Odds and ends

I'm closing this shop!

2010-08-09T10:56:00.003+02:00

Hi to all my dear readers

There are some changes due here!
I've spent a good part of this year in a small village in Southern Italy with no internet connection at home and all my internet activity has gone down to all-time low levels. I must say though that it has been a very liberating experience! Eventhough now I have a highspeed web connection I no longer want to spend hours a day sitting in front of a blinking screen.
So I've made changes: I've deleted nearly 125 blogs from my blogroll and left only the ones written by my actual acquaintances and friends, or people whose work is a daily inspiration; I've unsubscribed myself from nearly all mailinglists and frequent only a few forums; I've even de-friended many contacts with whom I've never had actual interaction either in real or virtual life. I've deleted my presence from several co-written blogs and am planning to retire from social networks.
It all serves one purpose - to limit my leisurly internet access to not more than half an hour a day.
You see, I'm moving to Abu Dhabi. I'm starting a university course. I will have to reattend driving school (to get an United Arab Emirates driving licence), once it is done I'll have to drive my family around. I want to write a book. I also want to knit again! And do more sports. And most of all, I want to have plenty of time with my children. They are growing up too fast for my taste.
So I need to cut back .
This is not a good-bye! I'm just relocating this blog and consolidating with the Estonian one. I've realised that having two blgs takes double the time, having one blog in two languages just takes a third more time.

From now on you'll find me here, so please relink me in your blogrolls and bookmark the other blog! Thank you so much and hopefully now that I actually am doing handicrafts again, I'll have something to post about.

New Life

2009-04-26T16:27:00.001+02:00

She has arrived:

Aemilia Lea 24/04/2009

Freeform course

2009-02-11T08:38:00.002+01:00

Last week I participated in a small course of freeform crochet and knitting given by Prudence Mapstone here in Singapore.
We actually met two days earlier at a local knit out, where she showed us some of her marvelous creations as well as gave a demo of freeform crochet. In 20 minutes she came up with this and I was hooked:

So hooked that that night I stayed up very very late and kept trying to crochet very misshapen bullions.
I asked a lot of questions about Prudence's knitty-crochety life that evening ;) so that two days later at Betsy's place I was very eager to know the little tricks of freeforming. Prudence is such a marvelous teacher that the three hours just flew by and I continued crocheting my piece also at home.
We had a truly enlightening evening and hopefully I'll be able to meet Prudence somewhere else as well - after all, the world is tiny.

Anyways, after some ripping (yes, yes, I know this ought not be part of freeforming, but a wrong color choice and huge ruffles kinda didn't work for me at all) and some more experimenting I decided to finish my red explorations with this:

I'm currently working on another scrumble in blues and having great time doing it. Actually this is the downfall of the promise I made not to buy more yarn! And an invitation to avid knitters I know - if you have some yards leftover yarn then one way to liberate yourself of their existence is offer them to me :P (I do realize that what I just proposed is very outrageously naive, but it doesn't hurt to try).

When a great book is published

2009-02-01T11:11:00.003+01:00

Then it must be bought. If the book has great instructions for the technique it describes and most beautiful designs then it is no wonder that nevertheless of the 2 kilos of lace yarn one has waiting at home, a new skein has to be purchased and new project cast on.

I bought Nancy Bush's "Knitted Lace of Estonia" as soon as I saw it on the shelf in book store and cast on for this beauty:

(At this moment I'm at the second row of Lilies and cannot understand where a mistake is hiding, because the chart is faulty - I haven't been able to find an errata on the web so I laid aside the piece for awhile and finish something else I started )

This lacy beauty is knit with Harmony needles, which means I do not risk taking them on board. And since I would go nuts on a 12-hour flight and since Silvia gave me 3 amazingly soft skeins of new yarn from Grignasco I cast on on bamboo needles for Lily of the Valley Scarf from the same book:

There are lots of nupps in this scarf but I must say that I've gotten them right in my hand and it doesn't take any effort to do them. The scarf is 137 cm long.

Pattern: Lily of the Valley Scarf by Nancy Bush
Needles: 3,5 mm
Yarn: Grignasco Mousse (50% soya, 40% new wool, 10% silk; 185 mt for 50 gr)

I used just a tiny bit more that 2 skeins.

My first...

2009-01-15T13:10:00.003+01:00

I just registered myself to the first handicraft course in my life, mainly to use up these...

to widen my view on crafts, to create interest for myself in crocheting and figure out whether freeform crocheting-knitting could be part of my future hobby-life.
In the beginning of February, there is going to be Prudence Mapstone's workshop in Singapore, of which I got information accidentally on Ravelry. Life is full of strange coincedences and with this I refer to my last post and first comment on that post.
On 5th of Febryuary I'm crocheting!!

Year 2008

2008-12-31T19:41:00.002+01:00

Year 2008 has been
1) very tense in personal life
2) rewarding in accomplished things
3) given us a clear picture that for now we are doing the right things
4) been full of new starts (which won't have an ending for awhile)
5) has opened my eyes for career choice
6) has been very slow knitting year

I just cannot believe how few items I've finished and how little I've started: I just counted 9 FOs and 9 projects started and either not yet finished or already frogged. A little archive search tells me, in year 2007 the number of FOs was 28.

I resolute to reduce my stash in year 2009 by knitting the items I have purchased yarn for and greatly reducing the number of single skeins that I've collected in the hopes of coming a Prudence Mapstone in crocheting (which will never happen because I do not like that craft particularly).

For all my friends I wish the best of year 2009, I hope your dreams will come true and mishaps stay far from your lives.

Long time, no posts

2008-11-18T07:56:00.002+01:00

Wow, I can't believe it, it's been four months! And sadly to say I haven't knit much or done much anything else. We finished our vacation and were back in Singapore in the middle of August. I managed to get to one knit out and had great time at Lois' wedding (Congratulations, girl!), but apart from that I haven't done much, but sleeping and trying to eat: you see, it's not easy making babies. I think it's the most difficult craft of all, especially when the consequences are a constant nausea and terrible sleepiness. Luckily I got out of a week ago or so and hopefully won't have any more problems until end of April, when another lifetime of troubles (and joys, of course) will join our small family.

On the more knitty note, I have started something and surprise-surprise finished something.

First of all I started Cobweb Lace Stole from Interweave Knits Spring 2008. After seeing the incredible one Lois made out of Jaggerspun Zephyr 2/18 I instantly was intrigued by the double-sided pattern. Unfortunately my 7 year old monkey jumped on the needles and Harmonies obviously don't tolerate 25+ kilos. So I had to order new ones and got them at the end of October. So I'm knitting that again.

Regarding mentioned FO.
That October end knit out that delivered me two amazing books (E. Zimmerman "The Opinionated Knitter" and P. A. Gibson-Roberts "Knitting in the Old Way") and my Harmony needles, also had a surprise from Susan. She is such a lovely friend and I guess I have her to thank for bringing back my knitting mojo. I think it was exactly a small project and not too difficult to get my fingers itching again. So as soon as I got home that evening I cast on these beauties for my little princess:

It took me a few days to figure out how exactly I wanted to knit them, and in the end I decided to go with toe-up socks to be able to use all the yarn.

Figuring out the increases for the upper leg were extremely easy and though I didn't have a specific idea, they turned out very nice.

I'm not a big fan of short row heels so I decided to go with Wendy Knits' Sportweight Toe-Up Gusset Heel Sock pattern. It works very well on my daughter's foot, but I wouldn't be so sure on mine.

Info
Pattern: my own
Needles: 2mm 5 dpns
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Happy Feet (90% superwash merino, 10% nylon), color 13
Link to Ravelry

Missing Piece Hobo Bag

2008-07-21T20:57:00.002+02:00

Disappointment!
Again.
Very often related to Nora Gaughan designs. Would guess, I would learn after so many attempts with so many of her creations, but obviously not. Well, this time it gets to stay like this since it found its usefulness: as a beach bag to keep volleyball and bathing towels.

It's from the book KnitKnit: Profiles + Projects from Knitting's New Wave, I used Katia Linen (doubled) and 6 mm needles. It was an easy pattern to foloow, but nothing prepared me that it only looks ok when it holds something bulky. Ah well, better luck next time.

Dye with Nature: Golden Marguerite

2008-07-16T16:39:00.005+02:00

I recently spent 5 days in Southern Estonia foraging for wild strawberries, blackberries and mushrooms (little luck with the last ones) and gathered lots of herbs and plants I know are good for dyeing. I got some alum and started experimenting. Right now I've boiled out the color from app. 3 litres of Yellow Chamomile or Golden Marguerite (lat. Anthemis Tinctoria) and am heating the wool in water+alum mixtureto make the color stick betterto the yarn. I'll let you know when I'm done with this experiment!

***
OK, I've taken out the firts KnitPicks Bare Peruvian Wool Skein from the pot and tadaa:

For future notice, dyeing process as follows:

Divide 100gr skein into two equal skeins.
Boil 3 litres of Yellow Chamomile flowers for an hour. Then filter out blossoms and stuff but don't throw them.
Wash yarn in water with some baking soda and regular soap. Rinse well.
Make 5 litres of water app. 35-40 degrees and ad 20 grams of alum. Stir well and put yarn in.
Make it nearly boil (90 degrees) and keep for 45 minutes. Stirring time to time.
Take out the first skein and put it in the pot with color. Stir and make the temperature go up to 90 degrees Celsius again. Keep it this way for app. 45 minutes. After 20 minutes add another spoonful (app. 10 grams) of alum and stir.
Take out skein, make it drain, leave it lukewarm water for 10 minutes, then drain, change water etc until it doesn't bleed anymore. Dry in shawdows.

I have another skein in pot. But about that once I've finished.

***
I got just slightly lighter color by using this recipe:

Use alum water to make second dye. Pour boiled blossoms onto clean white thin cloth, tie it up and put it in the alum water with the skein. Make the temp go up to 90 degrees. Keep it like that. This would give you a beige yarn, I also poured in the remaining color from the first lot, making the amount of water app. 7,5 l. Make sure water doesn't boil and keep yarn in for an hour. The result is following

Can't see much difference? Neither did I, until I had them next to each other and today that they are drier (I left them outside and it rained a little at night) the difference is slightly more visible.

I still have some dye left, I want to try and add some copper mordant. But I'm also trying out some Meadowsweet's flowers.

Queen Anne for mum

2008-07-16T12:53:00.002+02:00

I guess you all know of MMario who has designed quite a few lace shawls and offers them free of charge online.
I have way too much lace yarn and my mom had her 50th birthday coming up, so I was on a lookout for a perfect non-triangular shawl for quite awhile. Until I found Queen Anne's Lace.

It is knit with Italian nearly cobweb weight merino wool that i found a few years back in Milan on offer for only €10 for 0,5 kilos. I got a whole bag and though I did Kiri, Shallowtail Shawl and Swan Lake and now Queen Anne, I still have a skein of it left!

I used needles nr. 3,75mm. The only thing I'm not 100% content is that my BO was too tight and I didn't manage to block the edge spikier, but overall it was an easy pattern to read and a nice lace to knit.

It took me nearly a month to complete but I took it very easy.

Private SwapBot

2008-07-16T11:58:00.000+02:00

First of all, I'd like to mention a little private swap I had with Elisabetta in Hamburg (link leads to profile in Ravelry), we agreed that I'd send her some ultrathin dpns and Eesti Kindakirjad and Aino Praakli booklets and she promised to send a surprise in exchange. I ended up putting in her package 1,25-1,5-1,75 mm dpns and promised books-booklets as well as one skein of Kauni Green-Yellow, and she sent me new colorline from Wollmeise (100% superwash sock yarn) and a skein of Tausendschön Handgefärbte Sockenwolle in amazing colors. Thank you so much, Betta!

I've failed...

2008-06-12T17:11:00.003+02:00

to blog about my Mystic Light KAL! I can't believe I forgot all about it. I did make a mark in Ravelry though.

I used Knit Picks Gloss, which I ordered specifically for this project and am now convinced it deserves to be bought more, but I will not use it for shawls or for socks - it doesn't seem to have the durability necessary for socks.

Technical data
Yarn: Knit Picks Gloss (70% merino, 30% silk)
Needles: 3,75 mm Harmony Wood Circulars
Pattern: Mystic Light by Anna Kalvi

P.S I'm in desperate need of blocking wires which I hope will arrive soon!

