Lansingerland

Grolse trui - Groenlo sweater

2012-02-01T16:03:00.002+01:00

Also in Knit issue 46 - this sweater. Adapted the Groenlo mitten motif and played with the colours. The pattern looks Nordic, but is in fact Dutch. Wietse is modeling...

ook in Knit issue 46: deze trui. Heb hiervoor het Grolse patroon aangepast, en met de kleuren gespeeld. Het patroon lijkt scandinavisch, maar is het niet. Zoon Wietse showt de trui.

Alpaca and Merino

2012-01-24T13:33:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I took some time to dye a little bit of Alpaca/Merino. 3 strings of 30 grams each (approx 160 meters) turned out really nice in this shade of blue.

Preview of issue 46

2012-01-18T18:39:00.002+01:00

You have to take a look at this blog... Knit 46 Preview The socks are mine!

To order this issue: go here

If you metion this code - C5L50ZA9 , you'll get a discount of 10% as well....

Crochet - haakwerk

2012-01-16T11:23:00.003+01:00

From time to time left over sock yarns are piling up at home. I got the urge to do something with these and started to crochet... goal is to make a blanket out of them, and this is just the beginning.

Van tijd tot tijd stapelen de restantjes sokkengaren zich op. Ik ben een poosje terug begonnen met het ophaken van deze restantjes, met als doel er ooit een deken van te maken. Dit is dus pas het begin.

A question...

2012-01-11T07:35:00.001+01:00

Just out of curiosity: Has anyone ever cast on 256 sts for socks?

Surprise

2011-12-30T12:14:00.002+01:00

This time not for me, but for my husband... The company he works for surprised him with an enormous bunch of flowers, as he is cellebrating his 5th anniversary in security! Wonderful way to finish 2011 and start the new year!

free patterns

2011-12-23T08:13:00.002+01:00

one from me too... Take a look! Merry Christmas!

Martina Shawl

2011-12-17T16:29:00.004+01:00

Yes... I fell off my knitting chair. :-) The shawl, named after my father's oldest sister is in fact crocheted with cobweb yarn from Jamieson and Smith. Still hard to believe it would become the cover model for Inside Crochet - in the United Kingdom it will be in stores around Dec 30

Photo courtesy: Inside Crochet - all rights belong to them!

Where has this month gone?

2011-11-30T13:36:00.003+01:00

Time really went fast this month. Ups and downs, sickness and health and way too much to do still before holiday month starts. Birthday people: Son Steven turned 18 on the 18th, father in law 82 on the 20th.

Images showing a hat and mitten set, made out of Hifa 2ply Ullgarn in red and white. 400 meters were used in total for the set.

More photos - meer foto's

2011-11-10T09:10:00.004+01:00

from 5-11-2011.

The first image: Knitting can be done anywhere, even on a packed couch

Arne and Carlos signed books and patterns right after the show. Marja was talking to Carlos, while Arne signed my pattern...

and the scan proves: Arne and Carlos are wishing a Merry Christmas

Meer foto's van 5-11

Eerste foto: Breien kun je overal - zelfs op een volgestapelde bank.

Arne en Carlos signeerden na de show van Paul de Leeuw. Terwijl Arne mijn patroon signeert praat Carlos met Marja.

De scan levert het bewijs - Arne en Carlos wensen mij prettige kerstdagen.

Pau!l - 5-11-2011

2011-11-08T14:14:00.005+01:00

I found this fragment on Youtube. Arne and Carlos, known in The Netherlands for their book Kerstballen breien (knit Christmas ornaments) were guests in Pau!l. Norwegian singer Maria Mena was there too.

I was asked to come and help cast on 450x + knit the first 3 rounds of Christmas ornaments, a job that was done in 3 hours of time. Together with 20 others we helped Marja ( she imports and represents Järbro yarn from Sweden to our country) After this we were guests in the show - all placed in a group on the third row in the middle of the studio.

The camera captured me quite often (visible mostly in the down left corner)... and we sure had a lot of fun!

Photos...

Thursday Inspiration - Donderdag inspiratie

2011-10-27T14:35:00.002+02:00

Yesterday Johan and I went to a concert. For me it was the first time in 17 years that I was able to go to a concert... (last one I saw was Pink Floyd in De Kuip in 1994). De Kast - a band from Friesland played a reprise of last year's "Welkom Thuis tour"(welkom thuis = welcome home), in theatre Oude Luxor in Rotterdam. We had a spot front-row, in the middle... For this nutty designer the right place to watch the members of the band... (hands, feet especially hahaha - if I want I can make them all a pair of socks or gloves)

Words can not describe the atmosphere - the band played exceptionally well. You just had to be there!!!!! I have been watching Peter van der Ploeg for a while, that man plays guitar in an amazing way. For me, he is in my top 5 of best guitar players in the world.

Syb has a golden voice. Simple. Disagree with me, I don't care, but in my book, he is the best. I never expected him to sing so high in one song... and with other songs he got the entire public singing along. Tracks from their latest album were played, as well as hits, both in Dutch, as in Frisian... The band created an evening filled with music, that will keep sizzling and playing in our minds for the coming time!

Oh... the image... after the concert the band took the time to sign - in our case the inlay of their latest CD. A rare opportunity to talk with the band - and to thank them for the music. The Knit Magazine just arrived - the orange socks will be in next month's issue. (Challenge in Orange - issue 44 will be in stores Nov 30). The red WIP will stay a surprise until issue 46.

~!~

Gisteren met mijn echtgenoot naar het Oude Luxor in Rotterdam geweest. De Kast trad daar op - en dit concert is de eerste in de reprise of de Welkom Thuis tour. Het laatste concert wat ik had gezien was inmiddels 17 jaar geleden (Pink Floyd in De Kuip, 1994), dus toen Johan vertelde dat De Kast kwam, waren de kaarten al snel gekocht.

