One childHood is done

isn't Panda doing a good job modeling it? Here is a more traditional shot:



I am knitting non-stop the second one since it is the third time I am casting - I have a problem counting up to 59. So nothing about all my other projects, but I have joined Cara's Knit One Read Too read along and I am game for Alison's socka-pal-ooza.

Speaking of socks, socks and small spoon have been disappearing from my house. I know for sure I have lost 4 spoons and there are never clean socks in my drawer. Check the laundry basket, you say? Done it, nothing there either. I used to think the cleaning lady was getting creative with the spoons - she has a tendency never to put away stuff with similar stuff, like she puts pans with plates, mugs with tupperware, etc, but the little yellow spoons have been missing for months now.

Teddy too!

That said, Paperino dived in my stash to find a suitable combination of yarn for Teddy's hat. If Samantha has a hat, a poncho, a skirt and one sock (omg, is that a sock?), Teddy needs a hat too!



Teddy's ears do present a challenge, but he is not complaining.



So, did you see on Sam's foot? My first sock! I would have never made it without Socks 101. And I am still to make the second one - hopefully similar to the first, bust still ..... a sock! I used this pattern. And I have a FO, the hat! Santa did bring me my Denise, so armed of two circular needles and this, I did it.



Again, isn't it cute? Paperino wants to wear it because right now purple is his favorite color - I tried to point out that it more violet than purple, but he is in a knitted objects jealousy phase so he would wear a skirt if I knitted one big enough for him.

It's raining

Actually, it's pouring cats and dogs. My plan for today was to go to a park and knit while the kids would tire themselves to death running - so much for that plan!
I can still knit but they are going to have a bad case of cabin fever soon.

Speaking of knitting, Santa brought Principessa an American Doll and I have been ordered a whole wardrobe for her. I discovered that knitting for a 18" inches doll is quite fun - I can make my own patterns, one hour and I am done and the doll does not complain if I am using the cheapest acrylic around. So, here I present you the poncho outfit:



And today I am to make hat and socks to go with it. I never made socks before so I figured that doll socks are a good way to start. I am sure that it will be the beginning of a new addiction.

As for knitting for real people, not much progress on the Ribby Cardi:



but I am done with one of the childHood cardi and with the back of the second one:



I started the second one before sweing up the first - did I ever mention I hate sewing?

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

Your Christmas is Most Like: A Charlie Brown Christmas

Each year, you really get into the spirit of Christmas. Which is much more important to you than nifty presents.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

childHood progress

childHood
Originally uploaded by lux2night.

I am done with the back and the fronts - I am going to sew them up and then start the sleeves. I completely forgot how fun it is to knit for an infant - few hours and you are done!

While I was knittng this, the friend I taught how to knit to on Sunday stopped by to collect her daughter and ask few questions and I noticed that she completely out-chic-ed me! She had the most cute wicked market basket to carry her knitting around. I have my projects in three round wicked basket that are someplace around the house, but when I go out I use these big not fashionable at all big tote, one a free gift from Lancome, the other from Ultima II. They are very handy because waterproof and nothing can stain them - good things when knitting on the grass while pretending to follow your kid's soccer game - but I can do better! Most of all, better than a "I learned to knit last Sunday" gal. So I making myself a French Market Bag!
Well, not right now, I am not that bad a case of knitting ADD, but soon.

Serious knitting ADD

I am getting worse - maybe it's the holiday. Here what I did between last night and this morning.
I started another basketwave blanket for the baby-to-be of the friend who is coming to visit and I am already half done. But I decided that it was not pretty enough. It is prettier in real life than in the photo - I have a heck of a time trying to take a decent photo of that yarn. And while I was knitting I thought it would be very nice if I made them (the baby and the older brother) two matching sweaters. I really like a pattern from Weekend Knitting, but it calls for circular needles and I did not want to buy yarn AND needles. So this morning a browsed a little and voila, childHood. So, it's settled, the blanket will go to Lu's baby brother and I am making two childHoods. And off I go to the LYS to then come much poorer with this:



Want to see what's inside? Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran that I paid about 35% more than what I would have paid ordering from any online shop.



