Where are they now? 2KCBWDAY4

Whatever happened to your __________?
Write about the fate of a past knitting project.

I checked my Ravelry project page and decided to choose four things that I am particularly fond of and have good memories about. First, this woolen scarf:

If I remember correctly, this was my very first completed project when I started to knit in 2007. A very simple thing to knit. I made it for my partner C. to keep him warm and I made it extra long as he requested. I'm really fond of this scarf as it reminds me of good old times (long autumn evenings when I would knit while watching "Twin Peaks"). 

Where is it now?

In the wardrobe, I guess. C. doesn't use it too often (I've knitted few more scarves/neck warmers for him since 2007 but I know this scarf has special place in his heart.

Second: this lovely beanie that I knitted last year for my baby girl (pattern : Cecily beanie). I loved it and she looked so cute in it. 

Where is it now?

I have no idea. I believe it got lost during our removal last summer; we might have left it behind in the old flat. I don't like losing hand made things (who does?) and felt pretty bad about it. I wonder where is this beanie now? I only hope it didn't finish in the dumpster...

Number tree on my list is Teddy bear (pattern: Mr. Bean Bear). I knitted it for my daughter as a gift for her first Christmas. It was a difficult project for me, mainly because there were so many bits and pieces to be sewn together and I HATE seaming. It gave me a big headache; I remember there was some swearing and tears involved as well as bottle of wine to release the tension. I managed to finish the bear but guess what? My girl was not interested in playing with him at all. It took her about one year to finally notice him. 

Where is it now?

Some time ago Teddy finally earned the place to sit on Gaia's bed, next to the other gazillion toys she sleeps with. Yay!

And the last project, the one that I think I love the most is this green cardigan (pattern: Chick). 

It was my very first project that wasn't a scarf; something I actually had to knit in pieces following a written pattern, something I had to join together to have a finished object. Look how imperfect it is, the raglan seams and the gaps between buttons. But it didn't matter. I was so happy to finish it and even happier to see my baby wearing it. 

Where is it now?

In Italy where we lived at that time. It's packed away with all the baby clothes that Gaia outgrew, just in case another girl comes along :)

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Happy Thursday Everyone! 

Tidy mind, tidy stitches- 2KCBWDAY3

How do you keep your yarn wrangling organised? It seems like an easy to answer question at first, but in fact organisation exists on many levels.

Due to lack of space in our tiny flat, I try to keep my stash tidy and in one place. It's not always possible, especially when I can't decide what to knit next. In that case, I start digging in my stash and I end up with single balls of different yarn misplaced all around the flat. And then I have these moment when I start tidying my stash. Oh, what a source of joy it is! ;)

My stash is not that big (comparing to other knitters' stashes out there, I guess) and it is easy to keep it tidy. All my yarn lives in plastic boxes, piled one on another. I know, not very pretty and original but as I said, our flat is so tiny that this is the best solution so far. Maybe one day I'll have my little study with wooden shelves and knitting baskets filled up with yarn (hey, dreaming doesn't cost a thing ;) ) 

I try to keep my Ravelry stash page organised and up to date as well as my projects page. 

As for my knitting needles, look, I'm a good girl too ;). In the beginning of my knitting adventure few years ago I used to buy quite a lot of metal needles. They worked pretty well for me until I discovered the joy of knitting with wooden needles (thank you, C.!). The difference is huge! I keep them separated; the metal ones live in my Anthropologie flower pot that I bought on sale last year and the wooden ones live in the water jug that I bought in local charity shop. They are more for display now: I rarely use straight needles these days, I love knitting seamless projects and circular needles work for me better. 

So far, so good. You may think that I'm a really tidy knitter. Well... I have weak sides too. Just look at my knitting bag in which I keep my circular needles, dpn needles and crochet hooks... It is NEVER tidy. Even when I put the needles in their cases, the order lasts a second ;)

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Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Corner View: Reflection

Tower Bridge and Tower of London, reflected in the windows of the office buildings along the River. I captured this image few years ago, on cold winter afternoon during one of my lonely walks.

