ConnieLene – KnitDesigner

But I have started a project – The Family Tree – trying to find my extensive family from all over the world. We are so widespread – over Denmark, New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands and the USA, and there may be other places to add where the family has or is still – such as a hint of link to France and there are some who may have gone to Sweden. Who knows what we will find out there.

I am still knitting – but the family tree has become a little obsessive – so this little post is to get me back on track.

So as I am looking at Danish things on the internet, that is the family connections and so on – What shall I do about my knitting – that is the question? I need to complete the knit projects that are on the needles – before I fly to New Zealand for a month very soon – like within 7 days even. Don’t I?

Well I could add some hints to things Danish in my knitting, like my Danish Shawls – to pull me back, to refocus me, couldn’t I?

And I could also list what needs to be done in the knitting part of my life again. I could, couldn’t I.

The trouble is the list is too long just now. Maybe I will have to take my knit obsession with me to New Zealand as well.

Now that could work.

I have received some suggestions regarding my patterns so I will be adding the following patterns on to Unique Boutique Knits on Etsy over the next couple of weeks. I hope you will take a look.

2 Danish Shawls – done and photographed, well one is done, the other still needs to have its 2 colour crochet edge added.

2 beanies for boys – done

Some Photographs – done, but I do wish I had a real live model. My grey mannequin – looks like she has fish skin and that her skin needs lots of moisturiser, my black mannequin doesn’t have proper shoulders, although she does looks great in hats – as long as the hat is not also black.

I have added 3 pieces to Ravelry and done some work on the setup of the Etsy shops.

And I am working on Carbon Footprint knitted Bag pattern – maybe one of my ball covers should be carbon footprints???

No I might just stick to Black and White.

I have just looked at my pile, no, my mountain of UFO’s. So the sweater or jacket will have to wait until the new year. In the meantime I am finishing my unfinished pieces.

3 x Danish Shawls
4 x Moebius scarves
6 x Capes requiring buttons, trims, etc
1 x large bed cover – Christmas present
and 2 pairs of red socks to be created by Christmas – and I have not started them as yet, and they are orders, family orders but still orders.
and 2 hats to be created for 2 boys – also Christmas presents
and 1 cardigan to be completed which could be a Christmas present. It was indirectly a request, and the colours were chosen in April, and I started knitting it then – but it is too stripey in design as per request, and I am not in love with it. I love the colours, I just cannot get into these stripes – too formal, not challenging, not interesting but I shall venture on, maybe add some other colours, maybe slip in some intarsia or even try some fair Isle.

The big thing is that my very own magically coloured, intarstia knit, free form, creation, in many yarns, is not going to get a look in for a while.

I have never never made, knitted, created a pair of socks before either – too many challenges and not enough time.

On our holiday in Denmark, in August, we were taken to the Old Town (Den Gamle By), by Anne and Michelle where I discovered (or rediscovered) the Danish shawl – and I have made 4 so far – just to see how they work. I have played with the shape and number of Yarn Over increases to see how I can modernise it as the original is wrapped around at the waist and tied at the front which is absolutely charming, but not too modern looking.

The Danish Shawl is not a true triangle – The long edge is curved, which makes it sit well over the shoulders.

The first one I started at the point and increased only on the sides – and of course, as I knew it would – it created a true triangle. I knitted it in gorgeous purples/blues in SandnesGarn (from Norway), yarns that I purchased in the north of Denmark. That was for Natasha

I then looked for a pattern and found the Osark shawl – and have been playing with that. My first attempt is not even worthy of a photo, the shape looked like a salmon steak – not the colour – but the resulting shape was too long and not wide enough. It will be unraveled at some time. But it gave me a starting point.

My next was okay, I have not added the 2 colour crochet edging as yet. I used a grey/fawn 100 % natural yarn with a variegated New Zealand yarn from Manukau Knitting Mills.

The latest shawl / scarf I have created had increases – by single Yarn Overs at the 2 side edges as well as up the middle and has been knitted with a variety of 4 ply yarns which has included sock yarn, Rowan kidsilk haze, Rowan 4 ply Botany and some other odd scraps. The bell ruffle edge I used is from a pattern by Jane Sowerby. I love the resulting shawl/scarf and will create fingerless gloves to go with it. (That means double pointed needles – very scary !!).

I have aready created the hat using the same yarns last winter.

It is amazing what knitting opportunities there are when you live in the Northern Climes as opposed to New Zealand.

A pattern will be created.