For the price I paid, it is worth another couple of shots:



Isn't just beautiful? I am itching to start.

I joined the Ribby Cardi knitalong and I am going to post there my Ribby news - just click on the button on the right.

The hat

This is going to be a silly post in which a babble a lot about a hat. Why? It's so cute!



Well, maybe not, but it is the first hat I ever made, so let's have another photo:



As I wrote before, I am stuck because the needles are too long now. I ended up ordering a set of double point needles #9 (and the long circular needles for Valerie border and some Daletta - I needed $25 worth of stuff to get free shipping, that always gets me!) from Herrschners.

A very kind anonymous pointed me to this, so it seems that as soon as I have my Denise (Santa, I do hope you got that right!), I should be home free.

My friend with toddler and baby-to-be is coming to visit, so the blanket is going on the needles tonight.

Back to the hat, isn't it cute?

I am making a hat

I got this set of 21" long needles #9 (freebie from an eBay buy) and I told myself, why do not try and make a hat? Yes, I never used circular needles before (but the other day when I casted on them and did one row) but how difficult can it be? So here I go, casted 70 stitches and round and round I go: I am making a rolled edge hat, green and pink stripes. Then I started to decrease, every 8 stitches, then 7 seven, then 6 and ……. The needles are too long now. Went online, googled knitted hats, ah ah: I need to switch to doubled pointed needles! Never used those, really never. Again, how difficult can it be?
Well, it turns out that the difficulty is finding #9 double pointed needles: neither JoAnn nor Michael’s carried them. Only #3 and #6 (that I have, another freebie). I do not, I repeat I do not, want to go to LYS. Beside the fact that they’ll charge me a fortune, I never manage to go there and spend less then $50. I always see something else I want.
And I need 36” or 40” long circular needles #7 for Valerie too: no sigh of them either.
So, knitters out there, if any of you is reading this, please tell me, where do you get your needles supplies? Online? I know that I can get what I need at Yarnware.com - lowest prices online I could find on these specific items, but then I need to wait. Not good at waiting ……
I bought double pointed #6 anyway, wondering if I am going to make a mess if I use them. And I bought a 32” long #7 circular hoping that it is long enough.

Needles stash

Yesterday I went out specifically to buy another set of #7 straight needles. I am starting over the Ribby Cardi with #7, and it seems that I am knitting everything with 37 lately. But I have completely forgeotten that I have bid and won on a set of #7, #8 and #10 plus a circular needles on eBay, which arrived today. Is there such a thing as too many needles?

I completed the left stip of the Valerie poncho and I have started the left side - while I am feeling out new projects, I have ordered myself to finish this before starting a new. Speaking of which, maybe a friend with a toddler and a new-baby-to-be at the end of January is coming to visit during these holidays. Thinking about a blanket for the new boy and an hat for the toddler (now that I have my 16" circular needle, eh eh). Best of all, I do have the yarn for both projects - well, wait a minute, I do have three skeins of Daletta for the hat, but they are red, blue and black. I think I want a brighter third color than black.

During the weekend I taught a friend how to knit. She was really surprised at how simple it is and she could not believe that everything is basically done with two kinds if stitches. She left my house with two books of mine, headed to the LYS.

Things about me with numbers

why weren't those silly numbers showing up? at least on my computer

1. I was born in Roma - aka Rome, Italy.
2. That means that I am Italian: a person is Italian if they are born in Italy and hold an Italian passport. Saying stuff like, "I am Italian too, from Detroit", is silly. Really silly.
3. I am Sagittarius.
4. I live now in California - nice weather. Not great, just nice. If you think that the weather in California is great, you are not from Mediterranean country.
5. You do not want to be around me in the morning before I had my espresso.
6. I drink american coffee only if I am desperate for a caffeine fix and there is no other source in sigh.
7. I do not like tiramisu. The fact the I am Italian does not make me like all Italian food. I can make a mean tiramisu, but I won't eat it.
8. I do not go to Italian restaurants. The good ones are overpriced (and not as good as myself), the cheap ones ..... why would I want to go there anyway?
9. My favorite dishes to eat are pizza and pad thai.
10. I spend too much on yarn and shoes.
11. I have difficult hair - it did not adjust well to moving here. It goes back to normal when I go home.
12. Italy is not home anymore but I still say "When I go home".
13. When I am home, I say "When I go home" and I mean when I go back to California.
14. I do not have a place that really feels like home anymore.
15. My children's home is California, so California is more home than Italy
16. I have an hard time with capital letters - I forget to use them.