En wij hadden de beste plaatsen! Ik ga niet vertellen wat ze allemaal gespeeld hebben - (er komen meer concerten - ga gerust kijken!) Raar genoeg heb ik in de eerste minuten de bandleden goed in mij opgenomen. Met name handen en voeten - dit zal wel een designer-tic zijn. In theorie zou ik zo voor de hele band een paar sokken kunnen breien. (hahaha)

Peter van der Ploeg trok wel de aandacht. Wat die man doet met zijn gitaren is fenomenaal. Je zou hem zo bij de groten der aarde neer kunnen zetten - hij speelt ze letterlijk allemaal plat. Ik heb met verbazing zitten kijken en luisteren moet ik zeggen.

Ook Syb - met zijn gouden stem - verbaasde mij. Ik wist niet dat hij zo hoog kon zingen. Met gemak zweept hij het publiek op, maar ook weet hij heel gevoelig een nummer neer te zetten. De band had een goede afwisseling van nummers van hun laatste album, met bekende hits in het Fries, en het Nederlands. De hele band speelde met plezier, en dat straalde ervan af! De afgelopen avond zal nog heel lang in ons geheugen blijven... heren: super bedankt!

In de pauze heb ik in de foyer hun laatste cd gekocht - en na het concert heeft de band de tijd genomen om te signeren. In ons geval de inlay. Ook namen ze rustig de tijd om met mensen te praten...voor ons een uitgelezen kans om ze te bedanken voor een topavond.

En de inspiratie van vandaag? Namijmeren over het concert - hun muziek zal de komende tijd behoorlijk in mijn systeem blijven zitten. Knit Magazine issue 43 kwam binnen - volgende maand zit er weer een patroon van mij in (die oranje sokken dus!) En aan de zijkant een werk-in-uitvoering - maar wat dat wordt is te zien in issue 46

Handmade Living

2011-10-24T09:49:00.000+02:00

YUDU Library - Share

On page 56 Mittens and Hat set - my design!

Quick project

2011-10-19T13:20:00.003+02:00

Lana Grossa Olympia - 2 balls, 100 grams each. 200 meters in total, 10 mm needles and something warm as result.

Lana Grossa Olympia, 200 gram/200 meter totaal. Gebreid op 10 mm naalden. Lekker warm, ondanks de gaten die erin zitten

Cycling / Fietsen

2011-10-16T06:37:00.003+02:00

Yesterday no knitting for a change. I went on a cycle trip with my daughter and youngest son. We have a wonderful recreation area close to home called Rottemeren. The weather was absolutely beautiful - and we visited Bleiswijkse Verlaat, Zevenhuizer Verlaat, Oud Verlaat and De Rotte... and made a stop in Bergschenhoek to eat something. Daughter did not know that Bleiswijkse Verlaat and Zevenhuizer Verlaat existed, and that was fun...

Gisteren voor de verandering totaal niet gebreid. Ben wezen fietsen met mijn dochter en jongste zoon. Dicht bij huis hebben we een recreatiegebied - de Rottemeren, en daar hebben we een stukje van gezien. Met de fietspont bij Bleiswijkse Verlaat zijn we naar de overkant gegaan - en via Zevenhuizer Verlaat (al lopend via het sluisje), Oud Verlaat, via De Rotte weer richting Bergschenhoek. Daar hebben we een hapje gegeten, en zijn toen weer terug gefietst naar huis. Onderweg veel gezien, en ook nog wat geleerd...

Socks ready

2011-10-12T14:08:00.002+02:00

One pair of socks ready... started them with a skein that was claimed by Alexa on Ravelry, from SparkleAnnemieke. She wanted to knit her boyfriend a pair of socks, but never got to it... (school/work) And since his birthday is coming soon, I thought I'd knit the pair for him instead. The yarn is a delight to work with - I had really soft hands. Mountain Colors Hand Painted Yarns in the colour Bearfoot.

Beads and Laceweight

2011-10-05T17:27:00.002+02:00

This afternoon I std a little something for myself I had a bit of leftover yarn from Hipknits, from an earlier project. Variegated pink - really a nice colour. I added 70 beads to it and the first rows are now knit.

I will add a "lock" to it when done, so it can be worn like a necklace. Photos will follow soon!

Yesterday DH and I have been shopping in Zoetermeer. DH needs a new pair of glasses, they are ready around Oct 18.

Our computer seems ready for the coming year too - new keyboard and mouse as the mouse gave up working. We have them wireless, as we also use the mouse to connect and play things on our tv. Virusscanner renewed as well... now enjoy the few rays of sun before it gets dark tonight.

Ik ben zowaar vandaag eens aan wat anders begonnen. Ik had nog wat kantgaren van Hipknits, en heb daar vanmiddag 70 kralen aan geregen. Doel is om een soort van sjaal/ketting te maken, die met een sluiting om de nek gehangen kan worden.

Gisteren aan het winkelen geweest met DH. Hij moest een nieuwe bril, en bleek de bril die hij had al 8 jaar te hebben. Werd dus tijd om die eens te vervangen. Ook de computer weer gereed gemaakt voor 2012 - nieuw toetsenbord en muis, omdat de muis het heeft begeven. Wij hebben een draadloze set - makkelijk als we het tv scherm willen besturen. Ook de virusscanner voor het komend jaar erop gezet... en nu ga ik nog even van de zon genieten voordat het zo donker wordt...

@Warmetruiendag...

2011-09-30T04:13:00.003+02:00

I'm sorry, my English friends, but this blogpost will be in Dutch this time.

@Warmetruiendag:

Natuurlijk heb ik het artikel gelezen. Het punt is alleen dat ik het niet eens ben met de termen "amateur" en "professioneel".

Ik ben van mening dat deze generatie ontwerpsters van handbreiwerk in deze tijd te weinig kansen krijgt in Nederland om zich te manifesteren. Nederlandse uitgevers zijn op hun hoede - zij vertalen lever dan dat ze ontwerpen van eigen bodem publiceren. En daarmee vertalen zij ook de fouten die in patronen zitten gezellig mee.

De bladen die in de Nederlandse schappen liggen zijn over het algemeen vertaald vanuit het Duits, en daar zitten met grote regelmaat fouten in. Ervaren breisters vissen die er met gemak uit, maar raken daardoor zeer gefrustreerd.

