july projects :: projectos de julho

    Um gorro em brioche stitch :: a hat in brioche stitch

    Uma nova camisola para a S.
    A new smocked sweater for S.

chapéu de primavera :: spring bucket hat

Um novo chapéu para a S., porque os do ano passado já não lhe serviam. Usei o padrão grátis da Oliver + S, que recomendo - fácil, simples de seguir e rápido.

A new spring hat for S., because last year's no longer fit. I used the reversible bucket hat free pattern from Oliver + S, which I quite recommend - easy, very clear and simple instructions and  quick to make.

mais chapéus :: more toddler hats

Mais prendas para oferecer (e dois chapéus novos para a S.). Decidi que este Natal os mais pequeninos iriam receber todos chapéus com orelhas :-)

More handmade gifts (and two new hats for S.). I've decided that this Christmas all the little ones will be getting new ear flapped hats :-)

um chapéu novo para a S. :: a new toddler hat for S.

Assim que vi este tutorial decidi que tinha de fazer um para a S. Aumentei a largura do modelo original ligeiramente (1.5 cm de cada lado, portanto 6 cm no total) mas deixei praticamente a mesma altura. E não podia ter sido um projecto mais rápido - tempo de execução ? 30 min.

As soon as I saw this tutorial online I decided I had to make one for S. I increased the width of the original pattern slightly (1.5 cm on each side, so about 6 cm in total), but I didn't change the height much. And it couldn't have been a quicker project - execution time ? 30 min.

Parece-me que ela gostou, não acham ?
It seems that she liked it, don't you think ?

O único problema é que agora pediu-me outro com orelhas de coelho ... parece-me que já sei o que fazer este fim de semana :)

The only problem is that she now asked me to make another one with rabbit ears ... I think I know what I'll be doing this next weekend :)

Twoot, twoot !

Something I made for a swap a couple of months ago. S. was impressed, but asked hers to be in pink (of course, haven't you heard of pink owls before ?)

Pattern is very easy to follow, and I added the earflaps for extra warmth.

Pattern: Chouette, by Ekaterina Blanchard

Yarn: Ice Yarns Filzy Wool (brought back from Istanbul) - just 1 skein

Needles: 7 mm

Ravelry project page

Peerie Flooers

I've been meaning to knit this hat since the pattern was first published. I'm a fan of all Kate Davies' designs and the colors on this hat were particularly appealing to me.

I recently ordered a selection of Jamieson + Smith yarns for several projects of her Colors of Shetland book, and then my friend S. generously sent me the green and yellow leftovers of her own project, so I had no excuse not to finally start it.

It was a really quick knit, so I'm sure I'll make this one again. The J+S yarn bloomed considerably after washing, and I can already tell it's going to turn into one of my favorite yarns.

Pattern: Peerie Flooers, by Kate Davies
Yarn. Jamieson + Smith 2-ply (see colors on my Ravelry project page)
Needles: 3mm

Changes: I knit the medium size, according to my head measurement. But since I didn't want the slouch effect, I knit 3 rows of the flower pattern (so 1.5 times chart B) before starting with the crown shaping. It still turned out a tiny bit too long, but nothing I can't live with.

And here's a cool tip I wanted to share. I know the best way to avoid weaving all those ends is to weave them in as you go but honestly I only remembered that almost at the end. I did a quick search and found this tip on how to weave ends by braiding them. This is how it turned out:

The Jane hat

 

A girl can never have too many hats, right ? I rarely use mine in Lisbon, but they get a lot of wear when we go traveling. So I thought the trip to Istanbul was a good excuse to make myself a new one. I wanted to use the lovely brown yarn I'd bought in Munster, and after browsing dozens of patterns on Rav I decided on the Jane hat. It has a double brim, which means it keeps my ears warm even though it's a lace pattern.

You can't see it very well in the photos, but the yarn has silver/gray speckles all over,  which knitted up looks even better. And it's incredibly soft and cozy. I was worried it would pill like crazy, but I've worn it during the whole trip, plus a few more times after I came back (we've had a couple of cold spells) and it hasn't pilled at all, so I'm very happy about that.

:: with my friend M. in Kadikoy, on the Asian side of Istanbul

Pattern: Jane, by Jane Richmond
Yarn: Lana Grossa Garzato Più (used one skein)
Needles: 4 mm for the ribbing and 5 mm for the rest
Project page

A bucket rain hat

A surprisingly easy to make bucket rain hat for S., based on this Oliver + S pattern. I made size small for her, and it fits just right. You'll have to take my word for it, since she's not the most cooperative model these days ...

I did manage to take a few shots of her wearing the frog pajamas though. Here it is in full action ... she was trying to climb on top of the cat, and he was being incredibly tame about it.

 

 

hats hats hats

The plan was to photograph the hat ... but as usual, she wouldn't stay still.

So I resorted to the empty cardboard box trick. As any parent knows, this can provide endless hours of entertainment (disclaimer: this is an amazon box, but any box will do, at least in our house)

Or wait till it's mealtime and she's safely seated in the highchair, that also works sometimes.

Pattern: HATS HATS HATS, by Freckle
(This was a test knit for the designer so the pattern is not available yet, but will be soon on Ravelry. In the meantime, if you're interested, she has some for sale in her Etsy shop)
Size: 1 year (what can I say ? S. has a small head)
Yarn: Katia Caricia 1.5 skeins (yarn held double), Needles: 3.5 mm

* handmade *

The handmade gifts of x-mas 08 were made quite ahead of time this year, which is probably why I totally forgot to show them here even after they had all been given and opened. So here they are ... most of them were really fun and quick to make, so no doubt I'll be revisitng some of these patterns again.

Anime hat
Pattern: Top down bonnet with anime, by Adrian Bizilia
Yarn: Rosários 4 Caricia (1 skein double stranded)
Needles: 4 mm

Changed the pattern a bit, since I was afraid it would turn out too big.




Leafy baby hat

Pattern: Greenleaf Baby Hat, by Evelyn Uyemura
Yarn: Rosários 4 Bambino (maybe half a skein)
Needles: 4 mm




Penguin hat

Pattern: Penguin Pal Hat
Yarn: Brancal
Needles: 6 mm

Had to resize pattern for this one, but I think it turned out OK. Very cute result !




Green hat

Pattern: Robin's egg hat, by Rachel Iufer
Yarn: Schachenmayr Nomotta Extra Merino Big (1 skein)
Needles: 5 mm




Thorpe hats

Pattern: Thorpe, by Kirsten Kapur
Yarn: Brancal Manchester
Needles: 6 mm



Leafy mitts

Pattern: Leafy mitts, by Ruth Stewart
Yarn: Gedifra Fashion Trend (1 skein)
Needles: 5 mm

These are now a favorite. I made these as a gift, so I'll have to make a pair for myself very soon.




Orange Cowl

Pattern: Crofter's Cowl, by Gudrun Johnston (free pattern available through Ravelry)
Yarn: Not sure, something from stash
Needles: 4 mm




There was also some sewing involved, just a few knitting needle cases and purse organizers.







And that's it !
Now back to my regular knitting, which has been put aside during the last weeks. The cabled hoodie is almost finished, and I've started two other projects as well (I usually have multiple projects to keep me distracted).

In the meantime, here are some photos of my recent yarn shopping from the last trip






Most came from the Wolle Rodel shop near the Viktualienmarkt in Munich, but I also picked up a couple of skeins from the Tolle Wolle shop in Nuremberg. The inside of this shop is packed full of yarn and handmade items, as you can see in the photo below, and also has one of the friendliest dogs we met.