slow knitting

Summer always seems to slow down my knitting. I've been patiently working on a new cardigan for myself, but because I was in need of some variety I just cast on this cute Middy Jumper for S.

in progress ...

wip :: icelandic star

The herringbone pullover is blocked but I still need to sew the buttons on, maybe this weekend I'll be able to take some photos to share. I have to say it's looking so much better now, I'm always marveled at how much a good blocking can accomplish.

And I started a new project, another pattern I had on my queue since the end of 2009 apparently, and using the yarn I bought in Iceland the year before. What drew me to this project were the colors, I just love this combination of red, blue, grey and golden yellow. The Lett-Lopi yarn seems scratchy but when knitted up it looks wonderful (and feels softer somehow).

I'm knitting the smallest size, which might be a mistake, but the next size up seemed too big. I'm a loose knitter anyway, and I think the yarn might stretch a bit with blocking if needed. I'm not planning any changes, maybe except making it a bit longer, I hate it when my cardigans end up too short. And after a lot of hesitation and reading all project notes on Ravelry I decided to follow the pattern as is (i.e. , knitting it flat)  despite many suggestions that purling colorwork is a nightmare and that it would be easier to knit it in the round and then steeking it. Well, I'm done with the bottom colorwork now and I have to say that the purling rows were almost quite as easy as the knit ones. But I purl the Portuguese way (with the yarn around my neck) so I was able to hold one color on my right hand and the other with my left, which made it fairly straightforward.

And the week after next we're going to Lake Garda in northern Italy. A. has a conference there so we decided to make it into a mini vacation for the whole family. We're visiting Trento, Bolzano, driving around the Dolomites and then spending a few days in Riva del Garda. So any suggestions for good places to eat and any decent yarn shops are very welcome, please :)

works in progress

Some yarn I was dying to try, and I think I've found the perfect project for it ...
And currently on the needles, an Abstract Leaves Vest, perfect for Fall.

works in progress

... slowly there's time to start knitting again :)
And it seems turquoise is going to be my color for this winter...

:: kerrera


:: vaila

wip ... baby blankets

A few months ago, a small stash I brought home from Rosa's shop:



Then turned into this ...



Half of those blue skeins were used into this, but the rest is patiently waiting to be transformed into this



And because one blanket is not enough, I'm also working on this ...

crafty weekend

:: finally caved in and bought myself some interchangeable needles ... haven't tried them yet but I love the multi-colored look.


::almost finished with this one


::testing out something for Christmas


::cut out two new dresses for winter




::and thinking of the possibilities for these new alpaca yarns ...

to do list

Today I realized that all the knitting magazine winter issues are coming out and I haven't even tackled half of my project list for Fall. For the past weeks I've been working relentlessly on both my Cloud and Heather Hoodie Vest, but got distracted when I decided it was time to start on some Christmas gifts. Nevertheless, I'm just this close to finishing them (ironically I'm missing half a hood on both) so next comes the difficult decision on what to start next.

Now, my knitting queue is probably 100 projects long (and I won't even bring up my sewing queue), so here's what's most likely to happen:



:: Vivian, because I happen to love hoodies and cables, and this combination is just perfect ! Plus, it looks so intricate and I love a good challenge. I already have the yarn for this one, so it's probably the next one on my needles.

:: Coraline (also by Ysolda Teague, I just love her designs), which is actually a work in progress since last year but has been hibernating for several months. I would really like to finish it, but I'm lacking the patience for what seems to be an infinity of stockinette stitch in tiny, tiny needles. Maybe during the holidays, I'm hoping...

:: Selbu Modern hat. I think I'll probably start this one at the same time as other projects, since I actually want to make it in a couple of different colors. The same goes for the Veyla mittens. These are my must have accessories for this winter !

:: Low Tide Ripples. I don't have a yarn choice for this one yet, and it's been difficult to find a suitable substitute online. Nothing I have on stash seems right, so I'm waiting to see what I can find on one of my next trips early next year.

:: Herringbone Pullover. I love herringbone designs, so this sweater really appealed to me when I first saw it. I want to knit the exact same colorway, it's just so pretty. I'm already picturing this with a pair of brown tweed pants for winter (which I still have to make, but that's another story)

:: Carnaby Street Pullover. Not exactly sure what it is I like about this one, but I just do. I'll probably make it full sleeved though. I'm thinking maybe dark blue or deep red with brown buttons ?



Finally, can I say how much I love this cardigan from the new Interweave ? And I just happen to have a bunch of icelandic yarn on stash, so I think this might jump to the front of the queue after all.

Enough to keep me busy ? I definitely think so ...

lazy sunday ...

Well, not exactly lazy. We actually went bike riding in the morning and managed but 20 km (the things we do for a a bagel down at Deli Delux) but this is how the rest of the day went by ....

:: banana and chocolate muffins


:: reading a very good book cuddled on the couch. I started it before breakfast and the bike ride, and finished it after lunch. It's unputdownable.


