Anden og nummer 7 / The duck and number 7

Min nieces and er færdig! Jeg må gerne prale af hende her. Det er den sødeste, tykkeste and jeg nogensinde har set, og charmerende er den også.
Hendes lille nevø kommer helt sikkert til at elske den!
Den er hæklet i 2 eller 3 tråde bomuldsgarn i fastmasker. Den ene tråd er farveskiftegarn. Hun har hæklet fra næbbet og bagud. Øjnene havde jeg ide til. Ved ikke helt, hvor hun har fundet mønsteret, men anden er faktisk blevet lidt længere end der stod. Spændende, hvad den skal hedde!

My niece's duck is done! I'm allowed to boast about her here. It is the cutest, fattest duck I've ever seen, and it also incredibly charming!
I'm sure her little nephew will love it!
It's made in single crochet with 2 or 3 threads held together. One strand is color-changing. She started by the beak and went towards the back. The eyes were my idea. I'm not sure were she found the pattern, but she made the duck a bit longer than the pattern said. I wonder, what it will be called?

Desuden nåede jeg lige at klemme et par fødselsdagsstrømper ud til min søster, mens jeg fløj over Atlanterhavet og så en del gode film.
Jeg er fortsat på pind 4, så det gik jo stærkt! Denne gang er det Dip Dye sokker, som jo nærmest er det nye sort! De er strikket i Arwetta i de farver, jeg nu syntes passede, og de er blevet sådan lidt sodavandsis-farvede! Ialt 100 gram.
De var sjove og hurtige at strikke, hun blev glad for dem, og jeg tror faktisk, jeg lige skal have brugt det mønster igen snart. Mangler stadig at strikke 2 par strømper her i marts.....

I also managed to squeeze a pair of birthday socks for my sister off the needles, while crossing the Atlantic Ocean, watching quite a few great movies.
I continued using size 4 mm needles, so they were fast! This time, it's Dip Dye socks, which are kind of the new black in Denmark! I used Arwetta in colors I liked, and they ended up looking a bit like a popsicle! They weigh 100 grams.
They were a fun and quick knit, she likes them, and I actually do think I'll be using that pattern again soon. I still have to make 2 more pairs of socks in March.......

Synkronsvømning / Synchronized swimming

Rejsen gik godt og fredeligt, med mange film og effektiv strømpestrikning. Heldigvis stod den på en lur i den sidste flyver, for når man allerede lander kl. 17.15, kan man godt nå med til synkronsvømning-konkurrence!
Det havde jeg glædet mig meget til. Min niece har gået til synkronsvømning de sidste måneder og har trænet stort set hver dag.

The trip went very well and peacefully, with lots of films and efficient sock-knitting. Fortunately I had a nap on the second flight, because when arriving as early as 5.15 p.m., you have time to join in for the synchronized swimming competition!
I had been looking so much forward to that. My niece has been on the synchronized swimming team for the last couple of months and trained almost every day.

De var rigtig dygtige, og det var vildt imponerende, hvad de kunne gøre i vandet. Det så jo legende let ud når de gjorde tingene samtidig, men det kan umuligt være nemt at lære!
Konkurrencen tog hele 3 timer, og til sidst fik alle medaljer. Alle. Det havde jeg ikke lige troet om USA, hvor man går så meget op i konkurrencer!

They were really good, and it was amazing, what they could do in the water. It looked like a piece of cake when they did everything synchronized, but it can't be very easy to learn this!
The competition took almost 3 hours, and in the end, everybody got medals. Everybody. That was not what I had expected in the US, where everyone is very competitious!

I vandet er det vigtigt, at alle ser ens ud. Både i bevægelser, badedragt, make-up og - hår.
De havde ABSURDE mængder gelatine i håret!
Efter rejsen og 3 timer som tilskuer, må jeg indrømme jeg var mør. Kl. 22 orkede jeg ikke rigtig flere høje, glade barnestemmer, og kl. 23 og et glas rødvin senere, faldt jeg i søvn i samme sekund jeg ramte puden. Vågnede kl. 04.30 og sidder nu her og hygger mig med blog, hund og endehæftning. Er SÅ klar til at fejre min søster når de vågner! Tænk at have en lillesøster på 40 år. Hvor er jeg glad for hende!

In the water, everyone must look identical. Both in movements, bathing suit, make-up and - hair.
They had an ABSURD amount of gelatine in their hair!
After the travel and 3 hours as a spectator, I have to admit that I was done. At 10 p.m., I couldn't take anymore loud, happy children's voices, and one hour later, after a glass of redwine, I fell asleep as soon as my head landed on the pillow. Woke up at 4.30 a.m. and here I am, having a nice time with my blog, the dog and sewing ends on the socks. I'm SO ready to celebrate my sister when they wake up! Imagine having a 40 years old baby sister. I'm so happy she is in my life!

