PinkBabySocks

 

I designed and knit tiny FairIsle style woollen socks for my GrandDaughter. I used Novita's Natural Collection Merino 4 ply yarn (100% merino wool) (50g = 230m).

Actually, the finished pair was just exactly her size. So, I opened the toe parts and knit one FairIsle decoration stripes for each sock and ta-dah, the socks turn out bigger. This is, by the way, excellent idea to make socks for babies and toddlers. They don't walk so much yet or at all, when wearing the woollen socks. But they grow fast. If you need to save your time (and yarn) this is an excellent way to make bigger socks.

For the baby and mom. These are already in use. AAW Mittens No6 I knit earlier. I am not a pink person but these pink shades I like. The shades are rather sugar dust covered candy pink than bright, pastel or neon pink.

MyTime

One of my dearest hobbies is making jigsaw puzzles. It has been almost two years since I had time for puzzles for the last time.

I received this turtle puzzle as a gift from my dear friend far too many months ago. It has been waiting in its bag on my desk since that. I started January 2023 with this.

I love the smart cut pieces of it. Finding the right piece is always a pleasure. When you realize it has a very special shape it brings extra joy!

In January I started -and was able to complete- another jigsaw puzzle. This one has 1000 pieces. There are several things that enchants me in making jigsaw puzzles. 

The first charming thing in jigsaw puzzles are the details. They say the devil lives in the details. But I love the details. At museum you would never investigate a piece of art as long as you spent with it when making a puzzle that represents it. You find all the wonderful details you would miss when just walking by or admiring it for a moment.

The second charming thing is mindfulness. I always make puzzles in silent. My mind just rests in it. It makes so good on my mental health. It is like mindfulness and meditation.

The third charming reason is to make something absolutely vain, unnecessary and useless. In this world we must always be so damn productive and efficient. It feels so good to take the finished jigsaw puzzle back to 1000 pieces and just wipe away the hours you spent on it. It is like a secret of lazy unproductive moments you sneaked to do and could not care less. Of  course it makes good to your mind, heart and soul in this busy busy world.

This Polish Trefl's puzzle is good quality. It is Winter Landscape by Dominic Davison. The sky is always a bit challenging but still very satisfying. 

I already picked up another jigsaw puzzle to work with. I started this set of two with YoungLady in spring 2021. The pack includes Czes Pachela`s Christmas Village and Macneil's Ice Skating on The Pond.

We just started Christmas Village but had to stop quite soon. It has been in the box like this since that. Now I will finish it.

At the end, the true reason for me making jigsaw puzzles is to make TheCat sit on them! Every now and then we have a strict conversations about it can She do so or not. The best ever solution for the cat tail wipe problems, playful paws and fast & sudden runs over it all is the storage box set Santa Claus brought me on Yule 2022! It is so easy to work with the puzzle (and TheCat) now when I have these puzzle boxes! I used to use all kind of kitchenware plastic boxes but these are absolutely the most practical ones!

Felt Mittens No1

I designed and knit felt mittens. I used Schachenmayr's special edition Wash+Filz-it! Fine Multicolor yarn (100% virgin wool) (100g = 200m). I felt them in washing machine (40  Celsius degrees, 1200 rpm).

Isn't it just beautiful yarn! The mittens are not to meant look the same. Very simple design for a special yarn.

AAW Mittens No6

 

I designed and knit simple plain mittens of AAW (50% our own ethic produced arctic angora wool, 40% ethic produced FinnSheep wool and 10% nylon) (100g = 238m). I made two pairs in two different size. They both have similar amount of stitches. I just used knitting needles size 2,5 mm for one and size 2,75 mm for the other. Such a small difference in the needle size create even visible difference in the practical and actual size.

Baby Luuhka

On 2022 I was asked to make a baby luuhka. Luuhka is a part of Sámi clothing. There are no baby size luuhka patterns available. According to old pictures I drawn the pattern and graded it to be suitable for babies, toddlers and small children. 

Old fashion Forest Sámi luuhka doesn't include the hood. In modern times people wish it to have one so I made it also to the baby luuhka. When it is in the pattern, it is easy just to include or exclude it.

Despite it was me who created the pattern, graded the pattern and sew the first two luuhkas in two different sizes, this was a community project of our siida. Someones had the idea, one included some left over fabric. Few others helped with the decoration style investigation. The others participated in many other ways doing the community work for our siida.  

Pics below are prototypes of Forest Sámi baby luuhka that I made at the end of the summer 2022. They are gifts for a new Forest Sámi baby from our siida. They have been in use and tested. The pattern will face a small change in the future but here it is how it looks.

They both are made of wool fabric. The base color is dark marine. All the seams expect the neckline include forest green piping. See how adorable and cute they are! The decoration style can be chosen according to the location and family but it can't be anything that just pops into your mind. The base color can vary but rather to stay in traditional shades, which is always highly recommended in folk costumes.