Greetings from Tianjin

I've been on exchange at Nankai University in Tianjin, China for about three months now. I have actually pretty much finished a cardigan already but it hasn't been photographed so you'll have to wait a bit longer for that grand reveal. However, I also knit a pair of socks, well one sock to pair another I already finished in Finland. The pattern is Hector by Rachel Coopey. The yarn is Schoppel-wolle Admiral cat print, a very affordable hand-dyed yarn. It was an impulse buy because I fell in love with the colors which are admittedly a little washed out in the photo.

I have really gotten into Chinese painting while here - something I never thought possible since I haven't really thrived in art class previously. I thought it would be impossible for me to paint anything nice but somehow the Chinese style of painting seems to suit rather OK. Here's a few of my paintings done here.

Chrysanthemums 

Chinese hibiscus

Weeping willow

Lida Top

I finished this top already in July and took the pictures in September but here I am posting in October. Better late than never though, right? The pattern is Lida Top by Gretchen Ronnevik from Knitscene summer 2013. I fell in love with the pattern right away and I knew I had the perfect yarn for it, too, Malabrigo lace in a beautiful red-orange colorway called Sealing Wax, bought earlier at a handicrafts fair. I started knitting this top first in March 2014 but it turned out way too big. After taking it apart, a feat on its own as the soft soft merino clings to itself pretty strongly, I finally started over in May 2015 and then it really didn't take that long to finish even with the millimetre-thin yarn and 2.5 mm needles.

And here it is, photographed at my mum's backyard:

Looking at these photos does make me miss home a bit since I am currently on exchange in Tianjin and the landscape here is really quite different...

Getting ready for autumn

Yup, it's almost fall, a knitter's favorite season I guess. It doesn't take much more than the nights getting colder and darker to get this one planning all those sweaters, socks, mittens and hats she could make. Of course, it's not like I don't already have enough to last a lifetime but all of you knitters out there know that it's really not about that anymore.

Here's my newest contribution into my wardrobe, a natural white cabled sweater from Novita autumn 2014 issue by Lea Petäjä. The yarn is Novita Suomivilla, Finnish wool. I wanted a tight cabled sweater to wear with jeans or a skirt. Most of my sweaters are kind of loose like many would argue they are supposed but I think this one has a more modern, more city-type of a look. And you know, when you have as many sweaters as I do, it's good they are not all the same :)

Coopey socks + future plans

This blog looks like I have completely stopped knitting, however, that is not true!

I have just been extremely lazy about taking photos and also about writing on my projects.

Here are two pairs socks that I just finished! The first was knit mostly during Christmas so it's really been waiting for those finishing touches for quite a while.

Some crazy Tiger yarn, 2,50 a skein. The pattern is Thora by Rachel Coopey.

I'm currently knitting through her second sock book, A Knitted Sock Society. But guess what, she has already put out another book, Coopknits Socks vol 2, which I lovelovelove but have not purchased yet since when do I have the time to knit all these beautiful socks?!

The second pair is also by Rachel Coopey but not from her books, but a sock club that I partook for a month. This pair was not the pair of that month but I loved it so much that I purchased just the pattern through Raverly. Meet Tyler.

I need to take pictures of my Lida top and a beautiful cabled sweater that are finished and ready. I have already worn Lida quite a bit since it's a summer top, and the sweater is all ready for autumn to come. Only, I'll be spending my autumn in Tianjin, China, so I will have to wait a bit longer to wear it than I would in Finland! But let's hope I get those pictures soon!

Meanwhile I have started knitting Shaded flower by Kaffe Fassett. I am using Rowan Felted Tweed like the pattern calls for. At purchasing it did sting a bit but now that I have been knitting for the weekend I am definitely in love with the yarn! The colors are marvelous, naturally, and the tweed surface really to die for. Fairisle has never felt this easy.

I also purchased Merle pattern by Norah Gaughan. I plan to knit it with Novita Alpaca Wool, a new yarn that I just gotta try. However, I am substituting the cable pattern for the one on Margie Mitchell's Key and knot. It's gonna be so lovely.

Six Point Tee & Bailiwick Pullover

I have been extremely lazy in updating my blog lately, but I have also not have that much time to knit so there are not a lot of finishes to share. Also there are a few projects that are waiting for those finishing touches. Still, here are some pictures of two tops that I have managed to actually finish.

The Six Point Tee by Cathy Carron in knit.wear spring/summer 2014 caught my eye the minute I saw it: the construction is top down starting with the neckline and separating for sleeves, knit in the round. It was a lovely knit with thick cotton yarn and big needles. I loved working on it and I think I might even make another one in a different color. It was very quick, I knit it during Christmas and it took me five days but I also worked on other things. I love wearing it, it's like having light armor on, the feeling is soft but also safe, even more so than in knitwear usually.

Another finish, and one that I have been wearing a lot, is Bailiwick pullover by Courtney Spainhower from Interweave spring 2014. I knit it with the same bamboo/cotton blend as my fire opal tee, Hjertegarn Blend Bamboo. The yarn is soft and the finished garments feel easy on. The colors are also lovely. This one was also top down and I am starting to feel that that is a very good way to knit tops. You can try it on at any time, knit is just as long as you like and all in all get a better feeling about how the finished garment is going to look like. This one I actually went to buy more yarn for because I thought it might not be long enough otherwise. In hindsight it probably would have been just fine but I also enjoy the tunic-y look.

Everything I made in 2014

I have been incredibly busy with my new studies so it has been a long time since I last posted. Anyway, I thought it might be time to look at what I made in 2014. It's quite a few things.

First, here are the shawls:

And the tops:

And of course, the socks:

And then there's everything else:

Yes, I would call 2014 quite a productive year.