TGIF!

Thank God this week is over - it seemed like neverending. Anyway, my birthday was super-great! And the biggest surprise: I got a ring from the bf!!!! And it's from Tiffany's!!!!! I was so stunned, I could just blurt out :"You are crazy!" And he is. And I love him for it.

I finishd the CPH in time to wear on my birthday and it's great. Actually I used some really cheap merino wool but it looks great and I love the colour - it's really warm.



I needed some instant gratification because of some annoying things at work and I made the aviatrix for the baby of bf's sister (due in March). Isn't it cute??? I used some old leftover yarn - Details are on Ravelry.



I started on a panel sweater from Classic Elite yarns and am nearly done with the front - pictures to come. Only one week to Christmas brak - can't wait.

Happy Birthday...

....to me. 30, I can't believe it!

Packages!!

I am soo spoiled by packages this weekend! Back in summer one package of "The Seven Deadly S(p)ins" got lost in the mail, so in September I got two of them :-)
I have already made the Prezioso Hat, you can see it on Ravelry:



I haven't started on the lace project yet, I think I will take it on my winter holidays:



Yesterday I got this beautiful package - again it is soo beautiful and carefully assembled:





I am sooo tempted to cast on for the purse but I want to progress on the CPH and I got tons of papers to grade :-( As the bf is away for the weekend I really want to use the time for work but...aaah well, maybe tonight I will start it nevertheless ;-)

On Thursday I got my second Wollmeise Sockclub package - pictures of which can be seen her:
http://numenna.blogspot.com/

So many FO's

Being absent from my blog for so long, I have to show you a lot of FOs! You can find all the details on Ravelry.

First some baby soakers for bf's sister who is going to be a Mum in February. Isn't it cute??



Next a bowtie scarf made with some leftover yarn. I am really scarf addicted and wear them all of the time.



A really soft mohair t-shirt made with Rowan Kidsilk Haze. This is really a great yarn! So soft and luxurious.



And finally a cardigan from Phildar with yarn I bought on Corsica during our summer holidays. I love the buttons, they are made with bits of sea shell.



At the moment I work on the Silken Scabbard (but have some problems with the yarn), a sweater for the bf (too much stockinette at the moment) and the ubiquitous central park hoodie.

Life is really crazy at the moment so knitting kees me sane and grounded and makes me relaxed very quickly. Sadly it seems I don't have as much time for this as I would like to.

Secret Pal 13 Questionnaire

I'm sorry for this long absence but the last three weeks were challenging, to say the least. I went on a field trip for 5 days with 30 5th graders and - again - came home sick. I had the flu for the last 2 1/2 weeks, called in sick (which I hate to do) and it didn't get better. On Friday I had to cough so hard during a lesson that I left school after two lessons to go to the doctor. Now I'm on antibiotics and rest a lot so that I am hopefully restored by Monday.

But now my Secret Pal 13 questionnaire:

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I absolutely love Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece but there aren't really any fibers I detest.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
In a drawer in my living room cupboard.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
It feels like I have knitted forever and I learned it from my Grandma and mother. I'd put me between intermediate and advanced.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Nope

5. What's your favorite scent?
Lavender and vanilla

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I absolutely have!!! No favourite candy - everything that's sweet :-)

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I would like to spin but lack the knowledge and equipment. I sew, crochet and do needlework and dye yarn. Want to start handpaining and already got a book about 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 can listen to mp3s but can't really define my taste in music.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I like all pinks and purples. I'm not really a fan of red and orange.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have a boyfriend. Does that count as a pet? ;-) (ok he just read it..guess I have to delete this...)

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes, yes, yeas and have never tried one.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Everything that's a challenge and not boring.

13. What are you knitting right now?
The Silken Scabbard by Stitchdiva.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes, please!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
That depends on the yarn and the project but generally I do like bamboo.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No and yes

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Some months I guess

18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe?
I like the summer holidays because they are the longest. I celebrate Christmas.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
No

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'd like to have the new "Interweave Knits" (wink :-) ) I subscribe to the Burda sewing magazine.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I would like to learn how to spin.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes, I am. My shoe size is a European 38.

23. When is your birthday?
8.12. (the big 3-0 this year....)

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
My ID is Stoeps

Cornwall

My trip to Cornwall was great!!!



We had the best weather and everything was good....



Apart from me getting a cold on the way there...





Knitting content comming soon!

A looot of things

The new school year has started and there is so much to do before I go to a field trip next week to Cornwall! What brightened the week was the first installment of the Wollmeise Sock Club!



The package is so lovely that I don't want to open it!



I also got the third package of my SP 12 and it was as great:


I really love everything that's in it!! Thank you sooo much!!!