XL

Min doping virkede! Det tog godt nok ikke lang tid at strikke strømper på pind 4, så hermed er par nummer 6 færdig på bare 3 dage.... 120 gram.
Mønsteret er det her. Det er enkelt og sjovt, og det virkede ganske glimrende at tage den mindste størrelse og blæse op til pind 4. De ser ikke sådan alt for store og kluntede ud, og jeg håber, at damen med alpaca-farmen virkelig kan lide dem! Næste par strømper skal også være på pind 4 - jeg kan vel næsten nå at strikke et par på flyet?

My doping worked! It really didn't take long knitting socks on size 4 mm needles, so with this, the 6th pair this year were done in just 3 days..... 120 grams.
The pattern is this one. It's simple and fun, and it worked really well using the smallest size for the big needles, which made them expand. They don't look too big and clumsy, and I do hope, the lady with the alpaca-farm really likes them! The next pair of socks will also be on 4 mm needles - I guess I might be able to knit a pair on the plane?

Strømperne drillede iøvrigt lidt. Jeg strikkede foden næsten færdig i går aftes, og undrede mig først helt ude ved tåen over at maskeantallet ikke passede. Jeg havde ikke taget nok ind ved kilen.
Så strikkede jeg foden om. Selvfølgelig. Istedet for at få pakket. Bare fordi! Færdige blev de, taskerne er pakket, jeg vågnede alt for tidligt og var super spændt, og jeg glæder mig SÅ meget til hygge, en dag med mindste-nevøen og bare generelt det bedste selskab!

These socks did make some trouble, though. I almost finished the foot last night, and only at the toe, I got puzzled why the number of stitches wasn't right? I hadn't decreased enough times at the gusset.
Then I redid the foot. Of course. Instead of starting packing. Just because! They got done, the bags are packed, I woke up far too early and was super excited, and I just can't wait to get there, relaxing in the best company and spending an entire day with my youngest nephew!

1 arbejdsdag tilbage / 1 workday left

Der er bare 1 dag tilbage, inden ferien starter. Hold op, hvor er det skønt! Det er gået som en leg at stå tidligt op for at komme på arbejde - muligvis, fordi jeg har kunnet være hjemme om aftenen denne uge, hvilket er fuldstændig overdrevet herligt! At være hjemme 5 aftener i træk er total luksus her hos mig, og jeg har nydt det.
Kufferten er i gang med at blive pakket. Med det vigtige. Gaver, lagkagebunde, slik og strikketøj.

There is just 1 day left, before my vacation starts! Oh my, how great that is! It's been so easy getting up early to go to work - possibly because I've been at home all evenings this week, which is incredibly amazing! Being at home 5 nights in a row is total luxury here at my place, and I really enjoyed it.
The suitcase is getting packed. Important stuff. Gifts, layers for layer cake, candy and knitting.

Min nevø - ham der har fødselsdag i morgen - kommer i aften. For at få sin gave. Da jeg købte den, faldt jeg lige over nye Zelda-øreringe! Det bliver spændende, om NOGEN på arbejde kan genkende dem! De er begyndt at lægge mærke til mine øreringe, nemlig.
God torsdag!

My nephew - the one celebrating his birthday tomorrow - is coming tonight. To get his gift. When I bought it, I stumbled across these new Zelda-earrings! It will be interesting whether ANYONE at work will recognize them! They starting noticing my earrings, you know.
Happy Thursday!

Stor bagage / Big luggage

5

Den næste i familien der har fødselsdag, er min nevø, der fylder 23 på fredag. Han var så sød at give mig en strikkebog i julegave, så hans strømper er med et vævestrikmønster fra den bog.
Da han har (relativt) store fødder, tænkte jeg at 3 farver var godt. Så løb jeg ikke tør! Jeg valgte 3 maskuline, lidt diskrete farver i blå, brun og grøn, og så gik jeg i gang.

The next birthday in the family is my nephew turning 23 this Friday. He was sweet enough to give me a knitting pattern book for Christmas, so I picked a slip-stitch pattern from that book.
Since he has (relatively) large feet, I picked 3 colors. I didn't want to run out of yarn! I picked 3 discreet, masculine colors in blue, brown and green, and then I set off.

