SámiCradleHat

I made a traditional style SámiCradleHat. It is an infant hat called "komsiolakki" in Finnish. Lakki means a hat. Komsio is a special Sámi type of cradle made of wood and leather. You can carry it or hang it for example from a roof. It is made for the baby's sleep but also to protect the baby.

Opposite to the tradition, it has a merino wool lining that is left over material from the tube scarf project. According to the tradition it has traditional Forest Sámi decoration style.

Above the ear, on the both sides of the head, it has a small decoration for the protection of the baby. Can you spot the red and green squares? Can you spot the hole in the green square? Previously I told you the holes crate the place where noidi/shaman can travel between the worlds (present here for us alive ones, above for gods and below for the dead ones). The holes create also the spots where the evil can be driven away so that it can't master you or start to live in you or get attached to you in any way. It just goes through like a wind. This symbolic traditional figure creates a huge blessing for the new born baby. Gods and ancestors can come to protect the baby and evil can't catch the baby. That's why the symbolic holes are on the both sides of the head.

The figure on the top of the head is a personal blessing for the baby. It represents the sun, the water and the reflection of the sun on the water surface. So, there is that reflection to chase the evil away despite there is not any shining elements like glass or silver. By this blessing I send sunshine and safety for the baby's life.

AutmnColors

Earlier this month I dyed by Natural Indigo these 700g of our own snag grey AAW yarn (50% our own ethic produced arctic angora wool, 40% ethic produced FinnSheep wool, 10% nylon)  (100g = 238m). Today I brought them to my mother-in-law. She wants to knit me a long wool dress. I can't wait it to be ready!

Today we took Nuka...

...and Pii for a break out walk from hunting.

We went for a walk around the bay.

It is very beautiful out there!

This week I also received a souvenir from the woods. He brought me an abandoned wasp nest which He had noticed while hunting for the food for us.

Lately

What special I've done lately? Well, you know how my summer went with Poor Pii. That's why our garden has been left mostly on its own. With arriving autumn and the fact that so far Poor Pii has not needed another surgery, we have had time to gardening and harvesting. Also, I have accepted the fact that everything planned for this summer can't be finished because we really don't have long summer. Today I woke up with +2 Celsius degrees. I am not fighting against it what I can't change. Also, I have chosen to look after Poor Pii instead of paying attention on something else. Some things have been done and one of them was to put the winter lights on. No solar ones because there is no enough daylight to load the batteries. That's why we use the led lights and electricity.  

I have received few special gifts that are meant to be taken to a seita. They were handed to me so I brought them to my home seita. It means it locates on my property and is in my family private use. That white stone in the pic is Milky Quartz. We call it literally Snow Quartz or rather Ukonkivi which means something like Thunder God's Stone. Our home seita is very important to me and provides me a great place to thank about something. 

I've also had some gluten free sweets. If you are visiting Finland and seek some safe & gluten free sweets there are not many choices. My favorite are Pirteät Kirpeät Aakkoset or Choco Aakkoset. aakkoset means alphabets and the name comes from it that each sweet has an alphabet on it. When we were kids we tried to share the sweets by words. 😃 The glass bowl is very traditional Finnish design and it really has been my favorite since childhood. It is Finnish design by Iittala and it is called Ultima Thule. I love it in bright glass shade because it really reminds melting ice on a long but warm spring time. Ultima Thule is something you inherit. Ice is very interesting element, lika human nature. It can be sharp, soft, cold and warm... even all at the same time.

I've learnt also a new method. We'll, not a new one, I've done cupping therapy before. But I have learnt to use glass cups instead of silicone. I had to because I found these glass cups at a charity shop. It was the whole pack and cost only 15 €. You can't pass by such a bargain, especially if you have only 4 silicone cups and they are all different size! So, now I am practicing to use glass cups for the cupping therapy. I am also learning not to break them. So far no damages!

We can have many opinions about cupping. I take it as a physiological relief for the muscles, muscular relaxation and as a bonus you may have also your mind a bit more relaxed. I never use the puncture in cupping. There is no need to that. You get the benefits anyway. 

OMG

My colleague at work faced a horrible disaster last spring. She had put her French cardigan to hang outside to make the air to clean the wool. That is how you clean woolen garments. You put them outside to air and they get clean! This time she noticed someone had ate her beautiful cardigan! At the end she found out it was birds who had started nesting and needed something warm to build their nest. We both agree there must be very romantic baby girl tits in the world now! Princess like. She asked if I could do anything with the holes.