Knitting ADD

I am having a bad episode of knitting ADD. Not only I swatched Noro when I sm not supposed to start the poncho before I finished Valerie, but yesterday evening I decided I needed to use circular needles. I realized that circular needles are used to knit scarf lengthwise so I just grabbed a ball of sport yarn from my stash (needles are #6), I casted 180 stitches and I started knitting. I cannot purl with those thing, cannot figure out how to hold the yarn - which I am holding with the left hand. Plus when I turned the needles for the first time, all the stitches are twisted! Not big deal, because I can knit in the back so the stitches come out right, but it is weird.
Then I decided I needed some kind of pattern, and I chose SIDEWAYS GARTER STITCH SCARF from the Blue Blog, and I unravel all my knitting because I decided for another yarn.
To make up for the episode, I knitted Valerie for two hours and I am almost done with the right side.
Then this morning I read the lasts on January One and the urge to make Clapotis got stronger, I even started to price the yarn online.

Confessions

Noro arrived and I could not resist and I swatched. I know, it is not supposed to be on the needles yet, and technically, it's not. Just a little swatch with #131



And as usual I am right on target: 5 stiches/1 inch on needles #7.

That leads to my next confession, I rarely check my gauge. I usually have the exact gauge as reported on the label, so why bother? Plus the thrill of knitting dangerously. But I did swatch for the Ribby Cardi and I shouldn't have. My gauge was too too tight so I went up a needles size, but I have the distinct feeling that it is not right. The thing looks too big and too loose. Oh well, I'll need to start over .... again.

Since everybody is doing it .....

few things about me:

1. I was born in Roma - aka Rome, Italy.
2. That means that I am Italian: a person is Italian if they are born in Italy and hold an Italian passport. Saying stuff like, "I am Italian too, from Detroit", is silly. Really silly.
3. I am Sagittarius.
4. I live now in California - nice weather. Not great, just nice. If you think that the weather in California is great, you are not from Mediterranean country.
5. You do not want to be around me in the morning before I had my espresso.
6. I drink american coffee only if I am desperate for a caffeine fix and there is no other source in sigh.
7. I do not like tiramisu. The fact the I am Italian does not make me like all Italian food. I can make a mean tiramisu, but I won't eat it.
8. I do not go to Italian restaurants. The good ones are overpriced (and not as good as myself), the cheap ones ..... why would I want to go there anyway?
9. My favorite dishes to eat are pizza and pad thai.
10. I spend too much on yarn and shoes.
11. I have difficult hair - it did not adjust well to moving here. It goes back to normal when I go home.
12. Italy is not home anymore but I still say "When I go home".
13. When I am home, I say "When I go home" and I mean when I go back to California.
14. I do not have a place that really feels like home anymore.
15. My children's home is California, so California is more home than Italy
16. I have an hard time with capital letters - I forget to use them.

to be continued .....

Scarves, scarves

Lately everybody is making scarves and I am so envious! I live in California and I barely need my silk foulard early in the morning, so what's the point of making a scarf? This is a list of scarves I would love to make:
- Clapotis, that is made with one of dream yarns, Lorna's Laces.
- Bow-knot scarf
- Orange bliss, with another of my dream yarns, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Superchunky.
- Wavy.
- Cashmerino Chunky Scarf.
- 4uScarf.
Maybe I can do those with a silk and cotton blend? I'll mull over the subject, even if my wallet is urging me to go on a yarn diet. Or I can just bite the bullet and make the Stacey Summer Scarves, all three of them!

I just love it!

