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!

grand plans

This is the beginning of a mitten. It is posing ever so casually next to our collection of pebble animals, all of whom have been gifted to us in the past few years, indicating that we look like the sort of people who seem to appreciate a nice pebble animal. The mittens are to be a First Day of Summer's gift for Úlfur this year since he needs lighter mittens for spring/cold summer activities. I am relieved that he needs these - spring must be here when the thick lopi gloves are too warm! I am also planning a new bike helmet as a gift (no, not a home made one) so that his old and too small helmet can be Ósk's First Day of Summer's gift. She'll also get a mamma-made piece of clothing; A crochet skirt. Note that this gifting will happen a week from now, that I am in the middle of a big research while taking my finals, and this cuff in the photo is the only part of my grand plan that has actually been realized as of yet. Deluded, I must be!

Linking up with Frontier Dreams, lets all keep calm and craft on, shall we...

all is well in sock land

A few years ago, probably in my first year or so of knitting, I made an effort to try and learn how to knit socks. This was a very painful process. I ended up frogging a few attempts and only finished a single pair, which took me weeks to get anything close to right and their shape was so ill-fitting they never got much use. That was that and the few (maybe one) attempts I've made since have been just as tragic.

Until now, that is. I finally found a GREAT pattern, Rye from Tin Can Knits, which has clear and simple demonstrations and no room for misunderstanding. So far I have one perfectly fine looking sock finished and am about half way done with the other. The yarn is traditional Lopi sock yarn. I have already decided to make another pair right after I finish this one, as to completely establish my new skill.

Linking up with Frontier Dreams' KCCO as usually.

And I think from now on these work-in-progress posts of mine will officially be posted on Wednesdays, since that seems to work out much better for me :)

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!