It is surprisingly cold in Munich at the moment and I always have cold feet when I'm at bf's, so I knitted these slippers out of my stash with Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece. The details are on Ravelry:



On Corsica I found a Phildar store in Ajaccio and of course I bought some stuff (while the bf was reading a newspaper). On book I bought was full of toys and the bf especially wanted to have this pig:



It now resides on the bf's sofa and reminds us of a beautiful holiday. The pattern is ok for my French (I get the hang of it slowly) but there are many, many parts to sew together!

I'm back!

So two weeks of being lazy on Corsica are over now. Just to give you a hint - this is where we stayed :-) We had such a good time!!!



I was busy knitting, of course. First I knitted this:




You might wonder what it is. Well, a uterus. BF's sister is a midwife and she asked me to do one for presentations. And I love Ravelry - I found a pattern for it there! I hope the size is right for the "baby".

Next - beach projects: Socks! One pair in Tofutsies, which I found to be a really great yarn.



And one pair in Red Rocks Fiber Works which I got on a swap from Kelly. The colourway is really great and will always make me think of the sea at Corsica:



When we came back, the weather in Germany was very bad so I made myself a sun that I can take with me! Isn't it cute?



I also found a Phildar Store on the island which I of course visited and I just started a cardigan from one of the books I got there - my French is good enough to translate the pattern :-)

On insomnia

It's 5 o'clock in the morning and I'm awake. I listened for half an hour how the bf was sleeping and then I had to get up because it didn't make me sleepy but even more awake. So this is a good time to show you my latest FOs!

First of all the Shetland Shorty from Knitty. The pattern is interesting and you can finish this on a weekend. I did size S and it fits perfectly. I am still thinking about dyeing it but I'm not sure. The yarn is still the same from my MS3 and the Snowdrop Shawl and there is still a bit left on the cone!



Nest up is a Little Shedir which I made after this instruction. I made it out of Schachenmayer Jazz and it turned out quite stretchy so the recipient to be will be able to wear it for a long time!
I wasglad I could do cables without a needle when working on this!



I am currently still working on the February Lady Sweater but hope to finish it before my vacation next week!

Sp12 package received!

Thank you soooo much Sp 12 pal.!!!!! I love everything that's in this package. You've spoiled me rotten!!! I just wonder what the black thing on the chocolate is for?? I guess i have to learn Danish to do the pattern for the shawl ;-)

Cobblestone fits!

BF tried on the Cobblestone yesterday and it fits perfectly!!! I'm so relieved" Although I measuresd him up I was still pretty unsure while knitting it up as I have never knit a sweater for another person before. He seemed to like it very much :-) So much for the "boyfriend sweater curse"...
At the moment I'm working on "Shetland Shorty" from the recent Knitty and I guess I will finish it up today - so photos will be up soon!

Cobblestone finished

I know all about the "boyfriend sweater curse" but lacking inspiration and my bf pestering me about my knitting him a sweater I decided on the famous Cobblestone - and here it is!



Spending hours on Ravelry looking for a decent men's sweater I just had to decide on it. It looks neither gay nor 80s (which I think most men's pattern do) and is mindless enough to knitt in stressy times. I wasn't really sure about my choice of yarn ("Achat" from Junghanswolle) but I have to say the result is nice. It took a bit of figuering out how to start a new skein but I think the changes in colour make the design even more interesting than with plain yarn. The bf hasn't tried it on yet as he is away on a trip - so keep your fingers crossed that it will fit him. Well, otherwise I will use it as a lounging sweater for myself.
I still have to finish the February Lady Sweater but I don't feel like it at the moment. Maybe I will turn to some sewing instead or on another shawl. I don't want to start any socks becuase that is for our trip at the end of the month.

We are going on a summer holiday

Finally, finally the summer holidays have arrived. The last two weeks have been very hard indeed. It felt like I was dragging myself from day to day. But now - six weeks without grading papers, handling kids and doing paperwork. It feels great! And I can fully concentrate on knitting and sewing again - all the more as the bf is away next week :-) All I managed to achieve in the last weeks were these well- known baby booties. We went to see bf's sister who lives around 2hrs away and she is expecting. So I thought these would be a good gift. I made them out of leftover yarn from my Firestarters which I dyed myself with Kool Aid. I chose this yarn as we don't know yet whether it will be a boy or a girl, so neutral colours were the best in my opinion. The pattern is great - I knit them up in about 1-2 hrs.

Old FO's

Today two old Fo's which I haven't shown you yet:
Fisrt, the intarsia sweater from a German magazine in Schaenmayer Catania:



And second the lace t-shirt from a book I have forgotten tthe title of in Cascade Sierra;



Two more week suntil the summer holidays - I will make it!

Sp12 package arrived

Before I went to Venice (which was sooooo lovely - but more on that later) I got the package from my SP12 pal. Thank you sooo much - I love everything in it and already ordered stuff for the Amy Butler bag!