Lollipop

2008-05-31T09:15:00.002+02:00

I've made quite a few cotton items in the past few years (you might remember this, these and these) and I've had a shoe box full of scrap yarns (maybe 30-40 grams each ball). Until a few months ago I've deceived myself constantly thinking that one day I would be the new Prudence Mapstone with my creations in freeform crochet, but at this moment I need space and I need it fast (yep, I have a new order arriving from the other side of the ocean) so I had no other option but to use the scraps as fast as possible, empty the box and therefor make some space in the bed, and since the summer vacation is quite near, a new summer hat was in order. Of course for my daughter who has been bugging me quite awhile with requests on knitted garments.
Armed with 4 mm crochet hook and scraps I started working in single crochets and finished yesterday with this:

It has 3 different yarns in 6 different colourways:
Katia Jamaica in 4002 (beige, green, red) and 4003 (blue, pink, beige
Ornaghi Filati Alicante in 65 (greens) and 62 (pinks)
GB Wolle Mosaik in pink and lilac.
I started it like a beanie and later I crocheted the brim.

She seems to be very happy with it. I have enough to make a second one ;)

New loot, new love

2008-05-12T03:43:00.002+02:00

I am madly in love with my new Harmony needles: they are amazing, smooth but not slippery, light and warm, the cable is (it seems right now) better than the Addi cable and the fun colors making working quicker.
Look at them, gorgeous:

I also, surprise surprise, enhanced my stash with some
Knit Picks Shimmer new colourway Galazy

and Knit Picks Gloss Cosmos

which I'm currently making up as the Mystic Light KAL (I know I'm late, was waiting for the yarn)

I'm not too happy with myself and the pattern working together: my Virgo personality likes clear understanding of where the pattern is going, pattern repeats that match from the beginning to the end and very certain pattern changes. I don't blame the pattern, I blame myself of not being able to count and follow pattern row by row. Plus I do not know how I could have read instead of sl1k2togpsso (slip 1- knit 2 together - pass slipped stitch over) as s2kwk1psso (slip 2 knitwise - knit 1 - pass slipped stitches over) - so my diamonds have a little unusual look and then in the middle of the work change their appearance :P But I really like the finished shawl I've seen online.

V like....

2008-05-12T03:33:00.003+02:00

... Catriona (my Ravelry page) by Debbie Bliss.

I like the way cables look, by I don't fully enjoy knitting them - the pulling of the fabric puts a lot of pressure on my hands and that's not nice, nevertheless once in a while it's OK to do and Catriona was an easy project with a very stunning appearance.

Specs
Yarn: Schoeller + Stahl Merino Soft (100% merino, 50 gr 130 m, color 05)
Needles: 3 mm, 3,75 mm, 4 mm
Pattern: Catriona by Debbie Bliss (Ravelry)

DoubleU IGH Pee

2008-04-24T11:15:00.006+02:00

After finishing the Mimosa wrap I took things easy for awhile, that means I didn't get into a new big project straight away but spent some time with my Koigu jacket, which started out like this

But now it has all new color scheme and I'm taking things very easy

I started with a cotton dress, but I'm considering frogging it since I really am not comfortable working with it. This type of cotton is good for crocheting, I'm tired of its unfriendly feel while trying to knit it.

Then I cleaned up my pattern collection and felt a sudden urge to do cables, so I'm doing Debbie Bliss' Catriona:

The mitts I showed you few weeks ago are finished and being blocked, I'm writing down the pattern, and I have to decide whether to try and sell it or give it out as a free pattern. Follow me through the pros and cons and give me some feedback, please.

Cons:
I don't feel 100% comfortable selling a mitten pattern, because overall I find mittens an easy knit.
It would be a little bit of a hassle setting up an account to sell it and I would have to figure out the price and the whole tax situation.
The yarn I'm using is not widely available.

Pros:
I've invested a great deal of time to write up the pattern and draw clear schematics.
I'm explaining a new way to do really neat mitten decreases - I've not come across it yet in any patterns in English, and it is a very old and not widely used technique from Estonia.
The mittens have two versions and I'm giving alternative options.

What would you do?

Mitts for summer?

2008-04-02T13:50:00.002+02:00

As a detour from summerish knits I wanted to knit something small and preferably something to put in the Santa Claus's bag this Christmas. It is never too early to begin preparing for the gift marathon.

Today I went to pick up two Kaffe Fassett books from local library branch and got inspired. I guess my next knitpicks.com order won't be on the small side.

New loot from Knitpicks

2008-03-30T06:29:00.002+02:00

Moving to Singapore has opened my yarn-related world even more than before. Mainly because I can participate in overseas online yarn sprees. Before I simply didn't order because of the sites not selling overseas or the price for shipping was too high. Now I share the shipping fee with other participants and vPost helps out with overseas shipping (one of my knitting friends here has an address in US thanks to that service).
This time we went berserk on knitpicks.com. I got:

Knit Picks Bare Peruvian Highland Wool Fingering Weight - 4 hundred-gram skeins.

3 skeins of the same yarn in Worsted weight and

2 skeins of Knit Picks Shimmer in Turquoise Splendor.

I am pretty sure it's not going to be the last one, and neither is the next one far along the road.

Halliste Girl - Folk Costume

2008-03-28T11:12:00.003+01:00

It's done! (nearly). I got the set ready just in time.

The apron is still not quite "full" - it is supposed to have a very crowded embroidery. But I'll do it one of these weeks - I still have the other side to do anyways. The motifs on the apron are very old - they represent crosses, roses, cart wheels, sun and arborvitae.

Finish is near. 6th day

2008-03-25T04:51:00.002+01:00

The hip-apron is nearly done. We had a weekend get-away to Tioman island in Malaysia and I didn't stitch a single stitch those days so I've reached the 6th Day:

I'll fill in the caps and attach the fringe tonight (I hope) and can consider it wearable (it should be embroidered from both ends, but I simply have no time). Actually I am not too sure it ever will be done from both sides, since my knuckles really hurt me. I do embroider a lot in one day: 4-5 hours, but not continuously.... if I will ever complete it, I promise it won't be more than 1 hr per day of embroidery.

5th day

2008-03-20T08:29:00.002+01:00

I've nearly finished adding yellow - it turned out to be more tricky than I thought, because it's silk and tends to un-spin and then break.

I've also added some more brown and green and am currently "drawing" more figures.
I included in the picture also the woven belt she is going to wear with the apron.

Day 4

2008-03-19T04:53:00.001+01:00

I added some brown...

And splashed some green.
Today red and yellow.

Third day

2008-03-18T03:00:00.001+01:00

Day 2 of hip-apron

2008-03-17T05:59:00.000+01:00

I hope to finish "drawing" today and start with "coloring"

Project - folk costume for a child

2008-03-16T06:31:00.004+01:00

I'm making a folk costume from Estonia for my daughter for the school's Culutral Celebrations day. I chose clothes from Halliste region in Estonia.
I'm cheating a little, first because a six year-old shouldn't have a hip-apron (it is usually introduced in the clothing of a young girl in teenager years, more or less at the confirmation day), I have to use techniques that are somewhat different from original (the headband for instance is not made by the the exact traditional techinique, but has the right pattern and colors) and I cannot dress her in wool - for instance the stockings and skirt should be woolen. But I would like her Cultural Day costume to include as many as possible of items from Halliste (a village in Estonia) - I chose this costume because of its simplicity and because of the materials I could get my hands on.
I have already finished the tasseled headband:

and thanks to my mother for sending me the wool (and one silk) embroidery yarns on such a quick notice:

I got started on the hip-apron embroidery:

This has about 2 hours of work in back stitch - I'm not a very fast stitcher, but I'll post pictures of my progress here shortly again. This is one of the limited time projects again - I have until 27th of March.

Stash flash 2008

2008-03-14T06:12:00.004+01:00

As a method of self-control in buying new yarns (hahahahahahahaha) I recorded all skeins I have at home at this moment.

I have cleverly hidden my stash here:

I have a total of app. 10 kilos of yarn and the full list can be found here.

This is just the stash inside my bed. I also have a basket in the living-room and that is the camouflage stash - if my significant other would ever realize I have yarn in other places as well, he would so go berserk. Luckily he seems to have forgotten that you can open the bed, and would most probably fail to open it without first giving up.

Updated:

This is my stash in the living room - leftovers of latest FOs, materials for current projects or wool for swatching when I find nice stitch patterns.

So what are you hiding and where?

Little surprises

2008-03-03T10:00:00.001+01:00

Piecework January/February 2008
Originally uploaded by Sun Shines Better

I went to local bookstore Popular on Saturday to get some reading books for my daughter and stopped by the magazine section as well. Even though major part of the magazines sold are about embroidery, bead work or even crocheting, sometimes one might get lucky and get something about knitting as well.
I found Piecework. And this time it was all about knitting. I've been eying the Rovaniemi mitten technique for quite awhile now so I mainly got the magazine for this. I also was intrigued by the poetry in stitches mittens. I also found knitting in Lithuania article enlightening and was happy to find an article about kimonos.
The rest of the projects were a little simple for me on the first glance so I didn't care to read them. And then suddenly looking at the cover I saw a title: "Traditional Estonian Lace" ---- my first reaction was: hey, how could I have missed that before, it has been staring me most of the afternoon!
It shouldn't be a huge surprise though. Nancy Bush is fond of Estonian colour work, traveling stitches and knitting techniques; Evelyn A. Clark uses a lot of Estonian shawl patterns to create her own artworks: in the last few years there have been quite a few articles and patterns in Interweave Knits and Vogue Knitting mentioning Estonia; and with each year, more and more people come more interested of our knitting heritage. It's not much for big countries, but believe me, when your people are about 1 million in the entire world and your country has no real influence in the history or economics or science or literature, then our crafts are about all we can be really proud of.

Oh Happy Days...

2008-03-01T15:23:00.003+01:00

... until I realize how much money I've spent.
Today was out March Knit-Out with Lois handing out the long waited Jaggerspun Spree goodies. Since the loot was still on cones we had some winding to do:

I had 12 OZ (app 350 grams) of Zephy 2/18 (wool-silk blend) waiting for me:

Close up of the thread:

Copy-paste for future reference:

JaggerSpun Zephyr 2/18 Lace Weight Yarn Specifications

Content:	50% Chinese Tussah silk, 50% fine grade Merino wool
Length per Cone:	5040 yards
Length per 2-oz:	630 yards
Weight per Cone:	Slightly over 1 lb.
Ply:	2/18 Lace Weight
Care Instructions:	Hand wash lukewarm, do not bleach Preferably dry clean Cool iron can be used under a pressing cloth, never iron wet Do not tumble dry
Storage tips:	For long-term storage, make sure this yarn is in a moth-proofed environment. Clean, clear plastic containers work extremely well. You can also wrap the garment in archival tissue paper to extend garment life.

Next week: Stash flash!

Mimosa Odysseia Final

2008-02-27T16:47:00.006+01:00

I wanted to follow the process of this huge shawl on the blog, but the darned cord that transfers photos from my camera to my laptop was missing and turned out just today... from my husbands backbag... I have a stinky feeling that this may be the result of my quick clean-ups at my home, when I stuff things in the less likely places all around the house without giving it a second thought. Ah well, at least it was safe traveling forth and back between home and office.
As a result here follow pictured process from day 1 to day 20:

02.02 I managed to cast-on twice. That wasn't nice because 599 stitches is not nice to CO again. Not to mention that I figured my Moebius mistake out after near 5 rows - that is nearly one and half ball of yarn. And then count and count and re-count countless times. Believe me you do not want to err with that many sts on your needles.

05.02 This where the expected setback happened. I ran out of beads. I had to wait until 13th of February to get the beads (I'll write a separate post about that specific bead shop).

14.02 I just got the beads the day before and decided to spread out the shawl on 3 circulars to see how wide it was going to be. Obviously it was going to be wide (that measuring tape is 150 cm / 60 inches long).

16.02 I've injured my left hand index finger. I have a small cut that often occurs when one is knitting a lot with drying hands. If you didn't know - knitting dries hands quite a deal.

Luckily my daughter takes care of me and offered one of her band-aids to help me through my injury.

18.02 The wrap is 3/4 done, it goes much faster to knit a row, but I've been making silly mistakes, like decreasing too much or too little, or knitting into the stitch below (often happens when knitting on high speed and in stockinette stitch), I've had to rip back 10 cm (4 inches) once but usually my good friend crochet hook helps me out.

20.02 Fresh off the needles. Washing and darning in the ends are ahead.

I'm darning. I only had 22 ends. Until I decided to split the yarn and it became 44. But I got through it pretty fast.

The shawl is blocking. And it became even bigger (I have a king size bed). And then I remembered. Merino stretches - A LOT!!! So from 22 sts per 4 inches / 10 cm it fell down to 19 sts

Here it is, on the ground with two 60 inch / 150 cm measuring tapes close by to show the size.