Well, I can always patch them. For the patching I used DMC stranded cotton embroidery thread. To make it more firm and not stretching. I wanted to create a base for something. See...

The cardigan had hang from the hanger on which the tits hand been sitting and peck fibers out from the garment. That's why both shoulders had faced the disaster but no other parts. 

To hide the patching I did some freehand embroidery over the shoulders.

It is mohair cardigan so I used mohair yarn for the embroidery. In this way she could at least wear it at home and cottage. But she liked it and is going to use it at work again.

This is FashionNOW. And also preserving memories. It was a gift she had received from a very important person in her life.

Notice: I have made a small Patching Wool -tutorial in 2014!

TubeScarf

I made a 100 % merino wool tube scarf for myself. I had one last winter. I visited at Oulu Theater and lost it there. It was with my jacket when I left it at the secured jacket service but it never returned. Merino wool tube scarves are pretty expensive: 25-30 €. That's why I started to find out how much it would cost to sew one.

I ordered some merino wool fabric from Germany because in Finland it is so creepy expensive. I was not quite sure which I liked and how it would turn out. At the end I made many merino wool tube scarves. These will be gifts for the family. 

You must be curious to read how much the home made merino wool tube scarf cost. 7€ for one!!! It doesn't take many minutes to cut and sew it. If you can sew, it is easy to save 20€ per one merino wool tube scarf. It really is the beginner level project!

YellowAutumnSet

I designed YellowAutumn mittens and headband. For the decoration I used two Single Cable chains. The yarn is Drops Air mix yarn (65% alpaca, 28% polyamide, 7% merino wool) ( 50g = 150m).

The mittens and twisted cross headband make a perfect match together. They are for the Yule 2026. My mother-in-law will have these then. 

YellowAutumnMittens

I designed and knit these beautiful Yellow Autumn mittens. They are decorated by single cables. I used Drops Air mix yarn (65% alpaca, 28% polyamide, 7% merino wool) ( 50g = 150m). I kind of like it. It has a special structure and it feels very soft. These are not for me.

SingleCable Headband No1

I designed and made this Aran Single Cable headband from the real true begin to the final end. It is a real FashionNOW product. Inspired by my Dublin journeys with very fashionable stripes in Aran knitiwear.

My friend used to have an arctic mix bred dog. She used to collect its loose hair for us to be used in our project where we collect arctic dog and Finn Sheep wool to get our own wool yarn OOW.

It has been a long term project because I have hand spun the last remaining wool of her dog whose last wool she gave me. She has no idea I have been making hand spun yarn for her made of 100% of her dear dog friend's wool. At the end, after finishing the spinning, I have plant dyed the yarn by mushrooms.

Then I figured out what on earth to do with it. I wanted to make something she can wear/use but something that will last. That's how I ended up making her SingleCable Headband No1. It is really thick because I made it double layered. It will warm her head and heart. She will receive this very soon as a birthday gift. 💝

TheBooks6

In this year ReadingChallenge I decided to show you what on Earth I read. In August I've read Jane Austen's Persuasion (in Finnish, mine). The original novel is from 1817 but this new translation is from 2024. Today Jane Austen brings into my mind all those covid-19 teenagers and young adults who supposed to learn to socialize at that time but all the restrictions failed those normal western style possibilities for it. Jane Austen would be something today's young adults could find quite close. Even there's 200 years between the time she lived and wrote and the world teenagers and young adults live today!

Wedge Heel No2

I designed and knit another wedge heel knitted woollen sock. For the leg of the sock I used plant dyed AAW yarn (50% our own ethic produced arctic angora wool, 40% ethic produced FinnSheep wool, 10% nylon)  (100g = 238m). The shades are from Surprise Webcap (Cortinarius semisanguineus), tea and fire weed. For the foot part I used dark brown Nako yarn (75 % wool, 25 % polyamide) (100g = 200m).

This differs from Wedge Heel No1 because this one has similar style heel knitting and stitches compared to Dutch Heel No1 (trad.). That's why this heel is stronger than the Wedge Heel No1. It also stays on better and perhaps creates a small healing compression on aching angles. But it is not -in my opinion- pretty at all in any way. It would look better if the rib stitch (knit 2 - purl 2) would reach all the way to the toes.

Wedge Heel No1

I designed and knit wedge heel knitted woollen socks. For the leg of the sock I used plant dyed AAW yarn (50% our own ethic produced arctic angora wool, 40% ethic produced FinnSheep wool, 10% nylon)  (100g = 238m). The shades are from Surprise Webcap (Cortinarius semisanguineus) and tea. For the foot part I used dark brown Nako yarn (75 % wool, 25 % polyamide) (100g = 200m). I have never before used Nako yarn so I really have no idea will it be good or not.

