Glamour Knits

Merry Christmas

2007-12-23T13:05:00.000-03:00

This year has been the most important year of my life.

I'm overwhelmed with love and happiness and tenderness everytime I look at Juanma.

Thank you all for sharing it with me.

Let me share with you an Irish Blessing I love:

The light of the Christmas star to you
The warmth of home and hearth to you
The cheer and good will of friends to you
The hope of a childlike heart to you
The joy of a thousand angels to you
The love of the Son and God's peace to you

MERRY CHRISTMAS

FELIZ NAVIDAD

Cote d'azur

2007-12-09T09:50:00.000-03:00

Sunday morning, baby is taking a nap - so many things to do and so little time....
I have started a new sweater for Juanma, heavily inspired on a Phildar pattern. It's really easy and quick to knit. I wish I had a little more time.

The problem is Juanma has been fighting sleep. Once he falls asleep everything's fine. He naps for an hour during the day, and usually sleeps quite well through the night (waking up twice - at 1.30 and at around 4.30 or 5) to be nursed. And then he wakes up at around 6 or so. Not bad for an almost five-month-old.
But getting him to sleep had turned into a battle - me usually the defeated one. It would take maybe an hour: walking around, rocking, lullaby, silence, whispering, nursing him - you name it.
But lately not even nursing him would work. He would fall asleep while being fed, only to wake up screaming a minute after being put in his cradle.
The doctor had told me to read a book about how to put a baby to sleep. The book describes the Ferber method. When I read it, it was too cruel... letting the baby cry out....
But now that Juanma is having so much trouble falling asleep I kind of tried it out. I'm a rebel, so I didn't exactly follow the exact directions on "progressive waiting"...
Believe it or not... it seems to be working!!!!!! Instead of carrying him around for over 45 minutes, I put him in his cradle, he cries for a minute or two, I pat him, tell him I love him, cries once or twice again... and MAGIC!!!
Of course, at first Husband thought I was crazy - "he will NEVER fall asleep like that, let me try", he said. He held him and walked and rocked him. 10 minutes later, I put him to bed, let him cry for one minute, and he fell sound asleep. Husband couldn't believe what he saw!!!!
I hope it continues working!!!!!!!!!
On the knitting area, have a look at the Cote d'azur sweater. I don't know what's wrong with my camera - the sweater is white:

back - 80% done

And this is a beautiful light blue vest my mum knit for Juanma. He looks yummy in it!!

Introducing the Lime Green V-Neck Vest

2007-12-01T07:54:00.000-03:00

I've finally finished it!!!!!

I'm really really happy with the result. It's the first time I've totally designed something.

Of course my mum gave me directions for the V-neck (I had never done a V-neck before).

And now I'm looking for ideas - any summery baby boy designs you can think of??

Vaccination Time

2007-11-28T14:50:00.000-03:00

Juanma is four months old and that meant having him vaccinated again... Three different vaccines - two of them were injectable.

He was an angel - didn't even cry. It broke my heart though to see him pulling faces in discomfort.

The day after he was not quite himself. Cried a lot, complained a lot, didn't sleep well.

Fortunately yesterday evening he completely recovered and mum and grandma took him out for a walk. OF course, we couldn't resist buying him some clothes and some toys to reward him for having been such a brave little boy!!!

Anyway, in the pics you can see him wearing a light blue vest my mum knit for him.

My lime green vest is about to be finished - it just needs sewing!!!! You'll see it in the next post.

Ravelry + Vest for Juanma

2007-11-11T16:34:00.000-03:00

Well, finally I got my invitation and joined Ravelry on Nov 2.

Seems to be great, I still haven't had enough time to do much.

I'm still working on the V-Neck Vest for Juanma.

I have finished the back, and am working on the front. I have to start shaping armholes and neck.

I just hope I finish it before Juanma gets too big to wear it!!!

Mother's Day

2007-10-24T14:29:00.001-03:00

On Sunday I celebrated my first Mother's Day as a mum...

The pic was taken at midday, at my mum's, just before a delicious B-B-Q.

The white blouse I'm wearing was a present from my parents. They are just so generous to us.

And this is a pic of what I'm knitting. Yes, this blog is supposed to be about knitting... It's a lime green vest for Juanma. This is the back, the front will have some cables I think.

Weekend Away - Las Gaviotas

2007-10-16T09:12:00.000-03:00

What a wonderful weekend!!!!
We had a lovely time!
Friday 3pm we started our trip. My dad decided to drive us to the beach - we knew EVERYBODY was leaving Buenos Aires, so we wanted to avoid the 6pm exodus.

My mum and sister couldn't get their hands off Juanma - and I was happy to rest a little bit. I lay in the sun by the (empty) swimming pool, I walked along the beach, I even got to knit a couple of rows - I'll show you in my next post.

The air in Las Gaviotas and Mar de las Pampas is wonderful. Every step you take, you smell something different - lavender, pines, eucalyptus. I couldn't get enough of it.
We also enjoyed the total lack of pavement. Everywhere sand and earth. Speed limit is 30 km per hour - and most people do respect it. Children running and playing around with no worry. Unbelievable.
We also loved being there without the men (except for Juanma, of course). Don't get me wrong. I love my hubbie and my dad, and my mum loves my dad, too (my sister has just broken up after an almost 2 year long relationship). But since they were not around, we didn't cook, we didn't need to clean up after them, we didn't need to ask them to take us to Mar de las Pampas, we didn't need to hear them trying to give orders or requesting anything!!!

