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!

My auto-present, another ILI pattern

Yes, I'm lazy and didn't want to label the pic in English. It says "my auto-present".

It always happens the same. I tell myself "OK, sweetheart (yes, I call myself sweetheart because one needs to love and encourage oneself) you need to knit or crochet something for you.

So I choose my yarn, a pattern and decide to make, i.e., a cowl. I wear it for several days until someone compliments my creation. Then I feel the urgent need to give it away and find myself going back to square one.

I know that you- knitter/crocheter Earth being- have been in the same situation. I think that is must have to do with a sort of an addictive positive energy that giving away something that you made, provides and I'm pretty sure that this is good for the karma.

This is just what happened to me last Christmas. When I came back to Malaga it was still warm so I forgot about my newly crocheted cowl that I had been wearing in Madrid and that I gave to one of my sisters. But a few days ago the weather suddenly changed: freezing cold winds and high humidity made me want to wear my...cowl...oh,oh!...I don't have it anymore, bagger! I needed something then and quickly!

I found this yarn at the...super store!! It is unusual for a Spanish super store to sell yarns (actually, this is the first time that I see such a thing in my whole life) so I was delightfully surprised- a mini-stand full of Red Heart balls. Are they making a research to introduce yarns as a new product? Cannot imagine the offers: buy two balls of yarn and get a bag of oranges for free, yippee!

Anyway, I was curious about this brand. I've seen it a zillion times but, as far as I know, they don't sell them here in Spain so this was an opportunity to try them out. The yarn that I chose was a little bit expensive for an acrylic but I decided to buy 2 balls in the colour that you see and another two in aubergine.

As for the pattern I went for a simple lace one from Purl Avenue, fairly quick to work with and very pretty for my likes.

And here it is! A light but warm cowl that I plan to wear a lot. Or at least that's what I think. Bets are allowed...

Please, do bet and tell me about your experience. Do you make any garment for you? Do you keep it for yourself?

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)

A small change

Ok, so once again I have to apologise because I'm late (yet again) and because I haven't told you in time that I'm going to make a small change in my site.

The reasons:

I'm fed up!

To the left, specially under my logo, ugly ribbing. To the right, improved ribbing.

That's what my niece Martina shouted at her mum last afternoon.

My sister looked at her in astonishment waiting for an explanation and the little one said:

- " Mummy, let's play "I'm fed up" teachers!

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!

Mohair or not mohair

Angora goooaaat

That is the big question!

It's so soft, warm, light and, and, and...you'd love to wear it at all time but to be honest, it's a pain in the ... to work with it.

Superwoman does not exist, does she?

Have a look at the scarf pattern below.

Not so long ago: mother of 4 girls, self-employed, late-night student.

Present day: mother of 4 “girls”, grandmother of 6, self-employed, keeps studying (obviously different subjects than in the past).

In addition she’s very fond of her chicks and grandchicks, caring and loving, supportive, strong, determined and an extremely modest person. She’s the life of the party, the first one to arrive and the last one to leave, the family psychologist and an unconditional shoulder to cry on.

Years ago I was having a conversation about the difficulties of being a working mother with someone that told me that Superwoman does not exist but my reply was:

- “Of course she exists and I know her!”.

Purple Reign- Autumn/Winter 13/14

Sooo sweet! (the cowl, not the model)

Visualize the situation: We're just about to go out and suddenly everybody but me has to do something important- we're in a hurry, clock is ticking and I know we're going to be late- I tell them to get everything they need, push them out of the house, get into the car and off we go...
Then I find out that I forgot my hat at home but it's too late to come back.

Dammit! Now what? It' freezing cold out there and my ears are going to drop off my head in two minutes.

Baby Hat & Sleeping sack pattern

This pattern was love at first sight and as we have expanded our already huge family (not my fault, a new nephew) I decided that it would make the perfect present to welcome Mateo.

I found a beautiful self striping antibacterial and blahblahblah yarn in neutral tones -you know, they tell you that it’s a boy and you end up with a tiny creature with ponytails- and began to work on it.

The pattern has been designed by Comfort Wool: sleeping sack pattern, here and hat, here.

They are simple and cute patterns and it’s been a pleasure knitting them.

What do you think?

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.

Battle with the Stripes

Where is Wally? Clue: It's above the logo...

Today I’m going to share with you some Aha! moments that other people have had to avoid seams or jogs when knitting and crocheting stripes in the round.

I love stripes but I always ended up with my work looking horrible when joining or working in the round. Fortunately there are people out there who think and share their knowledge!