finishing wool

I have a huge stash, and lately it has become really enormous. I have made the resolution of trying to reduce it, knitting as much as possible.
So I'm attacking various wools, and in an attempt to finish the wool I used for the onda su onda hat I have knitted a nice, little tam, from a basic pattern by Ann Bud.


Isn't it beautiful?

updating...

Following yesterday's post, here is something else I have knitted.


It's a citron, knitted with Kauni wool and I'm really pleased with it! Maybe next time I'll use larger needles, though I'm happy with the fabric density I obtained using 4mm needles, still the fabric is a bit "stiff"!


Anyhow, I'm so happy of it, that as soon as I finished I cast on another shawl with the same yarn (I had two skeins ;-)!).

hard life...

Life has been hard lately. No worries, no real tragedies, but stupid things at work and A LOT of pressure. I haven't exploded, yet, and keep comforting myself with some "evening therapy".

So let's start with the hats:

This one is a wonderful Woolywormhead pattern (rav link) called Aeonium. It's very easy to knit and the result is really impressive.

I knitted it with 4.5 mm needles with an unknown 100% wool that has a fantastic stitch definition!

This other hat is again from Woolly Wormhead! The pattern is Medici (rav link) and it is another beauty.

This time I used an alpaca blend and the result is super soft!

Finally a really clever pattern from a Ravelry friend that I test knit.

I love it and I'm so lucky I could make it!

bread making

sometimes it can be a bit adventurous

But it is always very rewarding!

ah, the witch!

I have been blocked "slightly" by a back problem.

So no much happening for me, except a wonderful weekend at home trying to recover. And as everything bad always comes with something good, I had a lot of time for knitting!

Now, I have some FO to show, but of course no photos, so just resist a bit: as soon as I get back some mobility, I'll be able to document my progress.

The photo is from two weeks ago, when we visited the fantabulous Genoa aquarium. I think it is appropriate, as I'm floating through space, trying to avoid tricky movements (though most of the people would say I'm a bit stiff, rather than floaty).

wonderful clouds

Spring is coming!

a birthday present

Two days ago we celebrated S. birthday.

I managed to finish something for her I'm very happy with!

And she did like it.

The pattern of this shouldrette comes from Vogue Knitting on the go - vintage knits, it is very easy and comes out absolutely well (rav link).

I used Mondial Merino Plus (52% wool - 48 Acrylic) and 6mm needles.

The colours are beautiful, and the shouldrette was very well received: it really fits well and will warm her up ... next winter!

Another shawl

This is a new shawl I just finished.

Pattern: Mormor's shawl by Emma Fassio (rav link) Yarn: unknown yarn from market, 4 skeins, approx 400m Modifications to the pattern: added a feather and fan border, as per lorelosthinteusa (rav link) This is one of the 10 shawls I plan to knit in 2010

I'm very pleased with the result and it was really a lot of fun to knit this one!

another ishbel

I have finally blocked it, and now it can have its own post!

It's another Ishbel, pattern by Ysolda Teague, knit using a wonderful skein sent me by Katie. It's a Yarn Yard wool, it has gorgeous brown shades and is very soft.

As it wasn't enough, I did the final repeats of the border using a Paton's tweedy - silky wool.

The points of this shawl are very nice, and indeed useful, as when you use the shawl as a scarf they help it to stay where you put it.

I took lots of photos, but will try to behave and stop adding them here now...

a severe case of "startitis"

Last weekend plans involved finishing projects... But instead I was hit by a severe case of startitis, and started four projects! One is huge, one medium and two small. And yesterday a started even another one!

Being far from my stash for a while, left me itching of starting new things, and now that I can access to it every evening, I start new projects everytime!

I have also started to write my first "pattern", well, not really a big thing, just a very simple and easy hat. Let's say it is a test, so that I'm forced to find a layout, and think what is needed to make a radable pattern.

catching up

Being back is good, and given the lack of posts lately, I do have plenty to write about!

So let's start with some finished knits, thay have all been given away at Christmas.

First a pair of socks I made for G., she had wanted them for so long, that I did manage to complete them before Christmas, so that she could finally have one pair.