Voor mij is dat altijd al een reden geweest om zelf te ontwerpen - ook al schreef ik die ontwerpen voor 2004 nooit echt op. Ik maakte wat in mij opkwam.

Sinds de komst van Ravelry.com hebben de Nederlandse ontwerpsters - met name door zelfpublicatie - de kans gekregen om andere breisters te bereiken. Goede patronen die door anderen worden nagebreid. (Shannon Okey heeft mij gevraagd om mijn ontwerpen eens op te schrijven, en in te sturen - zo ben ik dus het "professionele vak" ingerold. In tegenstelling tot andere ontwerpers, ontwerp ik al doende...met pen en papier naast mij op de bank...toer voor toer uitschrijvend.)

Maar ook de Amerikaanse en Engelse markt weet ondertussen de Nederlandse ontwerpsters te vinden. Onder meer Janneke Maat, Marleen van der Vorst, Monique Boonstra om er maar een paar te noemen. Janneke staat op dit moment onder de aandacht van Sock Knitters Anonymous - waar mensen ontwerpen van haar kunnen downloaden en breien als opdracht voor September. Marleen en ik hebben samen ontwerpen gehad in Knit Magazine, waardoor een Engels blad een grote Nederlandse invloed heeft. Monique Boonstra breit ongelofelijk mooie kanten sjaals...

De buitenwereld ziet aan de andere kant niet hoeveel moeite Nederlandse ontwerpsters moeten doen om hun ontwerpen in Nederland bekend te krijgen. De oudere breigeneratie leert ons niet kennen, omdat de bladenmarkt dat niet toelaat - zoals ik al eerder schreef domineren de Duitse bladen hier de markt, en worden die soms slecht vertaald. Handwerken zonder grenzen is een van de weinige bladen Nederlandse bladen die ontwerpen van onder meer Carla Meijsen heeft gepubliceerd - maar die is helaas niet overal te vinden.

Nu kom ik dus even terug op de truien...
Ik heb altijd - voor mijn plezier - truien gebreid voor mijzelf en mijn eigen kinderen. Soms simpel (recht toe recht aan kan soms ook heel prettig zijn), soms ingewikkeld (kleuren inbreien, kabels...) Ook dit jaar zal ik voor mijn jongste weer een en ander gaan maken voor komende winter. Hij is 4 en loopt graag in gebreide truien rond. En niet te vergeten: handgebreide sokken.

En natuurlijk ben ik het eens met de stelling dat de kunst van het handbreien moet worden doorgegeven aan de volgende generatie. Ik heb gemerkt dat de PABO er ondertussen ook alweer mee bezig is.

Mijn dochter heeft in het eerste jaar van de PABO haar klas breien geleerd. De basisbeginselen kent zij - maar omdat zij voor een deel linkshandig is heeft zij moeite met bepaalde steken. Haken gaat haar beter af. Maar toch - de energie en de liefde die de breisters in hun werk stoppen, en in de tijd die wordt besteed om het aan anderen te leren is onbetaalbaar.

Carla en Hilly (The Dutch Knitters) nemen nu de tijd om studenten de kunst van het breien aan te leren. Daar is helemaal niks mis mee. Dat jullie een wedstrijd voor studenten organiseren is in principe ook best.

Maar neem ook eens de moeite om goede Nederlandse patronen te verzamelen van de huidige generatie ontwerpsters, publiceer die, zodat meer breisters bereikt kunnen worden. De studenten van nu moeten gaan voelen dat de liefde die de huidige generatie breisters in hun werk stopt belangrijk is. Die liefde moet een volgende generatie in hun werk gaan leggen, om mensen aan te spreken - zodat die hun ontwerp na gaan breien.

Goede ontwerpsters kiezen de garens meestal op gevoel - "laten het garen spreken", zoals mijn vader altijd zei. Zij laten zowel garen, als de persoon voor wie het wordt gebreid op zich inwerken, en creëren daarmee een uniek product.

Dit doen zij niet omdat het moet, maar omdat het kan, en uit liefde voor de breikunst. Dat is onbetaalbaar!

Zoals ik al eerder in een tweet schreef: om de kinderen te motiveren moet je ook de ouders bereiken. Kinderen krijgen te maken met Warme truiendag omdat scholen meedoen. Ouders kunnen de kinderen uitleggen waarom een wollen trui nodig is.

De huidige generatie breisters en ontwerpsters kan daar bij helpen - maar dan moeten ze wel een kans krijgen. Misschien een idee voor 2013?

Nieuwe patronen/New Patterns

2011-09-28T07:42:00.002+02:00

In the past couple of weeks, I have added 3 patterns to my Ravelry store, and there is more to come!

Until Sept 30 you also get a 10% discount!

In de afgelopen weken heb ik 3 patronen toegevoegd aan mijn Ravelry winkeltje. En tot 30 september: 10% korting!

Socks

2011-09-22T10:15:00.001+02:00

Busy month... the start of the new school year and quite something to do on the knitting front as well. A lot of projects can't be showed yet, as they are due to appear in magazines. And we've had our share of sick people as well.... Wietse had an ear infection but is improving, and now both Alexa and Steven are sick - they ate outdoors last Sunday and got food poisoning. Miserable. Personally I'd love to see the kids healthy instead.I did finish a pair of socks though....

Yarn used is Fliegende Untertasse - Flying Saucer. 330 meters were used to create this pair.

Minty

2011-08-24T14:08:00.003+02:00

Let me introduce you to Minty

Minty is Sunny's little brother. Sunny wanted to stay home, as he loves to sit on his corner on our television. Minty wanted to travel instead. So he went all the way to a friendly lady in the USA, who adored him. She and her team made this photo

And later today Minty will be available as pattern through KnitCircus.com - you can find him in the magazine sitting on the piano on pages 106-107. The pattern is part of KnitCircus issue 15 Fall collection ($7.99 for the entire collection).

Minty's travels did not end there - in the coming time Minty will travel along with the KnitCircus Trunk show, visiting LYS'es in the US.

Edited to add: KnitCircus is also hosting a give-away: I am not playing along... but sure hope you will win!