2 uger senere er de så færdige, og noget så pæne, hvis jeg selv skal sige det! Det tog lidt tid at vikle garn ud for hver pind, og det var ikke super nemt at sidde i toget med 3 nøgler garn, men det gik.
OG SÅ LIGNER DET MULTIFARVET GARN!!!!!!
Suk. Men jeg ved jo at det er mønster. Han bliver glad for dem, og jeg tror de passer ham. De er ihvertfald temmelig for store til mig! Ialt vejer de 115 gram, så tunge blev de heller ikke. Mønsteret var alligevel sjovt at strikke, og som sagt - tror, jeg skal prøve det med en multifarve og en ensfarvet også! Bare 2 farver er sikkert også flot.

Two weeks later, they are done, and I think they look so nice! It took some time unwrap the yarn for every new round, and it wasn't that easy having 3 skeins on the train, but it worked out.
AND THEN IT LOOKS LIKE MULTI-COLOR YARN!!!!!
Sigh. But I know the pattern is there. He will love them, and I think they fit. They are quite a bit too big for me! They weigh 115 grams in total, so they are not heavy, either. The pattern was fun to knit, though, and as I said before - I think I want to make these with a multi-color and a uni-color, too! Using just 2 colors will look nice, too.

Til golfbanen / For the golf course

I går lærte jeg noget nyt. Jeg lærte, at golfkøllebetræk (det hedder det vel?) ikke bare er for sjov, men faktisk sørger for at køllerne ikke larmer så meget når de støder ind i hinanden i tasken.
Ikke, at jeg spiller golf, men derfor kan det da godt være, at nogle af jer derude har brug for betræk? May the force be with you. (Man kan finde de forskellige broderier til de forskellige figurer på hendes blog, hvis man kigger lidt rundt.)

Yesterday, I learned something new. I learned, that golf club covers are not just for fun, but actually make sure the clubs will make less noise when bumping into each other in the bag.
Not that I play golf, but maybe some of you out there need covers? May the force be with you. (You can find the double stitch patterns for the different characters if you look around the blog a bit.)

Doping

I går fik jeg en god ide. Der er virkelig mange strømper der skal strikkes på kort tid lige nu, og det gik op for mig, at hvis jeg nu strikker på pind 4 i stedet for 2,5, så går det nok lige temmelig meget hurtigere, hvilket skulle give mig en noget bedre chance for at nå det.
Så på vej til arbejde smuttede jeg indenom "Uldstedet" og tankede op. Ydermere kom jeg i tanker om "Dip dye" sokkerne som jo faktisk også er pind 4.
Det er jo nærmest som garn-doping!

Yesterday, I had an idea. It is a serious amount of socks that I need to knit in a short period of time, and suddenly I realized that using 4 mm needles instead of 2.5 would be much quicker, giving me a better chance of doing it.
So, on the way to work, I dropped by "Uldstedet" and filled my bag. Furthermore, I remembered the "Dip dye" socks, which are also on 4 mm needles.
It's almost like yarn-doping!

Forberedelser / Preparations

Om en uge sidder jeg hos Frikke'rne. I Ann Arbor. Jeg glæder mig! Der er lidt slik på lager, jeg har købt leverpostej og lagkagebunde, og kufferten er faktisk båret op allerede. Selv om jeg har gæster i morgen.
Denne gang er der særlige planer. Dels fylder min søster (min LILLEsøster!) 40, dels har jeg fået lovning på at besøge hendes kollega og kollegaens alpacafarm! Jeg ved slet ikke hvad jeg skal forvente - jeg skal lige nå at have strikket et (ekstra) par strømper som tak (til kollegaen), men jeg glæder mig.......

In a week, I'll be at the Frikke resident. In Ann Arbor. I can't wait! I stashed some candy already, I bought liver paté and the layers for Danish lagkage, and my suitcase is already picked up from the basement. Although I'll have visitors tomorrow.
This time, there are special plans. My sister turns 40 (my BABY sister!), and we are also going to visit her colleague and the colleagues alpaca-farm! I have no idea what to expect - but I need to make a(n) (extra) pair of socks as thanks (to the colleague), but I'm so excited......

Min dårlige samvittighed / My guilty conscience

Min helt store dårlige samvittighed lige nu er sweateren til min nevø på 17. Han har ønsket sig en sweater med billede foran - andet billede, men ellers samme koncept som sidste vinter. Han elsker virkelig den sweater, og han bliver helt sikkert lige så glad for den nye - når jeg engang bliver færdig.
Først tænkte jeg, at den nok blev færdig i Israel. Det gjorde ryggen da også næsten. Nu har jeg forstykke og første ærme i gang, og så MÅ den altså blive færdig, når jeg nu snart skal til USA. Det ville være totalt forfærdeligt at rejse hjem igen med ufærdig sweater! Jeg skal bare lige også nå at strikke nogle flere strømper.

