Hat + Neckwarmer, finished

It's been a busy week and I've been able to finish two project I was working on. I'm pretty glad even if both project didn't came up as I expected. Anyway I learned a few new things and I'm pleased by that.

Here is Kim Neckwarmer made in the very original Mammoth by Artfiber, a superfine baby alpaca that I bought when I was living in San Francisco. The fuzzy yarn doesn't show very well Kim's texture but the result is quite pretty I think.


The second project I ended is the Swell Hat by Kimmie Kemper on Knitty.com. I loved doing it, and it went up pretty fast. I used some recycled yarn and a part of a skein of Cascade 220 in pink. I did a Medium size but the hat is a bit tight, I guess this is how it is supposed to be but I'm not sure I'll use it a lot.

My first Clapotis on the go

For my birthday a really sweet friend of mine offered me a HUGE skein of wool. 500gr of fine yarn blue, yellow and cyan. Really pretty! I've been thinking of the right project to make with it and I ended up with the famous Clapotis by Kate Gilbert.


It's going to be a long way up to the end, but I'm sure it's worth it!

Help! NYC: Shops & Magazines?

I've planned a short holiday in NYC on Christmas, I'm very happy! Do you have any suggestions on:

must-see-yarn shops
must-buy US magazines
must-have knit and crochet books

I already have on my list:

Shops:
-Purl Soho
-The Point

Magazines:
-Vogue Knitting
-Interweave Knits

What else???

Stitch 'n' Bitch Milan

Lovely Stitch 'n' Bitch yesterday at La Triennale in Milan. Some news ladies, the lovely Silvia, Silvietta, Flavia and Susan and even a couple of guest (stars) drinking beers (my sys and her friend Crippa the man). Great afternoon! :-)



More pics HERE

Foliage hat with too many leaves

I've just finished my Foliage hat revisited. Because my yarn was much thinner that the one suggested by the pattern (I used Alpaca Perù by Filatura di Crosa a very enjoyable yarn I must say) I added a round in the crown pattern. It took me the whole week end to do it. Unfortunately the result is a hat way too large :-(

This was my very first lace pattern and I loved doing it, but I'll have to undo it completely. I guess next time I'll do it with the right yarn.

I hope I'll be more lucky with Kim's Cashmere Neckwarmer made in Mammoth. At least this should be a faster project to achieve.

Oversized Beret

Just in time before the chill hit Milan I've been able to finish this lovely Oversize Beret from Lion Brand. Nice and easy. It reminded me how faster is crochet, compared to knitting, when you make hats.

I used a forgotten skein I found in my old stash in Rome, the yarn is called Mouflon by Tessitura di Tollegno color 1533, I used less than one skein. Yarn gauge 19stsx24 rows, crochet hook 5,5 mm / US 9 (I actually started with a 5mm/US8 but switched after a few rows).

Because my yarn was a bit thinner than the one suggested, I adapted the pattern adding two rows of increase and one row of decrease. I like the results, it's a nice, practical warm hat finished right on time!


On the Knitting for Homeless front I've finally found the right yarn and just yesterday the right pattern. It's a rib that in Italian is called "Fake English Rib", very nice, I think it will give a lovely scarf. The color is a bright red and I hope that the homeless guy who lives in the park down here will accept it and like it.

One Skein Wonder, in one week end

Before this "long week end" I was reading Ingrid's Blog, always a great source of inspiration, and I found her version of the One Skein Wonder. I immediately fell in love with the pattern and bought it right away. I have so many single skeins right now!

I was about to go to Rome by train and I thought it would be a perfect knit for the 4 and 1/2 hours travel. I definitely made the right choice because the train had a 2 hours delay and I almost finished the OSW during my way out.



It's definitely a lovely pattern, a bit trickier than I originally thought, but surely rewarding. Now that I did one I will definitely make others. I particularly love this version.