Last night I started the Ribby Cardi with the Peruvian Collection Highland Wool and gosh, I do love the yarn. It's incredibly soft and I would almost say that I like it more than the Cascade 220. And the price, I completely forgot how cheap it is, only $2.25 for 50 gr.
I needed to go up a needle size, I am using 8, and I started three times. I am so rusty at making things for myself that I forgot the old trick to measure a sweater that fits me well to determine the chest size. Measuring myself does not work!

I have decided to make a poncho for Chrissie, not a sweater. A poncho is faster and easier and I already ordered the yarn (like I needed another project in my queue), Lion Brand® Sportweight Wool-Ease Yarns, from JoAnn.com

I went to the LYS and I bought 4 balls of Katia Danubio for the cuffs and collar of the Fluffy Jacket I am going to make with Berbero. And I bought 2 skeins of Anny Blatt Victoria for the border of the "Go everywhere with anything" cardi from Stitch 'n Bitch I plan to make with Osiris.

As much as I love to go to my LYS, when I compare the prices with the online stores, I should be smarter, take notes over there and then dash to the nearest computer!

Here it is - as promised

poncho
Originally uploaded by lux2night.

The poncho is really done. The pattern said to fit a 3-5 years old and it is definitely for a 5 years old. I really do not know what I was thinking when I thought it could do for a 18 months baby!

One out, one in

The poncho is done, finished, completed! Photo will come soon.
Now I need to ponder what to start next. I am not knitting anything for myself right now, so I really would like to start the Ribby Cardi, but I just learned that Lu had a baby brother in October, so I would like to make him a blanket soon. The blanket is going to be a very quick and satisfying project, so I'll maybe just do that and start the Ribby Cardi once Valerie is done.
Juliana is definitely on the back burner, on the account of the fact that it is a croquet project.

I am from the Moon

You Are From the Moon

You can vibe with the steady rhythms of the Moon. You're in touch with your emotions and intuition. You possess a great, unmatched imagination - and an infinite memory. Ultra-sensitive, you feel at home anywhere (or with anyone). A total healer, you light the way in the dark for many.

What Planet Are You From?

New yarn shop and my quest for a circular needles project.

I found this new (to me) online shop, Little Knits, that has Cascade 220 at a very good price. Really tempted to but the yarn for Mariah already, but they do not have a lot of inventory. I do need two skeins for Marc too.

As for my circular needles issue, yesterday night I read the bit about circular needles on Stitch 'n Bitch and so I realized what an idiot I was thinking of knitting a small project on 31.5 inches long circular needles. On the other side, I realized that the fastest and easier project I can do is a hat like this, or it is called cap in English? So I'll just buy the 16" #10.5/6.5mm circular needles and I'll let you know.

And on the subject of different knitting styles, I was at a friend of mine last night, a fairly new knitter. She is knitting a scarf using a pair of 10" needles with the right needle under her right arm - so funny to watch and so uncomfortable. So I told her that I think that with such short needles, the Continental style is better and I showed her. I showed her! There, I was knitting holding the yarn with my left hand, like I have been doing it all my life. I am really amazed at myself!

Finally, I thought I needed to put Valerie on hold because I am at the point I need the pink yarn (and start the Ribby Cardi), but just this morning the Cascade 220 in pink arrived. Cannot wait to go home to knit!

Found it!

What did I find? The pattern I am going to use to make another poncho, since the one that was intended for a 18 months girl actually fits a 3 years old.
I saw a long time ago the Easy Baby Poncho by SskeinS, and I loved it. But I could not figure out what dimension to use for a 18 months old. Then today I came accross this Poncho to fit Anyone and voila' (I am quoting):
"Size 1 Toddler - you want your panels each to be 12 inches wide by 21 inches long
Size 2 - 4 you want your panels each to be 13 inches wide by 22 inches long."
So I guess I'll do 12.5 inches wide for 21.5 inches long.
Now the yarn ....... Sskeins used 100 gr of Gedifra Serano (218 yds) to make 2 5.33x16 panels. I think I need 3 times the yardage for my poncho, so it is 654 yards (300 m).
I just won these two lots of Noro Kureyon on eBay:



seller: donnaknitting747

and I am thinking about using the #131 for the poncho.

