Monday Morning in lace

I made this lace turtle neck pullover over 2.5 years ago and have used it a lot. Now I’ve finally managed to write the pattern for it! And am of course looking for test knitters for the pattern :)

Sizes: XS – S – M – L – XL – XXL to fit bust Circ 70 – 80 – 90 – 100 – 110 – 120 cm (28 – 32 – 36 – 40 – 44 – 48”)
Gauge: 10 x 10 cm (4”) = 28 sts and 40 rows
Yarn weight: fingering
Deadline: January 31^st, 2016
More in my Ravelry groups Monday Morning Pullover test thread.

Monday Morning Pullover is a lace pullover worked from top down in one piece without any seams. Effortless, stylish and timeless.

Pattern has a charted, but pretty easy, lace pattern. Includes also an option for wider hips made with lace darts.

Test knitters wanted again: Eufrosyyne jacket

Sizes: S – M – L – XL – XXL – 3XL to fit bust Circ 80 – 90 – 100 – 110 – 120 – 130 cm (32 – 36 – 40 – 44 – 48 – 52”)
Gauge: 10 x 10 cm (4”) = 20 sts and 26 rows
Yarn weight: sport/DK
Deadline: February 14th, 2016
More in my groups test thread.

Eufrosyyne is worked top down without any seams. The garter stitch collar continues as a frame through the whole hem and with optional fringes.

So this jacket that is named after my ancestor and is inspired by Finnish folklore. The stranded knitted stripe on the hem is a modification of traditional Finnish embroidery called “red embroidery”. (Here is one example of traditional red embroidery.)

This project has been a whole lot of work… I got the idea about a year ago and started to work with the first version of the jacket in the beginning of this year. The first one looked like this:

I wasn’t happy with it at all. The yarn wasn’t smooth enough… and the construction didn’t work in reality as I had imagined in my mind; there’s too much fabric in the front. I didn’t even like the first version of my stranded pattern. So I did some new calculations, modified the stranded pattern and started all over.

This time I also graded the pattern ahead and made the next version for a dear friend. I was really happy with the look on this one:

And of course I wanted my own version of the jacket! I ordered some really nice yarn and started to work with my own piece… only to once again notice that my yarn wasn’t suitable. This time it was way too thin. – The yarn has been used though to something else that I’m going to reveal shortly ;)

So I re-wrote the pattern once more, now for a whole new yarn weight. And this time my Eufrosyyne is spot on!

If you would like to test knit the pattern, follow this link to my Ravelry group where you’ll find more details about the pattern and a link further to a page where I’ve gathered some basic information about how I run my tests :)

Edit 13.10.2015: Ohjeen raakile käännetty nyt myös suomeksi!

Styling Ruusa Cardigan

Even if Ruusa Cardigan has a folkloric feel and could be associated with traditional folk costumes it can be styled and worn with modern (maybe even fashionable ;D) clothes and accessories:

My brown version is at its best with the only two dresses with yellow in my closet.

And the grey one… apparently it can be matched with anything:

So far my absolute favorite though is pairing it with jeans. Plain and simple, yet stylish :)

You can buy your own Ruusa Cardigan pattern for 6 € by simply clicking this button -> 

#Finnderful = Finnish + wonderful

#Finnderful talkoista, osallistumisesta ja sanan levittämisestä löydät lisää tietoa täältä. Muistathan osallistuessasi kirjoittaa myös jollain muulla kielellä kuin suomeksi niin, että sana oikeasti kiirii myös Suomen rajojen ulkopuolelle :)

Finland is a pretty damn competent nation with highly skilled and talented people. Unfortunately the world outside our borders doesn’t know about it enough… yet… So I’m doing my bit by promoting some of my favorite Finnish designs, products and producers who I know have their whole production process done within our country and therefore are absolutely 100% Finnish.

In the order I have got familiar with these design brands:

1 Succaplokki

My collection of Succaplokki knitting accessories, well almost all of it… some things are in use or lurking somewhere in my apartment. This is a brand that every serious knitter should already know about! And if for some reason don’t know it yet, go here and get mesmerized!

My absolute favorites that I use all the time are Silmuccaruutu – Gauge Checker, Wippi –WPI-tool and Renculat stitch markers that were collaboration with Aleksi, man behind the brand, and especially designed for my pattern writing purposes, but they are also great to have when working with my patterns. – I have actually bought more of Succaplokki accessories than I own since they are just the best gifts for knitting friends!

2 Nouseva Myrsky

In picture also my Akustiina pattern

5 €

One of my absolutely favourite and most used jewelry is Musta puu necklace that is made of recycled bicycle inner tube by Nouseva Myrsky. The necklace isn’t any more in production, but Liisa Tuimala, woman behind the brand, has since designed and released a new similar necklace as her signature jewelry.

You don’t want to miss this shop full of wonderful designs made in recycled materials. – Oh and by the way, my Hulda Jacket is in the newest promo pictures ;)

3 Arctips wool felt Lappish boots – Töysä shoe factory

Arctips are a mix of tradition and modern thinking. The design is based on the traditional Lappish boots but they are made in thick felted wool. They are not just very hip and stylish but also unbelievably comfortable. And sooo warm! The only footwear I can think of that will keep my toes warm during our coldest wintertime when it can be below -25 C degrees (-13 F) outside. I’ve worn my Arctips in about -20 C (-4 F) but also when it’s only 0 C (32 F) and slush outside… and the boots have kept my feet warm and dry!

