Summer holiday

We are all at home, we managed to get time off work at the same time - it is just that some virus hit us all. After the first week we start to feel ok, so we have hopes to enjoy the remaining two weeks.
My 10 weeks pregnancy is complicating things, as I must visit doctors and make a genetic test - and all this takes time -, but I feel much better than I felt with the first baby.
The worst part is that dizziness is keeping me away from knitting. This was the same the first time, but I hope that passing the limit of the first trimester things will get better. I still have at least 3 weeks of dizziness.
Anyhow, two weeks ago I started knitting a pair of socks, for a 4-year old, and this is the point I got:

the pattern is Charade, but I made some changes, by knitting it toe-up, two-at-a-time and with Fish Lips Kiss heel.

Winter socks in summer

In the last few years I was in love with the pattern. I knew I will knit it, it was only a question of finding "the" yarn. This happened in late April - the yarn is not the same as it is in the pattern, though. I like it, anyhow...

The woodruff is this plant:

Mine looks like a marine algae, due to its color, but it does not matter.

It wasn't a qiuck project. I knit the first half for two weeks, then I made something else, and last week I returned to my 3/4 pair of socks. The heel flap took me 3 days. And the rest of it another 3. It was yesterday, when a miracle happened and I could actually finish the sock, starting to work at the middle og gusset. Yesterday evening I put down the sock with only the grafting left (and of course weaving in the yarns).

This is a different kind of socks. (this is the same with General Hogbuffer almost every design. She is great).
First, the colorwork on the heel-flap.

I would never think about this solution. She did. It wasn't my favorite part, as purling colorwork rows is hard, but I found a technique, which helped me. Anyhow, I don't think I will ever knit a bigger piece in plain colorwork.
My favorite part was the gusset. 

She put the decreases on the top of the foot, which allows the sides to contain a beautiful, compact unit of colorwork.
Of course, I made mistakes. Mainly in the toe-segment.

There were occasions when I rip and reknit it, but there were a few when I did not feel the power to rip. I am glad I finished it. I just need some cold wintertime to wear it (which I do not want, so wearing will wait).

The yarn is natural color Vendita Sockenwolle and an unknown blue. I used 2.5 mm circular, knitting on magic loop, but only one at a time.
Now I need some rest before knitting something else. I might spin some - or I will just get out in the balcony for some gardening.

Changes

Summer arrived. We have a very warm weather now, and even if we try to avoid the hot sun we succeeded to get a tan already. This is what one gets with a garden, even if we can visit the house only on weekends.

The garden changed a lot during the last two weeks: it is so very summery. Half of it is mowed, but in the other half there is high grass - with flowers.

Then I found this mayfly in the garden and have no idea where it came from, because I do not know any suitable habitat for him in the area.

Still, we are quite behind - on the Transylvanian hills elderberry finished its flowering while in our garden, beneath the Carpathians it just begun.

In fact it is mostly buds, but anyhow, it is a great hiding place for some.

Another change is that after 19 years (!!!!) I had the courage to drive a car again. Quite a long way. I had to learn everything from the beginning, but it was not as hard as I thought it would be. I am somehow forced by my new position, but I think that was a good motivation.
Another and not so positive change is that I cannot knit, not even socks. I am knocked out by the everyday work and I have this exhaustion in me - there are days when at 10 in the evening I fall asleep - so I lost my evening knitting time.
But in 2 weeks and a bit we will have time off from work. I can hardly wait.
And a few words about the socks: I finished the first half some 2 or 3 weeks ago.

I even started the second half, when somebody asked me to knit a newborn cardigan. Which I did. (but I did not take photos, I gave it away still wet. Knitting with cotton will not be my favorite job. I mean I like the result, but the process is very heavy, due to the inelasticity of cotton.
Then I restarted the work on the socks - and in 3 evenings I succeeded to knit the heel flap of it. This speed is woeful.
Maybe I should spin some...

(But I want to finish my socks before.)
And most of all: I should rest and enjoy every calm moment before other changes that will come and we are waiting for with lots of hope and happiness.

3 years of happiness

 

Unbelievable, how time is passing....

May

After a cold, freezing April finally spring is coming. Almost summer.
We started to go to the country-house on week-ends. There, below that church on the photo.
It is great to be there.

We are blooming.

Bees are working on the flowers

There is a calm we cannot find in the city.
I knit some in April.
First this lace-paneled sock.
Nothing fancy, 2.5 mm needle, magic loop, Vendita Sockenwolle.

