Heather & Helga

As I said in my previous post, I worked on the last sleeve of my Helga cardigan. And it is now completed. I made some modifications to the original pattern: I opted for a three needles bind-off for the shoulders and modified the lace sectionon the sleeves as well. The pattern in beautifully written, and I think that it works very well with the yarn.

We've been slowly embracing the early arrival of fall. Many squashes have been bought at the market. Some of them as sitting on my windowsill as a fall decoration, and some of them are patiently waiting in the fridge to be baked later this week. I collect as much heather as possible, dry some, put some in vases for the kitchen. I cannot get enough of my favourite flower.

Knit Along: A cardigan for the Fall

I’ve picked up a project that I have started a few months ago. The sweater was almost completed by the end of April but because the weather was started to hit up, I didn't want to work with merino wool on my lap. So I put it away for a few months, knowing that I will start working on it back in September.
I never thought that this time would come so quickly. It’s only mid-August but the temperatures cooled down so much over the past few weeks, that I have started wearing knitwear again. Don’t get wrong, I’m not complaining for a minute! My favourite months of the year are right around the corner, and that’s the perfect reason to start working with heavy wool again.

I don’t want to say that this cardigan is so far my favourite knit, because I tend to say that every time that I complete a cardigan. But the combination of the yarn (Gilliatt, 100% organic French merino wool) and the pattern is very nice.
I’m currently working on the second sleeve, which means that there’s only a few rows left to go! This garment is definitely going to get a lot of wear these next few weeks, but that’s what they’re made for, right? I just hope that won’t run out off yarn before the last row.

I'm not the only one to be addicted to yarn/ wool. These ladies are doing such an impressive job: Liesl has been dyeing all sorts of yarn using plants and veegies, Carolina has also been dyeing in her studio, far in Argentina and Sarah of the Yarn Trek podcast is always sharing the best eartly yarns ever.

Joining Ginny's knit along this week!

Getting ready for Fall

The wind is blowing colder than before and the rain has started to pour onto the green moss in the woods. The first signs of fall are already showing, and even though I enjoyed Summer very much, I'm also looking forward to embracing my favourite season. I'm slowly adding the new pieces of the Fall collection in my Etsy shop. Have a look around!

For this collection, I wanted to stick to a neutral palette, and use simple stitches that will focus on the yarn. Everything is very soft and cosy, perfect for the chilly days of Autumn.

A Shetland Wool Week Knit Along & a Jamieson&Smith giveaway

I just wanted to give you a quick update and inform you that a Ravelry group has been created for the Shetland Wool Week Knit Along. You can join in if you want to participate.

The Knit Along will be sponsored by Jamieson&Smith. Three winners will be drawn at the end of the challenge, and will be receiving 5x25g balls of 2ply Jumper Weight in the colors of their choice.

Wishing you a lovely Sunday!

Latvian traditionnal homesteading & crafts

Last weekend we decided to head out to the Latvian Ethnographic Open-air museum, here in Riga for the contemporary crafts fair. We haven’t been there in a year and the memories that I have from that place are wonderful.
The museum is located in the woods, only thirty minutes from home, and it showcases traditional Latvian houses. Every single little house is furnished just the way it would have been a century ago: handcrafted furniture, traditional ornaments, beautiful textiles, wooden tools, weaving looms, spinning wheels, and yarn!
When i was inside, I was literally running fanatically from one spot of the room to another, trying to capture every single detail with my camera.

If they would have asked me to settle there, I would have say "yes", without a doubt! But I'm sure it must be quite cold during the Winter though.You can find a tiny or a luxurious vegetable garden behind every wooden house. Big zucchinis and peas were growing up there, and I forced myself not to sneakily put some as souvenir in my bag! Instead, we bought a copious amount of bread that they bake here at the museum. They only use tradtionnal methods of baking and cooking, including the technique of putting fresh leaves under the bread for baking. As soon as I had the bread in hands, I totally forgot to snap some pictures, I was t busy trying not to eat the whole loaf.

I'm sure to be there again this year. At the beginning of September, there's the Old craft fair (that screams yarn to me), then there's the Autumn harvesting festival and the bread festival...

It's truly a wondeful place to visit. And if you ever plan to come to Riga, we might meet there!

I cannot wait to see this hat worked with different yarns and in different colors. This fall is going to be so soft!