For more corner views, please visit lovely Francesca.

Happy Wednesday!

Hello Spring!

Hello Spring! You've been very kind to us recently, spoiling us with the sun, fresh air, beautiful birds' singing in early morning hours. We take long walks to the park every day, we play, we get dizzy with the smell of cherry tree blossoms filling up the air. We're waking up from winter hibernation. We love you, Spring.

Skill + 1Up - 2KCBWDAY2

Skill + 1UP – 2KCBWDAY2

Look back over your last year of projects and compare where you are in terms of skill and knowledge of your craft to this time last year. Have you learned any new skills or forms of knitting/crochet (can you crochet cable stitches now where you didn’t even know such things existed last year? Have you recently put a foot in the tiled world of entrelac? Had you even picked up a pair of needles or crochet hook this time last year?

Hmm.. Let's see...

1. Cables.

I tried to knit them last year and fell in love with them. I always thought it was difficult to knit cables. Err... So easy! And they always look great.

2. Fair isle knitting.

Exactly around this time last year I was working on my Paper Dolls sweater. It was my very first fair isle project and I actually finished it but the final result was quite disappointing. I followed the pattern closely and the body came out perfect while the yoke looked pretty bad. It was too large on me plus I had problems with stranding the yarn on the left side of the work; my dolls were pretty "tight". I decided to rip the yoke off and before I realized, I'd ripped off half of the sweater. It is now waiting for a better time. I'm planning on knitting it again some time this year, customizing the yoke. I love the pattern (very well written and clear instructions) and I really don't want to waste that fantastic yarn (Rowan Scottish Tweed 4 Ply).

What I learnt from this project:

- i-cord cast on/cast off

- corrugated rib

- short rows 

3. Crochet.

I've always been in love with all the crochet things and always wanted to learn this craft but for some reason I am not able to understand much about it. Honestly, I believe it is a sort of magic with a hook instead of a wand. I'm self-taught knitter and it is quite easy for me to learn new things about knitting but when it comes to crochet, it becomes a problem. You know what's ironic? I had crochet lessons when I was in secondary school and never had knitting lessons.

Last year I finally decided to face crochet. I was determined to make this fantastic blanket. And guess what? I actually managed to work out the stitches! Ok, ok, I know, this pattern is only about double crochet, chain, treble but I feel happy anyway. I've been working on my first crochet blanket for few months now, taking it easy. I really enjoy working with hook. 

This year I'd really love to finally learn to knit socks as well as lace shawls... And explore crochet a bit more!

A Tale of Two Yarns - 2KCBWDAY1

A Tale of Two Yarns – 2KCBWDAY1

Part of any fibre enthusiast’s hobby is an appreciation of yarn. Choose two yarns that you have either used, are in your stash or which you yearn after and capture what it is you love or loathe about them.

It is so difficult to choose only two yarns to write about. I love all my yarn from my stash and there  is much more out there that I'd love to own but I decided to write about two brands of yarn that I am particularly fond of. 

1. Araucania yarns. I love them! Especially the colorful ones. I can never resist them... For each of these skeins I have a project in mind, I just don't have enough time to start. Meantime, I keep stashing more... My favourite of Araucania yarns is Toconao and Ranco and, recently, Ulmo.

2. Rowan yarns. Ok, maybe I'm not very original with this choice but I really love working with Rowan yarns. It's always a source of big pleasure. I believe that quality of Rowan yarns is really great and I've never been disappointed with the finished projects. I'm just about to start Shalom cardigan with Rowan Cocoon. 

The final countdown.

Just a quick reminder: The 2nd Annual Knitting and Crochet Blog Week starts tomorrow :)

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Mojo's back!