I used app. 1200 Toho Craft square beads - they are gold lined and it gives them a darker color than they really have.

This is a closeup of the central part here panels come together.

And the last shot:

Stats
Yarn: 11 balls of Sublime Yarns Cashmere Merino Silk DK (75% extrafine merino, 20% silk, 5% cashmere; 127 yrd/116 m for 50 gr ball)
Needle: 4.5 mm
Pattern: Mimosa by Sivia Harding from Big Girl Knits
Extra: 1200 Toho Craft square beads, color 39

I used less beads: didn't insert beads in the diamonds and didn't put them on the edges as well.

Hat attack

2008-02-27T09:37:00.000+01:00

Hat attack was fun, but a big waste of money on postage costs. I won't participate again, even though I enjoyed it quite a lot - at least enough to stay up until 2 am in the morning to finish the hat.
So without further a do here is my hat for Tanya from Texas

Stats
Needles: 4,5 mm
Yarn: Bella Baby Sugar (100% wool) held double
Pattern: Binary Cable Hat

I got killed ruthlessly by a hat from Australia by Mel (after it killed me, that sneaky hat made my daughter into a zombie):

Mimosa Odysseia Part Two

2008-02-05T11:30:00.000+01:00

So, I'm into my 4th day of knitting and this is how far I've gotten:

It doesn't seem much, but believe me it is, since now i have to bead only every 4th row (instead of every second) and I've gone from 599 sts to, I am guessing, about 490 sts. With every pattern repeat I decrease 10 sts so it gets less and less daunting by the row.
But I'm awfully close to finishing beads, I have some 170 left, but they disappear real quick, I just hope I get the rest of the beads from Japan on time.
Oh, by the way, I was wrong about the amount of days I have to knit this little big monster shawl - instead of 25, I have 21 days - that includes blocking it. So I'd say I have to have it done by 20th at least.

Mimosa Odysseia

2008-02-02T08:06:00.000+01:00

Oh, I can feel it on my fingers that this is going to be a long project. I CO yesterday 599 stitches, or that's what I thought, knit 5 rows of garter stitch, one row of 599 purl stitches, started with the edging pattern, worked through 19x26 stitches of edging and then saw that I had more stitches than needed. I started counting and discovered I had done Moebius in the middle of the first row. Argh.

I got some beads as well. I'll go back today to get some more and order the rest. I decided to go with less beads and therefore I'll need about 1000 nr 8 beads. Just I didn't imagine that they'd be so difficult to find here.

2008-02-01T06:46:00.001+01:00

I've bought a lot of yarn lately. I've got even more in my Ravelry queue - 52. I have some yarn arriving soon. And I have made promises to myself and to my daughter.
I am way over my head in projects I need or want to finish or start. So I thought I'd make a list in the order of importance.

~~Mimosa shawl from Big Girl Knits - I have 26 days~~

~~Hat war hat(s) - starts on 9th February~~

~~Elefante nr 1 to be finished in 26 days (nearly done)~~

Ecquinox pullover - needs to be sewn up and some ends still are not darned.
Write down a pattern that has been waiting for awhile
I promised a new pullover/cardigan for my daughter already last year
I frogged my Artistic - I need to plan better, change the motif a little and start over.
Salina for me
Wall ornaments using Estonian traditional mitten patterns and 1.5 mm needles
Design from Rowan Tapestry
Design something elegant and sexy from BBB Meriseta
I have material for at least 4 lace shawls - I want to knit at least 2 shawls this year, one will be Mystery Shawl 4. Lace yarns I already have are: Kaalund Echante', TitanWool Merinos Extra, Canetta Super Zephyr, Handpaintedyarns.com Merino Lace. And I have some Jaggerspun Zephyr 2/18 arriving.
Finish a baby blankie from random stitch patterns - it doesn't have recipent, so there is a lot of time with it.

I'm pretty sure, I've forgotten something...

MORE YARN!!!

2008-01-29T10:07:00.000+01:00

I'm losing it. I just bought more yarn - Sublime Merino, Silk, Cashemere DK

I need nr. 8 seed beads to go with it. And I have about 27 days to finish a huge shawl, with hundreds of small beads, block it, pack it and send it off to Italy for a dear friend of mine. Wish me luck.

Stash enhance

2008-01-21T10:45:00.000+01:00

I have projects for next 6 months chosen, but I couldn't help myself to buy more yarn. This time from a fellow knitter here in Singapore.

I got 6 skeins of Jaeger Silky Tweed (alpaca and merino) and...

4 skeins of Kaalund Yarns Enchante' (100% hand-dyed silk).

So 7 months of projects. And I have ordered half a cone of Jaggerspun Zephyr.

And I have to buy some cobweb for a shawl.

I think I am set until my next trip to Europe... and beyond...

New purchases for 2008

2008-01-07T12:02:00.000+01:00

My stash, even though still high on kilos is low on material to work with. Sounds funny, when I say that I have about 12 kg of yarn, but quite understandable, if you look at the content - it's all odds and ends and odd balls I've bought thinking I will try freeform crochet soon (yeah right, but I still can have that dream can't I?)

I must say that buying yarn from Estonia is real fun! Mainly because the prices ARE much lower than in Europe, even though the brands and yarns might be exactly the same or at least same quality.

Like any Virgo, I must make lists, so here is my list of Holiday purchases:

Two 260 gram hanks of Artistic by Aade Lõng (it looks very similar to Kauni Effektgarn), but I am not convinced fully, I would have to compare. I have serious feeling that it is the same.

8 balls of BBB filati Meriseta. It has 70% wool and 30% silk, and I have a felling it will turn into something really beautiful. It's price - low for a silkblend.

6 balls of Rowan Tapestry. Like the feeling of the yarn, have an idea, something to do with the Noro I ordered from Japan....

Two hanks of Titan Wool Merinos Extra for a lace shawl in mind. And yes, it is more convenient to buy Italian yarns from Estonia, rather than from Italy.

Three hanks of Estonian 100% wool by Elotroi (name: Liisu) which is excellent to knit traditional socks and mitts from Estonia.

To achieve the patterns of handknit mitts of Estonia one needs correct tools: I bought new double pointed needles, for which it seems US folks even don't have numbers - 1,5 mm and 1,25 mm needles. The lowest if I'm not mistaken is US 00 which is equivalent for 1,75 mm needles?

As an addition to my serious yarn addiction I also bought knitting books:

A vintage knitting pattern collection from 1950ies: Claire Hallik "Silmuskudumine" and it's newer colored version from the 70ies.

And something I suggest even if you don't read Estonian, but can read colored charts (that's 100% of you):

Photo from:
http://www.rahvaraamat.ee/?id=63&no=R069511#

Eesti Kindakirjad (Estonian Mitten Patterns) by Elo Lutsepp and Irina Tammis. Since I am the proud owner of Aino Praakli's booklets of Patterned mittens (Eesti kirikindad I and II) I can fully recommend this book as an addition to the other books. There are none (or very few) overlapping patterns as I've conculded so far. The book is entirely in Estonian, with a short introduction to knitting mittens and gloves, but an experienced or even advanced mitt-knitter should find no problems by the lack of language knowledge, all patterns are colorfully charted so that the knitter can decide on its own how she or he wants the mitten.

As an addition I bought a book: Vatt, Troi, Vamsa - Knitted Jackets from West-Estonian Islands by Riina Tomberg, it's a bilingual book (estonian-english), but doesn't have any patterns, it is a research based reading for people interested in this type of subjects illustrated with many photos.

Faux-roositud

2008-01-04T19:06:00.000+01:00

These mittens are not the very first FOs of the 2008, I managed to finish a pair of baby mitts beforehand, but I won't present them without a decent picture, so there Faux Roositud have the honor to be very first ones presented on 2008.
,

Why are they Faux, one may ask. Quite simple, roositud inlay is supposed to be done with just a single thread, but I used it double, otherwise I would have had to go down on needle size and there simply wasn't much to go down to. But I already bought 1,5 mm dpns, so soon I want to go for another attempt.

Info:
yarn - simple estonian homespun, no idea who made it though, approximately 80-90 grams.
pattern - my own.
needles - for cuff 2mm, else done with 2,5 mm.

2007

2008-01-01T13:29:00.000+01:00

In 2007 I knit:
10 scrafs/shawls (including 3 lace shawls)
6 hats/berets
5 baby or child pullovers/cardigans
2 cardigans (one is a bolero)
2 child skirts
2 pairs of socks
1 pair of baby pants
1 pair of mittens
1 crocheted table set

30 items all together, plus some that will be FOs in 2008.
I still have a lot to achieve this year:
I think I ought to pay more attention to finishing than starting, because in my mind, people who work on 1-2 WIPs at a time, accomplish more.
I want to start writing down patterns.
I want to knit more, and I think I can do it by limiting my internet time and increasing knitting time.
I think I ought to work more with my native patterns and techniques and maybe help other knitters enter to the wonders of Scandinavian and Baltic knitting.
I want to dye wool with herbs and plants and hope to use my summer vacation for that.
These are not wishes but things I really want to do, and it is not very important that I manage to do them in 2008 - any year is good.

I do have one thing that will come with me to the next year as well: knit with Curiosity, Creativity and Courage. And that's what I wish for all of You as well.

Chevalier Mittens

2007-12-25T21:56:00.000+01:00

My last Christmas gift got done on the plane to Estonia, I blocked them a night before Christmas Eve and packed them just half an hour before the gifts were handed out (here the presents are brought by "Santa Claus" on the 24th after a huge dinner with family).
I made the mitts slightly shorter but that was all I changed, kin of nice to knit mitts again, haven't done it for awhile.

I wish You peaceful and joyful Christmas! And yarnful and FO-rich new year!

Annimanni`s warm winter

2007-12-23T10:15:00.001+01:00

May I present - Anita, the latest recipent of my creations and a little joy to mommy, daddy and me (what a talkative cudly baby she is). I do not have many baby girls around lately, but if I have just one, I`m happy. And today I`m especially happy of this set I managed to finish to keep little Anita warm for the winter holidays. Unfortunately the measurements I had for 1 year old, fit Anita who is only 7 months old. I suspect that either Anita is really huge for her age (doubtful) or the standardized measurements don`t make a good clue of what one really ought to knit. Anyways, right after holidays I hope to finish writing the pattern and post it here. I`m not sure yet, whether it will be my first attempt to make it paid or maybe a another free one. Have to reflect on it.

Get set, ready, go!

2007-12-09T05:57:00.001+01:00

Take a big breath and go for it!

One down (nearly) 4 more to go.

2007-12-06T08:57:00.000+01:00

Remember yesterday's post?
Well I finished the hat and ripped the mitt. Hat with a wide brim this time, I used the white merino wool from Puglia I made the Inspiration aka first BSJ with, and leftover yarn from mitts. Designing this I had a very clear idea of what I wanted - a strong, big folding brim, two earthly colors and something my lovely grandmother in her 80+ years could wear daily yet provide a lady-like feel, something that she could wear with -20 degrees C and still have wide brim!

More pictures here!

Details:
Needles 5,5 mm and 4,5 mm circulars
Yarn: Argentinian handspun (natural brown, about 40 grams) and natural white merino wool from Puglia (about 50grams)
Pattern: mine

If you are interested knitting this type of a hat, leave me a note and I'll write the pattern down.

Reality check

2007-12-05T03:38:00.000+01:00

These days I am doing this most of my time:

because I'm faced with this:

Taking it all to pieces:

Chevalier mitts - one is done, but I need to frog it, because I knit it way too tight. Second is just a few rows from the end and looks a lot better with the changed gauge and modifications I made.

This is going to be my granny's mitten-matching hat, which just awaits until I finish mitts and can use the leftover yarn to knit top part of the hat. Did I already mention that it ought to be done TODAY?

Next on my knitting schedule:

Little lady's warm winter depends on whether I will stick to my plan and finish a pair of pants and /or mitts, socks, scarf and hat in the next three days. Which is doubtful, because I'm behind with my granny's gift. I may do the smaller pieces on the plane. Note to myself: get bamboo circulars and dpns. And oh, yes, buttons.
Make second note: find all the notes on scraps of paper and write together the pattern. Maybe on the plane? Erm.. the flight is during the night... shooo....

Next Monday should start with this:

I've planned total of 2,5 - 3 days on it, because I need to do my maths well and then cut - and not just one thing, but 4 - two sleeves and two body pieces! Pick up the stitches, knit the body and sleeves longer in stockinette stitch and then graft the sleeves. Then hide the million and two ends... yeah, can do it... in my dreams...

