yarn basket and organized my projects, then I finished some little things that have been waiting for my attention for weeks now. I also finished, washed and blocked the little balaclava. I had some trouble with the cuff around the face but ended up changing to a larger hook and then it was fine. I think the outcome is quite adorable and have to recommend this yarn, tern (more info here). Well, actually, I have yet to meet a Quince and Co. type of yarn I did not fall in love with... 

See you tomorrow with a KCCO update!

sunshine balaclava

I have been working on this little crochet balaclava, using leftover Term yarn from the Lillies Top I made for Ósk. (Although, as it turned out, I had to buy more of it anyway and will have leftovers from this project as well...). This is yet another pattern by my talented friend Hildur Yr, and a very quick and cute one it is. It has that hippie vibe about it, as so many crochet projects do, and will make a fitting present for our friends first baby, who is due in the next few days. It's nice to do some crochet along with all the knitting, it's been a while and I somehow forgot how fun it is.

I'll make it a short post this time, I've had a very long day and have an early meeting tomorrow morning. I am linking up with Frontier dreams as usually and highly recommend checking out at least a few of the KCCO links over there - so many interesting and beautiful things being made all over the world! Inspiring indeed!

we interrupt this hiatus for an important announcement

Photo by genius Lilja Birgisdóttir

Well, I know it's been over a month and that's not the best strategy to keep readers around and I apologize. A few weeks ago I kind of hit a wall with the whole masters studies, having two kids and trying to design knitwear in the little spare time I had, all the while keeping a semi-functional home and having a social life. I was doing nothing very well and the worst part was that it was showing in my progress at school, or lack there of. So, I got a grip, got around to some serious studying and pushed everything around me that does not breath, such as this blog, to the bottom of the priority list. Sometimes a blogger's gotta do what a blogger's gotta do! 

But now I'm back with some great news. Not only that my hard work is paying off in school (yay!) but also that a brand new crochet book, Heklfélagið, has been published and will hit book stores here in Iceland tomorrow. It is a collection of patterns from 15 designers. And I am the proud maker of one design in it, the yellow little crocodile stitch cardigan Ósk is wearing in the photo above! It is my first design ever and I am very proud of it. It's Icelandic name is Sumargola, which would translate as Summer breeze, as it is very light and summery. However it will be available only in the book for a while due to copyright. But Heklfélagið contains so many amazing crochet patterns, I strongly advice anyone who can read Icelandic to get a copy. I am very flattered to be in the company of such amazing crochet designers.
For those living in Iceland, we are having a party to celebrate the book tomorrow! You are all welcome! More here. 

Thank you all, who have stuck around and keep visiting this space. And thanks, universe, for crochet!

Best wishes,

Sigurlaug Elín

ps. I am completely smitten with the photo of Ósk - how cute is this little bean of mine? 

last one standing

I have finally picked up where I left on my Morganite sweater, in the meantime managing to make peace with the fact that the pattern had major errors and that I had to rip the lace yoke part out and start over. I'm done with the horrible ripping-out-part and am now well on my way with the repairing and reknitting. The silver lining of it all is that I found an Icelandic knitter on Ravelry who already knit this pattern in the same size, had the exact same problem with it and even recalculated the whole thing to make it add up! She was so kind to give me her notes and now all I have to do is to copy what she did. The endless support and advice the online knitting community is willing to give never ceases to amaze me. Thank you!

This sweater is the last project from my (now former) pile of work-in-progress. The last one! And did I mention that I can't wait to wear it?

A neck warmer for Ósk
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerinio and Juno Fibre Arts Milly Singles
Needles and hook: 3.5 mm
Pattern: Improvised

I did manage to finish a small stashbusting project for the month of June as part of the 12-months-of-stashbusting challenge I am participating in. I knit a simple neck-warmer from my Juno leftovers and I love the outcome. So soft and warm, so simple and handmade - and totally improvised. And the best part in my opinion is that it matches my shawl, so my sweet little mini-me and I can dress the part :) 

And this week I'm keeping calm, crafting on and along with Frontier Dreams.

Thanks for stopping by! Best wishes to everybody - I have a camping trip planned next weekend so I don't think I'll be back here in a week or so. À bientôt!

flowers, children - and a blanket!

Granny Square Blanket by my Great Grandmother Sigurlaug

Yarn: Icelandic Kambgarn

Needle: 3.5 mm

Pattern: Classic granny square with an extra wide border

I've been staying at my parents house near Mývatn Lake for over a week now, relaxing, enjoying family time and soaking up the few moments of sun we've had. I felt like the colors and size of the granny square blanket required sunshine and green (not soaking wet) grass so when the opportunity finally arrived I of course went overboard with the amount of photos. But they are lovely and so is this little blanket, made by langamma Sigurlaug for her great granddaughter Ósk. It is already one of my most cherished heirlooms :)

More tomorrow! Until then - best wishes. 

stashbusting with pride

Early March this year, I was visiting my great grandmother Sigurlaug (we share a name) and she was telling me that unfortunately she no longer could knit or crochet since her hands ached too much. She is such a talented and experienced knitter and has made many gorgeous things for her rapidly growing family through the years. She told me she had been making this beautiful granny square blanket for Ósk and asked me if I could finish it for her. I was very proud to say yes! Since then I've been very busy and this little blanket has been waiting for me in my WIP basket. But now I've decided that it's perfect as my May project in the stashbusting challenge I'm participating in. So now I'm competing against time, trying my hardest to finish before Sunday when June comes around. Wish me luck!

And speaking about stashbusting... this sweet daughter of mine got a new hat from my friend Hildur Ýr, hostess of the stashbusting challenge, none the less. It was knit only from leftovers and the stripes are in my opinion a marvelous proof that sometimes the best creative solutions spring from limited materials :) Takk Hildur!

More soon! Best regards and thank you all for stopping by. 

ps. I finished my shawl. It is huge. And totally worth every hour spent on it. I have a photo session planned for tomorrow and crossing my fingers the sky will get rid of it's dark clouds of past days...