PS from Susan: Scroll down to see Surly’s Bohus update if you have not yet done so!! 
February 14, 2009
From Both of Us — Happy Valentine’s Day!
February 13, 2009
From Sally — Bohus Update
I love my Bohus. I really do. Even so, I was getting a little tired of knitting the body and the single sleeve I started. The cure: baking.
Thousands of calories later, I still was faced with knitting the rest of my Bohus. Wait! I had an inspiration — I could break it up by turning my attention to the neck. That solution was calorie-free and would also give me a better idea of how the sweater would hang, making it easier to determine the sleeve length. I wanted something that would be soft and cozy looking, but that would also evoke (in spirit if not in detail) some of the motifs of the color work on the yoke. After a few false starts, this is what I came up with (it’s a Japanese stitch pattern):
I plan to do the same stitch (in black) at the wrists. I may also use it at the hem, but I haven’t quite decided on that yet.
In the meantime, as most of you know tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. We won’t be going out because our son (17 years old) comes home tomorrow night from a two-week school trip to Greece and Italy. His flight is conveniently scheduled to arrive at 8:00 p.m. Therefore, we are having a nice romantic dinner at home tonight. Very near my home is an absolutely wonderful French bakery called Praline. They have the best croissants I’ve ever tasted, and I lived in France back in the day. I stopped there this morning to see if there was a small Valentine-y treat I could pick up. I came home with this:
It’s pistachio with chocolate ganache. Kill me now. Death by excessive calorie consumption. Just after I took that photo, these beautiful flowers were delivered for me.
Awww. Aren’t they pretty?
February 9, 2009
From Susan — RU Nutz??!!
In a word, yes. I must admit that some of my projects baffle even me for logic. This project is interesting and beautiful but was quite difficult. It is small enough that I did not suffer long, but I did suffer…are you feeling any sympathy for me? Darn!
Sunburst Beaded Bag, pattern by Janet Hoxie of SewUnique
Size 0000 needles and No. 8 Perle Coton, Size = 3″ across
The picture cannot possibly capture the deep teal-green irridescence of the beads.
I would recommend this project if a) you have already done some bead knitting and 2) you have really good eyesight and/or really good lighting. I can vouch for “a” but “2” was a stretch, as I have neither! I had to bring out my Ott light, readers, and a seeing eye dog to finish this puppy. All in all, I really love it and would make another. I think the next one will be easier because of my newly acquired neck pain experience! This truly is extreme knitting. 
February 7, 2009
From Both of Us — Gee, Thanks!
Dianna nominated us for the Kreativ Blogger Award — another “made up” award like the Oscars! We thank you and our mother thanks you! Now off to look for gowns for the red carpet (and we promise that they won’t be sock monkey dresses. Maybe.).
Here is what we are supposed to do, and the rules for our nominees:
1. Copy the award to your site — check
2. Link to the person from whom you received the award — check
3. Nominate 7 other bloggers — hmmm, that part’s hard
4. Link to the award recipients on your blog — easy, once Number 3 is done
5. Leave a message on the blogs you nominate — okay, can do
It is so difficult to list one’s favorite blogs. Someone gets left out. Someone’s feelings get hurt. So, we will list some blogs and hope that no one feels like we don’t like them. We like a lot of people and a lot of bloggers!!
These are some of the blogs that touch us or teach us or inspire us.
Things Soo Likes — Soo is an incredibly gifted knitter and the sole inspiration for Susan’s Lyra. She knits some of the most gorgeous lace there is and also owns up to some crazy mistakes!
Twin Set Ellen — Ellen and Jan are sisters (twins — duh) that share a blog and share their knitting over a great distance. Blogging keeps them connected and enhances their friendship. We certainly can relate. Susan also knows Ellen personally as a fellow guild member and likes her a lot!
Rosemary-Go-Round — Romi’s Monday Musings are a favorite way to start the week. Romi is a really talented designer, jewelry maker, and published author. She will be teaching at Yarnover on April 18 so we’ll get to meet her in person and hang out for a few hours! That may be the royal ‘we’ as Sally may not be at Yarnover this year.
WendyKnits — Wendy’s blog was Susan’s first introduction to blogs and therefore set the bar pretty high. Wendy is a prolific and talented knitter so there are RESULTS posted and not just false starts and UFOs. Plus, we have met and dined with Wendy so she isn’t just a mega-blogger, she is a real person!!
Knititude — Angela Hahn is another talented knitting designer that we both admire. We knitted her Aran Wrap from Vogue last year and have bought other patterns as well. Her blog has some lovely patterns to buy and drool over!
Knitting Elegance KAL — We don’t visit this site often, but it is nice knowing it is there! This blog features Japanese knitting, which we both love, and shows some wonderful finished works. Worth a visit for inspiration if nothing else.
Ravelry — Yes, we know that Ravelry is not a blog, but to be honest, it sure feels like one! It is a place to see great projects, watch people’s knitting progress, and connect with other knitters on the Forum Section or in groups with people of similar interest. If you are not a part of Ravelry, go sign up today.
As we review the above list, it makes us appreciate the blogging community as a place to connect with others and learn a lot about knitting and its infinite potential. Thanks to all who inspire and delight!
February 3, 2009
From Susan — All Bohus, All the Time
Sally and I were kidding that our blog is turning into Bohus Central! However, the following link will actually help you feel like you are at the Bohus Exhibit itself, so I had to share:
From Sally — Slowly but Surly
I thought I’d post a quick update on my Large Lace Collar. Once you hit the solid color portion of these designs, it can be slow going. With the yoke, it’s easier to track and notice progress. That’s a bit harder now that I am on the body, especially since I am doing it in the round. Those are long rows and it takes many of them to add each inch of length. I’ve also started one of the sleeves. I did that so I could make sure my “do it in the round” adaptation was working and to give me an illusion of progress.