Get your own pair of these magnificent boots here!

4 Tukuwool Fingering from Tukuwool

Love at first touch! And even deeper love when working with the yarn for my Ruusa Cardigan pattern:

6 €

Tukuwool is a Finnish company producing Finnish yarn from 100% Finnish wool that is spun and dyed in Finland. Check out Tukuwool online shop here!

5 Tomppa the Gay Matryoshka from Susannan Työhuone

I have a hand printed cleaning cloth with Tomppa the Gay Matryoshka that is made by Finnish Susannan Työhuone. I’m a bit ashamed to admit that I haven’t used my cloth yet… it is so stylish just hanging beside my kitchen sink and I can’t bear the thought of making it dirty! I might have to get me another one from here, so I can use one for cleaning and just admire the other one :)

You can find more Tomppa products over here and don’t forget to follow him on Instagram and Facebook!

___

Worth mentionin are also some fantastic indie dyers: Knitlob's Lair, Handu, Hopeasäie and InayaCreations whose yarns I’ve knitted with a great satisfaction and am more than happy to recommend.

To find some more fantastic Finnish design around the social media searh for tag  #Finnderful - And yes, my patterns are also 100% Finnish ;D

Pyromaanin kuitutestaus

Multa löytyy kodin kätköistä isot kasat mysteerilankoja, joiden alkuperää en välttämättä edes muista… mutta myös ihan itse hankittuja, koska olen outo ja pidän haasteista :) Mysteerilangoiksi lasken siis kaikki joista puuttuu vyötteet ja näin ollen tarkempi kuitusisältö. Täydellistä kuitusisältöä on melkein mahdotonta kotioloissa määrittää, koska useimmiten neulelangat ovat sekoituksia, mutta hyvä lähtökohta on polttotesti:

POLTTOTESTI

Pyromaanileikit tarvitsevat ehdottomasti turvalliset puitteet! Mieluiten laboratorio-olosuhteet tuulikaapilla… kotikonstein harvemmin on mahdollisuutta näin kliinisiin testauksiin eli huolehdi siitä, että polttelet kuituja erittäin hyvin ilmastoidussa tilassa. Mieluiten vaikka ulkona tuulelta suojassa ja kunnon sammutusvehkeet käsien ulottuvilla.

Käytä metallisia pinsettejä (tai vanhoja eläkkeelle jääneitä grillipihtejä, joita ei enää käytetä ruuan laitossa) kuitujen kiinni pitämiseen ja polta kuitua vedellä täytetyn astian yllä.

Ja se tärkein työväline on KÄYTÄNNÖN JÄRKI! Ellei sitä ole, niin et saa ruveta polttelemaan yhtikäs mitään!

LUONNONKUIDUT

Eläinkuidut

Villa, kuten lammas, alpakka, kashmir, laama, mohair

• palojälkiä 120 C 
• ei niin helposti syttyvä, vaan kihartuu liekistä poispäin
• palaa hitaasti 
• ei jää kytemään liekin sammuttua
• tuhka on hiekkamaista jauhetta tai tumma, hauras ja helposti murskattava hiilikokkare
• ei juurikaan synnytä savua
• haisee palaneilta hiuksilta

Silkki palaa melkein kuin villa, mutta

• palojälkiä 170 C 
• hehkuva hiilijäänne
• haisee palaneilta höyheniltä

Kasvikuidut kuten puuvilla, pellava, rami, juutti ja hamppu 

• syttyvät helposti
• palavat nopeasti
• leimahdusvaara
• savu on vaaleaa tai valkoista 
• liekin sammuttua jättää hehkuvan hiilen
• tuhka on vaalean harmaata tai valkoista ja erittäin pehmeää
• puuvilla, pellava ja rami haisevat palaneelle paperille tai lehdille ja juutti sekä hamppu palaneelle ruoholle tai puulle

TEKOKUIDUT

Muuntokuidut kuten viskoosi (myös bambu) palavaa pääosin kuten kasvikuidut, paitsi ilman liekkiä ja muodostaa vaarallisia höyryjä

Synteettiset kuidut kuten nailon, polyesteri ja akryyli

• syttyvät helposti
• palavat nopeasti
• palavat edelleen liekin sammuttua
• savu on mustaa
• muodostavat vaarallisia höyryjä
• sulavat ja voivat tiputtaa jäänteitä
• jättävät kovan muovikokkareen
• nailon haisee palaneelle muoville tai mahdollisesti sellerille, polyesteri tuoksahtaa makean kemialliselta ja akryylilla on vahva ja kitkerä kemiallinen haju mutta voi myös haista kurkumalle ja palaneelle lihalle

Näillä tiedoilla saa ainakin selville onko mysteerilanka luonnonkuitu vai tekokuitu, tai onko kaksisäkeisessä meleeratussa langassa toinen säie vaikka villaa ja toinen jotain synteettistä… saa siis ainakin ratkaistua osan mysteeristä :)