Shopping galore!

Yesterday I went with my dad on a little outing to Butinette and look what I got!!! (And my Dad paid for all of it - yeaaahh)

First of all the yarn:





Then I got some fabric as well (at the moment I am working on a dress with the rightside fabric):





And some other stuff:



And yesterday I already did this (you can put little candles in it and they are made out of transparent paper):



And also this (I used the napkin technique which is so simple that I will do a lot of this now):



BTW: Cute guy says he wants to get to know me slowly and that we should take time and maybe he was too rash in the beginning???? Isn't that kinda breaking up before it has already begun? Have to read "Men are from Mars, women from Venus" again.....

I'm back!

I'm back from one great week on Rhodos! I was really nice there - the island is beautiful in a kind of rugged and barren way. But, and there is only one but, it was just too hot to do anything else than sit in the shade on the beach and hope for a little breeze. We had around 45°C every day! Thank God we had AC in our hotel, otherwise I think I would have died. I finished three pairs of socks - pictures will follow in due course. I think I was the sensation of the beach - everybody came over and wanted to know what I was doing. Anyhow, I wasn't the only one knitting, there was another lady clicking away while sunbathing.

After having done the unpacking, the laundry etc, I did this yesterday:



I bought some Amy Butler fabric a while back on ebay and these projects were just perfect for it:



Both patterns are from the net. The box bag tutorial by Kelly is great and easy to follow! The purse I will use for my knitting stuff.



I presented the scarf from the last post to the gute guy and he was really happy about it. He said that if I hadn't offered it to him he would have asked me to do one for him :-) He is soooo sweet, he called me at 4 am just before I boarded the plane to Greece. Isn't that nice? Anyway, keep your fingers crossed...

We are going on a summer holiday!

Yes! Finally I am off!! Our flight starts at 6 am on Sat so I will not be blogging anymore tomorrow as I will be off to my parents. And my new sofa is coming tomorrow as well! So exciting!

Yesterday I finished another scarf (besides getting sunburned - have you ever heard of someone going on holiday and actually having a sunburn already? I haven't)

The pattern is from Debbie Stoller's book "The Happy Hooker" so it is crochet! I used Schöller+Stahl "Merino Stretch" for it. In the middle of things this is quite boring (as probably all scarves are) because you work lenghtwise and therefore the rows are quite long.

The scarf is reserved for a special someone - I wonder if he will like it...

I sent my MS 3 to the frogpond and started again on larger needles which definitely looks better. Maybe I will take this withg me to Rhodos...

Have fun everyone and see you all in a week!

Hello, my name is....

Meet Hermann! Isn't he cute? Thanks to Grace's instructions I have now my own Spherey! And I love him!And I have already an "order" from friend for her own one! Can't tell you what yarn I used because it was some leftovers from my stash. This is a fun knit and you can have your own Spherey within a day! Highly recommendabel! Thanks Grace!

MS3 Questionnaire

The basics:
1. Do you consider yourself a beginning sock knitter, an intermediate, or have you been doing this so long you could probably knit a pair in your sleep?
I'd say intermediate

The measurements:
2. Shoe Size: European Size 38
3. Foot circumference: 9"
4. Foot length: 9.5"

Yarn Preferences:
5. What colors do you love?
Pinks and purples
6. Do you prefer solids or variegated?
I like both
7. Do you prefer wool, cotton or acrylic yarn?
I'd prefer cotton
8. What colors would you never wear?
Orange or red
What are your favorite brands of yarn?
Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece!
9. Are there any new brands you would like to try?
I would like to try Noro some time

Cookie A. Patterns:
10.Which of her patterns have you already knit?
Only the Monkey Socks
11. Which pattern(s) would you like to knit and don’t already own?
I would like to try the Pomatomus

Other pertinent information:
12. Would you be willing to have an international Monkey Pal or do you prefer one in the US?
I don't really care
13. Do you have any allergies?
Nope
14. Will your knitting be exposed to smoke or animals?
Nope
15. Are you on Ravelry yet? If you don’t mind having new friends, what is your Ravelry name?
Not yet....

Sockapalooza Socks are here!

My sockapalooza socks arrives on Friday and I am really, really happy about them. It's my favourite colour and the pattern is just beautiful! They came from Angela in Germany!





As I am going to Rhodos next week, where we hopefully have better weather than here I made these shorts yesterday (they are from the Burda moden magazine). I wasn't really sure about the bold colour but they turned out great!



There are some news on the love front - but superstitious as I am, I don't want to talk about it too soon. I have met him a week ago and things look veeeery good! keep your fingers crossed :-)

Finish, Finished, Done

Today two mor FOs! First, there is Wisp:


I used Junghans Yarn for this, Fee ,in the colour lavender. For me this looks more like blue....
It is a very straightforward pattern and not too complicated for someone new to lace. It is a well-sized, versatile stole. If I find some nice buttons, I will add them as suggested in the pattern.

Next up, the Sockapalooza 4 socks which are already on their way to my sockpal. Sorry for the bad quality of the picture but I took only one pic when I had finished the first sock! I bought some very variegated yarn on ebay (black, yellow, green and pink strands wound together) and used a pattern from the magazine "Anna extra - Die schönsten Strickmuster": Nr. 63 on p. 29.
I hope my pal will like them!