I worked these two-at-a-time, toe-up.
And I finished my Dither. I hoped to make better photos of it today, but it is raining, cannot go outside...

Dry technical data: 2.5 mm needles, magic loop, pink Vendita Sockenwolle and some black sockyarn.
Not so dry data: I fell in love with the pattern. And I had gone wild concerning the colors.
I wanted to knit TAAT, toe-up, but this was going only until I got to the first stranded row. That was the point where I separated the pieces and knitted one at a time. Of course, I used another structure than the one specified in the pattern.

Put in a Fish Lips Kiss.
This was not a quick project, since my work is sucking the most energy out of me I cannot knit so muck instead of sleeping. And Klárika is not helping with this, either.
Now I am knitting the next stranded pair of socks, my true love, but I did not have the yarn for it until now. I hope this will go faster, as the Dither made me practice the two-handed stranded knitting. I guess I will knit this completely according to the pattern.
Instead a photo of the WIP-socks here it is a springy warm picture of yesterday.

Lacy socks

I finished a new pair of socks.

It felt good knitting them.
I wrote up the recipe for those interested:
Use any toe-up pattern and include my instructions.
CO 30 sts on two needles, with Judy’s magic cast-on (I knit two at a time, with magic loop, on circulars).
Increase on both ends of both needles, until you have 62 sts, on the two needles.
When you have the final number of sts, start the lace panel on the instep: K2, knit the sts of the lace-panel, knit all sts remained. On the other sock when you knit the instep knit until the last 15 sts, work the lace-panel, knit 2.

Follow this way.
Make the heel whenever you have to, it does not affect the lace-pattern.
You can add increases on the back side if needed.
When you have the desired length of patterning, start knitting the K1/P1 ribbing. BO using an elastic BO.
And you are done.

February

February begun with illness. In fact, January ended with illness, and not an easy one. Probably it came from the kindergarten, because the first to get sick was Klárika. Then I was second and Husband the last. They are both all new now, it is I who cannot get rid of the cough. It probably was pneumonia- as the RX showed it today, but it is mostly cured now.
Another issue I have is the rush on my chin, due to medication, probably, but it itches badly. And it is not the most pleasant thing to see on one's face...
I hope, I will not have another illness like this... 
Not only because it is hard to live like that, but it is really unproductive.
I recycled some sweaters. For most part of my stay at home that was the major accomplishment, which is not too much, I must admit.
In the weekend I was able to knit a bit, so I finished the scarf I begun to knit a while ago. I must weave in the ends, and sew some buttons, but that is all.

And I have another WIP, I started to crochet Dirk. It is about halfway done, but there is a lot of work left. Small crochet pieces are not the easiest part to make - not for me.

Slowly I will finish it. I have time, as the baby who will own it will be born only in late April.
I hope from now on, as I feel better I will get beck to my normal knitting-crocheting life.
First with the tail of Dirk.

January

We have a gray January. There is over zero, no snow, instead it is cloudy.
Inside there are signs of sping.
Hyacints started to bloom

the Hippeastrum is preparing to open the flowers

(this is the red one, but the orange is also having buds).
I am knitting socks,. I still cannot pass over the shock we had at the beginning of December, and sock-knitting makes good to the soul.
I finished Husband's size 45.

I tried some texture, but it did not show up with the yarn, so I abandoned the original idea and continued plain atfer a few repeats of the stitch-pattern.
Nothing fancy, but I like the colors.

They are a bit big to me...

Sewing sadness

I am preparing for sewing for the last few weeks. To learn to sew. Whatever.
Today I begun, by drawing a pattern on paper. But I did not get to the point of cutting the fabric.
I just sit and watch the paper pieces and I have no idea what to do with them.
I got to the conclusion, that pants are not the ideal project to start with.
I am a bit sad, but I do not want to give up. I WILL NOT GIvE UP. No.
I might be able to sew a skirt like this.
Now back to knitting, and then we will see...

Minimal

I have no idea what happened to me, I used to knit complicated stuff and now I feel I am stuck with stockinette and garter stitch.

But at least the colors are beautiful...

