Happy Holidays!

And Happy Knitting and crocheting to all of you!

Video Knitting lessons in Italian

I'm pretty proud because today I've published online the first video knitting lessons in Italian!
You can watch the videos here on LeiWeb.


Italian readers can also find free patterns and ideas on the website Knitting Blog, you are all invited and everyone is welcome!

Morgan Hat

In this Knitty.com Fall issue I fell in love with the Morgan hat. I find this pattern extremely attractive, even in Tangy. I tested the gauge of a few yarns I have here and I think that Noro Kureyon should fit. So I started it yesterday.

The technique used id the Double circular needles, a bit tricky at the beginning but not too annoying after a few rows. Let's see how it goes on.

Do someone of you have any suggestions on what to use for the brim? The explications are not too clear to me, and I0m not sure in Milan, Italy I will be able to find a "brim" store. What could I use instead of cardboard?

Finally Foliage (hat)

I've finally the right yarn for my own Foliage Hat. I love this pattern, I've tried it last winter but my yarn was too this and I had to give up.

At the last yarn sawp in milan, though, I got a pretty yellow ball, wich had the same gauge than the Malabrigo used for the foliage pattern, ad ta-dah! Here it is. Precious, fast and very pretty!

It only took me one day to make, and I'm very happy with the result!




Pics taken by my sister

Superfast baby hat - pattern

Yesterday I've been invited to a 3-years old birthday party. Problem was I didn't have any present! On my way to the party I've got an idea, I grabbed a pink skein of soft cotton and a crochet hook and I stared a mini hat for the birthday-girl.

I got to the party at 4 pm and by the time she opened her presents my hat was done, just in time! A bit of a rush but she looked happy with it. At least I've finished something, for once ;-)

The super fast, super simple hat pattern:
The Crown
1. ch 5, close circle
2. ch 2, 1 dc in same stitch, 2 dc in every ch
3. ch 2, *2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc*, repeat **
4. ch 2, 1 dc in next dc, *2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next 2 dc*, repeat **
5. ch 2, 1 dc in next 2 dc, *2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next 3 dc*, repeat **
6. ch 2, 1 dc in next 3 dc, *2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next 4 dc*, repeat **
7. ch 2, 1 dc in next 4 dc, *2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next 5 dc*, repeat **
8. ch 2, 1 dc in each dc all around
9. ch 2, 1 dc in each dc all around
10. ch 2, 1 dc in each dc all around
11. ch 2, 1 dc in each dc all around in contrasting color
The Brim
12. ch 2, *2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc*, repeat **
14. ch 2, 1 dc in each dc all around
15. ch 2, 1 dc in each dc all around

WWKIPD 2008 and knitout stash swap @ Milan

WWKIPD 2008
14 giugno 2008, dalle 15,30 in poi
Presso il Parco Sempione,
di fronte al Bar Bianco

Il 14 giugno 2008, presso il ParcoSempione, di fronte al Bar Bianco, si terrà la seconda Giornata della Maglia in Pubblico di Milano. Dalle 15,30 in poi Motivi a Maglia – Stitich 'n' Bitch Milano dà appuntamento a chiunque lavori a maglia, all'uncinetto, ricami o altro, o chi desideri imparare, a partecipare.

Per intervenire non è necessario iscriversi né comunicare la propria presenza, solo presentarsi.

Durante il sarà inoltre attivo uno stash swap, durante il quale sarà possibile scambiare i filati non utilizzati (almeno un gomitolo completo).

Consigliamo di portare sdraio, seggioline o stuoie per sedersi sull'erba.
In caso di maltempo, ci trasferiremo presso il Bar Bianco.

Milano S’n’B
Motivi a Maglia – S’n’B Milano

Hermes Knitted Hat

While working as hell I noticed this absolutely adorable knitted hat from Hermès Fall/Winter 2008-2009 catwalks. Looks easy to do and at the same time interesting and original. What you think? I will definitely try to make it. Any suggestions on the increase pattern to use as a base for the crown?

Thanks to Anneli we now have the pattern!!

New Job

I've just started a new job and I'm too busy even to knit :-(
Hope to come back soon!

:-*

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter knits to you all!

Clapotis update

I'm progressing a little bit with my Clapotis, I manage to get to my first dropped stitches row and it was quite funny let all those sts drop. I have a doubt, though, on the row after the sts have been dropped, the pattern says "pick up top bar with left needle to form a new st (make sure this st isn't twisted)", but not to twist it is almost impossible... what do you think about it?



Is it twisted or not?

Hats for friends

I finally finished a couple of hats I was making for my two best girlfriends. The green one is made from the pattern Tweedy Cloche by Kristi Thompson and the black one is the Crocheted cap by DROPS design.

Both were nice and easy to make! I hope my friends will like them!


More pics on Flickr, details on Ravelry

Tag Cloud on Cloudy Crochet

Thanks to this blogger, who wrote a very clear tutorial and code, I could put the tag cloud on this blog! Thanks phydeaux3!

How could a cloudy blog live without it's own cloud tag? ;-)

Loop Scarf, finished

Gator Scarf, originally uploaded by Cloudy Crochet.

I finaly have some time to post some pics of my Garter Stitch Loop-Through Scarf by Marci Richardson, that i made from the book "101 designers One Skein Wonders".

I changed the pattern a little, switching from the original garter stitch to a stockinette st (that I prefer). It's a lovely, easy and really rewarding pattern. Was a pleasure to knit.

My sister fell in love with it so I gave it to her and she's always using it, I'm very happy about it :-D

Vogue Knitting Aklpaca Collection

Look at those marvelous new alpaca patterns just published by Vogue Knitting. I love so much Alpaca that I cannot resist!

I guess I will be able to do just the wrist warmers, before the winter is over, but it's good to know there are some fashionable lovely pattern out there waitingto be made.

Home Made Stitch Markers

Sometimes watching the pics of my friends works-in-progress I see really beautiful and precious stitch markers, so I decided to try doing some myself.

You have to understand that I'm not really good with tools, and I've never made jewelry myself, but I really wanted some beautiful markers. So I looked for a store in Milan specialized in do-it-yourself jewelry, I tried to explain what I wanted to a perplexed clerk and went home.

With a clasp and a wire cutter I tried assembling the markers... And a bit clumsily I did those. What you think? They aren't too bad after all, actually I pretty proud and I find them really pretty ;-)

Happy 2008!