Afmaeli - Blocked

Afmaeli is off the blocking wires. As it was snug when I first finished knitting, with wet blocking, I stretched it out to the desired dimensions and let it dry like that.

It stays like that once dried and the pins and blocking wires are removed.

My model tried it on and deemed it fitting like the Riddari (that he is still wearing daily).

I started Scooter's Riddari, knitting one sleeve. I have decided to exchange the light grey for a darker shade as there isn't enough contrast between it and the white accent. I'll head up to Myrtle Station Wool again tomorrow. I also discovered in my Léttlopi stash that I have a ball of the denim-coloured that I used for Skip's Riddari so I will return the darker blue ball as well. So the grey for Scooter's Riddari will be the same shade as Skip's Afmaeli and the blues will be the same.

Since I can't knit on it any more 'til I get the grey yarn, I continue to stitch away on my Stars piece. This is where I left off yesterday.

Today I am continuing the green tendril up the right side and will finish those leaves and start stitching the woman in the blue skirt.

I still have lots to finish on the houses at the bottom and need to remember to buy some 4mm white buttons for the 'flowers' between the houses. I'm also looking forward to doing the specialty stitches and all the 'stars'.

Afmaeli - Finished

I finished Skip's Afmaeli sweater just now. It took four tries to get the neck right.

I finally frogged it back to the beginning of the black on the neck and re-did the decreases, for a total of 88 sts instead of 80. It had to be multiples of 4 for the k2 p2 ribbing. I then did a stretchy bindoff.

Here's the detail of the cuffs.

I do need to give it a hard blocking. I used exactly the same needle size as Skip's Riddari but this seems to be a denser fabric. I think with soaking it and stretching it out to the desired size, I can get it to be the same airiness as the Riddari.

I can now start Scooter's Riddari.

This frigid weather is very conducive to knitting and stitching. We've had snow and will be shovelling out tomorrow morning. Skip just heard on a weather report that we're supposed to be getting some of the coldest temperatures we've had in 25 years. Great - the year we aren't going south in February. Curse you, Climate Change!

Last Night I Knit a Sleeve

I started a sleeve on Scooter's Riddari on Tuesday night at spinning. Unfortunately there wasn't enough contrast between the light grey yarn and the white in the colourwork so I made the executive decision to exchange the light grey yarn for a darker colour.

Yesterday I ventured northward again to Myrtle Station Wool to do the exchange. I also swapped out the ball of dark blue as I found a ball of the denim-coloured yarn in my stash that I will use instead.

I'm knitting the Small size but cast on for a Medium-sized cuff. I knit a whole sleeve last night.

Again, I placed stitch markers on round 1 of the 7 rounds to indicate the increase round. It is then a simple task to count up to the desired number of stitches before knitting straight to the underarm.

Skip and I did a bit of running around today after going out for breakfast. Our microwave oven made some very scary noises so we decided to replace it. We comparison shopped at a couple of places and ended up bringing one home almost identical (make, model, size, features) as the other one.

Now that we are ensconced back at home, I will begin the second sleeve. I may have mentioned it before, but I always knit sleeves first. It doesn't take long to get to the knitting where the gauge can be checked and it's not a lot to frog if some adjustment is needed. This will be the 4th sweater I'm knitting with this yarn and needles so I know I get the called-for gauge of 18 sts/10cm. I still do the math to calculate which size I'll knit from the pattern by multiplying my gauge per inch by the chest size I want.

On Skip's Afmaeli, it wasn't as wide as I'd planned but after the firm, wet blocking, the stitches smoothed out, the fabric loosened a bit, and the sweater fit perfectly.

Now back to my knitting...

Another Lopi Sweater

Skip has been wearing his Riddari ('knight' in Icelandic) sweater non-stop since the weather got cold.

I'm very pleased he likes it but I thought he should have a second Lopi sweater to wear. After much deliberation, I decided on the Lopi 20th Anniversary sweater - Afmaeli (which means 'anniversary' in Icelandic) - free from their website.

I selected colours for the contrast.

It should look something like this when I'm done.

I am modifying the cuffs and collar by using the rolled one that I used previously in his Riddari sweater: Cast on cuff stitches with smaller needle, knit 5 rounds. Then work k2, p2 rib for 5 rounds. Change to larger needle and begin colourwork from first chart. Like so:

The rest I'm doing as written.

With the gauge I got on Riddari, I decided to knit the Large size as the body had the number of stitches that would get me gauge. 43" circumference x 4.5 st/inch = 193.5 stitches. Size L calls for 192 sts and size XL calls for 208 sts.