I have lots to share with you today. I've been back to my needles, knitting quite feverishly; I've finished three projects this week and now I'm digging through my stash in search of new projects. Here are my recent FOs:

1. Cable sweater for C.

I started knitting it in November last year; it was supposed be Christmas sweater but, of course, I didn't manage to complete it on time. I was knitting it on and off and I'm so glad it's finally finished. It's seamless, knitted from top to bottom. I improvised the cable pattern as I went. I think the sleeves are too large but C. says he likes them this way so if he's happy, I'm happy. I just know I would't be able to frog the whole thing up to the arm increases to make the sleeves smaller. I admit I got pretty tired with this project.

Yarn: Sirdar Click Aran with Wool

Needles: 5mm/ US8 

2. Baby beanie.

I produced this little hat one evening. It's a gift for my friend's baby boy who was born last Sunday.

Yarn: Patons Fairytale DK

Needles: dpn 4mm/ US6

3. Stripy sweater.

I just love it! My quickest knit ever: it took only three days to complete it. I had some Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Aran sitting in my stash and after some search on Ravelry I found this fantastic project by Audrey. The pattern is "$5 in Paris" but I didn't  follow it. It's an easy seamless top, knitted from top to bottom. I wrote my notes on my Ravelry page (here).

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Aran

Needles: 4mm/ US6 and 4.5mm/ US7

***

From other news: yesterday I finally visited Loop, the legendary yarn shop in Islington (though the nearest tube station is Angel; I didn't know that and had a bit of a walk from Highbury&Islington station).

The shop is a real paradise. I could easily live there... Not only they stock high quality yarns but the way everything is presented makes this place very special. And the customer service is excellent too; you really feel welcome (something I never experience when I visit I Knit shop, for example). The shop assistant complimented on my Noro shawlette that I had wrapped around my neck. It felt good :)

I was a good girl and didn't let myself to buy much, although I was really tempted. The choice of yarn that they offer is fantastic but I only bought one skein of Colinette Jitterbug. I plan to knit socks with it; I wanted small shawlette but I think one skein wont be enough.

And the last thing: it's official now- I am addicted to Araucania yarns. I have stashed some more:

Happy Knitting!

Hitting the wall.

Thank you all for your nice comments on my "Topolina" sweater, here as well as on Ravelry. I will definitely be knitting another one and I will try to write down the pattern notes to share with you. At the moment not much has been happening in my knitting world- I feel like I've lost my knitting mojo. I have plenty of ideas in my head, I have few projects on my needles, I have new delicious yarns in my stash  and somehow I don't have energy to work. Whenever I pick up my needles, I give them up after few rows. Nothing feels right... It's like I've hit some sort of knitting wall. Do you also experience this sometimes...?

I've been trying to finish this cable sweater that I started long before last year Christmas. I only need to do half a sleeve but I don't see the end of it. Maybe it's because my personal knitting assistant (my two year old daughter) keeps pulling out the needles and I'm fed up with picking up the stitches... This warm, thick sweater will be ready just in time for... summer. Oh, well...

I played with hook a bit today. I made this little flower brooch. That's the most I can produce right now. 

Week of colors: BLACK

Black and white photography :)

I rarely post b&w photos here so decided to take advantage of today's choice of color. Black used to be my favorite when I was a teenager and then in my early twenties (I still own quite a lot of black clothes...). Today I'm sharing some of b&w images, a nice change from all the colorful ones :)

a good cup of cappuccino; make a wish...; tree in the park nearby; walk in Nervi, Genoa; Piazza De Ferrari, also in Genoa; old cinquecento  in Siena, Italy;

Thank you, Francesca, for Week of Colors: it's been fun!

Week of colors: GREEN

Today's green, the easy one since green is my favorite color. Here are some random green images I found in my photos:

morning dew; sweet juicy grapes; asparagus- one of my favorite vegetables; bookshop on Charing Cross Road, London; facade of a house in Lavagna, Italy; after the rain; in the park.

For some more greenery, please visit lovely Francesca.

Tomorrow's black. A challenge!