Birkenwasser knits

You always need a project that you can work on while reading something and Helga Isager's Robin is a very good option for that: endless stockinette in lace weight yarn provides plenty of reading opportunities. Starting with the decorated panels is interesting, then you need some patience to pick up more than 300 sts on each side of the panels, but once you get that done it's stockinette with only a couple of decreases along the way. The result is lovely and Isager Spinni is a great yarn to work with.




Mit diesem Posting kann ich das erste Mal bei RUMS (Rund ums Weib am Donnerstag) mitmachen!

Skerry cardigan is knit seamlessly from the bottom up with raglan shaping for sleeves. It features seed stitch edging in solid color and variegated body knitted with a textured yarn. Neckline is shaped with short rows. Add fake pockets for decoration or make real pockets, instructions for both are given. This is a quick knit in aran weight yarn, here Isager Aran Tweed, with just enough details to keep you interested. The unisex design works for boys and girls. Pattern has three sizes: 98/104 - 116/122 – 128/134 cm (3/4 – 5/6 – 6/8 y).

I came across some cute amigurumi crochet on Instagram and thought that it would be nice to crochet something similar, but I don't have time for something like that. I'm a serious knitter, after all. A couple of days later I realized that crocheted food would make a great Christmas present for Troll princess. At the moment, she is using pearls and slugs as food in her kitchen and getting rid of those small items scattered around her room would make everyone happy.

 There are so many amigurumi patterns on Ravelry that it was difficult to know what to start with. I narrowed the selection by choosing to go with fruit and veggies only. I want my kids to make healthy choices!


I've been adding one veggie at a time to the collection. These are fun projects, as it takes about an hour to make one so you can take a break from other projects and quickly finish something. I've been posting pics of the finished items on Instagram along the way, and Troll princess has seen many of the pics. The response has been exactly what I was hoping for: "Woolly mushroom! Mom, show me that pic of the woolly mushroom! Could you make one like that for me, please?".

This has been a very rewarding project for me as well. As I was pregnant with Young warrior almost 7 years ago, I took some old towels and used them to sew diapers for the baby. Two babies later I now cut the diaper fillings into small pieces and used them as filling for the toys. Not only did I get rid of some leftover yarns, but I also managed to re-recycle these old towels!

Another bonus: I learned crochet vocabulary in English, so I was able to translate my Korppi place mat pattern in English.


Thank you for sharing these patterns:

Look at this crap I made!
- Tomato, mushroom, bell pepper


Lion Brand yarns
- Eggplant, apple


Nyanpon's knit and crochet
- Leek, beet

Kristi Tullus
- Carrot

Sheep Dog's Fleece
- Cabbage

Johanna Karlsson
- Banana

PlanetJune
- Pear

I enjoyed making my first Knitting and reading post so much, that I'm going to make it a series. I don't want to post every week, as Ginny's yarn along would suggest, but a monthly series would provide the opportunity to look back and see what I was working on the month before and what new projects I have started.


For the next picture I wanted to pick a book that I'm reading for Young warrior, as the knitting is also for him. I'm working with Isager Aran tweed and it's a cardigan, also my second version of a new design, soon to be published. Jalmari Finne's Kiljuset is a Finnish children's classic, a collection of books that were first published in 1914-1925. It's funny to read such an old book, but at times you wonder if books like this could be written to children anymore. Like when the family goes to war. I'm surprised that my little ones (4 and 6 years old) are so happy listening to a book that doesn't even have pictures on all pages. We're on page 420 already, so it won't take long to finish. And the knitwear is supposed to be a Christmas present.



Iida Rauma's new book "Seksistä ja matematiikasta" was on the best books of 2015 list by Helsingin sanomat. While I'm on the library waiting list, I thought that I'd start with her debut novel "Katoamisten kirja" from 2011. So far so good. Every now and then I try to get a couple of rows of linen stitch worked in Quince & co Sparrow. What is stopping me is that I'm working in three colors and the yarns are a big mess. I should sort it out properly, but instead I just pull enough out for the next row.


This poor vest in Novita Wool has been on my project inventory already in April, but it was started long before that time. But as Christmas is coming I decided that it's time to get this one wrapped for Business woman. With Knausgård's "Min Kamp" I'm on the third book.


Not exactly a novel, nor knitting in this picture, but to continue with Christmas gifts, the last picture shows two of them. The crochet fruit and vegetables are for my Troll princess and I'll be sharing a whole bunch of them with you soon. Just adding a beet root and some salad before that. And what comes to Cuba, well, let's put it this way: I know what I'm getting for Christmas!

Since last month's post I have finished Laura Lehtola's Pelkääjän paikalla, but the yellow cardigan is on hold. I finished the Helmipöllö beanie and scarf, but Zadie Smith is still waiting for the right mood. Robin pullover is almost done, Juha Itkonen not so. I have added a couple of rows on my blanket and read Pirkko Saisio's Signaali. Sparrow cardigan is finished, but both Putin books still waiting. And Pine cardigan is still waiting for needles from another project.

Keeping calm and crafting on, also taking part in KCCO.

Pikkutylli ("Little Ringed Plover") cardigan is designed for a newborn. Knitted from top down in one piece, it has no seams or buttons that would press against delicate skin. The cardigan is tied with thin crocheted cords that will not make a big lump in a baby's armpit. This is a fast knit, and the construction will keep your interest in it for the short while that it takes to knit this.


If you are not familiar with adding crocheted strands on a knitted item, I have made an instruction video for that part. The video shows how you can avoid weaving in the ends while crocheting the strands.


The background for this design is in my experience with babies. All babies like to be held on someone's shoulder, facing backwards. Another favorite position is to be on someone's arm, facing away from the person holding the baby (place the baby on your arm, facing down, your arm going between the baby's head and shoulder, and grab the top leg pulling it in a "frog" position and you are sure to have a happy baby - and a free hand to do chores while holding the baby). If you're not holding the baby, they are usually happiest lying on their stomach. What is common to all these positions is that there should be no buttons in the front of the garment the baby is wearing, and this is where the idea for this design comes from.

This project had a long lead time. A friend of mine gave birth to twin girls in May, and I made a plan to visit them in July. I even bought the yarns in May already. But then I wasn't sure what I wanted to knit for the baby girls. Slowly the design started evolving in my head, and I started by making the first swatch in June. This project involved plenty of prototyping, however, and all of a sudden I noticed that I have two days left and this is what the project looks like:


Well, nothing works like a little time pressure and I was able to finish the fourth prototype the day before leaving. This time I finally had the fit I had envisioned, so then it was just about writing notes and knitting the second cardigan for the rest of that day. I had to write the pattern as well before leaving, as I would be giving the samples to the little babies during the trip!

The yarn I chose was Novita puuvilla-bambu, a 50-50 cotton - bamboo mix. The yarn is soft and makes a lovely knit for a baby. However, you need to pay attention while knitting, as the plies come apart easily and you will notice having knitted only half of a stitch.

As winter is coming, I wanted to try the pattern with a wool yarn as well. It also seems, that there's a sudden baby boom around me, so there are plenty of recipients for these small newborn knits. This winter version was made with Drops Merino Extra Fine. This one, as well, was given to a tiny newborn before I got a chance to take a picture of the finished item.