People often ask me if it is important to determine gauge. My response is "Only if you plan to wear the garment". Why do all that knitting if it won't work out to be the right size?  I also always start by knitting a sleeve rather than cast on hundreds of stitches for the body with the possibility of having to frog it to adjust for the proper gauge. End of lecture.

I'm starting to make a list of UFOs and kitted projects to take south. The closest yarn shop (other than big box craft stores) is over 3 hours away so I need to be stocked or order online. Stitching-wise I have LOTS that I can take and am only 45 min from an excellent stitchery shop.

I also need to plan projects for the drive down. We share the driving so I'll have over 16 hours to knit over the 5 days while Skip is doing his shifts. I have a couple of sock projects planned.

Speaking of south Texas, I'm really bummed out that the southern border wall is about to be built through the beautiful National Butterfly Center near Mission TX. If you're interested in the subject, the impact of the border wall is outlined here ( and image of the .pdf on the topic from their website):

We will definitely be visiting there early in our time in TX as time is running out for those trying to stop the destruction of this national wildlife treasure.

Washing Riddari

I knit this sweater for Skip in 2017. It's Riddari by Védis Jónsdóttir.

He wore it, or the other Icelandic sweater I knit him, almost every day in the winter. It looked smashing with black dress pants or jeans. I plan to take it on our Iceland/Norway trip so I wanted to make sure it was good to go.

I found a couple of breaks in the yarn on the front which created holes. It could have been caused by a wool-eating critter. I found a remnant of the Lett-Lopi yarn and made the repair. It wasn't perfect but unless you're looking for it, you'd never notice.

The sweater needed washing so it would be nice and fresh for my trip. I used the last bit of Eucalan and gave it a good soak. This wool wash doesn't require rinsing but I rinsed anyway, just to make sure most of the detritus was washed away. I drained the sink, then pressed a lot more water out. Next the sweater was rolled up in a fluffy bath towel. I stepped along the roll, unrolled it and placed it on another fluffy bath towel for one more try at removing as much water as possible.

Then hauled out my drying mats (interlocking foam playroom floor squares), blocking wires, and pins. The pins are quilter's rustproof t-pins.

I pinned it out onto the mats, measuring the desired sleeve length as I don't like my sleeves excessively long then pulled the wires to the desired width of the sleeves, yoke and body.

I believe I had knit extra rows on the back before starting the yoke but wanted to make sure it was higher so I pulled the back of the neck up a bit and pinned it in place.

The sweater will be dry by tomorrow. It would dry faster if I put the fan on it but I'm too lazy to bring it up out of the basement.

Back in 2016 I knit an oversized Icelandic cardigan, lopapeysa, for myself (pictured before the buttons were added). Am trying to decide whether to take or not. 

I used the Italian tubular cast on which made for a nice, rolled cuff edge. It's an easy technique and there are lots of YouTube videos on the subject.

There's also a way to do a rolled bindoff like this.

Also trying to decide if I'll shorten it a bit because it hangs below my bum.

These sweaters are pretty lofty but they'll squish down nicely in my suitcase. I also have vacuum bags I can use to express even more air out of them. 

Icelandic sweaters knit up quickly because the yarn is thick and the body and sleeves are knit as tubes - round and round in stocking stitch. When you get sick of plain knitting, it's time to do the yoke. 

I knit this one in 16 days back in 2019. Afmaeli, also by Védis Jónsdóttir, is a free, unisex pattern from Lopi Design.

We are very fortunate to have Myrtle Station Wool close by. She has all weights and many colours of this company's Icelandic wool. Open Thursday - Saturday 11 to 5, or by appointment.

Cardinal’s Winter - Stitching is Done

I finished stitching this last Monday. 

I only got as far as pressing it - it’s still sitting on the pressing mat. I want to add some ‘bling’ with small, clear HotFix ‘jewels’ before I fully finish it. I really like the colours.

Not sure if I’ll do a flatfold or a hanging piece. 

The 4th lacy neck ring (and second yellow one) responded well to blocking. 

It has now been liberated from the wires and pins and looks very spiffy. Didn’t get a photo, though.

I was rummaging through my winter wear - so many scarves and pairs of mittens. I came across these gigantic earmuffs. A little much? I think they’re hilarious.

I’m so pleased I can wear the lopapeysur (Icelandic sweaters) that I knit for Skip. This is Afmaeli - a free pattern from Alafoss using Lett-Lopi. Instead of the ribbed collar and cuffs, I used the rolled collar and cuffs from Riddari. 

Basically, after casting on, knit 5 rounds of stocking stitch, then 5 or 6 rounds of ribbing. Then start the colourwork. The stocking stitch naturally rolls.