This was the 1st time for me to knit this wedge heel. It is not suitable for boots and active use. But I see it very useful for the ones who stay mainly at home in a quiet life or bed at nursery home with swelled up angles and feet.

FinnishNatureDay

Today, every last Saturday of August in Finland, it is a flag-flying day for the nature of Finland. It is called Finnish Nature Day. Yes, the nature has such a big and important role in the lives of people living in Finland that it is put on a calendar as a flag-flying day. 

What the nature means to me? Well, to me it firstly is a place which we all should cherish, respect, protect, keep safe and live in peace with. Because to me it is the source of traditional sustainable life style. To me it provides for example food, sanctuary, materials and inspiration. To me it is a place also to practice my religion.

Let's live in peace with the nature!

PS. From this picture you can see why we have 8 seasons. One on 8 seasons is "syyskesä". Literally it means autumn-summer. The photo is taken in late August. It is turning in the autumn colors but they days might still have warm spirit -or not. On this picture you can see the autumn stands on the door way and has already placed one foot in.

AranHeadband No2

I made another my own design Aran Chain Cable twisted headband. I used AAW (50% our own ethic produced arctic angora wool, 40% ethic produced FinnSheep wool, 10% nylon) yarn in plant dyed cochineal shade.

Next weekend I will have a free local workshop at my work about this Aran Chain Cable knitting. At Tornio, Finland there will be historical street festival every year. Past years it has been held at the end of August. It is called Peräpohjolan markkinat. It is worth of visiting.

I think at this point making the twisted knot for the head band looks better. So, if making this, try to match the knot by the small cable turns.

I am here

This week card is "I am here". Again I made you a picture of my own. "I am here" echoes in my mind a selfish but healthy concentration on the moment and presence. To slow down and notice the little moments that create happiness. But also enjoy about the little moments without any burden of gratefulness or anything. Just be there where you are and see it. BUT this also echoes in my mind as "I am here... for you". To me this really echoes the last week's card Friends. I am here for me but I can be here also for someone else. Like some creatures are here for me. We all need it that someone keeps their eye on us and watches us an look after us. Pushes us away before the falling tree hits us. The story of this picture is that where ever I take a nap I often wake up someone keeping the eye on me. This pic is taken on a moment when I just woke up sleeping on the floor, someone else on the bed and Pii watching me under the bed. 💕

Tomato Heel

I designed and knit Tomato Heel woollen socks for a child. I used Kotikulta's Tuokio yarn (75% wool, 25% polyamide) (100g = 200m) in red shade. The multicolored yarn in the stripes is the last left over yarn from Aurora socks. It is Novita 7 veljestä yarn (75% wool, 25% polyamide) (100g = 200m) and its shade is Aurora.

If you ever made German Short Row Heel, for sure you can make this. You make the short rows only to the half way and repeat it three times to get 3 short row reducing points.

This was my 1st time to knit Tomato Heel. I kind of liked it. It is suitable for children socks and for the ones who mainly rest when wearing these woollen socks. The name comes from it that the heel looks like a half of tomato!

SallaWilderness

I had a night over visit at Salla, Finland. I was with Him and instead of staying at friends or private cottages we decided to try out Salla Wilderness Lodges. We wanted to have some luxury. 

I have never stayed in a lodge like this: but I must confess I fell in love with the huge window. It is like sleeping outside but without mosquito, cold or rain. If you want to try out sleeping outside but are a bit cry baby, try this! Closer you can't get the real feeling.

The lodges are not big but enough for a couple or close friends. There are even small kitchen equipment. I love it that there is no TV or wifi. You can concentrate on the main point.

But the breakfast they serve at the restaurant is served also as gluten free. That is something I can warmly recommend even you'd stay somewhere else.

There is a sauna in every lodge with adjustable heat. I can get it hot enough and you can keep it a bit more low degrees.

You can see outside from sauna and enjoy the view. It all is small but very practical and well designed.

You don't need TV or internet there. Just old fashion book is enough when you need to lay down and rest your feet. Salla Wilderness Lodges are in a great location just by the Salla National Park by the Salla Wilderness Park.

The reason why I chose this lodge was the jacuzzi. For the last time I've been in a jacuzzi is 2018 in Svalbard. It is not environmental thing but if you go once in 7 years that is just fine I think. Especially if you have eco-friendly life style in your normal daily life.