I've been absent lately but that's because it took me some time to adapt to the new Chicago life and now that I did, I can go back to knitting. As you can see from my Ravelry dashboard I'm up to some relaxing stuff, especially the lovely Shawl Collared Cowl, a simple yet very clever pattern by Never not knitting.
So, little by little, I try to get back on tracks. And what are YOU knitting right now?
Starting April the 3rd I'll be on a sabbatical leave for 5 months! In the last months all I could think is: what will I knit with all this spare time in my hands?
Well it's very difficult to choose, so I ask you:
-Shall I finish my Icelandic sweather I've started 1 year ago?
-Shall I complete an afghan blanket I've started 2 years ago?
-Shall i crochet a human-size amigurumi?
-Shall I start something very challenging completely new?
What would you do?
Pic via | Blog Casa sé
To start, I'll learn the Stranded Color Knitting technique!
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!
I did it! I loved this pattern, it's amazing, a joy to knit, never boring and the results are gorgeous.
I was so pleased by knitting this that I've immediately started a new project, the Foliage Hat by Emilee Mooney on Knitty. 
I'm doing it in Mondial Extrafine Merino (Color 629) so I will have to adapt it a bit to this yarn. I hope I won't run out of yarn at the end. So far is a bit of a challenge and I'm really liking it. It's my first knitted hat on dnps, and I'm addicted to it. I wish I could bring it in the subway with me, but dpns aren't exactly easy to use in a crowded wagon ;-)
How cute is this "Tulip Toes" pattern from Cathy Campaigne for Knitty?
It goes straight into my to-do list, which right now counts:
-2 knitting for homeless scarves
-A Crocheted Hat for Puly
-Fingerless mitts
-Lace/beaded wristwarmers
-BSJ (I've just ordered the "Knitting Workshop" from Amazon.com)
-Crocheted snowflakes...
...I'll never make it for Christmas! :-D
This week end I went to the knit and yarn convention in Milan, Filiamo 2007, there I got some very nice cachemire skeins, one fascinating ball of recycled silk and a few other lovely things. I'll post some pics asap.
The thing that captured my imagination, though, was this ADORABLE Baby Surprise Jacket made by Knitaly (well I guess it was hers). Isn't it the most pretty baby jacket that you've ever seen?
The best part is that there is almost no sewing and Elizabeth Zimmermann's pattern it's made with circular needles, all in purl. I want to to it for a friend's baby girl soon to be born, it's too cute!
I'm ready to finally start this amazing scarf I've been dreaming of for two years.
The pattern, one of the most famous on line, is the one from Sheep in The City, and the Yarn is Manos del Uruguay in a lovely red-purple shade.
Before I start, I've printed the pattern and took a look at on line resources on the subject. With a great surprise I found at least two great links. First, the So Called Scarf Video Tutorial which explains very clearly the two ways of achieving the special stitch required by the pattern.
The second fantastic link I found is the So Called Scarf Flickr Pool! SO many beautiful scarves there in so many shades. I look forward to put my pics to!! :-)
This pic is from Kathryn Ivy flickr and blog. The shade she used is very similar to the one I got, I just hope my results will be as good as hers!
Once I have finished all the works I have cued in the warm months I'd love to "attack" those really irresistible patterns:
Cinderella socks by Kathryn Beckerdite - SOOOO CUTE!!!
The button-up sweater for Valda
Ysolda Teague Skull Illusion Scarf
Sportmax mustard scarf
Hairpin lace scarf or shawl
And so many other cute things I see everyday arouuund!!
Yesterday I went to the first Fall Stitch & Bitch in Milan. It was so nice to see all the girls again. I was very happy to be able to say goodbye to Ingrid, who is about to leave to the other side of the world, and to chat with Typesetter (who was wearing a desirable 2 colors sweater she made, SO nice), Pm10, Zrinka and many new lovely knitters.
We talked about new projects, admired Ingrid's just-made brand new Urchin hat (published by Knitty.com just the day before and already finished and wonderful) that she made with a delicious yellow-brown shade of Manos-like wool. Adorable, we all wanted one!
As we chatted about summer holidays and finished projects, they all agreed that I'm a lazy lousy crocheter that has too many things going on and who hasn't finished one in months. I felt a bit ashamed (but mostly giggled) and I made a promise to Susan: I commit to finish at least 2 projects before the end of the month. Mark my words: I WILL DO IT.
After a quick look to my unfinished works gallery, I chose the (in)famous Brea Bag, almost done since June, and the Chanson Poncho, which is pretty fast and easy to do (if only I didn't have to unravel 1 kg of black cotton yarn before I could start). The poncho yarn, by the way, is starting to be full of Valda's hair, but Ingrid says that's not too bad, in ancient times dog's hair was mixed with wool on purpose to make it warmer during winter. Good news.
Ingrid is not only wise and fast she is also incredibly sweet. She brought me a present from Estonia, a fascinating tool that I foresee will give me infinite pleasure during winter evenings at home. The Netting Fork, to be used with crochet hook. I'm so intrigued and pleased by the thought of learning a new technique, and I'm seriously tempted by trying it right now. BUT I made a promise, no new projects until I finish something. So I better hurry up, and after I'm done with the "knitting for the homeless" scarves I'll jump on the netting fork! Can't wait!! Thank you Ingrid, have a nice trip!!!
There's no doubt about it. The problem is, I never finish anything. I recently gave up on at least 3 projects. Vik scarves for the homeless are waiting for me, half started. The pink mohair shawl is somewhere in a bag, the brea bag is almost finished, almost, and what about the polar blanket? Still waiting for the winter to come.
And what do I do? Of course I've just started a new project!! I guess I have to definitely face the fact that I am a flighty starter and knit alongs simply aren't good for me (or, better to say, I am not good for them).
Anyway, this is the lovely new project I've embraced yesterday, the Chanson Capelet. Isn't it sweet? I'm making it in black cotton and instead of working it as a little cape, I'm doing closed rounds, so that in the end I'll have a short poncho. If I manage to finish it.
But this time the pattern goes on pretty fast and I'm confident that I can make it. I'll keep you posted :-)
Yesterday was a great day, I went back on crocheting and my sister started and completed her first crochet project ever!
After seeing the season finale of "Prison Break" on Monday, my sister and I realized that we had finished almost all our favorite series and there wasn't much left for us to watch on tv. So we had to find something else to do at night!! And besides that, yesterday evening, we also had a black out in our building, so even if we wanted to we could not get much tv anyway.
When when my sis came home, I was already crocheting this blanket I decided to make the very same afternoon. Maybe because there was no tv, or maybe because crochet is contagious, she asked me to show her how to make something. "Nothing easier!", I told her and I went directly to my stash, grabbed a skein of yarn, a crochet hook and the "Cozy Crochet Kit" with some project to make her decide what to start with.
We picked up together a nice coaster project worked in rounds. I think that working in rounds is the better and easier way to approach crochet. I remember when I started, the most difficult thing was completing a foundation row from the chain. Making the chain is always easy and funny, but work your way through it, when you are a beginner (so probably you made your chain too tight) can be really tricky. 
So, I made her start with the coaster, worked in rounds in double chains, and in NO TIME, she made it!!
Here it is, isn't it great? I wish I made such a nice and neat project the first time I touched a hook. I am very proud of her, and tonight, who cares if there's nothing on tv, we'll crochet a whole coaster set! ;-)