And then I have this:

Which is Anke Leen's sweater. Yeah, I know... plus she needs mitts, hat and scarf and maybe, just maybe, I can squeeze in some woolen socks as well. Deadline: 18th December. Planned number of days for sweater - 4. Planned knitting of small pieces: before or during flight. Oh, right, the flight is already planned full.

And this:

Which isn't exactly a Christmas project, but was meant to be traveling project. Looking at it all now: for my !next! trip over continent... maybe.

All my knitting right now totals to 16 days, and it ought to be done for the 22nd. Most of these things have to be ready for the 18th though. But knowing all sorts of things always come popping out, I'm not that confident.

Not not mention housework, some shopping for other gifts and household items, finding a maid for when I'm away and running tons of other errands, meeting up with some people and such. Luckily Saturday evening's dinner was canceled and I do not have to spend near 8 hours shopping and cooking and cleaning. Woohoo, knitting time.

Marabou Beret

2007-11-19T04:05:00.002+01:00

My Bainbridge Scarf needed a hat and I am in the mood of berets. I googled and "raveled" but couldn't find one I really like. Plus I wanted to continue the Broken Rib theme, so in the end I had to come up with my own design, which turned out to be quite fun and I learned a lot. I have just finished writing it down and you can download for free from here (.pdf file). Se qualcuno e' interessata lo posso scrivere anche in italiano. Lasciate mi un commento.
The beret has nothing to do with the Marabou Stark but has a lot to do with the Swedish nut chocolate Marabou. Believe me, designing might become quite a fattening process, if you have to frog a lot and the only thing helping you avoid stress and depression is a chocolate bar ;)

Info:
Yarn: Schoeller+Stahl 100% Merino - brown and gray
Needles: 3,5 mm
Pattern: my own

Update 20.02.2008: Link to the pattern was broken, I changed it so now you can download the pattern without any problems.

Choker

2007-11-08T06:08:00.000+01:00

I'm on the scarf-hat-mitten mode right now - like every autumn, even though this year I have 30 degrees Celcius outside and not 13 or 3 (Italy/Estonia). As soon as Christmas is over I start knitting other things, but until you gotta bear with my Christmas gifts.
So this time I present you Bainbridge Scarf. It is a very easy knit, you basically cast-on, knit in round, cast-off, knit two ribbons and then say... ?!?!?!?! buh... Then you open the .pdf again and step in front of mirror and practice putting it on. Simple as that. Takes a few times though before it becomes your absolute favourite. Like in my case.

Technicalities:
Needle: 3,5 mm
Pattern: pepperknits.com Bainbridge Scarf
Yarn: Schoeller+Stahl Merino Soft (100% merino)

Maybe a hat now? A Beret? Ravelry.

Old Debt

2007-11-07T14:46:00.000+01:00

When I was in Italy still packing when I dug out a vest from my closet, completely forgotten :(. The only reason for that - I don't have a white long sleeved shirt. When I saw the Leftovers vest in knitty.com I had a sudden urge to knit it. And I was very sure I wanted to knit it from the same yarn, because I saw some really yummy photos on Alison Hansel's blog. But unfortunately already back then (winter 2005-2006) the yarn was discontinued and not available for the European knitter. After countless searches I finally found a Dutch yarn shop without a website but luckily with an e-mail address who had still some leftovers and some corrispondence with the kind shop-owner lead to my order. It took 1 month of agonizing wait, I already had had my fingers burnt with Poste Italiane. I finally got it, and within next two days I had my result:

Phildar Legende Tweed Alpaca is a very nice yarn: interesting texture, nice soft and beautiful colors. It is 48% wool. 41% acrylic, 9% alpaca and 2% of rayon. It has 125yd/115m for 50g. I knit the vest with 4,5mm needles.

Mindless knitting

2007-10-26T10:50:00.000+02:00

I have very limited amount of yarn!!!! And the delivery of our household items will not be before 16th of November. It's horrible to live without my stash!!!
Therefore I have been forced to use that little I brought over in my luggage. I think in someways it's good that my yarn isn't around, so that I finally knit the stash that has been around for a while. Like my handpaintedyarn.com Ejido 160.
As part of the Christmas Gifts Project 2007, I've finished two simple scarfs. Everyone, who has been an expatriate, knows that first few weeks, nothing is better than some relaxing mindless knitting, that allows you to keep an eye on things or avoid certain missing necessities.

Earthly scarf

Info
Yarn: Ejido 160 (100% merino, hand dyed)
Needles: 4,5 mm
Pattern: my own

My so called scarf

Info
Yarns: Ejido 160 (100% merino, handdyed)
Needles: 8 mm straight
Patterns: My so called scarf

And as a side-project I'm doing this:

I have to say, it has been and still is the most difficult "knitting project" of all.

MS3 Complete!

2007-10-14T09:07:00.000+02:00

My Swan Lake is ready. The actual knitting part I finsihed already a month ago, but due to lack of a blocking area I blocked it just yesterday and from late evening last night it has a new home with my new friend Laura, who actually dares to wear it.
My main concern when I started to knit Swan Lake (having heard It won't be symmetrical), since I am not a shawl person (too young, in my opinion) and most people I know wouldn't have the courage to wear it, was that it might stay in my closet for a very long time. Luckily I met Laura.
It was a tremendously fun project to knit, and I have many thanks to give to the designer Melanie Gibbons, from Pink Lemon Twists. If the next years Mystery Shawl sounds even half as interesting as it did this year, I will be knitting MS4 along as well.

Beret in 31+ degrees

2007-09-24T13:57:00.000+02:00

We've arrived in the Singapore heat, but the very first and very chilly impressions made quite clear that my wool knitting life is not suspended yet, for indoors it really is cold, freezing cold.

And as comfort knitting I finished a beret in two nights. I used handpaintedyarn.com Ejido 160 100% merino with 4,5 mm dpn and circular needles and followed Tweed Beret instructions (with modifications) from Interweave Knits 2006 Fall until the decrease rounds, I increased slightly more and changed stockinette stitch edge to 1x1 rib to make a better fit.

Quick knit Urchin

2007-09-17T14:54:00.000+02:00

Everyone liked Urchin on its first outing at Stich & Bitch Milano this Saturday. Here are just some examples:

Info
Needles: 5mm
Yarn: Hanspaintedyarn.com Ejido 160 (100% merinos, 1 skein)
Pattern: Urchin

Between Pauses

2007-09-13T18:12:00.000+02:00

Bloggin vacation for now is over.
It is quite shameful that whenever at the seaside in Puglia I have no urge to knit, it isstrange though that each year I take allmy UFOs and pattern and yarn along and never do anythingh, but I am convinced that the year I'll elave my needles and stash behind will be the Most Eventless Summer of all.
Therefore I have (ashamed) accomplished only 18 nearnothings as seen on photo.
And finished Clapotis.
Mystery Shawl isn't quite finished yet, I'll work on it during the next following weeks. For now I've finished packing my yarn (and it was mopre difficult that anyone can imagine), and I'm emotionally ready to not seeing them for the next 2-3 months while they do their seatrip towards my new home in Singapore. And I guess the next post will come from there as well. Until then, arrivederci!

BSJ Inspiration 2

2007-07-23T22:21:00.000+02:00

I enjoyed Elisabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket design and simplicity yet complexity so much that I decided straight away upon hearing of the arrival of little Anita Marie to Estonia, that she needs a warmer jacket than the one I knit for her back in May, and she will be very cute in BSJ. Again the calculations didn't go easy, I had my doubts until the moment I handed it over, but it seems that the sleeves are quite right and the body goes fine until the end of this summer and then she certainly will need a new one. And I have some ideas already about that :).
Enough of blabber, I present the (not)finished jacket (I sew the sleeves and buttons on this morning, and silly silly silly me, forgot to take even one shot):
(Location: Pärnu 22nd July 2007)
Information:
Yarn: GB Wolle Gil (100% wool, 50 gr = 125 m)
Needles: 4mm Addi Turbo

Blue Vest

2007-07-16T19:31:00.000+02:00

Yarn: Schaffhauser Wolle "Allround", 100% merino, ~300 grams

Needles: 3 mm straight

Pattern: Mani di Fata November 2006

Finished it in November last year, but couldn't present it before it was in the hands of the future owner, my sister.

Inspiration

2007-07-14T11:07:00.000+02:00

First: I'm in Ravelry. Got an invitation yesterday and started discovering that constantly growing and interesting community straight away. It'll take some time to settle in with my UFOs, WIPs, stash and accessories, but it'll be worth while.

***
Now something that is ready. Finally.

I saw Elisabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket for the first time few months ago. I thought it's a clever idea, but wasn't tempted enough to buy the pattern. A month ago I found from local market an amazingly soft handspun merino from Southern Italy and thought that it would be fantastic to knit something in garter stitch. And then I remembered EZ's jacket. But I didn't want to buy the pattern (I was in the midst of packing before a big move and long vacation away from home, so it would have arrived to me probably not before September) and wanted to solve the mystery myself. I surfed around and read some comments from which I understood that it is based on mithered square and it's about double increases and decreases. So I started knitting it. I don't think I've ever ripped and reknit an item this many times before. After the 3rd attempt, I had figured out how it worked, but couldn't get the sizing right. Once over that part it was an easy knit. And I am tremendously happy that I finished it :)

So it's not EZ Baby Surprise Jacket, but she was the inspiration and motivation. Thank You, so much!

Information:
Yarn: 1,5 skeins of handspun natural white merino from Puglia (DK) and Noro Silver Thaw (wool 50%, angora 25%, nylon 25%) colorway 09 about 15 grams.
Needles: 4 mm Addi Circulars

The sleeves with this techique never come full-sized, in Inspiration's case it was less than elbow length, so I had to lengthen it somehow. I tried picking up stitches in regular way, it wasn't nice, I think it can only be done without leaving obvious line if you are using colors. So I decided do follow the clue of the full construction and knit mithered squares inbetween and then picked up stitches to continue.
Noro Silver Thaw is a difficult yarn (uneven color sections, scratchy and uneven surface) to knit I-cord with, but without a doubt it was the best option for this edging.

Mystery Stole 3 - week 1 & 2

2007-07-11T14:24:00.000+02:00

I'm happy to be part of the huge group (+5700 people from all around the world) and have eagerly finished both of the clues.
I'm using my all time favouruite lace knitting yarn, but this time doubled up (I've knit Kiri and one Swallowtail Shawl with it). I'm not using any beads this time, for actually for me this is more like a try-out knit. If I like what I see, I might consider something more luxurious to knit with and surely add the beads as well.
I must admit that since I was missing the big picture, knitting (especially the first clue) was tricksy. In lace knitting I usually know what it is going to be like and therefore I doubt less in pattern and in myself and make less mistakes (again, confidence plays a huge role in my knitty life).

So I'm knititng with cobweb weight Canetta merino wool, using Addi Turbo 3,5 mm circulars (I wanted to find the new Lace needles, but couldn't) and am very anxious to get the next clue.

What I've done, what I haven't and I what I want to do

2007-06-18T20:40:00.000+02:00

The rules: Mark with bold the things you have knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

Afghan - One day when I have enough patience and matching leftover yarn
I-cord - part of the project I'm working on
Garter stitch - garter stitch is where we all start
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn - if someone has spare, send it over, I'd really like to try but haven't gotten my hands on it yet. I did find a yarn band in the park once (a glue that there are other knitters), which was camel hair yarn, but she didn't leave any yarn behind.
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL - It's Knitting Nature and Forecast for me
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn - didn't have much when I grew up
Slip stitch patterns - they create excellent patterns if you're not into fair-isle knitting
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting) - another WIP not yet to be revealed
Twisted stitch patterns
Two end knitting
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing - there wasn't much where I grew up, all toy clothes were self-made, and man in the end we were good at it.
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own hand-spun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments - taking my first steps. Should write down patterns.
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Branching out
Publishing a knitting book
Participate in an exchange
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit - I'm struggling at home, she wants to but isn't ready (too young), ah well, keep trying
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…) - now that's a thing that doesn't quite flatter my skills. Maybe I'll do a lamp cover or knit a pillow, but I'll call them home design.
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars - I'm strictly 5 dpn lady if knitting in small circles
Knitting with someone else’s hand-spun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit - I'm luring my husband into my net :)
Bobbles - I have tricks for bobbles and started to like them when I got to know the tricks
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks - I'm looking for that courage
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Knitted flowers
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards - it's fun!
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn - when I was young and price had a huge effect on choises
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Free-form knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/arm-warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an on-line knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting - tried it, but it never gets cold wnough here... one day, one day...
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair- it makes me sneeze too much
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Estonian color swap

2007-06-15T18:21:00.000+02:00

We swapped colors with a bunch of knitting women in Estonia. I was requested for lime green and more or less lime green it came. But it was oh so hard not to buy all lime green items I saw around. And I went over them limit they set, but the prices are different, I guess. Hell who cares about money if swapping is fun. I will recieve my package when I go to estonia in a few weeks time.