I used a merino wool from the mill, so with no label but of excellent quality and very soft indeed.

The pattern is a generic toe-up sock with short rows heel that I made up as I knit. From memory, I started with 12 stitches, the foot was 48 stitches, and that's all about it. I had the measures of the feet, and made the socks accordingly. They seemed to fit, and are being used.

I'm starting to consider to write down the patterns I make, and have them on Ravelry for free, even though they are so basic and simple, that I think nobody could be really interested (and there are already lot's of this kind of patterns there!). Anyhow, I would do it as a selfish thing, so that I preserve some memory of what I do.

a long-due post

This is to officially thank Katie, a wonderful sp14 partner, who sent me a beautiful Christmas card and never heard back from me....

No excuses here, other than I did leave for a while, and left the card home, and was lost in many things. Of course, I knew I would write about this as soon as I got home, and here it is!

THANK YOU, Katie!

knit knit knit!

It is a long time I'm not writing here a decent, long post. Well, this is the period of the year when I'm away, and keep updated the other blog, and that's already quite a lot of work. And then I'm here working, and there is some time to devote to knitting and to friends!

The annual Melbourne pullover is progressing, maybe a little bit slowly, I fear I will not finish before coming home (eeek, only one week and a half is left!).

And I have been kitting also other things... One was sent out today to its new home. The other, which I show you here, has left for the states on saturday, in the hands of its new owner.

Infact as soon as I knew a dear friend here was leaving to the States I thought she needed a good scarf, passim from the 36°C here to several °C below zero there.

I managed to knit it in a week, which is quite an accomplishment for me. And not having nough red yarn (it was finished when I got back to the shop), I decided to make it in red and grey. And i'm rather pleased of the result, and hope my friend liked it too!

It's another Ishbel (rav link), pattern from Ysolda, and the wool is Cleckheaton Country Silk 8 ply, an 85%wool-15%silk mix that is very pleasant to knit and touch!

This is my third ishbel (the second is home, needing blocking and some finishing...), and I feel it is time to try some other patterns!

I have bought some whool here, I usually try to resist to temptations, also because there is not much room in the suitcase, but feel I might still have good occasions before coming back. I have already 4 fantastic special skeins in my hand (not counting a whole pullover + 4 skeins + 5 skeins for felting). Oh, shame, now that I read it, I haven't been so resistent, after all!

Trallallà

I'm so happy that i finally decided (after much debate within myself) to get this new toy!

It works perfectly, makes beautiful skeins and has the power to realx me! I can envisage myself at home skeining all that wool in my messy closet. This will bring some order and a lot of fun: what else to ask for?

Wise messages!

You can find the right directions all around you, it's just a matter of seeing them ....

alive and ... knitting!

Since I have left I haven't written much... Actally, I'm not writing much on the travelling blog either... I'm busy working, and in the free time catching up with friends and having good times with them. Of course, some knitting is happening (and knitting groups, and exploring knitting shops!).

Infact, I'm working at my usual Melbourne jumper, the only big project I'm able to complete every year... And here is proofs that this is happening!

I'm also working on other projects, I just completed a scarf which will remain here (no photos until it arrives to its owner), and i have also started another scarf for a good friend.

Australia day

December...

First of all,

happy Christmas to everybody!

Where is december gone? it was simply so busy, preparing for leaving with all those things happening, that I didn't have much time to write here.

We have now happily arrived in Melbourne, so I now will have time for delated updates (some finished objects, many projects that will have to wait for a couple of months, and maybe some new exciting findings?), and will resume also the travelling blog for family and friends (in italian).

Be prepared for some news soon!

another BSJ

Lately I have lots of friend waiting for babies!

Ah, that's the perfect occasion for baby knitting, a wonderful and rewarding activity.

So I have cast on, and actually also finished, another BSJ (Baby Surprise Jacket). It is a fantastic pattern, Elisabeth Zimmerman was a real "genius", as many say!

I bought this wool at Spaccio Mafil, a reasle from a big company, and thay have very nice wools. It's a bit of an expensive place (oh well, cheaper than any store) but they also have special offers that are really good priced. This is 100% merino superwash and extremely soft. I made it using 4mm needles, and then bought buttons at the market. I'm quite pleased with the result, and in the meantime I have made another baby jacket (different model) that only needs to be seamed and buttons. So be prepared for some baby items soon!

knitting my way through december..