Socks - Sokken

2011-08-18T13:09:00.003+02:00

A toe-up pair for me this time. Gorgeous yarn to work with - Tausendschön in the colourway Valentin, that I swapped with Angeli (Sokkenmuis). Different panel for front and back foot - fun to do!

Een teen-omhoog paar voor mij dit keer. Heerlijk sokkengaren om mee te breien - Tausendschön in de kleur Valentin. Ik heb die van Angeli (Sokkenmuis). Kabels aan de voorkant, en een ander patroontje voor achterop de voet.... leuk om te doen!

Knit Magazine issue 41

2011-08-07T04:45:00.001+02:00

I think they sparkle in the sun! Design is mine :-)

What do you do...

2011-07-22T08:15:00.001+02:00

... for my husband with cold feet? Exactly! Knit him a pair of socks!

I worked up a pair toe-up socks for him in Hifa 2 Ullgarn,(purchased at www.nordicwool.nl And on US 4 needles, it is a pretty quick knit!
Pattern is my own... if you like I'll make it available through the Ravelry store in time.

Wat doe je...

voor mijn echtgenoot met koude voeten? Dan brei je een paar sokken! Deze zijn teen-omhoog gebreid in Hifa 2 Ullgarn, die ik bij www.nordicwool.nl heb gekocht. En op naalden 3 breit het heel snel!

Laat gerust weten of er interesse is in het patroon - dan zet ik het te zijner tijd in mijn Ravelry winkeltje!

Het begin...

2011-07-12T14:36:00.001+02:00

van de vachten van Jacqueline haar schapen is nu zichtbaar:

45 meter op de tol, getwijnd, en voor het spinnen 1 x gewassen.

This photo is showing the first 45 meters of yarn, created out of the fleece that I received from Jacqueline - my cousin, who is the proud owner of two sheep. Washed once before spinning - spun and plied with the spindle.

Tjonge....

2011-07-07T08:12:00.000+02:00

Het lijkt wel of er geen eind aan komt - Wietse tobt nog steeds met zijn gezondheid, en er komt weinig uit mijn vingers. Toch een paar sokken af - de sokken gaan naar Marianne - want beloofd is beloofd! Gebruikt garen: Scheepjes Invicta Colour - patroon is een verzinsel van mijzelf

Gee.... seems the misery with Wietse's health keeps on going and going. It is eating time and energy! But I managed to get a pair of socks off the needles. Made out of Scheepjes Invicta Colour. 330 meters were used, and they are going to Marianne, as I promised her a pair.

Sokken - socks

2011-06-24T18:46:00.000+02:00

A pair of socks in Mini Mochi. Started with Judy Becker's cast on, created my own style heel up to the cuff.Russian bind off was used for a flexible cuff. Wietse's feet size - he loves them! I did not know though that my camera had such a cute features for images!

Een paar sokken in Mini Mochi. Ben begonnen bij de teen, en heb daar de opzet van Judy Becker voor gebruikt. Ik heb mijn eigen variant hiel gebruikt en na het breien van het boord de Russische afkantmethode gebruikt. Het is Wietse's maat, en hij vindt ze prachtig. Ik wist alleen niet dat mijn camera zulke leuke foto's kon maken.

Keep your fingers crossed for me... Duimen jullie voor me?

2011-06-17T19:16:00.000+02:00

The past few days were awfully hectic. We (Wietse and I) ended up in the hospital yesterday to determine what was wrong with Wietse's lungs. It turned out to be that he was coughing and feeling miserable due to a bacterial infection. He is home now, and feeling a bit better - although on medications for the coming week. Monday promises to be exciting as well - I have an appointment with a publisher in The Netherlands. We'll be discussing a sock book. I'll keep you posted!

De afgelopen dagen waren nogal hectisch. Wietse en ik belandden gisteren in het ziekenhuis. We moesten daarheen om de kinderarts te bezoeken. De huisarts twijfelde of Wietse astma of een longontsteking had. Het bleek uiteindelijk een bacteriële infectie in de longen te zijn. Wietse is thuis, maar moet om de 3 uur medicijnen hebben op dit moment.

Maandag wordt ook spannend... ik heb dan een afspraak met een uitgever in Baarn. We gaan praten over het schrijven van een sokkenboek. Ik houd jullie op de hoogte!

Een apart paar - one strange pair

2011-06-09T07:44:00.000+02:00

Dit is met recht een apart paar. En ze komen uit dezelfde bol Mini Mochi. Rara... ik kan beter zeggen: Verrassing! Ze zijn gebreid voor een kindervoet - 6 1/4 inch, toe up.

This is really a special pair. And they are coming out of the same ball of Mini Mochi... Quite a surprise! They are created for children's feet - 6 1/4 inch, toe up.

Kortingsactie - Discount

2011-06-06T11:22:00.000+02:00

I implemented a discount action, valid until August 14 for my patterns in the Ravelry store: get 20% discount when purchasing two or more patterns.

Vanaf vandaag tot en met 14 augustus loopt een kortingsactie voor mijn patronen: 20% korting als u er twee of meer koopt.

You never guess what I have been doing...

2011-06-03T06:22:00.000+02:00

Sorry... no photo with this post...

Yesterday was a day off for many people. Hemelvaartdag is a Christian holiday, on which we remember that Jesus was taken up to Heaven. Read the Bible for the entire story :-)

Still... what have I been doing?

I have put out my Hifa sockyarn (Swedish yarn, purchased at Nordic Wool) and started a toe-up sock.

Yep... you are reading it right, I started a toe-up sock. The problems I usually encounter is not the toe, but the heel in toe-up socks. I have been puzzling a bit and decided that a regular yo-yo heel would work best - although not with yo's but with back loops for a better result with less holes. (this after frogging the heel three or four times)

To my surprise this method is quick! Or is it the big needle size?