Edit: 8.07.2007
I finally recieved my own package as well, I got if from Vardakeerutaja and I think she did a great job choosing the items for they are exactly my tase.
Proof:

Click on the picture, it has notes.

New purchase

2007-06-13T14:48:00.000+02:00

I ought to be getting rid of my yarn stash, well most of it, and yet I couldn't stop myself when last week a natural products market took place for a day. And of course I just happened to pass by. And of course I bought yarn, some natural wool from Puglia (Southern Italy) and some Argentian handspun wool in darker natural colors. Of course I'm knitting it already.
And today, right below my house there is another market and this yarn swift was calling out my name, I swear. Now it's mine for only 15 Euros. I used it to wind a ball from one of the skeins of that courgeous wool.

Forecast done!

2007-06-03T21:08:00.000+02:00

Tadaa! My Forecast is done.Actually it was done quite a while ago, I just didn't get to taking the pictures.
I like the design a lot and it was really fun to knit, which explains how it got ready in only 5 days.

And I did sew on the self-made buttons.

Modifications:

I didn't purl, I knit the garter stitch part, which meant changing the pattern a wee little in the beginning.
Different kind of yarn. I went down on needle size, that meant more bobbles (iiiik), but I got them done.
I didn't turn my work while knitting bobbles, I just slipped stitches back to left needle and knit them through then just passing stitches over the last stitch.

What I wish had done differently: knit the ribbing part longer (blocking again will help I hope, or losing weight :P) and knit the first stitch of every row. I trusted the pattern, but should have trusted my experience, now I have this strange cross-stitch row between body and button bands (It's because my stitches are quite loose). But I guess you can call it DESIGN element.

Info:
Yarn: Unknown producer, 100% merino, cream, 350 grams
Needles: 4 mm and 3,25 mm Addi Turbo circulars
Pattern: Forecast
Time: 5 days

Belle & epoque

2007-06-01T21:32:00.000+02:00

I am licquidating my stash by knitting faster (khm... smaller projects)
Last year I purchased 2x400 grams of Katia Jamaica cotton yarn, the turqoise-pink-orange one became Clapotis nr. 2, but green-beige-red-orange mix hid in the closet and didn't find a pattern.
Then one day last week my daughter came home and asked whether she could stay over for a night at a friend's place upcoming week. Of course I said yes, last time they had great fun together.
And it just happened that I was cleaning the closet and deciding the fate of my stash, so I instantly got an idea to knit some playful skirts. I pulled out Nicky Epstein's Knitting on the Edge and picked out two ruffles.
2 days later I had these beauties ready:
Belle

...and E'poque

Close-ups of ruffles, they are:
Belle Epoque

...and knit fluted edge
Why such a name... Well, Belle èpoque means in french "good/beautiful times" and I guess childhood can be considered the best of times, so it wasn't difficult to name the skirts after ruffles :)

Info:
Yarn: Katia Jamiaca, 100% cotton, color 4002 (Suzanne) , used for both 320 grams
Needles: 4 mm Addi Turbo circular
Pattern: my own

Polymer clay

2007-05-18T11:04:00.000+02:00

I've made my first shy steps in the polymer clay world. With a little help from my daughter.
And I have some urgent questions:
1. I can make the beads round between my hands, but when I start making holes they deform (pressure of hands and needle). How do you get nice round beads?
2. How do you avoid/remove finger tip prints? Polish with what?
3. When covering a bead with gloss, on what do you dry them? I imagine you cannot lay them on a piece of paper without them sticking to it.

I'd appreciate all the help out there for it is quite enchanting craft and I'd like to continue.

Baby Girl Set

2007-05-14T14:55:00.000+02:00

A little pat on my head - a baby set for a girl due in June:

Photos: future mum Mari
Did I mention that these adorable matching duckling buttons I got from the market... again!?! :)

Info:
Pattern: my own
Needles: booties 2mm, jacket 2,75 mm
Yarn: GRM Filati Super Baby (100% virgin wool) (used 100 gr)

Knitting with both hands

2007-05-11T10:23:00.000+02:00

Some of you define themselves Continental Knitters, some English Knitters some Italian knitters, some knit like Portugese do. I was continental knitter, still am as a matter of fact, but now I could say I am expanded continental knitter.
I like learning new things, I find great pleasure trying out different designs, always keeping an eye on, that they have some new techinques to teach me. I do not like knitting items where I cannot play with new skills, so when I saw Equinox Yoke Pullover I knew I wanted to do it. But knitting with colors is such a dull thing, all that stranding and yarn balls getting all tangled up (even if you are careful and follow yarn dominance principles... you know, the thing about which yarn always comes from under and which from top), and the tightness-looseness of stitches which is difficult to control... so I let it be at first and while surfing in internet one day I found a website which had a video about circular knitting with both hands (I can't find it anymore though). I flared up! I had to learn it. And of course I'm just not going to make a simple swatch and try it, I just started the Equinox Yoke pullover straight away. (Okay I opened Knitting Help site and looked how you gotta knit english way, tryed it out on few rows and off I was). The sleeves I knit continental way, working real fast for I was eager to start knititng in the round. And yes, girls, I did it. The first few rows were slow, but the more I knit the faster I got (logical, huh), and I'm hooked. My next goal is to start flat color knititng also with both hands. So I'm in lookout for a project to do that.

WIPs

2007-05-09T14:17:00.000+02:00

I've been moving my hands a lot lately.
As well as trying to finish Equinox Yoke Pullover from Interweave Knits Fall 2006, Which should become something like this:
And instead is like this (I strated it right after Christmas, but got caught up by other projects and now picked it up, for in the light of possible translocation I need to get UFOs finished and as mucha s yarn possible used up):
And the true colors:
It now has been waiting for that free evening of weave-the-million ends-sew-up-garment-motivation. I think you see my problem.
Plus I am afraid to sew it up and re-block for it is obviously too short now, and maybe it won't "stretch" :(

I also have once again fallen into the Norah Gaughan entrapment skills and followed by the glorious arrival of the book called "Knitting Nature" which made me dig out my Debbie Bliss Cathay and start knitting franctically hoping to finish it before Ponte...
instead it made a blister on my finger and made me realize that this is yet-another-to-cry-about-Gaughan-sans-néné-design. Does anyone have an idea how to make the floppy "ears" below armpits go away. Blocking doesn't help. I have hope in placing straps differently or maybe.... I just have to rip.

In the mean time, for I was saddened by my 2-in-a-row instantunsuccessfulnesses I started yet another project: Forecast from Knitty.
About which I blabbed a little here
And would like to emphasize at this point the importance of local markets, specially when they carry better yarns than local yarn shops do. And cheaper prices, for the yarn is produced in small farms and sold exclusevely on local markets, you just have to find the right stall.
In these occasions you are truly reminded that largely the best and most beautiful yarns from Europe are made in Italy.

And while celebrating the long weekend il Ponte (28th April - 1st May) in Pescara I found a yarn shop and bought, guess what, of course, yarn. This time the shiny and soft and elegant Filatura di Crosa Millefini Fine 100% cotton:Aren't the colors just great?
It is turning into another Clapotis, one of my favourtie patterns:

Swallowtail Shawl 2

2007-04-23T12:15:00.000+02:00

Second full version of Swallowtail Shawl.
Yarn: Lace handspun and dyed from Uruguay
Needles: 3,75 mm 80 CM Addi Turbo
Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark from Interweave Knits Fall 2006
Time: less than 4 days

I love, love, love this pattern!

Self-motivation

2007-03-26T17:25:00.000+02:00

It is getting out of hand for the millonth time at Casa Mia. I have again collected too many UFOs around the house.

Like:
1) Yoke sweater for me (I am aware the winter is over)
2) Baby-boy set (must finish tonight, for he was born last night and they tend to grow too fast) Updtae: redoing. I think it's too small.
2) ~~Baby-girl set~~ (have 4 weeks, but want to finish ASAP)
3) Gray socks
4) A bag to be felted (deadline june)

The most embrassing ones, which only need to have the ends darned in:
1) a Phildar vest for my daughter
2) ~~Swallwotail Shawl~~ number two
3) a load of socks

And of course I am already keen to start woth projects like (have already swatched):
1) S. Japel's cute sweater from Interweave Knits Spring 2007
2) Koigu Jacket
3) N. Gaughan amazing spiral tunic from her book

It is obviously too much!

Estonian Stockings

2007-03-24T12:03:00.000+01:00

I made myself Estonian stockings. The pattern is the optimized version of Nancy Bush's "Folk knitting in Estonia". Material used is an Estonian lambswool (colored yarn is at elast 10-15 years old). I think they are cool. And never mind that one of the stockings seems smaller than the other it's just bad photographing not knitting skills.
I made the stockings a) longer b) more shaped c) followed only the lace and colored pattern part. Then got tired of reading and made the heel and tip like my mom teached me when I was beginning to knit my first socks years ago.

The books is surely great inspiration and I gotta buy some more natural white wool from Estonia for I already drew up 3 pairs of socks I wanna make for nexy Christmas.
I must say that the best sock yarn is Shetland type, like Estonian wool for many reasons... it might not be the softest one and it makes you itchy if your skin is tender, but, hey, use a pair of light cotton socks under.
Reasons:
1) it's very very resistant
2) it goes only softer with every wash (only handwash, with natural detersive if possible)
3) it stays in form
4) it's warm when it's cold and doesn't make your feet sweat even if it's warm outside (of course I don't recommend wearing them with 25+ C)

Yarn: Estonian lambswool, 100% pure wool, quantity: 106 grams for pair of long socks.
Needles: 2 mm
PAttern: Modified "Rita's Stockings"

Capecho

2007-03-14T10:43:00.000+01:00

Update! New Pictures

Actually these two projects were finished nearly a month ago, ~~but I haven't been able to get really good pictures of them. And I don't think I will in the nearer future. So you have to do with these lousy pictures.~~
The KNIT that worried me the most, that made me swear the most and that I love the most.
I don't like you, Vogue knititng though, for the pictures for this project were obviously misleading.
And I think Norah Gaughan knits really tight, for I couldn't understand how she could get such short pentagon sides with 5,5 mm needles. I used 4,5 mm. The yarn is extremely similar to the one N.G used.
Anyways it was very obvious when I had knit around 5-6 pentagons that it's going to be huge! I didn't stop though thinking it would be OK when I get the second row and sleeves done. I nearly cried standing in front of the mirror seeing the big potato bag I had spent hours working on.
I threw it aside for 2 days, then picked it up and knit the collar, it didn't get much bigger - it was still floppy. What horrible holes under the arms - I really couldn't stand watching me move inside it. I then realized what this capecho meant. Thanks for the warning. It wasn't wearable. I had one and half ball of the yarn left and finally I decided to add another band to underarms and back. It worked, it was still too big from front but fit well from back, the bottom band pulls down the pentagons on the back fitting it better and closes the underarms which means no more floppy "ears". It's still slightly too big from the front, so I have to cross the hems well (added a button on the innser side of collar to keep the hems together). Closed with great-grandmothers silver pin - perfect. (nearly)
Parameters
Yarn: Canetta Merino's Otto (100% meriino, 50 gr = 90 m)
Needles: 4,5 mm
Pattern: Nora Gaughan Capecho Vogue Knitting, Winter 2007

Photo thanks to Typesetter

Here I am surrounded by a mob of Italian knitters wanting to know how I made it. And me trying to explain not very well, I hadn't prepared. See the bottom band!

Flash Your Stash: Yarn Pr0n

2007-03-13T11:24:00.000+01:00

Update: My camera self-repaired this night and now functions again, therefore some missing pictures are added. I told you it does it.
So, I'm a little late, the real prongorayhp (had to mix up the letters) as we all know was done last year on April 1st, but back then I didn't have much to flash. I've been a busy little bee though and bought a lot this year. And I cannot wait until 1st of April to see whether it will be organized again.

Winter yarns

Estonian yarn - some colored by myself, some are mixed with dog hair, most are very old (at least 10 years) and my Estonian Stocking :). Subtotal: 2860 grams

Southern American 100% merino handspun, handdyed yarn perfect for felting, with amazing colors. Subtotal: 400 gr.
Finnish yarns from Novita. I had an idea to make a sweater for my daughter, she didn't like the colors so they are waiting for someone :) next winter maybe. I got some babies coming around in the next few months. Novita Neliraita (100% wool) and Novita Bambino (100% wool). Subtotal: 380 gr

Vintage yarn. Schaffhauser Wolle Laine de Schaffhouse "Allround" (100% merino) light blue (which I've used quite a lot in mitts and socks) and yellow (that I use to try out new patterns). Subtotal: 280 grams.