I'm more busy than ever, so there is not much time for blogging. Actually, usually I collaps in bed quite early, these days, so also the knitting has been suffering. Which didn't prevent me from casting on new things!

I have some "secret" finished objects (FO), but others are absolutely public, and here they are!

Let's start with hats:

This is Urchin (rav link) by Ysolda Teague. Knitted with 7mm needles, with an unknown yard: a nice, fast and satysfying knit, ideal for last minute gifts (I made it in one evening!). Here is my page project.

Also this was a project that I did as a KAL with the kn.it group on Ravelry. I'm SO happy that I joined, there are so many nice and talented women there, and it was a pleasure to keep in touch with them, and we are planning many other group knitting events.

I find these group things particularly satysfying, we are a relaxed group, and when you are too busy you can just participate silently, but on the other hand when there is sometime, it's great to be able to interact and chat with nice people in a realxed way and on so many topics!!

Second hat is Mayrose, by Woolly Wormhead. It was one of the two mystery hats of the november KAL of the Woolly group on Ravelry. This has been pure fun, pity that I was not able to make also the other pattern, everglade, but I'll definitely make it soon, even though slouchy hats are not my fave (I plan to do it less slouchy).

This mistery Kal has been really good, with lots of nice paticipants and wonderful hats. I was a bit overwhelmed with work and followed silently, but I enjoyed myseld a lot.

fall

Lately the weather has been dull, with a lot of fog, and these are the views while I cycle to work...

Luckly, today it is absolutely beautiful, so I will close with another b&w experiment of mines... (but shot some weeks ago in Bobbio)

Lacy Baktus

Finally autumn has arrived: it has been raining the whole week-end, and we have stayde home finally doing tons of things that had been waiting for ever. First of all I have changed the weels of my car, they were really worn out and almost dangerous. This took almost a whole day, but with some patience, wemanaged to sqeeze in several other things while waiting. Then we cleaned the house, and also built a new shoe storage in one of the closets: now there will be some ordering and throwing away, and finally this part of the house will be tidy.

Knit-wise, I have been working hard on completing projects, and I'm now at the sewing, end.darning stage, which always takes ages.

But not to leave you without photos, here is a nice, autumnal scarf, a Lacy Baktus (ravelry link, flickr link).

I had these two skeins of this wool since a long time (it's naturalana, tesse by kroma, and I used 3.5 mm needles), and have finally found the perfect project to use them. I' very happy with the scarf, I used up every bit of wool, and managed to frog half the scarf notwithstanding the pattern simplicity! All in all i'm very happy of this scarf, the only downside note is that I would have made it a bit larger, but there is no wool left over!

My niece had asked me a poncho for christmas; luckly I had not started it yet as today she has announced me she wants socks! Hopefully, no more changes of mind.... I will cast on this week, as soon as I finish the lovely Ishbel I cast on last week!

another hat

I'm never tired of praising Wooly Wormhead designs.
And this time, I have immensely enjoyed myself in knitting this beauty!
Look at the stitch, I was fearing it was going to be difficult or extremely laboriuos, and instead it went on ... like butter!

The pattern, Star Beanie (Rav link) by Woolly Wormhead, is as usual super well written and clear, and was fantastic and quick to knit. Hey, if you go to her site, visit the blog, and have a look at the download section, where there are lots of interesting informations about techniques besides free patterns!


I used 4mm needles, and a pure wool from BBB lane, of which I do not remember the name. I used a bit less than a skein. And look at the colour (OK, not the one in the above photo, which is overexposed). The only tricky part of the scheme was the change in moving the marker at the end of the body of the hat, but by then you must have got the hang on how the stars should overlap, and thus I was able to make them spiral up continuously as by pattern.

This was the november KAL at the Wormhead's hats group on Ravelry, and if you check there, a new KAL is starting tomorrow, with two new designs... Anticipations are high!