:: another type of reading. Alice Starmore's book on Fair Isle knitting was out of print for several years so when a new edition came out recently I had to get a copy. Plus one of my favorite magazines to browse every every month and a knitting magazine I bought because I actually liked 3 patterns on it.


:: hanging some new prints in the living room


:: a new wip


:: and an old one, recently restarted

today

I'm going to finish a sweater ....

this, that (and 3 new dresses)

It seems I've been enjoying summer too much and forgetting to post here altogether :)

Also, there's the fact that I don't really have much to report on, but since we're leaving on vacation this Friday I thought I'd post about a few things I've enjoyed lately ...

Summer reads have been quite enjoyable, particularly due to the recommendation of friends. My favorite this season was the fabulous The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society which I loved, loved, loved. Comparisons to 84 Charing Cross Road (another favorite) are a bit inevitable but this one was so much better. The story and the characters will stay with me for a long time, and already I'm itching to re-read it soon.
Others I've enjoyed were Wildwood dancing for a bit of old fashioned fairytale fantasy, and His majesty's dragon which I unexpectedly enjoyed (have never been a great fan of dragons and such). To go on my packing list for this next trip are Shantaram and a couple of Elizabeth Chadwick's books.



I've also been going through a craze of period drama watching. I had a few BBC titles on my shelf I hadn't seen yet so I went off on a binge. I watched (and loved) the second season of Lark Rise to Candleford, and although the first season was good this one was much, much better. And I'm happy to have found out there's a third season coming ...
Under the Greenwood Tree is based on a Thomas Hardy novel and I had bought this on a whim last year. Finally got round to watch it and found it adorable. True romance and a charming love story. Not sure if it's true to the novel (since I never read it) so I can't comment on that. I also have the most recent adaptation of Tess D'Ubervilles to watch and the first season of City of Vice which seems to have good reviews so I hope I won't be disappointed.



And now for some crafty news (which is the reason I started this blog in the first place) .. I finally managed to finish not one, but three dresses altogether. Here's a sneak peek but I'll try to post some decent photos very soon.



I'm also almost finished with Daisy. Finished sewing the body last night but I still have the sleeves and neckline to knit.

I hope that will go fast, since I can't wait to start on my Fall projects. I'm itching to start knitting with proper wool again, especially these below which just arrived and are ready to be transformed into some paper dolls and a hooded cloud

matching WIPs

Slowly getting back to some sewing, and planning the next knitting projects.
I'm thinking summer dresses ... and some cardigans to match, maybe ?





And these below .. hummm, will probably end up as skirts .. or maybe summer tops. Not really sure, but I love the fabrics. They came from Dot Quilts, a recently opened store in town (nice fabric shops in Lisbon are so rare that it's quite an event when a good one opens up, and this one is definitely a keeper)

strawberry picking ...

This is what we were doing last weekend ...

This weekend is not so nice (it's actually raining outside right now) so I started a new knitting project - the first one for spring/summer - in the color of strawberries instead.



The hectic project at work seems to have slowed down a bit so I think I'll actually have some time for crafts and blogging again (and I have a bunch of photos to post from our short break over Easter as well ...)

blues, greens and purples ...

Sorry about the lack of recent posts on this blog, but my current project at work has been taking me to Madrid every week so it's a bit difficult to find the time for any decent posting lately. I've been so tired when I get back that all I have the energy to do is curl up on the sofa with A. and the cats.

Still, last weekend I managed to finish some really old WIPs I had laying around since early last year. A couple of scarves which I don't think I'll get to use this season - it's not that cold anymore - but definitely next winter.

The blue Irish Hiking Scarf is probably the first cable project I started, and the other one is already a favorite because a) I love the pattern's name, and b) the yarn is one of the softest I've ever worked with.



Pattern: Holding hands, feeding ducks, by A Time to Knit (blog)
Yarn: Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend (color 7325)
Needles: 4.5 mm





Pattern: Irish Hiking Scarf, by Adrian Bizilia
Yarn: Rosários 4 Catitano
Needles: 5 mm



It feels nice to finally finish projects that have been around for such a long time. Now if only I could find the motivation to finish the 3 or 4 pairs of socks I started since last summer ...

On the other hand, starting new cardigans is never a problem. And coincidence or not, my current WIPs are all purple (Isabel, nem uma peça vermelha desta vez ;)



A minimalist cardigan, in some Debbie Blish Cashmerino Aran ...



An Amelia cardie, in Handpaintedyarn.com DK yarn (purple charm colorway)



Love the book, haven't seen the movie yet but had to knit this. It's the lovely Coraline, which I started months ago but it's with such small needles it's going to take me a looong time to finish.



Finally, the Twiggy tunic. I didn't have enough yarn for the sleeves, so this was a quick knit and has actually been finished already, but I don't like the end result - it's too long and something is just not right with the neckline - so I need to frog the top part and decide what to do after ...

More news in a few weeks, when this project has calmed down (hopefully around Easter !)