Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Finally something to show off....

The angel was supposed to be at the bottom of this entry...but since I haven't figured out yet in what row the pictures upload, it is on top. It stands 18cm/7in tall,knitted in Cortina from Gjestal ,and it is not felted yet, I would like to make a few more. My mother-in-law has one that I used as a guide, but yesterday I bought one of the Xmas-magazines, and there it was... A pair of fingerless mittens, yarn KOIGU!!! Great! it was part of a trade with Cassie , she got a book she wanted, I got this Koigu, and Elizabeth Zimmermans Knitters Almanac(which is a funny book, I laugh and read and want to knit- it is just great). I think I came out of the trade a lot better than Cassie... Anyway, I knitted these in Cassie's
Loksins! pattern, and they came out really well, I think. There is enough yarn left for a scarf or neckerchief- it seems too good to be used for socks! The pattern is easy to knit, well written, and very pretty.
Remember a few days ago, I said I'd been making a pattern? I've seen a few blankets knit after lace doilies (Hemlock ring blanket, also found here ), and thought I wouldn't do what "everyone" else is doing. But the patterns I had, didn't work out that good, so I decided to give it a try myself...This is how far I got. 2 balls (100gr) of Gjestal Babyull. It was fun, but rather tedious. And I really wanted a round one...I guess designing is a lot about math... I would like to make this bigger, but I have to buy some more yarn first. It is about 60x60cm (22.5x22.5in) And then the Kitten Mohair yarn...it knits into a scarf , it is done, but needs blocking. I used 100gr of yarn on 4.5mm needles. Fun and easy to knit. I had a couple more photos I should have uploaded, but Blogger didn't want anymore today...



We've had a WET weekend. The pictures yesterday was taken on Sunday morning. The river is normally not so big, but it was pouring down, so we had rivers everywhere! It is still a grey day, had a bit of hail when I was feeding the sheep.

Some of you have been asking what kind of sheep we have. We have two kinds: spælsau and gammelnorsk utegangersau. The photo in the heading is spælsau, and the photo on the side is uteganger (often called villsau). We keep the spælsau inside the barn during winter, and feed them. Villsauen is going outdoors all year, but they are tamed, so if I call and have some grains, they will come. I also feed them extra during winter with hay. Some are more sceptical than others, of course, but they are nice animals, Very cute and curious, and great mothers. We have had some problems both with the fox and the ravens taking lambs. I deliver the sheep to a slaughterhouse, the wool is also delivered, the advantages is that I can deliver everything, the disadvantage is that we can do very little to get better prizes.

Utegangersauene have been butchered at home so far, but I'll try to deliver some this year. The wool is not used, it seems to be too coarse. And of course coloured... They are not too happy about the spælsauwool either... Maybe I have to learn how to spin? It is really interesting to browse the internet and see what people do, both spinning and dyeing, and in general processing the whole thing. Hmmm.

It is time to shear the sheep, but only the spælsau. Villsauen was sheared in June, they usually let go of their wool around that time. If I want to use the wool, I might have to shear them too twice a year.

Time to get another cup of tea, pick up the mail, and get something to eat. And then: back to the knitting.
Have a great day!

14 comments:

Judy said...

As always, your knitting is lovely beyond belief. You are so fast at it. I am thinking that I need to quit my job so I can spend all my time knitting. LOL. No wait, that won't work because then I would not have the money to buy yarn and lovely needles. LOL.
Do learn to spin, it is a shame to waste all that perfectly good wool. Blend it with other softer things and it might just be the thing.

Rani said...

Wow! The knitting is gorgeous. That red pattern is really cool, Marit!

Thanks for your nice comments on old doggy. I really appreciate it.

Sounds cozy over there with your cup of coffee. My house is to messy for me to enjoy. Must get back to work!

Gudrun Johnston said...

I love the fingerless gloves! Great yarn and pattern.

rohanknitter said...

I loved seeing all the knitting.
Thanks for telling us more about your sheep, it's very interesting!

Unknown said...

Those mittens are lovely, I have been longing to try some Koigu, everyone seems to like it.

The red blanket is beautiful, a lovely pattern.

Anonymous said...

Lots of super knitting--love all that lace. The fingerless gloves are terrrific--really like that soft green color. The angel is so sweet. And as always, really enjoy your stories! Happy Day ((HUGS))

Janice said...

Wow, all of that wonderful knitting! I love the fingerless glove, they are beautiful! Also loved the info on your sheep! Very interesting...

STRIKKEMOR(O) said...

Englane blir flotte, skal sjå om eg får tid til å lage nokre slike eg og! Ang. Spidermanteppet. Det var altfor lange omgangar på slutten, elles var det eit kjempeartig prosjekt!

Kristy said...

Oh your doily blanket is just stunning. So pretty! (Not that I am surprised.)

And I can't wait to see the angel felted. What do you plan to do with her?

YOu may have covered it before but I haven't read back enough...do you sell/trade your sheep's wool or do you use it all for your own purposes?

Anne said...

Your knitting is amazing and I especially love the fingerless mitts. I love it when you tell us about farm life. Mostly I know about cows and dairy farms, but I like learning about sheep.

Anonymous said...

Så masse flott du har på gang! Har tenkt på å strikke teppe slik eg òg, men er redd omgangane blir uttålelig lange på slutten.. :)
Pulsvarmarane var nydelige!

Anonymous said...

Jeg sier bare: SKINNFELLER! Du må jo lære deg skinnfellsøm. Du har jo de beste sauene i verden til varme feller. Villsauskinnene blir jo litt små, og gir mer jobb, men spesauene gir jo som regel digre skinn og blir utrolig varme. Tro meg! Hmmm.... om ikke du skal ha skinnene eller ulla selv, så vet jeg om ei (les: meg) som er mer enn normalt interessert i å kjøpe uklippede skinn. ;-)

Anonymous said...

I love your scarf! I just printed out the pattern and will have to give it a try! What type of yarn did you use?

Anonymous said...

Gosh! After I posted I went back and re-read your post about the scarf and saw the yarn...:)