True Lace

2011-05-29T12:05:00.000+02:00

It is hard to see at the moment, but this is going to become a true lace rectangular shawl. It is an ordered knit, and almost done...just a few pattern repeats to go. Couldn't resist to upload a picture for Kathy ;-)

Het is moeilijk te zien op dit moment, maar dit gaat een rechthoekige true lace shawl worden. Het is een besteld project, wat eerst niet helemaal liep zoals ik het wilde. Maar nu heb ik nog maar een paar patroonherhalingen te gaan, en dan kan ik hem blocken. Kathy vindt het mooi als de trouwring om een kantproject gehaald kan worden... dus die foto is speciaal voor haar :-)

Sponsorloop voor goed doel / Sponsor run for the good cause

2011-05-26T15:55:00.001+02:00

De afgelopen middag wel besteed op het veldje van de dagcamping in Bleiswijk. Daar werd de sponsorloop gehouden, waarin de groepen van CBS De Wiekslag door middel van sponsoring geld ophaalden voor het goede doel. Heel veel kinderen hebben heel hard gerend, om heel veel kruisjes op hun kaart te verdienen! Foto: Zoon telt zijn kruisjes ;-)

This afternoon was wel spent on the field from the Day-camping near the river Rotte in Bleiswijk. The annual sponsor-run was held, and the children of CBS De Wiekslag were running in order to earn as much as possible for the good cause! On the photo: My youngest is counting how many rounds he has run.

Dutch pattern available/Nederlandse versie toegevoegd.

2011-05-26T10:37:00.000+02:00

Remember this pair of socks? I made them when Wietse was little, in 2008, during the Tour de France. It was also one of the first sock patterns of mine on Ravelry. This morning however I uploaded the Dutch version for this pattern!

Dit patroontje heb ik ooit gemaakt voor Wietse, toen hij nog klein was. Een van de eerste Engelstalige sokkenpatroontjes op Ravelry van mijn hand... maar vanaf vandaag is ook de Nederlandse versie beschikbaar.

A giveaway

2011-05-25T18:35:00.002+02:00

KnitCircus Magazine is giving away yarn! In pretty blue!

Look here!

We have joy, we have fun, we are drying in the sun....

2011-05-23T11:20:00.000+02:00

I have dyed wool with Kool Aid before, but this time painting was different. For the first time I used wool that needs to be spun to paint - BFL to be precise. (And a little string of Superwash Merino, handspun already by Raveler Jantje.) But it was also the first time that I used pigments to paint. Basic colours blue, red and yellow - and the recipient of the BFL hopes to receive some purple and green.

Now it is drying in the sun until it is dry enough to go on the line (and not paint my clothing hahaha)

New pattern: Anna's socks

2011-05-20T11:17:00.001+02:00

Anna's socks are available in Dutch and English. PDF download... $4

Socks

2011-05-17T07:53:00.003+02:00

A quick pair of socks, as I started them on Saturday. They turned out to knit up very quick and I finished them yesterday. Done in Mini Mochi Rainbow colours.

Edited to add: Anna's socks are available in Dutch and English. PDF download... $2

A Designer Challenge

2011-05-10T14:39:00.001+02:00

The Designer Challenges group on Ravelry posted a challenge for the month of May. Baby, cables and ocean were the keywords.

I have been playing with baby yarn, just for my own fun, and came up with a wee cardigan and two hats. Baby set Atoll (Atoll: ring-shaped island in the ocean)came off the needles yesterday - the only thing left to do is type out the patterns in my notebook.

Just added

2011-05-09T04:34:00.002+02:00

.... the pattern of the Tennessee socks to the Ravelry database. (It is a pattern from the 2009 50 socks, 50 states DVD.) From there it is downloadable for everyone. One warning though... don't knit these with bamboo or wooden needles!

A Scandinavian Give-away

2011-05-03T16:05:00.000+02:00

Par i stickor is hosting a give away as they had 50.000 visitors on their blog.

You can enter, by posting a comment over there, and post about the give away on your own blog.

Have fun!

Socks

2011-04-29T10:55:00.000+02:00

They look small on the photo, but these socks are having a foot length of 7 inch. Quite something, and they match the feet of our youngest perfectly. Also a wonderful way to work up left over bits and pieces.

April Mystery Fingerless Gloves

2011-04-22T17:47:00.001+02:00

I finally managed to upload some photos to Ravelry...

This pair was finished today (all that needed to be done was weave in the ends...), used yarn is Crystal Palace Yarns Panda Soy Bluebell, combined with Knit Picks Palette Navy. 1/2 ball each were needed to create this pair.

Mystery Fingerless Gloves

2011-04-01T05:52:00.000+02:00

The first part of the Mystery FG is online!
Part 2: April 8
Part 3: April 15

A Dutch Blog Giveaway

2011-03-29T07:54:00.000+02:00

Carla of De Hobbykamer is hosting a give-away. You can play along when you follow her, and make a notification on your blog about the give away - then notify her that you have done so.

Carla houdt een give-away Het enige wat je moet doen is haar volgen, een melding maken op je blog, en daarna een berichtje bij Carla achterlaten om mee te kunnen doen.

Pompom and a pair of socks

2011-03-24T13:33:00.001+01:00

Meet Pompom. He visited our home on Monday, as he had a problem. So many children were playing with him, and talking to him, that his nose almost fell into pieces.

Now that sure is sad, and the teacher asked me if I was able to repair his nose. I am not a puppet doctor though, but I tried. Oh my, his nose sure was in a miserable condition. I had to make him a new one! That same morning, he went back to school, as a class full with children were eagerly waiting for him.

The socks - quite something, but they are finally done. Baroque, done in purple Malabrigo. Enormous, the twisting involved in this pair.

Sikey

2011-03-16T14:24:00.000+01:00

Mijn ontwerp is nu te downloaden op de website van Zeeman. Sikey!

My design is available on Zeeman's website - only in Dutch. Sikey!

Wietse's first school day

2011-03-14T10:31:00.000+01:00

Well well... our Wietse is going to school! He was fast - completely ready to go at 7.30 this morning, and totally bummed when he heard that he had to wait almost a whole hour before he actually could go. He took a look - found the chair with his name on it - and a yellow Cars -car is his logo. And then he sat, waiting until all parents were gone, in a big group of children. A bit shy...

We support...