Most of the snow has melted. I’ve topped up the bird feeders and have been seeing chickadees, red-breasted nuthatches, and grackles enjoying them. I flung a couple of hands full of seeds on the ground and the squirrel is enjoying them as well. Spring is only a week away.

Ending the Year

I will not be sad to put 2021 behind me. It was a challenging year being so isolated and having to deal with Skip's surgery and aftermath. I am so grateful that I was able to keep in regular touch with most of my regular groups. Zoom chats gave my weeks some structure and gave me something to look forward to.

I am grateful I took the opportunity to visit my family at Thanksgiving when our COVID numbers were relatively low and we were double-vaxxed. I'm also grateful I attended the stitching retreat at the end of October when our numbers were very low. 

But now the Omicron virus has pushed us back into isolation in spite of three doses of the vaccine, rapid tests ($$$) which may only be 50% effective against Omicron, and KN 95 masks. I am grateful I had the resources to procure masks and tests. I'm also grateful that I don't need to go out in public to go to work.

All that aside, Skip and I are safe at home with all our stuff and things to entertain us. Our fridge and freezer are full. We are good for another period of confinement and there are 80 days 'til spring.

I had to rip back my Latvian mitten to the top of the cuff and go up a needle size to 2.5mm as it was too snug with the 2.25mm needle. I am too lazy to improvise a 'hitchhiker's thumb' so am doing the proscribed peasant thumb, and inserted contrasting yarn where it should go (yellow waste yarn). The green arrow is pointing to a mistake I made which will be easily fixed with duplicate stitch.

Once the top of the mitten is complete, I will remove the yellow waste yarn, pick up the live stitches above and below and knit the thumb in the round. I'm annoyed that I didn't pick up on the fact that the pattern doesn't centre the motif on the thumb. The markings on the pattern could easily have been moved to the left one stitch which would centered it perfectly. I'm going to centre the thumb when I go to knit it.

I also washed and re-blocked Skip's Afmaeli sweater.

First, I measured it and made note of the measurements and drew a little diagram.

Then I soaked the sweater in warm water with wool wash (Eucalan). The water was fairly murky so I did rinse it out, although Eucalan doesn't normally require rinsing. I pressed as much water out as I could then rolled it up in a bath towel to try and get more water out. 

Then I used blocking wires to shape it and pinned them in place on the interlocking playroom mats spread out on Scooter's/the guest room bed. After a day it still wasn't dry so I hauled the fan out of the closet and directed it onto the sweater. At the end of Day 2, it was finally dry.

Next I'll wash Skip's Riddari. 

He's worn one or the other of these sweaters every day since we put the furnace on and the temperature goes down during the daytime. 

I don't usually wash sweaters unless they've had something spilled on them. Wool doesn't really pick up body smells as it's not normally worn next to the skin. However, I slopped some teriyaki beef juice on my Icelandic Star* sweater (pictured before the buttons were attached) last night and that's all I can smell now when I wear it. *from Winter 2009 Interweave Knits magazine.

This has been my go-to sweater this winter. It's worsted weight but was knit on larger needles so is fairly light. It wears well, is a cardigan so heat can be regulated, and is grey and black to match my entire COVID wardrobe of stretchy pants and long-sleeved t-shirts.

I do remember having to block this out pretty firmly to fit me properly so will do the same when I get around to washing it.

We have no big plans for New Year's Eve. Some bowl games are on TV and I have two 200mL bottles of Henkel Troken on ice. If we make it to midnight, we'll watch Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen from Times Square. I love how Andy makes Anderson giggle with his outrageous antics.

Tomorrow morning, I'll get up and have some breakfast and do a challenging crossword puzzle - like I do every day. Then we'll watch the Tournament of Roses Parade from Pasadena and I'll do some knitting, stitching or maybe some painting. 

Skip would like me to knit him another Icelandic sweater so I'll have to do some thinking about what colours to pick. I may knit the Riddari pattern again.

And so a new year will be underway. It's starting to feel like that movie Groundhog Day. When I think of the sacrifices that were made to support the war effort during WWII, especially in the UK where they continued food rationing into the 1950s, staying safe at home is a fairly small sacrifice in comparison.

Happy New Year. May we have many bright and sunny times ahead.

Afmaeli Update

I got pics of the two finished sleeves.

I used stitch markers on round 1 of each series of increases to show where I had increased after the first stitch of the round and before the last stitch of the round. I was then very easy to count total stitches. After the maximum required, I just knit straight until the desired sleeve length. Now that the sleeves are done. I really don't need to keep the stitch markers in place.

I'm just whipping along on the body. 

I have 10" of the 18" done.

It would be great if I could finish this before we go south. Then I can start Scooter's sweater - but there's no rush on that.

Puzzling...