What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?

I would say the perfect amount is to have the yarn for 2 or 3 projects one really wants to do and 3 or 4 skeins of sock yarn. I try to achieve this - my stash fits into two large drawers in my living room cupboard!

Finally...

I have an FO to show! This is Titania by A Mingled Yarn in Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece and I love it! It took me ages to finish as we are in the last month of the school year and there is so much to do to finish it off!

Furthermore :Football!!!! I watched nearly every game of the Euro Championships - and we are in the finals!!!! Yeah!!!! When Germany played, we made little parties and invited some friends to watch with us. That was really nice, even though I had to work the next day and was really, really tired. Thank God I have a day off on Monday, so I can sleep in after the final.

Things are still great with the bf - I can't quite grasp how good!

As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer vacation/break/holiday?

I always looked forward to spend 3 weeks (we only have a total of 6 weeks summer holidays in germany) with my whole family in a foreign country. My parents always took us either to France or Italy or America and it was always a great experience. I learnt a lot about different cultures, the food, the history etc. but also had a lot of time to relax at the beach.

SP12: What is your favorite summertime drink??

I drink a lot of "Apfelschorle" which is apple juice mixed with sparkling water. And when I go to a beergarden there is nothing better than a "Radler" which is beer mixed with lemonade. it#s really good and refreshing

Dishcloths and potholders

Finally I have the time to show you the second package by the "Seven Deadly S(p)ins":


The theme this time was "peace":



I have already finished the dishcloth and the soap sack:



The only things I achieved this week in terms of knitting/crocheting were these potholders. Two are for a friend's birthday (plus a cookbook) and two for the bf:



i want to get some sewing done tonight - it's agreat project! Wait and see....

SP 12 Questionaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I really, really like Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, my favourite yarn ever! There are no fibers I don't like
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
In a drawer in my living room
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 knitted forever and I think I learnt it from my Mum. I would put me between intermediate and advanced
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No
5. What's your favorite scent?
Vanilla and lavender
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I absolutely have a sweet tooth and love chocolate
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I do sewing, crocheting and cross-stitching. I don't spin but are envious of people who can do it
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
No special taste in music and I can listen to MP3s
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love all pinks and purples and I can't stand red and orange
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I just recently got a bf :-))))) Sadly, no pets
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I love scarfs, do wear hats and mittens but never tried on ponchos (a bit undecided on them)
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I love everything that is challenging
13. What are you knitting right now?
A dishcloth, a sleeveless pullover, socks and a top
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes, please!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
That depends on the project but I prefer bamboo
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I have a swift but no binder
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
A couple of weeks
18. What is your favorite holiday?
Six weeks of summer holidays
19. Is there anything that you collect?
No
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Some more Amy Butler patterns (apart from the ones I already have) and the Mason-Dixon Knitting book and - as always - Kool-Aid!
I don't have any subscriptions
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
i would like to try entrelac
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes, I like knitting socks
23. When is your birthday?
8th December

It's official....

..I have a bf!!!!! Happy, happy, happy :-)))) Due to this, no time for knitting. I hope for an update on that soon!

I'n back!

The trip to Berlin was great in every respect. We had a nice hotel which was in walking distance to the "Potsdamer Platz", we had sunshine all the time and the whole atmosphere was just good. We walked miles and miles (my feet hurt like hell every evening), watched all the important sights, went to the theatre and found the best Bar in Berlin Mitte which was around the corner of our hotel. I also did some shopping (especially at the KaDeWe) for which I have never time during school. We had coffee (and prosecco) in the café in top of the Reichstag. This is a good tip to anyone visiting: if you don't want to queue at the Reichstag (which usually takes about 1 1/2 hrs) you should make reservations with this café. Then you can enter via a "special" entrance without any queues. We also did a boat trip on the Spree through the city which was very relaxing. On the train I knitted this:



It's the famous "my so.called scarf" in Wollmeise Lammdochtwolle in the colour "Puderdöschen". need I say more?

Also, my Clapotis is finished and being blocked at the moment on my sofa:



A close-up:



I also finished my Pucci Pullunder (but have no space to block it yet..so no pics). Today i got my package from "The Seven Deadly S(p)ins" and again this was really done with love and consideration. Pics coming soon. Off to work now - school starts again on Monday. AND: I have a date tonight! Yay!

:-)

Life got in the way of knitting over the past few days. Let me just say I am H_A_P_P_Y!!!! Out of superstition I won't say more. Knock on wood!
Anyway, today I've been knitting for hours and I want to finish the intarsia pullover. I only have 40 rows to go on the front side and I am intent and very much resolved to finish it today. The batteries are too low on my camera to make any photos and I have to search for the thingy that reloads batteries.
We have finalised our trip to Berlin next week (I am going with a former colleague turned friend) from Tuesday to Friday, so another thing to look forward to!
Have a great weekend!