2011-03-04T14:36:00.000+01:00

We support our military people, held hostage by Lybia

Wij steunen onze mensen, die door Libië worden gegijzeld.

Guess what

2011-02-28T08:33:00.001+01:00

I have been playing along in a Dutch contest a while back... last Saturday this arrived in my mailbox... 250 euros is a lot of money and I still can not believe what I saw!

But...a new design popped in my mind - the only thing I have to do is knit a model and play again - like the first time, just for fun!

~!~

Ik heb een poosje terug meegedaan aan een ontwerpwedstrijd, waarvoor je een muts moest breien in Zeemanwol. Afgelopen zaterdag viel deze bon bij mij in de brievenbus. 250 euro is heel veel geld, en ik kan nog steeds mijn ogen niet geloven.

Gevolg: een nieuw ontwerp zit in mijn hoofd, en wat ik moet doen is een model breien, en weer meedoen. Net zoals de eerste keer - voor de lol.

I always try to find some time....

2011-02-21T17:39:00.000+01:00

... to speak to the sky and tell Him how I feel...

I was at Hyves earlier this afternoon, and on my Hyves page I have linked towards a Youtube music file of The Seekers - the song is called "Speak to the Sky" Hyves can be compared to Facebook in this case for Dutch speaking people.
Wietse came and sat down on my lap...asking me to play the song. After that one, a true lullaby: Morningtown Ride... he laid down his head on my shoulder and fell sound asleep.

He slept for two hours on the couch...

Absolutely a wonderful way to spend my birthday! Especially with this lovely weather we had - cold, freezing lightly, blue skies and the sun. (for family we are going to celebrate together on March 13 - combining Johan's and my birthday together)

Yellow...

2011-02-14T19:02:00.002+01:00

Socks - for me this time. A little lace worked in... and I am wearing them at the moment.

See these booties!!!

2011-02-10T12:09:00.000+01:00

I wish I had tiny feet
so I could wear them - every day a different pair
alas, for foot size 9
cute booties are not there...

(image borrowed after Bieq posted them on Twitter. They are so cute, and available at www.bieq.nl)

No knitting to show... yet

2011-02-09T07:38:00.001+01:00

although I have been busy. I am working on several things at the moment - some go slow, some go fast. And yesterday there was no knitting at all for me as we celebrated the birthday of my uncle. We took my mom with us, and enjoyed ourselves.

My mom recently picked up knitting after quite a long time - and she is working on a shawl (one of my designs that have never been published until now) She is doing well with it, but had a question about the border. Worried about casting off going wrong, I had to explain to her that, when knitting the border, she is casting the shawl off automatically. Can you imagine - she has been a sweater knitter for a very long time - the only thing she did in lace knitting was an enormous table cloth - with a croceted bind off.

The main reason for me not publishing the shawl yet is the fact that it is entirely charted - and I don't see a way to simplify the chart. It puzzles me - printing the chart only is 4 pages. What would you suggest?

~!~
Nog geen breiwerk te zien op dit moment. Ik ben met verschillende dingen bezig - sommige dingen gaan rap, sommige wat langzamer. Gisteren heb ik helemaal niet gebreid - we hebben gisteren mijn moeder meegenomen naar de verjaardag van een oom van mij. De familie kon het heel erg waarderen, en mijn moeder was zelf ook blij dat ze mee kon.

Zij had wel een vraag voor mij - kortgeleden heeft zij het breien weer opgepakt en is met een kantsjaal begonnen. Een van mijn ontwerpen, die tot op heden niet is gepubliceerd.

Het gaat goed - alleen was ze bang dat ze de rand verkeerd had gedaan, en ze maakte zich enorme zorgen over het afkanten van de sjaal. Ik moest haar uitleggen dat door het aanbreien van de rand, de sjaal zichzelf afkant...
Mijn moeder is voornamelijk een truienbreister geweest door de jaren heen - het enige grote kantproject dat ze ooit heeft gedaan is een enorm tafelkleed - en die had een gehaakte afkanting.

Maar - om nog even terug te komen op het ontwerp - wat mij tegenhoudt op dit moment is het volgende: de sjaal heeft een teltekening die - als je het print 4 pagina's omvat - en ik weet geen manier om dit op een eenvoudiger manier te doen. Wat zouden jullie doen/ Toch publiceren?

Knit Circus

2011-02-01T18:40:00.000+01:00

To answer Kathy's question: Knit Circus is an American based online magazine. Tomorrow, the Spring issue will be available at www.knitcircus.com - there is a free section, and a pattern section. The pattern section can be purchased through Paypal - you can visit that through this link

On the cover... my design! :-) The yarn used: Habu A81 - Kool Aid Dyed.

I almost fell off my chair today

2011-01-29T23:16:00.002+01:00

... as I found a note in my email box, telling me that one of my designs made the cover of Knit Circus issue 13 - Spring 2011, which is due to go live on 2-2-2011!!!

January knits...

2011-01-11T13:27:00.002+01:00

Two items came ready in the past week and a bit. First - a hat for Wietse. Made out of red and white, especially for the cold winter days. Ironically the snow disappeared, and rain came in return... 100 meters were worked into the hat.

Second - another pair of socks in Trekking Maxima. I love that yarn for sure. 300 meters were used to make this pair.

Sweater finished

2010-12-20T10:40:00.000+01:00

One for Wietse this time, in red. He wanted one for Christmas, and I had fun making it. But he has grown rapidly in the past couple of months - I had to use 700 yards to make this sweater...

Started it: Dec 17
Finished Dec 20

Snow

2010-12-17T09:49:00.000+01:00

Our garden is covered in snow today.One big white world!

Trekking Maxima

2010-12-16T10:07:00.000+01:00

Een eenvoudig paar sokken dit keer, gebreid in Trekking Maxima. Deze voelen warm aan, en het garen wilde absoluut niet tot sokken met een patroon worden verwerkt. Dan gewoon - en nu kun je het streeppatroontje goed zien. Ik vind ze wel grappig!

A simple pair of socks this time, knit in Trekking Maxima. These feel warm, and the yarn resisted to be worked into socks with a pattern. Now you can see the striping in the socks. I think they are cute.