I didn't get into jigsaw puzzling during COVID like many of my friends did. I certainly had a lot of time to kill but tended to sew, stitch, and knit.

I'm now quite obsessed with jigsaw puzzling and have done a few since I got back from vacation.

I bought this one in the fall with the intention of doing it after Christmas - since I wasn't going to be home for Christmas. I worked on it just before the New Year. It was lots of fun.

The pieces were nice and thick and snapped together very well. And lots of blocks of colour. After I was done with it, I gave it to the mother of a friend who likes 500 piece puzzles because they fit nicely on the table she uses.

I bought this 1000 piece Lego puzzle for $5 at Dollarama. I love puzzles like these where there are several little puzzle areas to solve. It, too, was very fun.

Right away, I did this one over two days. I wasn't all that fond of the knitting chaos but was able to sort several of the colour blocked areas first. Again, 1000 pieces.

This 506 piece puzzle was loaned to me (thank you, Barb!). I started it yesterday and finished it last night.

Where my guild meets is a recreation room at an apartment complex. There is a bookshelf full of puzzles so I donate the ones I no longer want and borrow any that look interesting. Truth be told, I prefer 500 piece puzzles as well. Mostly because I only use one end of my dining room table. I also prefer puzzles with blocks of colour.

While I do the puzzles I either listen to audiobooks or have a YouTube video on. 

I'm going to take a bit of a break from puzzling because I want to do some more stitching.

I finished Miss Hazel last night so she goes on my 'to be FFOd' pile. 

These Animal Crackers series patterns don't really take that long to stitch. I have Clovis the Badger my pattern stash. Is Clovis a female name? If not, he has a very cute apron and dress.

The one I want to start is Spring Rabbit Pillows by Tiny Modernist.

This should be a very quick stitch. I picked up the two DMC threads I was missing this afternoon. Now to pick the fabric. It calls for 14ct or 16ct (28ct or 32ct evenweave or linen) but I prefer 36ct or 40ct - mostly so I can get away with stitching with one strand over two. However, it would be really cute on 28ct evenweave over 1 with one strand. The result would be about 1.5" x 2.5" for the one on the left. Hmm... will have to think about it.

Another project that would be pretty quick is Autumn Quaker by Lindsey Weight. This was in our swag bag at the Simple Stitching 2024 Retreat sponsored by Pastime Pieces. 

I have a lovely, tonal floss - JK 07 Sleepy Cat by Cottage Garden Threads all ready to go on this. 

Again, fabric selection will be from my stash. The model was stitched on 28ct and was close to 5.75" square (Dontcha just love how I mix my Imperial dimensions with Metric?). Honeybee Quaker also appeals to me, 

Like a couple of my stitching friends, I just might have to start making these into little pillows and displaying them seasonally. The other seasons in this series are also very cute.

Jen1, Poppy, and I are getting all excited about our upcoming tour of Iceland on our way to our cruise up the western coast of Norway. Jen1 is knitting a Musselburgh hat and Poppy has started an Icelandic sweater, Ranga by Vedis Jonsdottir.

She's knitting it as a pullover and has picked a beautiful, golden yellow as the main colour with white as a contrast. It uses Alafoss (bulky) for the cuffs and collar and Lett-Lopi (Aran) for the body and sleeves. I have knit a few Icelandic sweaters and they knit up pretty quickly as the main parts are all stocking stitch. Ranga's sleeves are tubes with all the increases at the transition between the cuffs (with the bulky yarn) and the stocking stitch with the thinner yarn. I'm sure she'll be able to get it finished by the time we leave for our epic trip.

I plan to wear one of the sweaters I knit Skip, Riddari:

These sweaters are unisex and this one happens to fit me perfectly. Icelandic yarn is very lofty and makes for very warm garments. The sheep are dual coated with a strong, lustrous outer coat (Tog) that provides protection from wind, rain, and cold, and a soft undercoat (Thel) that keeps the sheep warm. The fibre is a spinner's dream. 

I found a little break in the yarn on the front of this sweater so have tracked down a remnant of the yarn to make a repair. It will be a very cozy addition to my travel wardrobe. And I'll feel like Skip is with me. 

I also knit this one for him, Afmaeli, a free pattern by the same designer, to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Istex - the Icelandic yarn company. This one also fits me quite well.

Skip wore one or the other of these sweaters every day, all winter. He was always so appreciative of the things I'd make him.

I'm trying to decide what hats I'll take. I'll definitely take one of my Musselburgh hats for really cold

 weather due to the 4 layers of knitted fabric over the ears.

Then there are the other two I discussed in my previous post. Maybe I'll take all three.

I've just been made aware of an excellent retreat I could possibly attend next September. Must investigate...