I couldn't resist...

...to cast on for yet another project - the Firestarter:



This is my first toe-up sock and I think I managed quite well. Finally, a new challenge for me :-) The pattern calls for two circular needles (which I don't have) so I used 4 dpns as I am also more comfortable with that. I dyed the yarn myself with kool-aid and from the beginning I thought of this pattern for it.



Yesterday I went ballroom dancing. 10 years ago I was very successful in it but haven't danced a bit since then. I went better then expected, somehow my subconscious remembered nearly all the steps but I was a bit "rusty" in the joints. Today my muscles are sore but I feel great!! (although I could use another two weeks of spring break!)

I'm back

Rome was really great! It is such a historical and impressive city. There is so much to see that I have definitely to go back there. We saw all the "musts" and walked a lot around the city. Unfortunately the weather was really bad. We had monsoon-like rain for all but the last day and it was really, really cold. This isn't good for exploring a city when your shoes and socks and feet are wet. And it certainly doesn't make you want to queue for the Vatican museum for about 4 hrs. And I couldn't wear this on my trip:



I made this shortely before my trip from a pattern I got from Robin. The fabric is designed by Kaffee Fasset and I have to say size s fits me perfectly. I can't wait for summer now! I definitely have to get more tanned for this top.

And look what awaited me yesterday night after a 10 hrs train trip. My discloth swap package from Diana:



The stuff she sent me is great - I love everything that's in it!!!!



As I said - 10 hours on the train (single way), so of course I was very productive. Another pair of monkeys in Cherry Tree Hill Yarn:



And some spiral socks in Crystal Palace Panda Cotton:

Colourful Saturday

Today I got my first package from The Seven Deadly S(p)ins - and it is sooo cute. I love everything thats in it!!!



I want to start right away, but I force myself to finish other projects first!



I used up all my Cascade 220 for this little bag from D. Stoller's "The Happy Hooker". I made it slightly bigger to really use up all the yarn.




The other side is in blue:



I even lined it with some matching green fabric:



The sun is shining, I have nothing to do - I feel good! (And I hope this will stay this way all through the holidays..)

It's the holidays!

Finally - two week off :-) I sooo waited for this day all week.... Somehow my knitting mojo is on holiday already- so not much to show. I decorated this box with the "napkin technique" and I think it goes well with this little vase from Italy.



Speaking of Italy, I will go to Rome over Easter and in preparation for 10hrs on the train each way, I dyed some sock yarn with Kool Aid (of course i will take more than these two skeins):




Have a great weekend!

Small projects

This week was crazy - I was away nearly every night which wasn't so good for my mood on Friday. And I only had time and patience for small projects. First of all, another hedgehog. This has already been presented to my pregnant colleague and she was enchanted.



Then I made these "sofa socks" out of a German sock book. I dyed the yarn myself with Kool Aid. No modelled picture as I can't show you my legs at the moment. I don't look at them myself so as not to feel too guilty.



Last, but not least the "Fountain Hat" from Interweave. This is also sock yarn, also self-dyed, but this time with Ashford colours. Still haven't quite figured out how to take a photograph of myself with a hat on. And I am neck-deep in grading papers, so not much patience there.




The good thing is: only one week to go until the Easter holidays!!!

Stormy Saturday

We had the strangest weather today: stormy winds, then a thunderstorm, then hail, then snow and then sunshine. Crazy!

I finished this vest today and I think it came out quite good. I wasn't sure about the white buttons (vintage) but with a white tee or blouse I think they match well. This is again a Drops pattern. (For all the English speaking world: I give the link to the German patterns. They are, however, also available in English. Just go to my Ravelry site).



Yesterday night I felt like sewing again. And I made this really cute bag. It is from this site. I used up some leftover fabrics. The pink one is from the curtains in my living room, so I probably shouldn't sit next to them with this bag :-)



Tomorrow we have the local elections here and I am one of those people to count the votes. It is all very complicated (split tickets etc.) but I thought as a civil servant I have to give something back to the community. (And hey, I get a day off for it..) Tonight, I have to study, what exactly I have to do. I hope there are some people there tomorrow who know what to do!