Some nice stripy baby-yarn for a tiny summerish sweater for Mari's funky baby! Mari do you like it? I'm gonna knit it soon! GRM Filati Super Baby (100% virgin wool). Subtotal: 150 grams.

GRM Filati Norvegia. 100% wool again. It's actual color is dark egplant color, and it's gonna be a hat probably. Cabled probably. I don't know yet, it was on sale. Subtotal: 150 grams (one skein is missing from my stash! Edit 14.03.2007: Found it!)

Mohair. Vintage. Jaeger Softy Mohair (70% mohair, 30% acrylic). 115 gr. Jaeger Fine Mohair (70% mohair, 30% wool). 265 gr. Subtotal: 380 gr.

Lace yarn. I got this bagful for some 10€ a year and half ago from Canetta store. Super Zephir - it's an amazing cobweb weight yarn, 100% virgin wool, merino I guess. And I haven't seen it anymore. I have 315 grams. (And I've knit with it 2 lace shawls)
I have some odds and ends of Baruffa Merino's Otto, BBB Full and Lane Borgosesia Via Veneto, which have already turned into 2 scarfs and one hat for two young ladies and the last hat is waiting to be finished. But I'm not in hurry, for winter is already far :) Subtotal: 200 gr. Oh and in the corner of that bag are some woollen embroidery yarns. 45 grams.

(I hope Typesetter or Sirkus will sponsor me this Saturady with one picture of my... Edit: my camera self-repaired) Titan wool Winner (100% Merinos) many skeins and half done yoke-pullover which I currently own 700 grams.

And I also bought few weeks ago amazingly soft and amazingly cheap 100% merino yarn from a yarn shop on my street... :| oops, yes I found one on my road... this is going to be my doom... I have 400 grams and it costs some €3 per 200 grams.

And last but not least of collection of nice woollish yarns: 15 skeins of Koigu KPM and KPPPM. Subtotal: 750 grams.

TOTAL for winter yarns: 7010 grams

Summer yarns
Sesia Tratto. 10 balls. 50% cotton, 50% viscose. I had an idea and a scheme and calculations. But I've misplaced them. Subtotal: 500 grams.

Katia Jamaica. Very very very nice 100% cotton. Love, love, love the colors. Subtotal: 400 grams.

13.03.2007: My camera just decided that he has had enough of the flashing and doesn't cooperate anymore. If it doesn't selfrepair (like it has done some 3-4 times before) and I cannot find photos of the yarns from my archives, you'll have to do without :( It's back!

I have 7 skeins of Cotone Cable 5 yarn I used in my first project from Mani di Fata. I bought some extra colors (light pink, white, apple green) and have used it for some unfinished crochet items. Subtotal: 260 grams

I also have some vintage cotton yarns I got from my mother-in-law. They are made for knitting, needles around 3-4 mm and that's all I know for the labels were long gone whan I got my hands on them. Subtotal about: 250 grams

I also have some Debbie Bliss Cathay. 260 grams plus I want to rip this, so I'll have more than half a chilo.

I have some bamboo yarn as well, Ornaghi filati Bamboo (really pink). I have mmm.... 6 skeins, that makes the subtotal: 300 grams. Why the hell did I buy it, I don't like the pink that much.

TOTAL for summer yarns: 1970 grams.

And that's it? Oh no, girls, we're not over yet. A hint: why do you think I called my blog Odds and Ends? Because I have a truckload of odd-end-yarns. Most from projects completed. But not all.
(Clicking on the photo will take you to the photo on Flickr with comments)
This is my collection of fancy yarns. To add in... or maybe one day, just one day I manage to push myself far enough to start freeform crocheting. Until then I collect them. So what do I have in this pile?
Alvita Frou Frou - 50 grams
OnLine Linie 171 Shari - 100 grams
Alize Florida - 100 grams
Alize London - 50 grams
G-B Wolle Punk - 50 grams
Alize Santana - 50 grams
Emmebi Cortina - 50 grams
Tropical Lane Princhellino - 50 grams
OnLine Linie 197 Zara - 50 grams
Silke Nebbia - 50 grams
G-B Wolle Gloria - 50 grams
Subtotal: 650 grams

And these are not so fancy yarns, mainly ribbon-cord-types. Again one day they'll be freeform.
Sesia Spice - 400 grams
2 skeins unknown cotton yarn - 100 grams
2 10 gram skeins of silvery cord, about 40 meters - 20 grams
Emmebi Ibisco - 300 grams
Sesia Merlino - 150 grams
G-B Wolle Mosaik - 100 grams
Subtotal: 1170 grams

And finally, all the bits and pieces of those fine skeins I've used for my projects. Many of these I have no idea what type of yarns they are, for some are from way back... 7-8 years. And those I have: 1540 grams

Then I have some 120 grams of Phildar Legende. Very nice yarn. And I just remembered I have not shown you the project with this yarn.

I've also got an unkown quality laceweight yarn I got ripping out a very nice 1960ies cardigan. And it will be a lace scarf one day. Until then you just have to be happy to know, I've got 150 grams of it :)

And the Total for odds and ends is: 3630 grams

Which makes the grand total 12 chilos and 610 grams.

Here is an entire list of all the yarns I have/have had (this is for my own records):

Alvita Frou Frou
OnLine Shari
Alize Florida
Alize London
G-B Wolle Punk
Alize Santana
Emmebi Cortina
Tropical Lane Princhellino
OnLine Zara
Silke Nebbia
G-B Wolle Gloria
Arvita Merino
Baruffa Merinos Otto
BBB Full
BBB Kid Mohair
Canetta Cotone Cable 5
Canetta Futura
Canetta Super Zephir
Cigno Nero Samos
Debbie Bliss baby Cashmerino
Debbie Bliss Cathay
Elotroi Liisu
Evilla wool
Filatura di Crosa Zara
GRM Filati Norvegia
GRM Filati Super Baby
Il Bottegone Pura Lana Vergine
Jaeger Baby Marino
Jaeger Fine Mohair
Jaeger Softy Mohair
Katia Jamaica
Katia Twist
Lane Borgosesia Via Veneto
Mondial Folk
Novita 7 Veljesta Jätiraita
Novita Aino
Novita Bambino
Novita Isoveli
Novita Nalle Colori
Onlinie Java
OnLinie Shari
Ornaghi Alicante
Ornaghi Bamboo
Ornaghi Real Baby
Phildar Legende
Schaffhauser Wolle Allround
Schoeller+Stahl Limbo Mexiko
Sesia Mistral
Sesia Spice
Emmebi Ibisco
Sesia Merlino
G-B Wolle Mosaik
Sesia Tratto
Silke Hobbit
Steinbach Wolle Capri Ombré
Strumpf und Sportwolle Match
Titan Wool Winner

Last White One - bolero

2007-03-10T22:15:00.000+01:00

Last white item from my knits. Bolero for my daughter, with knit scalloped edge and crocheted sides.
Info:
Yarn: Silke Hobbit (100% merino, 50 gr = 80 mt)
Needles: 5 mm
Pattern: my own

Strangely when skeined the yarn seemed soft, when knit I thought it to be too hard and finally when I washed it it was soft allover again.

2007-03-08T12:59:00.000+01:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Quick knit lace

2007-03-06T12:10:00.000+01:00

A very quick pattern I got from co-authored Motivi a Maglia (all knitty Italians unite!) blog. I bought some yarn a long time (ha, maybe a year) ago for a pair of stockings from Vogue Knitting, but it wasn't good enough to be knit in black and white (black ate all the bright color) so I had one skein of white and two black. White turned into a relax-knit between many other bigger projects, for it really didn't need much attention, the pattern is very simple, yet effective. the yarn is really a miracally soft, very fine though, so if you want to knit more than lace, make it a double.
Data
Yarn: Ornaghi filati "Real Baby" (100% pure new wool, 50 gr = 280 mt)
Needles: 2,75 mm
Pattern: Typesetter's green scarf
Length/width/weight: 117 cm/16 cm, 43 gr

Now What shall I do with 2 skeins of black?

The biggest surprise!

2007-03-04T14:52:00.000+01:00

Men hate shopping. My one does as well. (Unless they are buying their gadgets.) Unfortunately for him and luckily for me, my one had a week in NY City, and one free day to go shopping. So I gave him a list and asked for 4 skeins of Koigu KPPPM (I looked up 7-8 colors, so that he'd surely find me some), prepared a list of shops to choose from and hoped that the stores have the yarn. Last midnight I got an SMS saying, "I got you the books and some yarn". I think it's not a surprise that I was very content, all experienced yarnholics are when holding Koigu in hand.
So this morning he arrived with a mysetrius bag which was way too heavy for one book and four skeins of Koigu, as I had requested. And a story: "So I went to this store where you said I can find the Koigu colors you wanted. I entered and gave the list to the shopkeeper, she said those yarns are all sold, gave me a ladder and showed me to the shelves. Did I men ion that I needed a ladder to reach them all. I hope you like the colors, cause I chose them myself." Hearing this I opened the bag striaght away, finding this:

15 SKEINS of Koigu KPM and KPPM (And the colors are quite right as well)
and these:

Maie Landra "Knits from Painter's Palette" and Nora Gaughan "Knititng Nature".
I am happy, happy, happy.
Now what shall I do with 15 skeins of Koigu? ;)

Swallowtail Shawl

2007-02-11T15:05:00.000+01:00

My Swallowtail Shawl. Knit in 15 hours, With Canetta Super Zaphir yarn (100% merino extra fine - coweb weight - used three threads at time) plus Madeira Metallic (45% polyamid and 55& metalliced thread) accopanying thread. Knit with 4 mm Addi Turbo needles.

Yes, yes those difficult yet so beautiful nupps. But it's not difficult at all if instead of p5tog you do: slip 4 purlwise, p1, psso :)

Will it be worn on the afternoon and night of 22. February? Yes? No?

***
TAST has been suffering due to this and another project. It will unfortunately suffer for at least another week. You just cannot imagine how I would like to stitch instead of knitting right now!

Take a Stitch Tuesday vol 1 & 2

2007-01-23T12:28:00.000+01:00

Due to a big project in my life I'm very behind with this amazing "workshop", but doing my best to find time for one stitch a week. Yetsreday I did 2 and I am sooo hooked.
I'm using an old jeans (lighter type) skirt I made way back and some cotton thread (which is really for knitting and crocheting... huh it makes stitching difficult, but it looks nice).
First week: Herringbone stitch

I must admit that I had to RIP twice before an idea suddenly came and I knew what to do with the stitches. First I just tried them and it didn't look nice or made any sense, but it was worth waiting. Why I chose jeans? Well I don't have many materials at home, since I don't have a sewing machine, I didn't want to start stitching "just because", I needed to make something I didn't have to sew afterwards. Luckily I remembered my only plain (and not brand new) skirt, which happens to be made of jeans' material.
Second week: Buttonhole stitch

I know that it looks funny and odd-shaped and reminds you something, but I haven't finished with the beads yet :). I didn't find this stitch as versatile and interesting as herringbone, since it looks better in symmetrical shapes which I honestly am not after with this project. It looks marvellous in triangles and squares, but if you have a material on which you cannot count the threads between each stitch - this just doesn't let you play as much. Plus the horizontal row forming at the bottom limits it.
Till next time!

SKS gift swap in Estonia

2007-01-10T14:01:00.000+01:00

Christmas is over and we are back home from Estonia. I've done some necessities and can finally show you what kept me busy and FOless for the months of November and December.
First our gift-swap in Estonia.
I received a very ME-beret from Vikike.

I on the otherhand tried for the first time entrelac and made a gift for Pampel.
Yarn: Filatura di Crosa Zara (100% merino extra fine , 50 gr = 125 m)
Used: ca 280 gr
Needles: 3,75 mm bamboo
Pattern: my own (length blocked 210 cm, width 25 cm. After blocking 195 cm and 20 cm accordingly - the pattern tends to shrink out of blocking that gives it the special texture)
It was fun to knit, but hiding the ends was horrible for if I remember correctly there were 72*2 yarn ends. Since I recieved my pal's questionnaire in October and forests of fall are very colorful - they became my inspiration. I must compliment the yarn which has become my favourite along handspun yarns, Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino and Cathay.