Relax, take it easy

The holidays are great! The weather is really fine ( I got sunburnt on Friday!) and I do next to nothing except knitting. I have the desire to finsih off some of my Wips. At the moment I am doing the clapotis and I hope to be finished tonight:



I use some very pretty sock yarn. It is softly variegated in beige, white and lilac which you can't really see on the photo. Anyway, pretty, pretty, pretty.

I sewed this a while ago but now is the weather to wear it. The pattern is out of an English magazine but I added an belt to make the shape nicer. The fabric is from my SP11 pal Robin:




The back is the nice part about it. Do you know how hard it is to photograph your own backside??

I made it!

Finally the holidays are here! Don't ask me how I made it through the last week but somehow I did it. Even with a major lack of sleep. I had a bet with a colleague of mine over a football game and it said that the loser had to cook dinner. Well, it ended with a draw so we both had to cook. I don't really like cooking but I made an effort and even made a dish with meat (which I usually don't do for me alone - I am more of a snack or going out to dinner person). Well, we cooked, we drank wine, we watched a movie - and it was all of a sudden 2 a.m. and I had to be at school at 8 a.m. in the morning. This was really the hardest day of all! For the long weekend I am at my parents just now and relax - and knit. I just finished Rosalind by A mingled yarn:



I think I could have done a 32" insted of a 36" so this jacket is a bit loose around the arms, me being a 34" around the chest. But then I can put a blouse beneath it and also wear it in cooler weather. Do you think it looks big on me? I used all of my 8 skeins of Knitpicks Shine sport that I got in the last Mystery Swap. I also realized that I have to get bigger buttons. Please don't mind the wallpaper in the background - I made this picture in my old bedroom.
I started Titania and I will do a 32" this time.

Progress

I am nearly done with the back of my sleeveless intarsia pullover and I am proud! It is slow work but it keeps me on my toes. A LOT of grading going on at the moment as there are the final exams at our school (Abitur). I just have to get through this weekend and then the next week and then...vacation time!!! Yesterday a friend of mine asked me if I would like go to Berlin with her for a couple of days. That would be verys nice as I could meet some people there I haven't seen for ages. So only one more intense week - I can do it!!
Have a great weekend!

Intarsia and a hell of a week

This week has been the worst of this school year. Communication was really difficult as everyone was very edgy and I was near to tears a couple of times out of sheer frustration. I felt like walking backwards and didn't trust my abilities anymore. Furthermore I have had a sore throat for some days now and it doesn't get any better or worse. Somehow I wish I would finally come down with a cold because than this shilly-shallying would finally be over.

Here a picture of the blocked Shallowtail Shawl. I really fell in love with this and wear it more or less constantly!



Due to all this stress there wasn't much knitting. However I started a new technique - intarsia!
I cast on for this project and I am not sure if I do the intarsia right, but I think it looks ok for my first time (and this is the back anyway):

TGIF

Some FOs for Friday!

I finished the crochet trench and I like how it turned out. The texture is great and it will become my favourite spring coat! I am not sure if I will do a belt or not, I just have to play around with some fastening options. I haven't done crochet in a while and after this piece of work I will probably stick to knitting for a while.



This week I was all into the Shallowtail Shawl and as of this moment it is being blocked. I wasn't really sure about the yarn (Wollmeise Lace "Birkenrinde") but i think it worked out quite nicely. This is a quick knit and I am looking forward to wearing it. I still have half of the skein left and I am thinking about what I could do with it. Any ideas?



My Brown Cotton Fleece (colourway "Wisteria") order from Webs finally arrived and I will probably start with Titania this weekend.

We have won nevertheless

We did it in the end! Bayern Munich made the impossible possible and scored a goal virtually in the last minute of the game. I was so excited that I couldn't sleep for a long time. This, and the spring weather, made me so sleepy on Saturday that I had the feeling I couldn't open my eyes properly at all. Initially, I wanted to work but I felt so drowsy and besides myself that I could only recline on the sofa, listen to the radio and drift in and out of sleep. I hate days like that! Anyway, at night I thought I had to get out and moving so I went to the movies with a friend of mine. We watched "21" which is really good! The story at an unexpected twist at the end and kevin Spacey starred in it. For me, he is one of the best actors around. I just loved "The usual suspects" and "K-Pax".
I feel more awake today but this means more work! After I set in the sleeve for this crochet cardigan I grudgingly sat down at my desk:



I started this before Easter and I want to finish ist as soon as possible! I can't tell you much about the except that I bought it on Ebay on a 2,5 kg cone (which means I probably get another sweater out of it). I am really looking forward to wearing this on a nice and sunshiny day!