The slower knitting pace has also forced me to think of my knits and myself as a knitter. Unfortunately many of my knits lie in my wardrobe untouched since the photoshoot for the blog. I’m not able to incorporate them to my outfits. I really do enjoy knitting as a process, but on the other hand I really would like to produce clothes that I actually want to wear. Now this is even more true, I don’t have too much extra money to spend on yarn.

I know that things have changed in my way to dress myself up, too. There is less pressure for formal wear, and I find myself playing with layers and volume more and more. Some – not all – of Wenlan Chia’s knits fit to this approach pretty well. I actually wore the Karate Sweater today when visiting grocery shop – oh yes, the morning was chilly, now the sun seems to peek out a bit…

My scarves I tend to use frequently (at least in wintertime), and when I wear ankle socks in my boots they certainly are a handknitted pair. I love the idea of Butterfly dress as a part of my layering experiments, although I hesitate to taking Her Fragility out of the garment cover. Selma cape has also found her way to regular use. But that’s about it, folks.

Now I need to figure out what to do to all of the unused garments. I see lots of giveaways happening in the near future, somehow frogging is really difficult for me.

Ant then again I explored some new territories of pattern writing, results: three free patterns and Ophicleide cardigan pattern for sale. There will be more patterns in the future… …this will definitely not make me rich but it is fun – and following the pattern sales and Ravelry projects is so rewarding!

Leaving the career life and starting as a full time student has been a huge but definitely positive change in my life. There has been some moments of doubt and I’m somewhat worried about my small income – but overall everything is fine, I feel extremely motivated and I have found some really exiting new things to explore and do – and I am receiving wonderful support from my husband for this project, thousand thanks for you my dear!

Usually I’m not too into new year’s resolutions – but now I have shed the traces of working life stress and established my new lifestyle patterns; perhaps it is time to work a bit for my fitness and wellbeing…

…let’s have a great year 2009!

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This is my home street, Siltasaarenkatu.

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This is where I would like to live , just couple of blocks off my current home.

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And this is where I actually live… …no, unfortunately not in that tower…

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Hakaniemen halli is a great market hall, jus across the street from us. I love to do my grocery shopping there and perhaps have a cup of coffee. One can even bump to our president in there…

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At summertime shopping outside in the market is option, too.

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Jugend (or Art Deco) buildings are quite characteristic to Helsinki…

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…but clean and simple lines of houses built on 1930-1940 are common sight near the centrum, too.

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And all houses simply aren’t created equal. Kallio district is quite a quilt of architecture.

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But the sun shines equally over all kinds of buildings, what a bliss…

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Kallio was a working class district for a long time… …and it has kept some of it’s former image, although some trendy hairdresser salons and cafes are slowly infiltrating to small street level commercial properties. But sex shops are still common sight here…

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…sometimes more discreet…

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On the waterfront there is Merihaka district, the concrete pearl of Helsinki…

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Porthaninkatu (street nearby us) is pretty much torn down right now.

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I have a strange fascination for rust patterns and tags, what about both of those…

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Some great thai takeaway from the nearby kitchen…

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…and look at my cute wildcat pumps on temporarily abandoned tram tracks! No tights at sight, anymore!