Tuesday 26 July 2011

Summer evening with Lin & Co.












With a bit of bribing and cajoling I got Lin, Marco, Isshan and Pelo to accompany me up to the castle late afternoon Sunday.
They actually got up there before me. Oh to have young legs again.




We ate outside and had gnocco and salumi (A sort of deep fried savoury pastry filled with ham like sandwich).
Even though it was nippy espescailly considering we are in the height of summer.


We walked home down the road in the dark.














Tuesday 19 July 2011

Dianna


This shawl was fascianting to knit. An entrelac pattern in Noro kureyon sock wool. It developed and evolved with every knitted stitch.

Even the blurred photo can't hide those gorgeous colours.


I was so eager to get it done that we didnt get out for our Sunday walk until late afternoon.






An improvised circuit of 3 hours, Roncolo, Ponte Pietranera-Castellaro. Note Bismantova in the background.











But even without a map we didnt get lost and, as chance would have it, arrived at this hidden away pizzeria just as it was opening for the evening. Tartufo cream and porcini pizza eaten outside in a galeforce wind !

Wednesday 6 July 2011

Intriguing construction work


I have always been intrigued by Hanne Falkenberg's knits, mostly gaarter stitch jackets knitted in one piece using 2 ply shetland wool. My mum has made some lovely ones but the fact that they are only availbale in expensive kit form rather put me off. So when I saw the Mermaid model on offer online I jumped at the chance. Unfortunately the model sizing did not suit me, being full busted and narrow shouldered Iwas placed midway between two sizes. In the end I opted for the larger one. As the model is knitted vertically from one front round the back to the front and includes short row shaping, darts and pleats I didn't have the time, patience or expereince to mess around with measurements. In fact the finished jacket was perfect but, alas, far too big and sleeves too long.


But I was still toying with the idea . this time I found some wool on ebay which turned out to be excellent.It arrived all the way from Lithuania (?) in just a few days and appeared to be the right weight. Gauge is essential and this was slighty different so I opted for a size smaller jacket. What fun to knit. The wool slowly changed colour as I progressed from the starting point at centre bottom back. I got the whole back out of one ball but the sleeves (still knitted in one piece) were neverending and gobbled up two more. Which left me a bit short for the front. But by unwinding and rewinding sections of different colours, and adding a bit of keftover kauni, I eventually got two reasonably mirrored lapels.


These garter stitch shetland garments aquire drape and shape with washing. I have already washed this once and it fits and hangs perfectly. I have even grown to like the brightness (which for me was part of the fun of the wool) and am looking forward to wearing it when days get darker and duller.


Congrats to Alessandro and Francesca!

Who would have ever believed that ...
-I would find the right dress, (and that it was made of sheer bright silk and yet still managed to hide all my lumps and bumps),
- would mangae to walk on high heels
- I wouldn't bite my nails for two weeks
- find a gold designer clutch bag on sale in an outlet the day before
-the weather would be just perfect.

Yet I did and it was...




Such a lovely reception.













such a lovely young couple

and such a huge cake













And being a perfectionist I even got hold of the right shade of wool to knit Tidal Streams in Easyknit skinny semi solid plum jam yarn.http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tidal-streams

San Martino di Castrozza

Peace, stunning views, good food a bit of knitting...need I say more?