My really bad conscience right now is the sweater for my 17 year old nephew. He asked for a sweater with a picture on front - another picture, but same concept as last winter. He really loves that sweater, and he is definitely going to love the new one too - once I get a grip and get around finishing it.
First, I thought I would knit it entirely in Israel. And so I almost did the back. Now I have the front and one sleeve on the needles, and then i NEED to get it done when I'm going to the US soon. It would be so horrible going back home with an unfinished sweater! I just need to knit a few socks, too...

En and / A duck

Mens jeg selv stresser over alt det jeg ikke når - skrive artikel, strikke strømper, strikke sweater (og forresten slappe af!), kan jeg da vise min nieces første hækleprojekt der IKKE er en karklud. I går aftes tilbragte jeg en hyggelig aften med niece, mand og and (det er så bl.a. derfor jeg ikke når en del af det andet. Er absolut alt for social!), og min niece lærte at hækle øjne.
Jeg synes hun er ret sej.......

While I'm stressing about all the things I haven't done - write an article, knit socks, knit a sweater (oh, and relax, by the way!), I can show my niece's first crochet-project which ISN'T a dishcloth. Last night, I spend a very nice and cozy evening with my niece, her husband and the duck (part of the reason for things I haven't done. I'm far too social!), and my niece learned to crochet eyes.
I do think she is quite talented......

Jomfru Maria og Jesusbarnet / The virgin Mary and baby Jesus

Så nuttet! / So cute!

Inden jeg skulle op og se baby, strikkede jeg en lille hue. Det tog ca. 1 dag på pind 4. Den vejer 35 gram, og opskriften er fra bogen Klompelompe, der er en aldeles dejlig bog! Kan kun anbefales.

Before I went to see the baby, I knit a tiny hat. Took me about 1 day using size 4 mm needles. It weighs 35 grams, and I found it in the Klompelompe book, which is great! Highly recommended.

Den passede ham lige på en prik! Han er lige så nuttet som på billederne. Han gider absolut ikke sove alene, men i arm sover han som en sten! Til gengæld har han helt utroligt travlt med at vokse. Men hvad skal man dog også ellers lave, når man sover?
Hvad drømmer babyer om? Hvis de skal fordøje alle dagens vilde oplevelser! Altså - mad? Ny ble?

It fit him spot on! He was just as cute as the photos showed. He doesn't want to sleep on his own, but when held by an adult, he sleeps like a - well - baby! He is busy growing. But what else can you do when you are sleeping?
What do babies dream about? If they need to digest all the crazy experiences of the day! Well - food? A clean diaper?

Der er bare ikke noget bedre end at holde en baby! De 4 timer fløj afsted, inden jeg skulle hjem igen. Det eneste problem med ham er, at hans vest næsten sidder oppe under armene, fordi han vokser så godt. Så jeg må i gang igen....

There are few things better than holding a baby! The 4 hours there flew by, before I went back home. Only problem about him is that his vest is shrinking and sits under the arms, since he is growing this well. So I'd better start knitting again.....

Den knap så store storesøster er også præcis lige så nuttet som inden lillebror kom. Det er ikke nemt at være stor! Heldigvis var der fastelavnsboller og opmærksomhed til hende også.
Glæder mig allerede til at se dem igen!

The not too big big sister is exactly as cute as before her younger brother arrived. It's not easy being big! Fortunately, she had cake, and she got a lot of attention, too.
I'm already looking forward to seeing them again!

Solsort / Blackbird

Vi er efterhånden kommet så tæt på forår, at mine morgener er velsignet med en solsort der sidder ude i haven og synger allerede kl. 5.
Det er så dejligt!
Selv med sneen og kulden føles det lidt varmere med lidt fuglesang. Derfor er dagens opskrift selvfølgelig på en solsort.

Spring is getting so much closer that my mornings by now are blessed with a blackbird sitting in the garden, singing at 5 a.m.
I love it!
Even with the snow and cold, it feels a bit warmer with bird's song. Of course today's pattern needs to be a blackbird.

Lille L / Little L

I dag skal jeg hele vejen til Nordjylland og møde ham her. Lille L! Han sover på stort set alle billeder, men rygterne vil vide, at han ikke er helt så god til at sove om natten. Sådan er babyer så mærkelige!
Jeg glæder mig helt vildt til at se ham, og selv om han har fået en hel del strikkede ting allerede, så har jeg en lille gave med. Også strikket.