Elongated stitches scarf

2007-01-10T10:44:00.000+01:00

I ordered some fabulous handspun and dyed yarn from estonian webshop - it is 100% merinos called Eijdo 160 and knit a scarf with elongated stitches for my mom. I used up 100gr and even though I forgot to measure it goes around the neck freely two times at least. I knit it withun wooden needles which are at least 30 years old (recalls my grandmother) and are almost 5 mm.

Knit and felted hat

2007-01-06T10:33:00.000+01:00

For my mom I knit and then felted a hat in the style of 20ies-30ies, it is embellished with some crocheted flowers and buttons.

Info:
Yarn: unspun Estonian wool (carded only)
Needles: 8 mm double pointed and Addi circular
Pattern: my own

2006-12-25T10:00:00.000+01:00

I wish you all have very merry, peaceful and yarnful Christmas!
I wish for all readers, knitters and crocheters, lace-makers and crafters a busy, happy and FO-rich year 2007!

Men who knit

2006-12-12T16:10:00.001+01:00

New old hat

2006-11-23T12:13:00.000+01:00

Anke Leen has been going to school for nearly 3 months, and I made her a new set for the winter - neckpiece and a hat (no pictures :( ). On the second day at school with them she lost the set. Next day I sent her to school with last year's hat and collar. She came back hoem without them and we haven't been able to locate them at school. So I sent her to school with her father's hat (for I didn't have any other option) and she misplaced it by the end of the day, luckily we found it. Yesterday I sent her to school with the same hat telling her to put in her bag every time she wants to take it away. When I picked her up she had lost the hat somewhere and didn't remember where. We searched the school premises and finally found it at the playground. On the way home we got an idea to keep it as Anke Leen's hat for it really suits and fits her. But to make it more appealling to keep it safe and sound I took out some fancy yarn, crocheted the earflaps and edges, and made a pompom. I sent her to school woth the new hat she instantly was fond of. And now I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I knit the hat in Febryary this year in London from Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (55% merino wool, 33% microfibre, 12% cashmere), yesterday's addition is Mondial Folk (100% acrylic). Cute!

Approaching winter

2006-10-30T13:29:00.000+01:00

As the winter is slowly drawing near (don't mind the near + 20 degrees outside today, okay?) I have been making small preparations for it.
I crocheted myself a beret and a neckpiece - they are crocheted with two different yarns - wool, which was too hard on my neck, and mohair to make it more soft and airy. The collar also has some added on beads and a beautiful button from my grandmother's collection.

Information:
Neckpiece
Yarn: Novita Isoveli (75 % wool, 30 % polyamid) and BBB Kid Mohair (30% polyamid, 70% kid mohair)
Crochet hook: 5,5 mm
Pattern: harriet.ee (Only in Estonian) NB! Link leads to .pdf file

Beret
Yarn: Novita Isoveli (75 % wool, 30 % polyamid) and BBB Kid Mohair (30% polyamid, 70% kid mohair)
Crochet hook: 5,5 mm
Pattern: Bobble Beauty (with minor modifications)

I used approximately 20 grams of Kid Mohair and 125 grams of wool.

I have so many unfinished projects! Could someone give me push to hide the ends, finish last lines or embroider applications?!?

Yarn shops in Milano Vol 2

2006-10-24T15:03:00.000+02:00

UPDATED 11th NOV 2006!

A lot of this post is copied from an earlier post, but I have additions to my information and will be changing this post probably several times more. It is difficult to find yarn shops in Milano - most of them are not listed. They are not listed, for they are small and very often very old shops (like a yarn shop lady today told me - "this shop was already here when I was a little girl"). When I tried to find out where are Adriafil yarns sold, I wrote a letter to the company (for it was indicated that if I'd like to know their sellers I could ask from them by e-mail), I got an answer from the company that I should call their wholesale guy who will tell me the locations, no thanks, I thought, if you do not have the information why should I spend my money to find out? That doesn't mean that I lost my appetite for some Adriafil yarns, not at all... I have been asking locals, have been keeping my eyes open and taking unusual routes just to run into a yarn shop (or even a merceria - sells all sorts of fabrics' stuff). And I have been a little lucky. So... here they are.

Centro della Lana (the Yarn Center) - it really deserves its name, for it is the biggest yarn shop I've seen around in Italy! It has everything you need - fancy yarns, sport weight, DK, lace weight, bulky and amazing color range. I think they take in all from their producers which are Grinasco, Ornaghi, Regia, Laines du Nord, Lana Gatto, Mondial, and many other smaller producers.
It is located in Via Montevideo 25 (closest tube stop either Porta Genova or S. Agostino on Green line). The price range is normal from €2 to €5 per 50 gr ball.

One day on my way back from the school of my daugher I decided to take yet another bus to rach metropolitana and I accidentally found ANOTHER shop! (Of course due to my bad luck it was closed for lunch). It is located at Piazza Ernesto de Angeli in the beginning of Via Pietro Rubens. Its name is Foderami Castelli. And on the windows I saw that they have Sesia, Mondial and some other types but I really must go back to check their full line. (Closest tube stop De Angeli on Red line (Bisceglie branch)).

Canetta (Shops of the magazine Mani di Fata) - You can find amazing quality yarn there, but no fun-fancy-special yarns. But the quality is exceptional, especially the softness of most yarns; and they have wide selection of colors in back-room, so don't hesitate to ask. The only shop where I know the sales lady DOES speak English is conveniently in the very historic center on via Dante (The street that leads from Duomo to the Castle Sforza) - Via Dante 4. (They changed their location - they have much bigger and lighter and nicer rooms now). On the window they have baby clothes and embroidered stuff, laces... so check in, they don't keep yarn on the window usually. And they have good choice of magazines and design sheets. Shops of Canetta are located:

2 Via Solferino angolo Via Pontaccio (in Brera)
7 Via Vettabbia (near San Lorezo church and Roman pillars)
22 Via Mazzini (between Duomo and Missouri tube stop)
4 Via Dante

The magazine of Mani di Fata is my favourite from the local market. Though the designs are modern, feminine and sexy - they don't experiment much and I have started to look for more interesting magazines.

Another shop, though very small is near Corso Buenos Aires (anyways a must when visiting Milano, for it is a big shopping street, huge I'd say) - It is called La Bottega della Lana (The Wool Shop) - address Via Pergolesi 1 (from Monday to Sturday 9:30-12:30 and 15:30 til 19:30, closed Sunday and Monday morning), near Red Line tube stop Loreto. When walking on Corso Buenos Aires, coming from the tube stop, walk on right side of the street and it is on your right. It is really tiny, but ther is a nice choice of Orrnaghi yarns. Just a few steps after the shop you can find a great icecream shop. So if it is hot outside and you are hot-headed about yarn - icecream will cool you down.

Another yarn-store is in the area of the Central Railstation (Stazione Centrale), I managed to visit it, and it is excellent. Nera Toffoli Idee & Filati. You can find them from Piazza San Materno 16, corner of Via Accademia. Pay attention! On via Pergolesi is the entrance to the underwear shop, right around the corner on via Accademia is the yarn shop entrance. They have a very good choice of Ornaghi yarns, Regia sock yarns, even Laines du Nord. They also have all sorts of stuff for embroidery. Closest tube stop on Red Line (Linea Rossa or Line nr 1) is Pasteur, just one stop after Loreto. Again remember, they close for lunch - from around 12 to 15. Apparently they have started to sell their merchandice online. It is great place to visit if you love to be creative with fabrics.

I received a copy of InZona just a week ago, and from there I found a great place again: Non solo maglia. It is near the Grande Naviglio and quite difficult to reach - for many streets there are just one way. But instead of taking your car and risking not finding a place to park, take public transport: take the green line metro to Porta Genova, exit the tube and find the bus stop of nr. 74 (Going towards Famagosta). Exit in the 6th stop - Tosi-Pestalozzi; walk down the via Pestalozzi, and find number 10 (it is straight after a small garden) - there is a small gate, go in to the yard, until you reach a house at the end of the lane, turn left and walk a little, then turn right again and walk a straight until the last block of houses, where you can see Non Solo Maglia on the house at right of you. The address is via Pestalozzi 10 (int. 16) - last number showing the "box" of the shop.

There is a small merceria in via Capecelastro 22, it has some fabrics, some buttons, some embroidery materials, some yarns - mainly, they have Lana L'irlandese! You can reach it easily by taking red metro line towards Rho - exit in Lotto Fiera Milano... when going through the gates of metropolitana, take the first exit on your left and from there goes bus nr 49, the shop is called Foderami Calze, and you have to step down the bus at the fifth stop - Capecelastro-Morgantini. I bought tunisian crochet hook from there today.

I found a small but an excellent place today, I took a different route back from my daughters school, saw a glimpse of yarn balls on a window and stepped down the bus a soon as possible. At Piazzale Siena there is a shop called Tricots. Here is a picture to make it easier for you to find it, the lady there is very helpful and we had a nice chat. They have Adriafil, Regia, Ornaghi yarns, some pearls, DMC etc. Keep in mind, small shops in Milano are closed for lunch hours and monday mornings!

Typesetter, a blogger and knitter from Milano wrote me this: "Another place I usually shop is Lanar, in via Nino Bixio (right off the circonvallazione). Thye have a limited range of yarns they produce tehmselves, but some of those yarns are excellent (wool and silk blends in nice solid colors), and their sport yarn at 1.16 euro per 50 grams ball (or 16.50 euro the 500 grams skein) is unbeatable!"

I really should visit all of them again, take some helping pictures (for they are often difficult to find) and write down the yarn companies they sell. I also have another 2 shops to check and I will do it as soon as I get the chance.

Hope all this helps someone. I think I'll translate this post into Italian, but not now... way too much writing for the past hour.

Fashion and yarn

2006-09-25T19:57:00.000+02:00

I usually do not buy local newspapers, but today was different for between the biggest Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera was published fashionextra - Mode& Modi. It's not like I'm really interested in fashion, not at all, but I got hooked, for the front page had a huge picture like this:
,
and first 6 pages are full of yarn articles, or rather "knits in fashion" and how they are making a "comeback". The first page is not worth reading, it's just the editor's 'sad' story how machine knits remind her of crocheted bedcover at her parent's home and dad's sweater her mother knit. (I do not consider most local articles real news articles, the journalistic culture in Italy is literally non-existent, but this is not a place to analyse it). Enough of bad things, so what did I find out?
What is IN?:

All knitted items are IN, but should have some embroidered colorful flowers on them (advisable also on other clothes).
The pullovers-cardigans-sweaters should be more or less sexy-slick, with a necessary accessory - huge collar or extralarge baret/hat. Or, since no fashion designer ever agrees on what is IN, some designers prefer to dress their models in at least 2-3 sizes bigger sweaters and tie abelt around the waist.
Colors in knitty world - pink, but also white, pastels, gray and lilac. D&G has a very nice winter collection.
The beginning of the fashion empire of Benetton. Giuliana Benetton is the lady behind the empire, who at the age of 8 found her life's passion in knitting. First she knitted socks for her younger brother, from old sweaters she ripped, followed by sweaters for the family. She and her brother Luciano were forced to quit school and start working when she was only 10 years old, for the father had died and the mother was sickly. She managed to get a job at a local knitworkshop and made a deal with the owner, whose name was also Benetton, but wasn't their relative, to use the knitting machine from 6-8 pm everyday for her own use. She used that time to try new techniques and work out her own designs. Few years later her mom made her work at the tailor's but she hated it and after the mother realized she was unhappy Giuliana was allowed to go back to knit"factory". At the age of 14 she was the headknitter and had 12 girls working under her. One evening when Luciano had come to pick her up and had seen what his sister was upto, he said: "What if you make the sweaters and I sell them?" It was a golden idea, Luciano sold his harmonica and bought one knitting machine. The empire's seed was planted, in 1966 they inaugurated the company.
Fourth page tells us the story of local knitting workshop which cooperates with high-fashion designers. On the same page we can read about the handknitting mania in US. Including a list of stars who knit (from young Ingrid Bergman to Sarah Jessica Parker), Stitch'n'Bitch club and www.menwhoknit.com and about Russel Crowe as the most famous male knitter.
Last article talks about warm headcovers, and how once upon a time big baret or fancy pompom could send you to the teasing list or make you the hottest girl of school. This year you'd better go out wearing this style:

Quite enough I think for now. :)

Creative crisis

2006-09-24T12:35:00.000+02:00

Crisis:
1. My Vogue Knitting and Interweave Knits have still not arrived!
2. The felted bag... well let's put it nicely... got thrown away. Lesson learnt: diagonal-horisontal-vertical knitting doesn't felt well, means: knit in one direction! Then: cables and your nice ribbing won't show, so why bother. And last but not least: no more machine felting - it just doesn't work. Or maybe it does, but not with me.
3. Mistery knit - advancing, though I went through with some crisis with it.
4. The whole family is ill - not much time to sit down and relax with needles while everyone needs attention.

