The Innocent Abroad

This is the last Wednesday of the month and I am posting what I was up to that month for the past five years. I hope you enjoy the trip down the memory lane with me.

2004, Stockholm

I bound a Caroline style book.

2005, Stockholm

Picnic at Drottningholm.

2006, Dublin

Double Wars and beginning the Kampfrau project.

2007, Dublin/Stockholm

Moving back to Sweden.

2008, Stockholm

New curtains for the flat.

Last weekend Sweden celebrated Midsummer. We had a short workday on Thursday and a free day on Friday. At the same time, there was the Midsummer Coronation event. This time it was held close to Stockholm, in a reconstructed Viking village.

The event stewards had asked that the participants come in Viking clothes to keep to the Viking theme. A lot many people did, which was awesome to see. I took my Estonian clothes with me, while they are not in classic Scandinavian Viking style, they are from the right time.

The site was fantastic, and as usual it was good to catch up with old friends and make new ones. There was an A&S display and no A&S competition for some strange reason. With all the things going on in my life I'd forgotten to write to the MOAS that I'd like to participate in the competition so I put a few of my knit caps on the display instead.

Both of these are knit using the same pattern and the same yarn. The needle size varies and the cast on stitch count, but other than that it follows the pattern published in "Textile Conservation and Research" by M. Flury-Lemberg.

This one was knit on 2,2 mm needles, not fulled. It came out the perfect size.

This one was knit on 4,5 mm needles, and fulled. It came out too big. In the next experiment, I need to go down in needle size.

I gave both of them away to friends. I also got an order for one in red yarn. Sweet! I get to play more with yarn and needles.

There is a group on Ravelry called LSG. They are the most open, funny and supportive group people I've ever met on the 'net. There are several offshoots of this main group, like LSG spinners and dyers, LSG - Anti-Lard Alliance and LSG RAK. The first is self-explanatory, the second is a support group for those who are losing weight and the last is for Random Act of Kindness.

One can post a wish-list on LSG RAK and someone can choose to send something you asked for from that list. I posted a list asking for samples of yarn that I've been curious about, but that are not easily available here.

I've received packages from two awesome people — mornington and Bandersnatch. I've thanked both on Ravelry, but I also wanted to share the loot with you.

I asked for samples of Cascade 220, Koigu, Knitpicks, dishcloth cotton, Lambs Pride and Manos del Uruguay.

This is what I got:

Cascade 220 from mornington which I forgot to take a picture of.

Koigu, Malabrigo, Dream in Color, Knitpicks, Inteweave Knits, a dishcloth in Swedish colours and dishcloth booklets from Bandersnatch.

Sugar and Cream dishcloth cotton, lip balm (3 different ones!), beads, row counters, a tape measure and soap from Bandersnatch.

Just look at that pile of black and blood red yarn! Oh be still my heart! My brain is overheating from all the projects it is planning to do with all the gorgeous yarn I got. I love everything.

There is so much work, so many things happening and so little energy. I'm alive, happy and very busy with everyday life. Nothing that's actually interesting to write about.

I'll be back. Soon, and with pictures.

I bought a new camera last week. It's the model my brother recommended, Olympus Mju and it is absolutely awesome! You can expect this blog to have eye candy again.

Look:

The image quality suffered when I shrank the photo 10x, but it's still miles better than the photos the old one took. It looked positively fabulous at full resolution. Perfectly in focus, perfectly sharp, perfect colours and beautifully lit. Well, that last bit is partly thanks to the sun, but the camera captured the light perfectly.

I'll try to remember to take pictures of the latest projects that I have access to this weekend, some are still at my old flat. After that I'll need to get into the habit of whipping the camera out and snapping photos at a drop of a hat.