Progress, balance and KSL

I am making progress on three of my five projects. I just love to knit the Cascade 220 so the Valerie is proceding well. I am very happy with the pattern that calls for very little sewing, but worried about the circular needles part for the border. I'll explain my circular problem later.
I will actually need to stop and wait for the replacement yarn I ordered.


I started the front of the striped sweater:



but little progress on the Bernat afghan:



I have joined the Mariah knit-along!

It is my first knit along and I quite excited! It does not start until February, so I cannot wait to buy the yarn. The pattern calls for Patons Classic Merino Wool, that I have never used. I need wool to be super-soft otherwise I end up not wearing it.
That was it for progress, now about balance. I need 5 projects going on because if I knit something for myself, I do need to knit something for one of my kids and something for charity not to feel guilty and selfish. So that's 3 projects. But if I am knitting something for one of my kids, I need to knit something for one of kids, I do knit to knit something for one of my extended nieces and nephews. That's 4. And if I knit something for one of the children I sponsor, I absolutely need to knit something for an unsponsored child. And so that's 5. It's all about balance between doing things for me and for others. And right now and I out of balance, because I am knitting nothing for me, it's the season. May I go to sleep and wake after Valentine's Day?
That was it for progress, now about balance. I need 5 projects going on because if I knit something for myself, I do need to knit something for one of my kids and something for charity not to feel guilty and selfish. So that's 3 projects. But if I am knitting something for one of my kids, I need to knit something for one of kids; I do knit to knit something for one of my extended nieces and nephews. That's 4. And if I knit something for one of the children I sponsor, I absolutely need to knit something for an unsponsored child. And so that's 5. It's all about balance between doing things for me and for others. And right now and I out of balance, because I am knitting nothing for me, it's the season. May I go to sleep and wake after Valentine's Day?
KSL = Knitting in a Second Language. Boy, it is hard at first. Let me just told you this, I am knitting again thank to Google. Purl? What's purl? I Googled it and there it is, it's "rovescio". I started knitting when I was 14 years old (and no, I am not telling you how long ago it was, I have decided long ago that I am 25 and that's it). Then I moved to California and when I asked about yarn (after finding it was called yarn in English) I was sent to Wal-Mart. Those and instructions in English made me stop. I was young and euro-snob so I concluded that Americans only have horrible acrylic yarn and ridicule and short needles. Well, I was more than euro-snob, I was stupid. But I had more important things to do, like figure out how to survive without public transportation (yeah, I know, get a driver license, but driving is such a barbaric way to get around).
Years go by, I stumbled across PRR and I told myself: I can knit a few squares for the reservation.
Yeah right, few squares. It’s like being an addict, once I started again, no light at the end of the tunnel.
Moreover English does not intimidate me anymore, and I know better than setting foot into Wal-Mart.
And I learned so many news things. I learned that I knit English style: I did not even know that Continental style existed until I read about it in Stitch ‘n Knit. Never saw anybody knit that way in Italy. Learned about “blocking”: I knitted for year and never blocked a thing. Did not know I was supposed to. Still wondering why I should do it and what is the point of it. Any comment on the subject would be very appreciated. And any Italian knitter out there who can tell me how “blocking” is called in Italian? I described the thing to my mother and she is as clueless as me.
And circular needles. Never saw one before moving here. But I do know that they exist in Italy too because my mother gave me one pair that belonged to my great-aunt, size 6, 31.5 inches. Being an English style knitter who sticks the right needles under her right arm, circular needles terrify me. Cannot stick them my arm, right? But now that I have one pair, I have decided to conquer my fear and look for a very simple project to make with them. Suggestions? I was thinking of a doll poncho. So I can then finish the Valerie poncho.

Happy Christmas to me!

As a Christmas present to myself, I just joined Crafter's Choice (thnaks for the suggestion, Kathleen) and I bought myself 5 books:

Stitch 'n Bitch Nation

Last-Minute Knitted Gifts

Junior Knits
 
Simplechic
 
Scarf Style

Then I moved on to the The knitting garden and I ordered the Rowan Plaid Collection.