Finished

2010-12-10T08:22:00.000+01:00

The Glows are finished! Yes! Hard to see under the light of the lamp though, but they turned out beautiful!

Sinterklaas

2010-12-04T19:13:00.000+01:00

Last Saturday we have visited Condor City in Wateringen, near The Hague. There were the festivities around Sinterklaas - organized by DH's work.

Sinterklaas was late - and had his helpers with him, as there were many presents to share. On the picture you'll see Sinterklaas shaking hands with Wietse, as he just received a huge gift. I had to guide him though on the podium, as Wietse was really tired.

Quite a difference though was the weather that day. Freezing cold - and this weekend as Pakjesavond is celebrated there came a huge pile of snow. 4 inches is to our standards a lot!

Sweater Johan

2010-11-18T09:47:00.001+01:00

The pattern of this wonderful sweater can be found in Yarn Forward Magazine, issue 32.

HELP MIJ om Yarn Forward in de Nederlandse winkels te krijgen!!!

2010-11-12T19:01:00.001+01:00

KAL Media is de uitgever van de engelse bladen Yarn Forward (breien), Inside Crochet (haken) en Sew Hip (naaiwerk) Misschien weten jullie dat ik in Yarn Forward enkele publicaties heb gehad. Maar ook als lezer vind ik het een prachtig blad - met name designers, bekend en onbekend worden bij naam genoemd, en zijn ook over hun ontwerpen aan te spreken. De grote vraag: Zouden jullie deze bladen in de Nederlandse schappen willen zien? Zo ja - laat mij dit dan even weten. Stuur mij een email op ClipperKnitWorks@gmail.com met het volgende: Ik heb interesse in Yarn Forward/Inside Crochet/Sew Hip en zou ze graag bij mij in de buurt in de boekhandel willen zien. Vermeld ook naam en woonplaats (dat laatste is namelijk heel belangrijk in dit geval) Vast heel erg bedankt!

Out tomorrow: KnitCircus Magazine

2010-11-09T17:59:00.000+01:00

Photos courtesy of www.knitcircus.com

The socks are on page 30!!!!

Currently working on...

2010-11-03T07:43:00.000+01:00

Glows - for Vicki in Canada. The design is by Julia Müller. This is the front of the left glove, and it is a load of cabling. But the result is such a beautiful glove!!!

Green

2010-10-18T09:53:00.000+02:00

Two items came ready this weekend - this shawl is made out of 4 ply Geelong Lambswool. 94 grams in weight was used, my estimate is approximately 400 m. Needles: 6 mm (US10) I have to block it today, and this one will be a gift for me.

The second is a set of gloves - yes... with fingers. It was time for me to give it a try... made them in green sockwool from Lidl. Just 60 grams was needed, and DH put them on to work this morning, as it was cold! (1 degree above freezing temperature at 3.30 in the morning our time.)

Pair finished

2010-10-14T20:09:00.002+02:00

beauties are they... and I am going to make a pair for myself soon too...

socks in progress

2010-10-09T10:38:00.000+02:00

I have had some troubles with my health. Sneezing and sniffing, a swollen eye that really was infected and red kept me away from the computer. One big headache... Did not do much in the knitting area though... besides starting this pair of socks with an awesome cable!

From the garden

2010-10-02T08:55:00.000+02:00

Zucchini! They have been growing very well this year. After eating them in almost everything I thought it would be good to preserve some. Sweet sour Zucchini, usually served with rice dishes is really delicious. But these have to "rest" for at least a week or two.

Socks done

2010-09-18T14:21:00.001+02:00

Not the easiest patern to create, these Drunken Bee Socks. But they turned out nice. Started on Sept 2nd, and finished them half an hour ago. Approx. 390 meters of yarn were used.

September Samenbreiwant

2010-09-18T10:55:00.000+02:00

In a Dutch group on Ravelry we have been playing with this mitten. Design is all mine :-)

Socks

2010-09-09T10:29:00.000+02:00

This is a restart - started this pair of socks for a Ravelry friend last week. Was well cruising with it, and then made a mistake :-( Had to frog the sock - as the patterning is very intensive.
So, as I said, it is a restart. Until now, things are going well, but not that fast, as I have to be careful. I made myself a promise... if I have to frog it again, I'll throw the pattern in the corner (LOL)

Message for my Pappa

2010-09-03T12:14:00.000+02:00

Corrie Becker
30-6-1935 / 04-09-2009
We miss you!

He loved music - and the Seekers were no doubt to be found in his playlist.

And another pair

2010-08-31T10:36:00.000+02:00

Wietse models this pair of socks. I tried a few things in this pair - have been playing with the heel and toe decreases. I like them :-)

Sockies

2010-08-21T18:32:00.000+02:00

There is no other message behind these - I made these baby sockies just for fun! I guess I had to set my mind on something else for a while. And guess what? I started another pair today. Again, just for fun.

What are you planning this weekend?

Hat in Mini Mochi

2010-08-20T15:00:00.001+02:00

The pattern has been published in Knit Circus issue 8, in 2009.

But it is so cute - I received several requests to make the pattern available. So I did - it is now a Ravelry download: costs € 2

Knitting drama

2010-08-19T13:10:00.000+02:00

I have been knitting with Schoppel Lace in the past week and a half, working on a design. First my idea was to work it into a shawl, but it changed... I was planning to create a kind of beach dress - front and back knit as rectangular shawl - sew shoulders and sides, then finish off with a lace border.

I did cast on for the front this morning and wanted to block the back... soaked the part in order to block it... and then a hole - a big hole appeared there, where it should not be. :-( It could not be restored... and that sure is a drama!

Giveaway

2010-08-15T11:40:00.002+02:00

SpinSpanSpun is going to celebrate her birthday. She is planning to give away some really nice things...

take a look here!

I have purchased some of her fibers in the past... excellent materials!

Socks

2010-08-12T18:06:00.000+02:00

A pair that is going to travel, to help out a friend...

From Youtube...

2010-08-11T12:02:00.000+02:00

Sweater done

2010-08-09T21:17:00.000+02:00

Yesterday I started a sweater. I was a bit bored...and it was a speedy project for sure. Finished it five minutes ago... 528 yards of yarn was used in this sweater.