But, due to pretty bad cold my daughter has, I had to crochet something where she can keep her hankies. According to her wish: "like sun"
Yarn: leftovers from various projects before: Cotone Cablè 5, crochet hook 2,5 mm, pattern: my own. And a cute yellow button.

On my small break last week I got to but a new magazine Maglia, which has some sweet designes. And I brought some supersoft Ornaghi wool for future sock - if that Vogue Knititng ever arrives!!!!!

News

2006-09-09T12:26:00.000+02:00

Okay, I've been very busy this week.
The biggest news is that my daughter went to school without prior planning. According to Italian law she should start school at the age of 6 - that is in a year. But during the summer she found a good friend and her parents put an idea to our heads - to apply her to international school of Milan. Of course it was too late already in August, but when I finally called them last Friday morning they asked me to pass by the school on Monday morning to have a chat with the principal so that we could decide for the following year. So Monday morning early we went to school and brought our daughter along, after a long chat with the principal, who wanted to know her background and our preferences, we met teachers, looked the school and finally the principal said: "Okay, that should be covered now, all you have to do now is to go downstairs to the office and speak to Mrs. A about buses and then settle the bill with Mrs. G." We really must have had very confused and stupid faces, for she realized that there was a gap in our information and asked: "So you weren't notified on Friday afternoon that one place in first grade freed up and that this was a admission interview?"
Our little princess has done first 3 days at school and she was very disappointed that she cannt go during the weekend. :D
That was so unknitty again.

Knitty news:
1. Me and three other activists started a project in Estonia of changing self-made gifts for Christmas - it is more or less like Secret Pal, just very local (I can participate for I will be going home for Christmas and therefore can receive and send my package from there).
2. I am currently working on three things one of them my first felting project and I hope to show the results in a few days.
3. I am pissed of with Italian Post, it seems they have been able to loose my 2 subscription magazines: Vogue Knitting and Interweave Knits. I am going to go and bark at them on Monday. Cross your fingers!
4. I will have to withdraw myself from Secret Pal nr 9 - for the school fee is pretty overwhelming and I cannot take myself any financial obligations at this moment. I do hope to join the 10th one, for we will be better of next year.

Teaser!

2006-09-01T13:07:00.000+02:00

What will it be? ;)

My not so knitty-vacation

2006-09-01T10:40:00.000+02:00

Remember that in my last post I promised to do a lot of knitting on my vacation.... well... I didn't... even though I brought yarn for 3 major projects I only finished 2 hats!!! For my daughter and her new found friend.
But the break was well needed, for I am full of new ideas and started a new knitting project already day before yesterday. The vacation was full of swimming and snorkeling in the Adriatic sea, I overcame my fright of medusas and diving after taking an apnea diving course (it's amazing, if you ever get a chance to do it - DO IT!). It basically means diving until the depth of 30 meters without breathing or using any oxygen and staying down fine 4-5 minutes! And it is possible, of course first you start with 1-2 minutes and 5-10 meters, but it is very doable after 2 day course even for non-divers like me. It gave me such a high that I kept doing it every day after the course - that's where all my free time went :P. This is completely off-topic of course.
But the hats are like this, cute aren't they?
Info:
Yarn: Ornaghi Alicante, 100% cotton, self-striping, used app 30 gr. Cotone Cablé nr. 5 (double strand), 100% cotton, white, apple green, pink, used app. 40 gr.
Needles: 3,25 mm circular, 2,75 mm dpn
Pattern: Ulla, summer 2006

I also joined up secret pal nr 9 today. I have been looking at it with envious eyes for the last two times already, but never had the chance to join up - for we moved around a lot, but now I think it will work, for I have no plan of major vacations for the year end.

Silence before the storm

2006-07-28T10:37:00.000+02:00

I am sorry for not writing here lately, the reason is quite simple: I am on vacation and don't have much access to the internet. I will not be writing for another month for it will cost way too much to try to upload pictures and texts through mobile connection. On the other hand being without internet leaves me much more time to do my knitting, which means that upon my return I will swarm the blog with FO's.
Have a nice August and see You in September.

P.S I hope I don't get removed from blogrings I belong to :D

My First Dyed Yarns

2006-06-30T23:59:00.000+02:00

They really managed to surprise me. See what I mean.

Kiri shawl

2006-06-29T10:04:00.000+02:00

It is finally done. I do not suggest knitting KIRI in such fine yarn (it is 2-ply almost or maybe entirely cobweb weight lambswool) with 2,75 mm needels. It is a suicide. It took me near 1,5 months to complete it, of course I didn't knit it with one breath... I took a lot of breaths between, a lot without needles in my hands. But I am very satisfied. You can find the pattern here.
But oh it's so pretty and it goes for my awesome mother-in-law. I will do lace more.

I dyed some yarn

2006-06-28T09:55:00.000+02:00

I dyed some yarn with local colors that I managed to find from the city (that was an adventure).

Conclusions:

This was the first and last time... with these colors.

Nothing has changed in 20 years.

The colors are cool, but to get them it takes too much mess and scrubbing and boiling and mixing.

I will buy next colors from abroad and try again.

Estonian wool is really great! It gets softer as you boil it. Good pre-washing is essential - it not only gets softer and cleaner but it also goes nicely white.

The colors in this picture are too bright and strong, but I couldn't help it, my camera didn't take the red-orange tones well. Who notices that there are 2 oranges used? Exactly my point, even though I can't show them to you well, I am still very satisfied of the colors and will use these yarns in the near-future projects. BTW Violet really sucked, my sink still has lilac tonality to it.

Shortest nights of the year

2006-06-26T11:09:00.000+02:00

It is the time of the shortest nights of the year, the sun sets close to 11 PM and rises around 4 AM, and it never gets entirely dark.
On the shortest night the sun sets at 22:34 and raises at 4:05 and then we celebrate it with building big fires all around the country, it keeps away bad spirits and jumping over it brings luck. It is our Midsummer's Eve.

This year I went to visit my great-aunt in Southern Estonia and this gives me a chance to introduce some of my greatgrandmothers needlework. She was a very talented embroiderer, coming up with her own ideas and doing needlework until she was in her eighties and couldn't continue for her eyes and hands were poor. Here is a selection of her stitched work, she also did a lot crocheting, all the soviet time dull towels have very elaborate crocheted laces attached. I don't remember her knitting, but I think she did it as well - just to dress the family. I think my handicraft interest comes from that line of family, I am just slightly sad that when she was still with us I was young and hot headed and wasn't interested much. I could use her advice now every so often.

My great-aunt gave me some really brightly colored 100% wool from old times and since I had a lot of time on my hands I nearly finished the Kiri shawl. Yeay!

"Princess's Pink Dream"

2006-06-19T08:29:00.000+02:00

Princess's Pink Dream
Yarn: Steinbach Wolle Capri Ombrè, 100% cotton
Needles: 2,25 mm
Amount: ~280 gr
Pattern: My Own
Some white silk ribbon.

Knitted top-down.

I went to the city....

2006-06-14T18:27:00.000+02:00

Guess what happens when Ingrid goes to town?

HA! Of course she buys yarn!!!

So today I bought:

BBB Kid Mohair (mohair-polyammide) for lacy scarf

Match Strumpf und Sportwolle (superwash-polyamid) - the stripy one for socks

and some Estonian natural colour wool. I will try to find some dyes tomorrow and dye something before weekend. If I am successful, knitting will be a B-priority for my vacation time. By the way how much wool can one dye during 3 weeks (hopefully we will have warm and sunny weather)?

Never come home empty-handed

2006-06-12T19:57:00.000+02:00

From WWKIP gathering in Tallinnn, I had to leave rather early to go to a small Southern Estonian town called Viljandi. The town was having a Hanseatic Days festival so I wanted to check out the handicraft fair. I met an old aquiantance, who surprise-surprise had taken on handicrafts for a living. It seems just a few years ago, when she was a graduate from law staying home with children and saying that she got a job in designing furniture. Life is weird, isn't it?
Of course I couldn't leave without buying some yarn. The nice merry girls at the yarn booth.. and... and.. and... oh I don't know what made me buy it, I've made tons of promises not to, but I bought SteinbachWolle Capri Ombrè and some extra Katia Jamaica for a project in mind, which hopefully will turn out to be my first pattern... or a messy pile in the corner of the closet.
Anyways, I got the yarn straight away on needles, and the Pink Dream was this far in the early hours of the morning.

Since in one Estonian handicraft forum people are thinking about organizing a little Christmas-gift exchange action, I think I did a good thing purchasing following books:

These are Estonian mittens' patternbook, upper ones are also in English, with written instructions and schematics, bottom one is a black-and-white thin booklet of patterns. The cutouts are from the books on top.

WWKIP day in Tallinn

2006-06-11T12:10:00.000+02:00

10th of June in Tammsaare park in Estonia. I have to admit we attracted quite a few japanese to taking photos while we enjoyed eachothers company peacefully knitting the time away on the WorldWide Knitting in Public day. There were 16 of us at the hottest moment which is more than I expected at first, since pictures tell more than words, there are some photo memories in flickr.

Ready!

2006-06-09T20:17:00.000+02:00

Finally! Here it is, nicely shaped. And in my garndmother's garden some tulips are the same colour.

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cathay (50% cotton, 35% viscose-microfiber, 15% silk), colour: 10
Needles: 4 mm
Amount: ca 200 gr
Pattern: Leaf t-shirt

Yarn Shops in Milano

2006-06-06T09:29:00.000+02:00

Allrighty, AnnaK, these are the shops I have visited:
Canetta (Shops of the magazine Mani di Fata) - You can find amazing quality yarn there, but no fun-fancy-special yarns. But the quality is amazing, the softness of most yarns and they have wide selection of colors in back-room, so don't hesitate to ask. The only shop where I know the sales lady DOES speak English is conveniently in the very historic center on via Dante (The street that leads from Duomo to the Castle Sforza) - Via Dante 2. On the window they have baby clothes and embroidered stuff, laces... so check in, they don't keep yarn on the window usually. And they have good choice of magazines and design sheets. Shops of Canetta are located:

2 Via Solferino angolo Via Pontaccio (in Brera)
7 Via Vettabbia (near San Lorezo church and Roman pillars)
22 Via Mazzini (between Duomo and Missouri tube stop)
2 Via Dante

The magazine of Mani di Fata is my favourite, because they have very sexy-modern knit designs, it is not entirely knitting magazine, for it also has laces, embroidery, crocheting designs in it.

Okay there are 2 more I know in the central area, both of them I have been unfortunate to just pass by (for instance at lunchtime they are closed).
One is in near Corso Buenos Aires (anyways a must when visiting MIlano, for it is a big shopping street, huge I'd say) - It is called La Bottega della Lana (The Wool Shop) - address Via Pergolesi 1 (from Monday to Sturday 9:30-12:30 and 15:30 til 19:30, closed Sunday and Monday morning), near Red Line tube stop Loreto. When walking on Corso Buenos Aires, coming from the tube stop, walk on right side of the street and it is on your right. Just a few step after the shop is also a great icecream shop. SO if it is hot outside and you are hot-headed about yarn - icecream will cool you down.

I just recently discovered another promising yarn-store in the area of the Central Railstation (Stazione Centrale), I have not visited it, for I have been unluckywith the time again (I passed by with bike one Sunday).
Nera Toffoli Idee & Filati - Pay attention, they also sell underwear next door so their windows are rather crowded. You can find them from Piazza San Materno 16, corner of Via Accademia. Closest tube stop on Red Line (Linea Rossa or Line nr 1) is Pasteur, just one stop after Loreto. Again remember, they close for lunch - from around 12 to 15.

That's it folks, 2 others are so out of center, that I know their location but since I have no car I haven't tried looking them up.

Waist/waste

2006-05-30T13:14:00.000+02:00

Okay, another gross mistake: Remeber, Ing., YOU still have waist!!! Some don't, but you do! So start knitting like it. Are people square? Not most of them. Are you square? Sure not.
People who claim their bust is 34'', maybe have a very bad measuring tape because otherwise how is it possible that, Ing. who has 36 '' around the boobs feels like in a sack in a pattern created for 34'' (using the same yarn! and the gauge measures out the same: 20 sts per 4 inches). Can someone explain that? (I did try it on several times, but the circular needles didn't help in showing the mistakes.) Anyways, I've marked the decrease-increase area, hope to finish it to tomorrow and have some nice pictures next week (for I am away this weekend in the South).
Here is my square: