WIP: Self Designed Shrug.

What I’m working on right now is this self design. I’ve wanted a shrug for a long time already, since I love wearing short sleeve all year round, but sometimes I need the long sleeves. So I finally bought the yarn: Katia Himalaya, 50% merino, 50% acrylic, 86m per 100gr, in shade 47 (sort of faded blue jeans), and casted on 8mm needles and after many swatchs and maths I came up with this:

shrug

It’s an easy k2p2 ribbing, with decreases at the wrist, and shoulder shaping, all fitted to my long big arms and wide back – the joys of knitting yourself, it will fit. This is the first sleeve, I’ll work both from the cuff up and then draft them in the middle of the back. More pics when this is finished, and perhaps the pattern I did too.

Sade

B Is For Bonds, Boundaries

Bond \Bond\ (b[o^]nd), n. [The same word as band. Cf. {Band}, {Bend}.]. That which binds, ties, fastens, or confines, or by which anything is fastened or bound, as a cord, chain, etc.; a band; a ligament; a shackle or a manacle.

Boundary \Bound”a*ry\, n.; pl. {Boundaries} [From {Bound} a limit; cf. LL. bonnarium piece of land with fixed limits.] That which indicates or fixes a limit or extent, or marks a bound, as of a territory; a bounding or separating line; a real or imaginary limit.

B is for

As I tie the cord, only I can set my own bonds and limits, and undo them as well. Thus, the only limits upon me are those I myself put. Lets not put any limits to whishes and imagination, let the soul free to be.

I’ve Been Tagged: Five Quirky Habits Of Mine

Both Lia and Elara tagged me with this, in Spanish, but since I’ve always kept the blog in English, I’ll be answering this meme in English too. So here we go:

Five Quirky Habits Of Mine
(Cinco Extraños Hábitos Tuyos)
  1. I use one “style” of taking notes for each of my university courses. A different main colour, higlightings, comments, exercises, etc. It makes a beautiful “book” at the end of the year – and I even get compliments.
  2. I need to read. I need it, just like that. So I always have a book (at least) around, and magazines.
  3. The first thing I do when I turn on my computer is enabling the wifi, and then updating and upgrading my debian
  4. I always leave the HiFi on when I go to sleep, with a timer off. I need the music to cover the background noises.
  5. I always wear a star earring on my right ear. Nearly always (unless I have to get out in a rush) wear a ring on my left hand. And I only wear a watch when I have exams, and then it’s on my right wrist (don’t really need it!).

I don’t want to force anyone into this, so whoever reads my blog and likes the meme can consider him/her-self tagged!

Sade

A Is For Armour

Armor \Ar”mor\, n. [OE. armure, fr. F. armure, OF. armeure, fr. L. armatura. See {Armature}.] [Spelt also {armour}.]: Defensive arms for the body; any clothing or covering worn to protect one’s person in battle.

sunglasses

Ok, so what have my sunglasses to do with armour, you ask? I use my sunglasses to shield myself against the outer world. I use them not only to protect my eyes from the sunshine, but to hide the mirror of my soul from strangers. I’ve always been told my eyes speak more than my words, and sometimes, I just like the “anonymity” they provide.

And this is the first post of the ABC series. I’ll try to find a pic for each letter, most of the times in a symbolic way.

FO: Cute Baggie For My New Little Teddy

On New Years, my lovely boyfriend gave me a tiny cute teddy from Me to You (they make beautiful teddies, all of them!). And since I love taking a little thing along to university, so it keeps me company and reminds me of him, I made a bag for keeping the teddy clean in my purse / backpack. The pattern is based upon MagKnits‘s Charm Bag (can’t find the link at the moment, it’s on the December 2005 issue), but heavily modified (so! I’ll post my version as a pattern some time).

Teddy’s Bag

Teddy in his baggy

  • Pattern: My own based upon Charm Pouch from Magknits
  • Yarn: Katia Caricia, 100% merino, colour 3 (off-white), 50gr. – 175m. Some leftover from a pair of socks.
  • Gauge: approx. 30 stitches to 10 cm.
  • Needles: a set of 2.5 mm double point needles.
  • Finished measures: 21 cm around and 10 cm high.

Such a cute teddy deserves a merino bag, doesn’t it?

Sade

FO: Natalya Mittens

Here it is! almost two weeks after I finished my mittens, I present them to you. This was my first ever cabling project, and I did use a cable needle (I still didn’t try cabling without a cabling needle as showed by Groumperina, but I will, some time!). I did enjoy the pattern, but of course I couldn’t help but modifying it a bit. Specs:

Natalya Mittens
Natalya mittens

Close up

  • Pattern: Natalya Mittens (pdf) by Savannahchik.
  • Yarn: Pure New Wool, DK weight. 1.5 50 grams skeins, in Incan Forest shade.
  • Gauge: 17 stitches per 10 cm. in stockinette.
  • Needles: 4.5 mm. double point needles, set of five (used the fifth as cable needle).
  • Finished Measures: adult’s (one size fits different hands, since the cables are stretchy).

How I modified this pattern: First of all, I didn’t have gauge(!): I had less stitches per 10 cm, which made the mittens slightly bigger, but good for my big hands. Then, I knit the arm part shorter, just about 10 cm, instead of the more than 16 cm the pattern directs. After making the thumb gusset, the pattern directs to finish with a 4th row of the pattern repeat (that is, the row where you cross the cables), I knitted one row more, so the cable crossing showed a bit better. And then, on the upper ribbing, I knit two more rows than specified, so it’d cover more of my fingers.

I think that’s about it! They’re very warm, and comfy. I love ’em.

Sade