Just for fun...

2010-07-30T20:42:00.000+02:00

and also for an upcoming swap. Fingerless Gloves in Panda Silk DK. One pair just plain and simple, the other with a cable on the upper hand. I had to use 3 balls to create both pairs. (360 yards)

My sock yarn blanket

2010-07-25T19:40:00.000+02:00

My sock yarn blanket is finished for now. I am totally out of sock yarn scraps and used everything I had.

Length of the blanket is approximately 64 inches, for this little sleeper it is enough.

2010-07-22T07:36:00.000+02:00

Picture time! Two pictures of my sock yarn blanket. It has really been progressing, but I have to put it down for a while. One simple reason to name for it: I am out of sock yarn scraps! I measured 17 1/2 inch after knitting the orange stripe on July 11. Now it is almost 50 inch in length. 30 inch still to go.

The image of the gate: Brugues in Belgium.
And of course: a tram! This time in Düsseldorf, Germany

Shawl finished...

2010-07-09T21:12:00.000+02:00

I started this one on the first day of July. It is a gift for my aunt...

project: Dalenni
Designer: Susanna IC
Can be found in: Yarn Forward issue 27.
Used: 4 balls of 115 m. Gedifra Kid Merino.

A Work in Progress finished

2010-07-01T08:52:00.000+02:00

I need to block it today as the shawl is curling enormously. Almost 1600 meters are worked in this one, on 3.5 mm needles.

Wristers done

2010-06-18T08:54:00.000+02:00

And I like them. Never worked with lambswool before but it feels super on the hands!

The first... and hopefully not the last...

2010-06-14T17:59:00.000+02:00

The first strawberry out of our own back yard! I hope more will follow, but for me (the one in the family with non-green fingers) it is quite an achievement.

I also picked up a project, that was waiting patiently: a wristwarmer in lambswool. I worked quite a few rows on it this afternoon.

Fried

2010-06-12T12:21:00.000+02:00

We have been working on pulling up our ADSL speed recently. With a computer and a laptop hanging on a network and sharing internet, speed slowed down. Making a phone call was hardly possible... so we asked the provider if it was possible to speed things up.

Yes... was the answer. But you need to receive a new modem. Fine by us... and 3 weeks later the provider bumped up our speed. No modem though. And last Wednesday the modem got fried. He gave up... no phone, no internet. Alexa stressed completely - she needs internet for her schoolwork. Alas...
I called and the provider did help out... the next day another modem was brought and installed.

On the knitting front: not much news. I am spending time in our back yard, trying to grow some vegetables. Time consuming... but hopefully with a nice result.

Images from Roterdam

2010-06-05T10:05:00.000+02:00

Yesterday Alexa had a deadline... two papers had to be delivered at school in Rotterdam at 16.00. She found her dad willing to take her to the city (otherwise she would have been too late). I went with them and took a couple of images...

Vive le Tour... in July the first stages of Le Tour de France are taking place in Rotterdam... the flowers are already blooming!

The second photo... think your thing about it, but I doubt these are placed to promote the World Championship Soccer that is going to take place in South Africa. And... with the temperatures we have now, I'd rather stay outdoors...hehehe

Photo 3 shows the view over the Nieuwe Waterweg - the Erasmus Bridge and the Euromast. Just beautifull!

Cat time

2010-05-31T07:48:00.000+02:00

No... this is not our cat. It is the cat of my uncle, whom we visited yesterday. Wietse was quite intrigued by this lady - she was more afraid though for Wietse, and as soon as she had the chance, she sprinted back upstairs. We had a wonderful afternoon together though!

Free sock patterns

2010-05-20T19:47:00.000+02:00

Unfortunately, an error caused the ‘Not Just Cable’ socks on page 38 to be printed with the wrong photography. Below you will find a pdf link to download the pattern with the correct images, and an additional link to download the ‘Chocolate’ socks pattern.

Chocolate Socks
and
Not Just Cable Socks

Yarn Forward issue 26

2010-05-15T17:00:00.000+02:00

Take a look. One of my patterns is in there!

Lace shawl...

2010-05-09T14:19:00.000+02:00

Answering Kathy's question: No. it is not straight garter stitch. If it was, it would be a breeze.
It has a pattern (repeated 8 times - 200 stitches wide), on 3.5 mm needles (US4).

The pattern is my own design - only finer. Can you imagine that I have worked 1000 meters in this beautiful violet colour already?

WIP time

2010-05-06T10:09:00.000+02:00

A shawl that I am working on for a long time now. 200 sts on the needle - it takes attention. Now over 27000 sts are done, and the cake is halfway - can you imagine how big it is going to be...

Kid Merino

2010-05-04T11:46:00.000+02:00

Have been working on a shawl. On big needles this time, hence the holes...LOL! The mohair in this merino forms a layer between the holes, with a warm end result. Maybe I'll make another one...

Queen's Day 2010

2010-04-30T08:33:00.000+02:00

It promises to become a cold and windy day, compared to yesterday

but our country will celebrate the birthday of Queen Beatrix.

Her Majesty and the family will visit the province Zeeland - more precise: Middelburg and Wemeldinge.

The photo shows our house - with the flag hanging out!

Time flies...

2010-04-29T08:33:00.000+02:00

...and tomorrow our country is celebrating Queen's Day.
Tomorrow Steven comes home, from his school trip. He has visited the city of Berlin - in Germany. A 10 hour trip by bus.
For the rest there is not much news from this area. Only that my knitting has been sad - many ideas though but no time to work them out.
Next week the kids are all home - May vacation. Time really flies!

Start of a scarf

2010-04-05T12:34:00.000+02:00

The start of a scarf is visible on the image. I had this yarn at home for quite a while now - and no matter what I tried - it did not want to be knit into something difficult. So for a change, I tried a simple pattern on this, with a nice effect. The needles are quite heavy though - Alexa purchased me a pair with built-in lights a while back. The batteries in the end of the needle are making the needles heavy. But I like the progress thus far.