Today, I'm going all the way to Northern Jutland to meet this guy. Little L! He is asleep on almost all photos, but rumors have it that he is less great at sleeping at night. Babies are strange in this way!
I'm so excited to get to see him, and although he had quite a few knitted things already, I brought a small gift. Also knitted.

En af de uger / One of those weeks

Den sidste uge var en af de fyldte. Arbejdet bredte sig så meget det kunne, og i tirsdags, da jeg skulle have gæster, stod gæsterne udenfor og ventede da jeg kom hjem fra arbejde. De var noget overraskede over at jeg kom SÅ sent hjem, men de skulle bare vide.... De næste to dage kom jeg 1 time senere hjem, så det var heldigt, jeg nåede det tirsdag!
Torsdag kom jeg hjem til et større gravearbejde udenfor hoveddøren. Åbenbart et sprunget vandrør. Der var ihvertfald også vand i kælderen, og i dag skal jeg ned og tørre det sidste op. Orkede ikke rigtig de sidste aftener. I mørke. Heldigvis er der ikke noget der skulle være i fare dernede!
Så i går aftes, da jeg sad i metroen i lufthavnen med udsigt til den fine solnedgang, var det altså dejligt at weekenden stod for døren! Det er herligt at kunne sove lige til kl. 7......

This past week has been a well filled one. Work took as much time as possible, and on Tuesday I had visitors, who where waiting outside when I got home from work. They were quite surprised that I get home THAT late, but if only they knew..... The next 2 days, I got home an hour later, so I'm very happy I got home in time on Tuesday!
Thursday, there was a large hole outside my front door. Apparently, a waterpipe had broke down. There was water in the basement, too, and today I'll get down there and dry it up. Couldn't find the energy these past 2 evenings. In the dark. Fortunately, everything is safe down there!
So last night, sitting on the metro at the airport with a very pretty sunset outside, I was really happy that the weekend is here! It's lovely being able to sleep until 7 a.m........

Nogle togture / A few train-rides

Det nye mønster til de nye strømper er godt i gang. Med 3 farver. Det ser ganske ok ud, og får nærmest lidt rombemønster når man trækker lidt i det!
I morges sad jeg der og kiggede - og fik lyst til at strikke det igen. Med 2 farver. F.eks. en multifarvet bundfarve under romberne. Tror, jeg bliver nødt til at prøve!

The new pattern for the new socks are well underway. Using 3 colors. It is looking quite okay, and almost like a diamond-pattern when pulling it a little!
This morning, I sat there watching. And felt like knitting it again. Using 2 colors. For instance a multi-color under the diamonds. I do think I'll have to try!

Selv om jeg ikke vandt / Although I didn't win

For nogle uger siden var der en rigtig fin give-away på Instagram fra hende her. Jeg deltog, men var også inde og kigge i shoppen, og hold nu op, for nogle lækre sager! Jeg kan ikke stå for så flotte farver, og midt i min strikkeliste (som ikke inkluderer noget til mig selv indtil videre) kom jeg altså lige til at købe lidt.
Farverne er lige så smukke i virkeligheden, garnet er dejligt blødt, og når jeg engang kan strikke noget til mig selv igen (måske i april?) skulle det måske være et par strømper af noget af det her....

A few weeks back, there was a wonderful give-away on Instagram from this lady. I participated, but also look at the webpage of the shop, and oh wow, what beautiful stuff! I can't resist colors this beautiful, so in the middle of my to-do list (not including anything for me right now), I happened to buy a few things.
The colors are just as beautiful in real life, the yarn is wonderful and soft, and once I'll get to knit something for me again (maybe in April?), it might be socks from one of these skeins....

Skånsk & Hebrew: Hvad er sværest? / Which is more difficult?

Tak / Thank you

Min nevø, der snart fylder 23, var så venlig at give mig en strikkebog i julegave! En med geometriske mønstre, med den begrundelse, at vi jo faktisk lige i den bog havde sammenfaldende interesser.
Jeg blev virkelig glad, og når han nu skal have strømper, synes jeg at mønsteret skulle være fra den bog. Derfor er der fundet grønt, brunt og blåt Wollmeise, OG et vævestrikmønster til 3 farver. Glæder mig faktisk til at se, hvordan det bliver!

My nephew, who turns 23 very soon, was kind enough to give me a knitting book for Christmas! It contained geometrical patterns, and his reason was, that in this very book, our interests were united.
I was really happy, and since he is to get socks, I do think he needed a pattern from that very book. So I found green, brown and blue Wollmeise, AND a mosaic pattern for 3 colors. I'm actually quite excited to find out how these will turn out!