Berbero

I think I found the right pattern for the Berbero:



I was browsing Rebecca and I found this Fluffy Jacket. I still think that I want white borders and collar, but I can figure those out.

I am so in need of "On the needles" and "On the queue" lists .......

Buy blue - no knitting content

I found this link on girlreaction - so cool!

The new Knitty patterns are here!

Check them out!

I love Leftovers, and Wavy will give me the perfect excuse to buy more Cascade 220 yarn.

Not only knitting

Shopping in Italy is the best. There is something about little boutique and people talking in Italian that makes me go for my credit card, even if with the Euro at 1.3 - picture me cringing. And the bin sale basket of the yarn store just around the corner from my parents' place? Dangerous. And I do miss so much the whole "leave your place and just be there among people, bars (those are coffeehouses in Italy), and shops versus the "leave your place and be in the middle of nowhere" I have here. Yes, I have neighbors, but wouldn't you choose a little boutique or a yarn shop over a neighbor any day?

Moving on to my shopping, here it is, combination #1:



The Francesco Biasia bag is a present from my wonderful friend, and I just love it. Plenty of pockets but so stylish. And it goes so well with my $9.99 Ross shoes (missing from the photo), my street vendor belt (oh, the street vendors in Rome!) and my 50% off black pants from L'Altra Moda (it's winter in Italy, fall stuff on sale, I live in California, ah ah). I wore the black pants on the flight back so they are in need of a trip to the cleaners. What's missing? Marc is missing! Do not fear, already ordered some Cascade 220 in Christmas Red



from Mrs Knits Yarn Shop because I needed to order one skein in Cerise Pink - full story later.....



Moving on to combination #2:



Don't you just love the shoes?



Once in Rome I went straight to my favorite shoes place and I cried - horrible shoes at unreasonable prices. Then I find this other places, and I almost bought a pair of pink boots beside the two pairs of shoes I did buy. But I asked myself, when I am going to wear boots in California? The owner, who lived in Monterey for a while, agreed with me. The scarf is from the street vendor as is the belt.
I did not make the pink sweater, I bought that too, but the whole enchilada will look fabulous with the Ribbi Cardi I am going to make with the Peruvian Highland Wool I bought from Elann.

What about yarn? Here it is, combination #3:



The blue shoes and the blue yarn. I am planning to make the "Canotta Azzurra" with the yarn. I fell in love with the Lane Della Robbia yarns, hence a close out of Spennakero



Moving on to more yarn addition, I bought this one



to make a replacement for this huge cardigan



I must have bought when I was pregnant. Any suggestion on the pattern? Patterns wish list:

- Rebecca knitting magazine #28
- Rowan Plaid Collection

This yarn reminds me of cappuccino con panna, and I think I'll do something with white kind of fluffy borders, like Fluffa's fluffy jacket. to get the necessary yarn, I'll need a trip tp the LYS. Oh oh ......

Then surprise, it's green!



I do not usually wear green, but this one ..... No idea what to do with it, thought.

What about some finished or current projects? I did finished the pink blanket, but no photo because I left it in Italy with the friend who is having the baby girl. I need to make another one for another friend, so I'll have a photo eventually. The poncho is almost finished!



I need to sew it, make a croquet border and I am done.

Question: what do you do on a 14 hours airplane trip when you cannot knit because needles are not allowed on board? You learn how to croquet, so I present you the first three squares for the Juliana afghan:



Back to the poncho, it was intended for a 18 months old girl, but it is way too big. That means that I'll make another one - yarns and patterns searches are so dangerous. This is a not exhaustive list of yarns I am dying to buy:

1. Tahki Dazzle

2. Tahki Magic 02 Sand N Surf

3. Debbie Bliss Merino Chunky Yarn

4. Debbie Bliss Merino DK

What about the story of the Cascade 220 for the Valerie Poncho?



Well, the princess changed her mind and she does not like the dusty rose pink anymore, hence the new order above.

The boy sweater is coming along



And these are the last two eyelashes scarves - really!



The orange one is for Karen, the red one has no taker yet.

Last but no least, a treasure I found at my parents' place:



A needles holder who belonged to my grandmother.