Here are some in-progress shots.
As you can see, some progress but still a lot of knitting left to do. (And I still need to decide exactly what I am going to do at the neck, wrists, and hem.)
February 1, 2009
From Susan — Gilding the Lily (?)
I recently finished my Baby Cables sweater and was extremely pleased with the design and the fit. So why did I feel compelled to knit something to “doll it up?” Who knows? Knitters are weird and cannot be explained.
I always had the Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn Clark lurking in the back of my mind as a project. I had also just purchased some Malabrigo Sock Yarn for the color alone — a gorgeous blue green mix called Solis. It looked stunning with the newly minted Baby Cables.
Swallowtail was originally published in the Fall 2006 Interweave Knits. Evelyn generously opted to continue to provide the pattern as a free pdf (see link above). Thousands of knitters on Ravelry have knitted it or have it in queue. It is popular and gorgeous — and I believe those facts are related! The thing is, it’s small. Very small. However, by adding repeats of the Budding Lace Motif in multiples of five, it can be enlarged easily.
I learned a couple of great techniques from Evelyn’s pattern: the “garter tab” cast on, nupps, and her version of the lace bind off (slightly different than the one I had seen before). Nupps are dreaded things, but I had no problem — I used Addi lace needles with very pointy tips.
It is a lovely design and was very fun to make. I did add 5 repeats of the Budding Lace and still ended up with a small, shoulder-covering shawllette. It is small-tastic and shawl-tastic!
Being Blocked
On Lettie — the color is very true here
With Baby Cables — the color is not true (can’t get this sweater to photograph!)
The yarn was nice to work with, though I had a bit of a problem. I bought two skeins of this sock yarn so I could give Sally one when she was here and “borrow” a little if needed for my Swallowtail. I tried to wind my skein into a ball, and it was a disaster! It completely disemboweled! Because I thought I would dip into the second skein anyway, I tried to salvage what I could from this mess:
So, I had to use Sally’s skein — which wound perfectly — and then go buy a third skein. This shawl got kind of pricey!
FYI: one skein would have been plenty if I had not added the extra repeats.
PS: Don’t forget to knit up a pair of Sweetheart Glovelets.
PS2: Sally and I are admittedly very fond of knitting (obsessed?) and our husbands are equally fond of their respective sports: my DH cross country skis and Sally’s is a totally serious bicyclist. John skied the City of the Lakes 35 km Freestyle Ski Race today:
Not too bad for a 58 year old youngster!
January 30, 2009
From Both of Us — Sweethearts for Valentine’s Day
Last year we introduced a new design: Sweetheart Glovelets. With Valentine’s Day a mere two weeks away, we wanted to remind everyone about this FREE pattern in time to buy yarn or stash dive, and knit up these lil cuties!
Sally’s Glovelets:
Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere (1 skein, 200 yds/55 gms), US 3 dpns, Color Keja
Susan’s Glovelets:
Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk DK (2 skeins, 114 yds/50 gms each), US 3 dpns
We hope you enjoy the pattern!
P.S. If you have any trouble with the first row of the pattern (the ruffle at the cuff), click here.
January 27, 2009
From Susan — One Last Glance (see added note re kits)
Well, at least for now! The Bohus Exhibit was stunning, but of course, no photography allowed. We were able to take pictures of the designs that Solveig recently put into kit form, but I did not have a camera with me 
. Saved by friend, Kim! Here are a few of the Bohus Beauties we saw that evening:
Red Light
Turquoise Light
Gothic Windows Pink (Sally bought this kit)
Rime Frost (aka Grace Kelly Bohus)
Azalea
It looks like I missed a great time on Sunday by the blogs I’ve read. There was a special dinner for the Swedish dignitaries and some of the MKG Board to thank us for our support of the exhibit. I did not go because I had been out knitting with peeps for days on end and thought I should be home at least one night — mistake! I do plan on visiting the exhibit at least once more before March.
I want to thank Sally for her kind words about the “nursing care” I provided — it twern’t nuthin. Honestly, I didn’t do much of anything! I do know now that every time she visits I better have homemade shortbread cookies on hand! 
ETA from Sally:
A reader commented: “I love the pictures but I have a question that has not been addressed by any other blogger or any website selling the Bohus kits. What sizes do the kits cover? Or is everything written for just one size? (And why isn’t this mentioned anywhere?).”
Here’s the answer: The typical kit contains sufficient yarn to make the largest size. For example, I purchased the Gothic Windows kit in pink. Directions are provided for sizes XX Small, X Small, Small, Medium, Large, and XL (bust size from 36 1/4 to 46). At the top, it says, “There is sufficient yarn in each kit to make the XL size.”
For my Large Lace Collar, I made the size largest size yoke because of the modifications to the design I am making to knit it in the round. I had “yoke” (colored) yarn left over.
Here is a link to the American Swedish Institute Shop for kit prices and availability: ASI Link.
January 26, 2009
From Sally — Sometimes Bigger is Better
I’m back in our nation’s capital, finally feeling well enough to drink some coffee without flinching.
I wanted to give a public shout out to my big sister, who took such good care of me while I was in Minnesota. She handled my luggage, dropped me off everywhere we went while she parked (to protect my fragile system from the cold), cooked bland foods for me, and basically waited on me hand and foot. I couldn’t have survived the first day or so of the trip without her nursing care.
It was such a wonderful event — I wish I had felt more able to enjoy it. I met so many wonderful people, and if I seemed a bit “unsocial” I hope you will all understand.
Thank you again to my big sister!
