Your knitting and crochet time- 2KCBWDAY7

Write about your typical crafting time.

I dream of knitting all day long but unfortunately it's not possible. During the day I usually knit when little G. goes down for her nap. Sometimes, when she's really tired, she sleeps for two hours: it's a real treat for my crafting addiction. And then there are evenings with plenty of time to knit. I find real pleasure in knitting while watching some movies or TV series. My favourite at the moment are "Lost" and "Criminal minds". It's just so nice to be sitting under the blankets and working with needles, following the action. I also love knitting and watching movies based on Stephen King's books. Don't ask me why. It might have something to do with the beautiful scenery.

What I really would like to try is to overcome my shyness and to start knitting in public. It takes me roughly one hour and a half to get to work (if I'm lucky with trains- welcome to London ;) )  and the same (if not more) to get back home. So much time for my craft but I still can't bring myself to knitting on the bus/tube/train. I use this time to catch up with reading books but I sometimes wish I was more courageous to actually pull those needles out of my bag and knit or crochet.

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This is the last day of the 2nd Knit and Crochet Blog Week. It's been so much fun I am so glad I've participated. I'd like to thank you for stopping by and leaving your comments. Thanks to this fantastic blogging experience I've found many beautiful crafty blogs that surely will become my daily source of inspiration. Thank you!

Something to aspire to- 2KCBWDAY6

Something to aspire to. Is there a pattern or skill that you don’t yet feel ready to tackle but which you hope to (or think you can only dream of) tackling in the future, near or distant? 

Since I started my knitting adveture few yars ago, I have learnt many things about this craft but still I feel like I have only touched a wee bit of knitting. There is so much to learn there. I can simply name few things that I would definitely like to explore and master. Let's talk socks, for example. I've always admired beautiful socks knitted from interesting patterns by other knitters but could never manage to knit them myself. Lately I've been thinking that not only I'd love to learn to knit socks. I'd love to knit many many pairs of socks for my little family and get rid of the store-bought ones. I'm looking for a nice yarn to start my first pair of socks so any suggestions from you, talented knitters, are welcome.

I've been in love with fair isle for years now and I would like to knit more projects with beautifully patterned yoke. There's something very special about them that makes me drool over some projects...

And yes, I wouldn't mind to know how to write down patterns professionally. I've got so many ideas running in my head that sometimes I can't even fall asleep at night. If only I could find more time for everything... Is it only me or is a day not long enough for everyone..?

And last but not least: crochet. I hope to learn more about this mysterious craft in the future. I just love the idea of crocheting blankets for my family. They are truly beautiful things, those blankets.

Have a great weekend Everyone!

And now for something completely different- 2KCBWDAY5

This is an experimental blogging day to try and push your creativity in blogging to the same level that you perhaps push your creativity in the items you create.

Happy April Fools' Day Everyone!
(and no, I'm not kidding- I'd really rather be knitting than ironing :) )

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 :)

Please click here to visit other participants of the 2nd Knit and Crochet Blog Week.

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 ;)

Please, click here to visit more participants of 2KCBW.
Happy Wednesday Everyone!

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!

The final countdown.

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

For more information, please visit Eskimimi's blog or click on the banner below to be transfered to Ravelry group for active bloggers :)