d o t t i e s

My second knitted pair of socks ever. The first were these, back in 2008, and although I started several pairs during the last years I was never really able to finish them.

But I love anything with dots, so I guess that's what kept me motivated this time :) The pattern is very easy, although I made some changes:

- Fish Lips Kiss Heel - I really loved this heel construction and plan on using it whenever I can. Very easy to knit and no visible gaps or holes afterwards.

- Reduced number of stitches to 60 

Pattern: Dotties

Yarn: Schachenmayr Nomotta Merino Extra Fine 120 (light grey) + Zitron Trekking XXL (slightly variegated dark blue)

Needles: 2.5 mm

Ravelry project page here

boardwalk

This is a beautiful pattern by Heidi Kirrmaier. I particularly found the construction of the cap sleeves very interesting, and this yarn (a gift from a Danish friend) was the perfect match for it.

Pattern: Boardwalk, by Heidi Kirrmaier

Yarn:  Isager Strik Højlandsgarn (Highland Yarn) , 2.5 skeins

Neeldes: 3 mm

Size: 32''

Ravelry project page

works * in * progress

L A R C H

My Larch cardigan is finished ! I had a few minor problems with this pattern, but the end result is actually quite nice and wearable. It was my first time knitting with Malabrigo Arroyo, and so far I'm very happy with this yarn - makes really soft garments and the colours are stunning. It did grow a couple of inches lengthwise after blocking, but I suspected it would so I knit the body and sleeves a bit shorter than usual.

Pattern: Larch Cardigan, by Amy Christoffers
Yarn: Malabrigo Arroyo, in Reflecting Pool (about 3.8 skeins)
Ravelry project page here

Changes: knit seamless set-in sleeves from the top down as detailed here

mystery shawls

For the past 6 weeks all I've been knitting were these two shawls, so it feels really great to have them done. Having decided to take part in Ysolda's Follow your arrow mystery KAL for the  second time, I also made up my mind to knit two of them, preferably using opposite clues.

Both of them were knit using smaller gauges than what the pattern asked for so in the end they turned out smaller than most, but just the perfect size for me to wear.

Pattern: Follow your arrow 2, by Ysolda Teague

Yarns: Holst Garn Noble in Flint (grey shawl) and Fyberspates Lace in Tracle Toffee (caramel shawl)

The grey shawl is a BBABB and the caramel is an AABAB. 

Ravelry project pages here and here.

(the more accurate colour for this one is shown in the last photo)

ásta sóllilja

This was my last knit of 2014, and definitely the warmest. The pattern is from Kate Davies' most recent book, Yokes. I had saved it to read during the holidays so I'd be able to enjoy it more. Kate's essays are wonderful and worth reading slowly. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on the lopapeysa, the Icelandic traditional sweater, and the interview with Hélène Mágnusson. 

I was surprised to read that the lopapeysa was not that popular to wear among the Icelanders until the last twenty years or so, because when we were in Iceland they were everywhere to be seen, not only in the shops but also worn by a lot of people. I can totally understand why, the yarn (Lopi) is extremely warm and perfect for the Icelandic weather. Not so perfect for the Portuguese weather, but I've been wearing mine a lot since Christmas when this cold spell started. Lopi is also kind of itchy, but I found that a good soak with hair conditioner softens the garment considerably.

 (Reykjavik, Aug 2014)

(Alafoss store, Aug 2014)

Pattern: Ásta Sóllilja, by Kate Davies

Yarn: Istéx Lett Lopi (details on colors and yardage on the Ravelry project page). The yarn I used was bought in the Alafoss store near Reykjavik, but they also sell online with very good prices.

Needles: 4 and 4.5 mm

Size: smallest (29'')

Notes:

1) Same colours as the original pattern except for the main grey, which is a bit darker (0056)

2) Started off with size 2 but since I rarely swatch I realized after finishing the ribbing that it was going to be too large for me, so decreased and increased until I got the right number of stitches for size 1.

