Moody Rec-tangles Cowl

Last week I wanted to knit a cowl based on a simple geometric form but randomly and as I felt in that moment that it should be. That's why I called this the moody rec-tangles cowl.

Instead of alternating rectangles in direction and size I felt like knitting rectangles inside rectangles, maybe like small life projects within the big ones?

Part of the stitches were knitted as columns with no changes at all, meaning projects that would take a lifetime or two to achieve or projects that will never be undertaken.

The small rectangles were different in length and width and I decided- as I knitted every row- whether if to let them grow or finish them. Some of them could be accomplished projects and others- maybe the smallest ones- the ones left behind.

I also wanted my small rectangles to be unaligned to represent the passage of time in which you have several projects running- tangled- at the same time and some of them are finished while others kept going. C'est la vie!

Front.

Back.

¡Oh! One more thing. There are 2 or 3 mistakes in the cowl. When I noticed the first one it was a couple of rows behind. Firstly I was tempted to fix it- that's what I always do when I crochet or knit other projects-  but then decided not to do so. We make mistakes in real life, don't we? Sometimes we can rectify and sometimes we cannot. Sometimes we want to do so and sometimes we don't.

In my opinion, we have to remember our mistakes in order to learn and progress, that's why I left the wrong stitches in my cowl.

Anyway, it has been a good thinking exercise (maybe too deep for me, haha!). Slow but worth it.

As always I appreciate very much your comments and if you have worked on a- let's say- art therapy project I'd love to read about your experience.

That's all for today which is no small thing.

Catch you next Sunday!

ILI Slouch Hat

Ha, ha! I can see youuu.

New year and I've already skipped a post. Bad, bad girl!

It's been a long time since the last ILI (I Love It) pattern. Oh! I love this acronym so from now on I will call the patterns that I like ILIs.

This one is from Lionbrand and is called Seed Banded Slouch Hat (you need to be registered to access the patterns but registration is free).

It's been quite a while since my last knitted garment and after months of intense crocheting I needed to take my needles and knit something. And that something is this hat. It's got a nice transition of different textures plus it is slouchy and I have a fondness for slouchy hats.

The only thing that I don't like is that the pattern calls for 5 balls of cashmere and it makes the hat a little bit expensive. I've knitted it using a 100% Virgin wool yarn in chocolate colour which makes it more affordable.

Detail of the ILI slouch hat.

I've knitted this hat and crocheted a cowl with a wool and alpaca blend for my sister Kiki, as a birthday present. From the very first moment that I saw this ILI hat I knew it was for her.

I've already sent it to her. I'm late- since her birthday was on the third week of December- but it happened that I had the wrong idea of buying something instead of the last years handmade sets that I've been sending to her and when I told her she asked "why, no set this year?".

Yippee! She wanted another one! It's really nice to give a handmade gift but it's better to know that what you've made is really appreciated. What a boost of happiness!

The last weeks of school before Christmas are always hectic so I didn't had time but to crochet the cowl. I took my needles and the yarn with me to Madrid just in case, but we spent all the time with family and friends (you see? I've been a good girl). 

Too much sunlight. I think I'm going to use the pompoms as sunglasses.

So I knitted the hat back in Malaga and sent her gift a couple of days ago. I'm really happy to show you her present and will be happier when she receives it and I know she will be happy wearing it as it's getting fairly chilly up there.

ILI hat for my beloved sister.

That's all for today which is no small thing.

Catch you next Sunday! (Promiss)

Wish it was Spring Lilac capelet- Winter 14/15

Composition:
Capelet	100% Angora

Measurements (inch):
Capelet	L: 19.3     W: 21.3 / 10.4

Note: length with neck folded as in the picture. First W measurement is for the widest part and the second one for the neck part, both measured when garment is flat.

Wish it was Spring- Light blue capelet- Winter 14/15

Composition:
Capelet	100% Angora

Measurements (inch):
Capelet	L: 17.3     W: 18.9 / 8.1

Note: length with neck folded as in the picture. First W measurement is for the widest part and the second one for the neck part, both measured when garment is flat.

Wish it was Spring White Capelette- Winter 14/15

Composition:
Capelet	100% Angora wool

Measurements (inch):
Capelet	L: 15.7         W: 25, 8.5

Note: length with neck folded as in the picture. First W measurement is for the widest part and the second one for the neck part, both measured when garment is flat.

The CoowlHat or Hatwl- Sold out!

Composition:
CoowlHat	50% wool, 10% alpaca, 40% acrylic

Measurements (inches):
CoowlHat	L: 12         W: 11

My idea of crocheting a cowl that is also a hat is not new but I bet that the name is original. Isn't it?

Now, explanation:

The "it'scostmemylife" shawl

Ok, ok (no need to be rude, you know) this is not the real name of this awesome shawl, in fact this is the Wild Rose Shawl designed by Kathryn A. White.

All right, all right, it hasn't cost me my life but, you know, I needed a dramatic title for my triumphal return and here it is!

Frappé- Spring/Summer 2014

As Spring is already here and Summer is just around the corner it's time to talk about coffee (yes, yes, wait and see).

As I'm a very positive Earth being, I like to think that the temperature is rising and that it's just the right time to start making frappé coffee and crocheting Summer accessories.

Cleaning the Autumn

One chilly morning my sister was driving my 3 years old niece to the school. When they stopped at a red light there was a park to their left in which the gardeners were sweeping the fallen dry leaves.

Suddenly my niece said:

- “Look, mummy, look, they’re cleaning the Autumn!"

She’s brilliant, isn’t she? And what a poetic thought!

Blue Ice- Autumn/Winter 13/14

Nice colours, huh?

The variegated yarn that I’ve used in this set reminds me of the big blue icebergs. They show incredible colours and, as it happens with fire, you can spend hours and hours looking at it absolutely transfixed.

And you’d like to know why the icebergs are blue (if not I’m going to tell you anyway): basically what happens is that snow is white due to the air bubbles contained in it and it reflects light. Old icebergs are made of compacted ice, which doesn't contain air bubbles and absorbs all the light but blue. Other colours may be due to sediment layers, layers containing microorganisms or sea water that has frozen in cracks of the iceberg.

That’s all. Not such a big deal, right?

OK so today’s set consists of a highly textured crocheted hat and a mesh infinite scarf that you can wear in different ways. I don't use acrylic yarns but this one is so soft...Besides people allergic to wool deserve it!

Mad About Stripes ll- Autumn/Winter 13/14

I’m obsessed with the stripes, I know. But, you know, my yarns tell me what they want to be and these were calling for stripes too.

This is a greyish blue- ecru two-tone set knitted in a luxury blend of merino wool and silk. I’ve attached a tassel to the hat instead of the typical pompom for a change. The scarf is an infinite one (yet again).

Mad About The Stripes l- Autumn/Winter 13/14

Hah, I've told you! I love stripes and their infinite possibilities.

The green is greener. This set has been knitted with angora yarn (very, very warm) and the infinite scarf is reversible: light green as the main colour on one side, dark green on the other.