something new but old

After some silence (it was due to exhausting weeks at work and not only), I'm finally back with one f.o.
To tell the truth, I have been knitting quite a lot, but as usual several (let's be honest: 7 = seven) different things on the needles at a one time make progresses very slow. Maybe this post is starting e new trend and I'll finally finish something. But don't be fool, danger is always at hand, as this evening I'm already thinking of casting on two new things!

Anyhow, after the decluttering of the computer, which was rather successful, I'm feeling better, and I'm now proceeding to a partial cleaning of the house.

The finished object is a nice shawl, anothe citron, but this time modified and knit in a softer wool, which made the results quite satisfying! I started it almost two months ago, and it travelled with me everywere. So here it is in all its glory!



When I reached the last repeat, there was quite a lot of wool left, and I was bored to death to double the stitches now and then, so I added three more repeats realising a band of k2tog yo and yo k2tog every other row (keeping the return row as purls), and then headed happily to a nice garter stitch band until I finished the yarn.



I think the result is beautiful, and I'm not going to block it, it will be the decision of its future owner! More details on my ravelry page.

valladolid

Hey, I'm back!

It was great



fun



romantic



interesting



(and there is many more better photos still to process).

Coming back to normal super-busy life was a bit difficult, but I have decided to dedicate some time everyday to the decluttering and cleaning up of my computer.
I have started by learning to use blog feeds and reorganising my favourites.....

the digital detox

I have decided to follow Susannah's Conway suggestion:





I need to declutter many things, I shall start from somewhere, and it seems to me this is a sign to follow.

Maybe I should learn how to make this blog a bit better and more readable?

rainy weekend recipe

Three days at home with a bad cold and pouring rain…. What should a poor girl do in these conditions, besides trying to add rows to never ending projects?
In order to remain sane, there is only one therapy: a HAT!



So here it is, I love it, I had always wanted to try this pattern, and now I’m hooked, I will make many more!!!



It's Thorpe, by Kirsten Kapur, a free pattern on ravelry. I have added a pompom, and have made the crocheted border using the same wool of the hat (as per request of the owner).



The wool is a left-over from unknown market wool, I used 5 mm needles, so made the large size to fit a medium head. And it was a big success, it has already disappeared and it's put to good use.



Luckly I could take some pictures before it was taken away!



Definitely an experience to be repeated soon!

friends and wonderful friends!

Yesterday morning with a group of wonderful friends we went to Grignasco.
After a much needed coffee we spent a lovely morning immersed in wool....



A lot of wool!



The sale at Grignasco was fun, I digged into enormous baskets looking for packages of mixed wool, but the great thing was the atmosphere of complicity in the group: a much needed break and full refreshment, thank you dear friends! I finally met Francesca of "meet the Cohens", cought up with Micicuta and met another fantastic lady! How good it is to meet in real life internet friends and be aware thet the sense of closeness and friendship is strengthened!



We left full handed



But the best of it all was the lightness and happiness that remained with me all the way home and is still lasting: thank to you all, ladies!
Details of my purchases in another post, I need some light to take pictures!

october, month of breast cancer prevention

It is important, it can save your life, and research can improve the possibilities of cure. But the best cure is prevention!
Here a story (in italian) you should read, it's about courage and love (thank you try2knit - Ciami)

Go here to participate, help and spread the word.

Yesterday I was in Lugano, and here is what some knitting women can do!



Let's rise awarness about breast cancer and prevention!

I'm SO lucky

Some days ago, while away, I left a comment on the blog of a dear friend, franci at meet the cohens, who is making several give aways while participating in a fantastic project, the shed project, set by Bindu Wiles.

Look here what I got in my mail today!



I am so lucky! And uber-happy. And I found the lovliest note, with nice daysies on one side. Even the envelop had a lovely red etiquette made just for it.

Thanks Franci!!!!!

peaceful

Turkey

I was away for a while....



we worked



we visited fantastic places!



The weather was interesting



We relaxed



we ate excellent food



... and there was even a bit of wool!

travelling woman

Oh, my, 20 days without a post! Well, it has been an incredibly busy time, and it is still being so! Work and family are demanding at the most, but I was lucky to have friends visiting (and expecting a few ones soon) and also some good things happening in the deluge of things.
Knitwise I have been productive, and I have several projects on the needles right now!

I managed to finish something for a dear friend respecting an important deadline, and I'll be able to wrtite about it soon.

Today I show you my last shawl, traveling woman by Liz abinante.



It is a simple and effective patern, well written and clear.



Photos are bit bad, but I took them with my little snapper (forgot the camera at my parents, this is the signal of how tired I am: HOW could I?).

The wool I used is Araucania Ranco Multi, and I'm very pleased of it: nice colours,
In order to use it all, I bound off at the very last moment, and of course the wool finished before the end of the shawl...



But I went to my trusty compuer and visited the yarn halot for a nice solution



the crochet cast off saved me beautifully.



Ah, life is so hard!

september shawl

I spent August working a lot, but given the summery atmosphere, I did find also some time to knit. One, big, now almost finished project was undertaken: the deadline is the beginning of october, so you'll have to wait to see it.

In the mantime I managed to knit also another shawl: the wool peddlers shawl by Cherry Oberle. The pattern is in the book Folk's shawls, a nice book full of fantastic patterns.



I used 5 mm needles and the Evilla Preyarn, a frale but beautiful and soft unspun yarn, that I enjoyed immensely to knit. This yarn has a lot of fantastic colors, and I still have some more of it, and I'm itching to cast on something new! It is really frale, and at first knitting with it can be a bit troublesome, but once you get the hang of it it is really relaxing (but go and read comments on Ravelry, as not everybody would agree).


(Now, what color to use next? Any suggestions?)

Anyway, I think that the trick is to choose the right measure for the needles: I tried to use 4mm and it was terrible, but when I switched to the 5mm all went smoothly!



Aren't the colors beautiful?



This is my 7th shawl of the 10shawls in 2010 challange

visiting friends - a.b. 31

This visit was to get some mouse traps: we have unwanted guests at home! If this dosn't work, I will hire him!

spinning - a.b. 30

sunday morning in the garden - a.b. 29

a birthday party - a.b. 28

a windy day - a.b.27