3) Since I don’t like very high necklines I left off the last 4 rows of the yoke chart 

simply pretty shawls

These are the two shawls I knit in December for Christmas gifts. It was a last minute decision, so I searched exhaustively for a an appealing pattern that would be quick to knit. This one caught my eye because it's so pretty but the pattern is deceptively simple and easy to memorize.

It took me less than a week to knit each of them (4 or 5 evenings actually, about 8 to 10 hours in total) and I couldn't be happier with the final result.

The grey was knit in Holst Garn Coast and the red in Holst Garn Noble, both with the yarn held double. The Noble is much softer than the Coast though. It's also the same yarn I used here - I've been using that shawl a lot this winter and the yarn has held up remarkably well.

Pattern: Simply pretty shawls, by Rose Beck in variation 2

Yarn: Holst Garn Coast in Silver Grey and Holst Garn Noble in Cinnabar (2 skeins each)

a sunny cardigan

The yarn Sara chose for her cardigan when we went yarn shopping in Ulm was this soft yellow superwash merino from Wolle Rodel. When we got home I gave her several patterns to choose from, but in the end she said she wanted the same cardigan I knit her last year, so although I don't like repeating patterns I obliged by casting on another Springtime in Hollis. The yarn was just enough to finish the collar, so I didn't have any to make the i-cord. I decided instead to make a fabric ribbon and used the same fabric to cover the buttons.

Pattern: Springtime in Hollis, by Teresa Cole
Yarn: Wolle Rodel Soft Merino, Color 364, 5 skeins
Size: 4T
Raverly project page

dragonflies

Another pattern I've had my eye on for a long time. I also had the yarn (Madelinetosh DK in Tart) chosen for this since the beginning and knew I had to knit it someday. It's one of my favorite yarns for sweaters and cardigans, since it has amazing colorways and pills very little but it's also quite expensive and not so easy to find in Europe

When Joji announced the Fall KAL I couldn't resist the opportunity and cast-on as soon as we came back from vacation.

Changes: just the ribbing - I knit a twisted 1x1 rib instead of garter

Otherwise followed the pattern as written and didn't have any problems with the directions.

Sizing: I knit the smallest size (30/32) because my experience with this yarn tells me that it grows a bit with blocking and the lace pattern on this sweater is both in the front and back and so quite stretchy. I could've probably added some waist shaping if I wanted, but decided not to in the end.

Pattern: Dragonflies Jumper, by Joji Locatelli

Yarn: Madelinetosh DK in Tart (used a bit less than 4 skeins)

Ravelry project page here

 

just one of those things ...

That's actually the pattern name for one of the shawls I knit a couple of months ago.

Shawls are wonderful for travel knitting, just one skein to carry around and usually keeps me busy for a few weeks, so I guess that's why I like knitting them during the summer.

Pattern: Simmer Dim, by Gudrun Johnston

Yarn: Malabrigo Sock, in Cordovan (one skein)

Ravelry project page here

Pattern: Just one of those things, by yellowcosmo
Yarn: Malabrigo sock in Ravelry red (one skein)
Ravelry project page here

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.

(another) mystery shawl

Mais um knit-along mistério, que parece ser a melhor forma de eu conseguir acabar um xaile em pouco tempo ... Não estava muito convencida de que iria gostar do resultado final até o ter bloqueado, mas ficou leve e  perfeito para usar nos dias mais frescos deste verão.

Another mystery knit-along, which seems to be the best way for me to finish a shawl in a relatively short time ... I wasn't convinced I would like the final result until I blocked it, but it ended up airy and perfect for using on those chilliest summer days.

Pattern / Padrão: TTL Mystery Shawl 2014, by Kirsten Kapur
Yarn / Fio: Holst Garn Noble (color Whisper), 1.3 skeins
Needles / Agulhas: 3 mm
Ravelry project page