I feel like doing some more socks at the moment- but I will do that during my vacation. At the moment I try to finish the various projects lying around my flat!

SP11 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece. I haven't come across a fiber I don't like
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have an old plastic case inherited from my Grannie
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have been knitting ever since I can remember- therefore I'd say I am advanced
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Nope
5. What's your favorite scent?
Vanilla
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Definitely!! Chocolate and Gummibärchen
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I am sewing, crocheting and cross-stitching. I so want to try spinning! I have a drop-spindle but it seems I am too stupid to work it
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I love electronic music (Air, Cafe del Mar etc) - I have an iPod
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Anything in pink or purple I like best. I can't stand orange or red
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Working on it....
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I wear everything apart from ponchos
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Anything challenging
13. What are you knitting right now?
Wisp, MS 3, Emerald Sea Tank, Dress from "Fitted Knits"
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
YES!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Depends all on the project
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Nope - that's on my mental wishlist
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
A couple of weeks I guess
18. What is your favorite holiday?
very relaxing yet stimulating as well - a good mix of both
19. Is there anything that you collect?
Ahem..yarn maybe?
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I want to get some of Amy Butler's books and patterns
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Entrelac is definitely something I have to get my hands on
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes! I wear European size 38
23. When is your birthday?
December
24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
Not yet

Knit 1 Tea 2 Color Swap Questionnaire

1. Do you like loose tea or bags, or both – something you want to try?
Usually I prefer bags - much less mess, but if I like a certain tea I would buy loose one as well.
2. What is your favorite kind of tea (Brand, flavor, variety, etc)?
Anything herbal
3. Favorite color in regards to tea or one you would like to try? (black, green, red, and white)
(keeping in mind that this is how this swap is set up).
I would like to try white as I have no idea what kind of tea this is supposed to be
4. Would you say you were a tea pot kind of person or just a hot water heater kind?
Definitely hot water heater
5. What tea accessories would you like but have never purchases for yourself?
This cute little saucers where you can deposit your tea bag
6. How do you prefer to be pampered? (examples: mani/pedi, bubble bath, yummy treat, etc).
Bubble bath, a good book and choclate next to the tub
7. If you were a kind of yarn what would you be and why?
Hmm difficult....i took a test once and I think the result was mohair... but I am not really sure why
8. If you had to knit/crochet baby booties, a fun fur scarf, or a fair isle sweater, which would you choose and why?
Fair Isle sweater! No need for baby booties and I hate fun fur!
9. What other event would make you skip a tea party? (A garden party? A book club meeting? A yoga class? Opening night for a new action thriller? etc?)
A concert by one of my fav bands
10. What treat would you consider essential at your tea party? (Sweet? Salty? Scones? Those petite pastry trays with a couple of all sorts of things? Little crust less sandwiches?)
Sandwiches - so British!
11. When buying yarn for a project how do you choose - do you buy the one called for or do you substitute?
That depends on the price of the yarn
12. What do you carry your knitting/crocheting in when on the go?
Zipper bag
13. Favorite movie to watch while knitting/crocheting?
Something bollywood with Shah Rukh Khan
14. Are you a traditional tea cup kind of person or a mug type of person? Do you care if they match?
Mugs - I live in the land of single mugs. They all seem to have lost their partner
15. Favorite childhood birthday party?
All of my own
16. Favorite type of scone and jam?
I try them all
17. If you use candles, what is your favorite scent?
Vanilla or rose
18. If you could choose 3 people to have 'tea' with, who would they be and why? (famous or not, living or dead).
Paul Auster, Diana Gabaldon and Douglas Coupland. A very literary circle.
19. You've been invited to a tea party, what 'props' will you wear (formal or casual)?
That would depend on my mood
20. Any allergies/preferences you have or are willing to admit to?
None
21. Anything we missed that you want your pal to know?
Just ask!

Help!

I have two skeins of this yarn (100 grams). It is Fiocco Oro by Gedifra. Any ideas for a little project?

Me

Mystery Stole 3

Just found out the theme!!! Swan Lake: one of my fav balletts!!! I was once part of the four little swans : -)

As I do my stole in black and white I have both Odile and Odette in it. Already forming a planin my mind of doing another one in pure white with white beads ...

Fair Isle

Behold my first attempt in Fair Isle:





I stayed at my parents' house the last couple of days and I was kinda bored on Monday because everyone was out and I was home alone. And I needed a new challenge knitting wise. I found this yarn (left by my Grannie - I think it is acrylic) and browsing the new Rebecca (link will follow - their website isn't up to date) I saw this pattern. I started around midday and I knitted for about 9 hours and the result was this. Admittedly , my right arm felt like falling off but I was very proud of my achievement. You may ask, how can you knit for such a long time. Well, first I watched documentaries for 3 hrs on TV (I love Phoenix!) and then I listened to audiobooks and podcasts. As I was alone, I sort of lost track of time. Hey, I'm on vacation!

Question of the day: why does one feel inferior to all the people who are marrying at the moment? Or as a friend of mine put it: Why does one feel like a leftover Christmas cookie?