Speaking of knit alongs, the bug has beaten me lately, as I have decided to participate also to the short-rows KAL, organised, I think, by Miss Piggott at the kn.it group (Ravelry link). I like a lot to knit toghther with other people, albeit virtually, and actually also to know them in real person afterwards, as it often happens after a while! So internet starts as a virtual space, but it is then possible to know the people you share something with in reality!

lucky me! SP14 continued

It is somedays I wanted to write this post, but never had time to take a picture... No more excuses, I now have a photo! (OK, it is a bad photo, I had to use the flashlight, but at least here it is).


I have had the luck to participate to sp14 with two wonderful partners, Gabi, at Rainbowthreads, and Katie, at The view from the Hill. They have been really fantastic partners, I was so lucky (and also a thank to our hostess Jinann at Have ewe any wool?).


Gabi sent me a nice present to celebrate the end of the swap: she has been really thoughtfull and picked up a super fantasic knitting diary. Look there, isn't it wonderful? There are real petals and vegetable in the cover, and orange is one of my favourite colours! I will start using it now, otherwise I usually tend to keep beautiful things unused, but the best way for me to show I liked it, is starting to write on it NOW.



THANK YOU Gabi! You really made my week, that is being rather hard on many other aspects.

some finished objects...

After a writing hyatus, due to crazy working schedules, I'm back on knitting, and have something to show you.

I'm very pleased with it, and considering that it took me less than a month, I'm proud of myself.

Let me introduce you my latest accomplishment:

And also indulge on some details

And finally have the full view:

It's Ysolda teague's "hap blanket" (Rav link) knitted with 8mm needles, using two wools I had in stash (with no names of brands or any other information). The pattern is in Little Whimsical knits 1, and it is the less well written I have done so far. No complains, anyway, as it was quite clear and absolutely nice to knit, but there is an error (row 5 and subsequent correspondents should be purled and not knitted), and there were a lot of "sending back to previous row" type of instructions. Despite this, I'm VERY happy of the result, and would consider to knit another.

It went to my dad for his birthday, and he liked it a lot!

sad news...

Yesterday morning a dear friend's father died....

Yesterday evening I was exhausted....

Life goes on, I guess!

a brilliant idea

I have found a brilliant idea at the purl bee blog.

Look there: these mittens are gorgeous and combine sewing and knitting!

Maybe I should try to make a pair, the only thing I don't really have is time ;-)

something for SP14

Lately, besides trying to complete started projects ... and not so successfully, up to now at least,

I have been also ingaged in some "secret projects".

This cowl was made for Gabi, my secret pal, and now that she has received it, I can show it to you. Here it is, unblocked

And this is how it was while blocking (the real colour is nearer to the one in the first picture).

The pattern is a noble cowl, by Emily Kausalik (ravelry link). I found the pattern in the queued projects from Gabi, and fell in love with it. It in knitted on 4mm needles, in the round, with a pure merino baby wool I had in stash. It was a pleasure to knit this cowl, and I hope it will keep her warm, now that winter is approaching.

In the meantime, other things are being knitted, but I'll keep them for other posts!

secret pal 14 update

This week was a sort of nightmare at work, and I was so tired that days were passing by with no posts.

I have received the final package from Katie: she has been a wonderful pal, and she has stimulated me in trying (er..., wanting to try!) new things. And I will post here my progresses, no worries!

Anyhow, the package was full of wonderful things, and I honestly liked all of them, I can't decide on favourites. Here are some photos:

Look there!

A lovely note, all for myself!

A gorgeous wool handspun by Katie! I love its colour, and feeling, and I spent a bit of time wondering how is it possible to spin like that. Which brought me to resume my spindle, and decide that by the end of october I shall finish my first attempt at spinning.

A super fantastic bookmark, already in use, and it is a knitting bookmark (thus combining two favourites things of mine).

A washcloth (orange, I love it) and fabric with chickens. The washcloth complements beautifully my kitchen, and the fabric will be put at good use.

And finally, tea and chocolate!!! (all was excellent).

The last thing in the pack was such a cute thought, and I really loved it to no end: a pack of moo cards. I have no words, actually, there would be so many words, that I will just write here a big

THANK YOU KATIE!