Edith baby sweater

Here's something I knit for S. a couple of months ago, but totally forgot to blog about it.
This was a test knit for Jenny Wiebe. I saw the pattern and just fell in love with the ruffles, but in the end only made two on each sleeve because unfortunately I ran out of yarn. Still turned out cute though.
Sorry for the grumpy photo but S. has not in the best of days ...


Pattern: Edith, by Jenny Wiebe
Size: 12-18 months
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino (2 skeins)
Ravelry project page

 

sewing :: Tova tops

I can't believe I've finally sewn something wearable for myself. It's been a couple of years ...
The pattern is the Wiksten Tova top, which I've been coveting for a long time (way before there was a pattern available). It's just the kind of top I like, simple yet elegant. The fit is perfect, and Jenny's instructions are quite clear and easy to follow.

I've made not just one but three different versions. My favourite one is this one, made from this shirt weight Nunoya fabric I've been saving in my stash for over four years. I think it was worth the wait, because the combination is perfect, don't you agree ?

I also made this short sleeved version ...

And my first attempt which was actually long sleeved.
I can't get enough of this pattern, so I'm not sure three are enough, I might have to make a few more in the future ...

Cold neck

A test knit for Elisabeth.

This is a beautiful pattern, and although it seems complicated it is actually a quick knit. It took me less than a month to finish. I lengthened the body and the sleeves by a couple of inches, but otherwise kept to the original pattern. It's too bad the weather is now too hot to wear it, but I'm sure it will get a lot of use next winter.

Pattern: Cold Neck Syndrome, by Elisabeth Sivertsen
Size: 34
Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers, 5 skeins
Needles: 4.5 and 4 mm

Ravelry project page here

trento + bolzano

Last month DH had a conference in Riva del Garda, and since we'd never been there we took the opportunity and turned it into a week family trip. We started by visiting the nearby cities of Trento and Bolzano, the perfect location for exploring the Dolomites later on. They are both smaller cities, not very touristy but with nice pedestrian areas filled with shops, cafés and restaurants, ideal for a short stay.

Our first stop - Trento - is a smaller university city. We had been there before in December 2006, a very quick visit one evening for some shopping and dinner before moving on to our next destination, and at the time I remember we were both quite impressed by it. So this time we decided to go back, maybe visit the Castello di Buonconsiglio and some other attractions. As it happens, when we arrived there on Sunday it was already closed and on Monday mornings it seems everything is closed in Trento. We had a nice time anyway, exploring the streets of Trento and its lovely piazzas.

There isn't much available in terms of accommodation offers in the center of Trento, so we ended up staying at the Grand Hotel Trento, which although not exactly charming, turned out to have nice rooms and reception areas. It was located right outside the historical area, and in front there's a lovely public park where Sara chased the ducks.

:: Trento, Castelo di Buonconsiglio

:: at the Grand Hotel Trento

:: the lovely park in front of the hotel
:: the main piazza in Trento

:: Trento cathedral

 :: chasing the pigeons

:: we found a nice public playground in the center of historical Trento and guess who loved it ?

 

Bolzano was livelier and a bit more busy overall. We loved the main pedestrian street Via dei Portici, it features arcades filled with shops on both sides, and it went almost from our hotel doorstep to the Archeological Museum (where we went to pay a visit to Otzi). We stayed at the Hotel Fleichter, a family run hotel with very reasonable prices and located just at the start of the pedestrian area (they do have a garage nearby for parking)
::Piazza delle Erbe

:: the fruit and vegetable stalls at the local market

:: the main piazza (Walther von der Vogelweide Platz)

:: walking with daddy in the streets of Bolzano

 

:: yes, I found a yarn shop ! This is located in Via Argentieri, and it's called Aufburg. All the yarn is stashed downstairs, behind some huge rolling cupboards which the nice owner will gladly let you explore. Needless to say, I ended up purchasing a few skeins of the local yarn Lana Linda.

in progress ...

Woot, woot !

A little test knit I've completed today.

Will be back soon with photos from our Lake Garda trip.

herringbone pullover

I finally had some time today to take some photos of the finished pullover. The fit is perfect, and the only minor change I made was to add one more decrease (and increase) to the waist shaping. It was my first time knitting with Cascade 220, a very popular yarn among the knitting community, and so far I'm quite pleased with it. Let's see how it holds up after I've used it a few times.

Pattern: Hollywood herringbone pullover, by Kate Gagnon Osborn (from Knitscene Fall 2009)
Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers (3.5 skeins of grey and 0.5 skein of brown)
Needles: 5 mm
Size: 34

More details on the Ravelry project page