How things are initiating other things

A few days ago, at the beginning of the week I had to make a pillow for Klárika. So, the sewing machine took back its place on the table. Seeing it all the time makes me wanting badly to sew. I took my Burda-s too, and I tried to find some pants for home I should make to myself - but there wasn't any with just elastic casing. I know there is a pattern on the web, which would be great for me, but I should find it again.
I bought some red polar for some winterpants for Klárika, but after a few days of -21 centigrades now the snow is melting, so the winter is gone - at least for the moment. 
Speaking of freezing cold: I have quite a few shawls and stoles, but I need a big soft scarf. Just some garter or stockinette stitch in some soft yarn, but a huge piece. Probably only for the next winter, if there will be any...
Speaking of huge pieces: I need a bag. I have quite a few, but none of them fits a larger knitting project than a pair of socks to take with me through an ordinary day (well, besides my lunch-box and coffee-bottle). Now I do not know if I should crochet or sew it, anyhow, the lining is something I must sew. I cannot decide upon the color of the bag, so it is just a plan.
By the middle of April I have to make a Dirk for a baby-boy. A dear colleague of mine is expecting her first child, and when I showed her the lalylala-dolls she liked the dragon the most. I already have the yarn for it.
And what do I do? I am knitting... socks.

Plain socks, size 45. Toe-up, two-at-a time in a color I fell in love with.

Stripes

After the sock-invasion last year, this year started with... socks. We need them, the temperature outside is -20 C, so all the family wears knitted socks right now. Both indoors on the carpet and outdoors in our boots.
I especially need them, as I walk to the office - only 3 km-s but it takes 35 minutes -, and then back home, and believe me: to make it a nice walk I need knitted socks, knitted gloves and lined hat.
This time I made striped socks. And not one, but two pairs.

I have this love-and-hate relationship with selfstriping sockyarn. I love striped socks IF they look the same and maintain the rhythm of the stripes. Which is sometimes quite difficult to obtain.
First: how do socks look the same? If one finds the EXACT similar spot on the yarn-segments. I am perfecting myself in this, anyhow, there are occasions when I must restart a sock many times. Like 5-6 times. Which is really annoying.
This time it was quite easy, as the striping was regular and easy to understand and follow.
Then, there is another issue, of having the yarn tails the same length on both socks. I use to compare them, after having the initial knot done (I use to position it a few times).
I made Judy's magic cast-on, and the socks for myself started their evolution on my needles.

The other issue is harder to cope with: maintaining the rhythm of the stripes. It is easy on the socks' tube-like parts, but it is impossible to make the heels with the same yarn and have the stripes as they went before.

But this time I was really lucky: I had to start the heels at a pink part, so I introduced a new yarn, just for the heels. I had this pink, which is not exactly the same color, but it is much closer to the sockyarn's pink that I could find for any other color on the yarn. (I had the idea for the blue also, but it was much darker than this one, so I am glad that heels were made in pink.)
My socks were finished in 5 days, and then I started the small ones. But: if I wanted to have them quite similar I had to calculate what part of the yarn to use for CO to have pink heels. This took me some time.
But eventually they are done.

So we have another pair of mother-daughter socks.
PS1: two-at-a-time, toe-up on 2.5 mm needles.
PS2: I have a yarn that I could not identify a pattern in its striping, so knitting socks of it that I like will be especially hard...

First of 2015

Tomorrow will be the last day of the winter holiday. I so much enjoyed it and I wish it would last for another couple of weeks. At least.
Finally it is winter around here. Today we went for a walk in the forest and we took the sledge for the baby:

I loved it.
This holiday was a very prolific period for knitting, as well.
After I finished the items I blogged about the last time I begun another hat. I thought that would be the inbetweenyears project. It did not, as I finished it a few minutes before midnight. So, that was the last project of the last year.

It was the same Lina hat, from last time. And I love the result. That is my new favorite hat.
On the first day of 2015 I cast-on for a pair of socks. Today I passed the heels, I hope I will finish it really soon (but probably not today).

This might be too colorful, but I like it...
I hope this whole year will be this great, for all of us!

I said that I do not have plans for this year, I have dreams. I would like to write about them.
Sewing.
A few years ago I bought a sewing machine. Just a simple one, because at that time I couldn't even sew a straight line. For a while I had it on the table, but then I put it away.
Last year I took it from its place, and I sewed a pair of shorts and a peasant blouse for myself. And the curtains for the country-house. But I started to read sewing blogs.
I have two favorites:
Cashmerette. I love her style, both in writing and in sewing.
But most of all I love the way she inspires me. I see, that a coat can be made at home.
This is my final goal: a coat I made to myself. Maybe this year in autumn? I do not know. Maybe. One of my dreams.
Michelle. She is a knitter and a sewist. And she is good at both. I love how honest she is about all she experienced when making a garment.
So, if I will someday be able to sew wearable garments, it will be due to them.

Now back to work on my socks. As the weather is going to be this wintery for a while (they say), I would like to wear them soon in my boots.