Women bonding was fantastic. My mum and I really get along. My sister is a little bit more complicated than us, but she was terrific - she had a wonderful time too, and I guess it was good for her after her breakup.
We had such a great weekend we even started thinking of renting a house there for the summer holidays...

Anyway, we returned yesterday, early in the morning, because we didn't want to get caught in a 4-hour-long traffic jam with Bichi Boli.

Long Weekend & Juan Manuel's Cabled Cardigans

2007-10-09T10:06:00.000-03:00

My Mum is the greatest knitter.

She knit this cabled cardigan for Juanma in no time.

She needed no pattern, no measurements, nothing at all.

Next Monday is a national holiday in Argentina. My mum, my sister (who's recently broken up with her boyfriend), Juanma and I are going away to Las Gaviotas (http://www.lasgaviotas.com.ar/). We booked a house in http://www.medanosapart.com.ar/, just 50 m from the sea. We can't wait to get there!!!

This white cabled cardigan was also knit by my mum. In this pic, you will fully appreciate why I my baby's nickname is "Bichi Boli" (short for Bicho Bolita -woodlouse in English).

Oh, and just in case you haven't noticed, I'm SO IN LOVE with my baby boy!!!

Meet Juan Manuel

2007-09-30T18:20:00.000-03:00

Hi everybody!!!

I'm back... or I'll try to be....

Juan Manuel was born on July 16, 2007 at 8.30 am.

He's the most precious little boy.

I haven't had much time to update the blog, or knit, or pretty much anything else for that matter.

Juan Manuel - 2 hours after he was born.

His first bath!

Beautiful Baby & Proud Mum

September 26. Baby & Mum wearing matching cardigans knit by Baby's Grandma.

It's A Boy!

2007-04-21T12:54:00.000-03:00

It's official: it's a boy!!!!
Today morning we saw our baby again!!!! I am still in shock.... we saw his legs, and his heart... we saw his face!!! I mean his nose, his cheeks, his mouth, we even saw his tongue swallowing!!!!!!!
I am now 6 months pregnant - and look at the bump!

On knitting news, this is the cardi-circus tent my mum knit for me. She's the greatest, it only took her one week to knit this giant coat for me!!!

I am still knitting the never-ending blankie. I haven't been knitting too much, autumn seems to never begin. On Thursday the temperature reached 35°C and I had to turn on the A/C!!! Today it's raining so I'll try to knit and make some progress.
And THANK YOU all for your kind comments - gracias por sus felicitaciones y sus lindas palabras!!!!

Baby Wrap and Look at My Bump

2007-04-07T09:33:00.000-03:00

It's official - the baby wrap is never-ending.

As usual, I have changed the pattern. The original is a triangle - which didn't seem big enough, and which my mum and I decided was not what we wanted...

So now I'm knitting a square wrap. And instead of knitting the lacy border, I will probably crochet it.

That's why I don't have much to show you... I really want to finish this, so I haven't started any other project.

My mum, however, is knitting two or three things right now (sorry I have no pics, but two of those things are for me, so I'll show you the FOs!). Last Thursday, Mum, little sister and I went yarn shopping in Berazategui - Mother has lived there for 27 years - this means she has been buying yarn in the same two yarn stores for 27 years. First we went to one of the yarn stores, and we bought some violet yarn for sister. Then we went to the second yarn store, where we bought some darkish gray yarn for a warm cardi-poncho for me and my bump. The owner of the shop, who has know us for a long long time congratulated me, and the baby's Grandma and Aunt. That's when we saw some skeins of a baby boucle in the sweetest colourways. We asked the owner to show us, and we chose one yellowish-lemony skein to knit maybe a onesie for Baby. When we asked him how much it was, he told us that the gray yarn is $50, and the baby yarn is a present from him!!!
And now, let me introduce you to The Bump.

That's me and The Bump. Close-up.

It's not too big - let me remind you I'm 5 1/2 months pregnant... though I already feel I am a WHALE!!!!!

And now I have to run- I need to buy a present for baby Ulises who was born two weeks ago, and whom I'm going to meet later in the evening, and I need to buy some chocolate eggs for Easter!!!

A Weekend Away

2007-04-01T10:01:00.000-03:00

Well, not exactly a weekend...

Last week we left for Mar del Plata on Tuesday and stayed there till Friday.

Husband and I waiting to see the Sea Lions Show

On Tuesday, the weather was wonderful, so we visited the Aquarium. It was a shame, though. I mean, I wasn't going to compare it to Sea World (I visited Sea World in Orlando, Fl some years ago), but this Aquarium is embarassing!!! Don't get me wrong, the animals look healthy and well taken care of. It's just that the shows are pathetic - children were bored, adults were embarrassed at the lousy script. The shows with the animals are pathetic - sea lions did whatever they wanted, not what the trainers asked them to - but I have to admit I rather enjoyed this!! The electricity went off every hour, every show started 10 or 15 minutes later than scheduled, the 3-D movie was 20 years old and the movie theatre smelled like 60 years old. However, Husband and I really enjoyed the day out. The sun was shining, we laughed a lot at all these mishaps and enjoyed being together.

I did knit a lot, I was thinking of showing you a pic of the baby wrap but I can't find the batteries for my camera. It's not finished yet - not even close. Right now every row has 320 stitches and 2+ per row. It's getting heavy!!

On baby news, I'm currently 5 months, 1 week, 3 days pregnant. I saw the doctor on Friday, everything is wonderful, baby is healthy and mother is not gaining thousands of kilos (only 4 kilos so far). Next ultrasound and appointment with the doctor is on Fri April 20 - I CANNOT WAIT TO FIND OUT WHETHER IT'S A BOY OR A GIRL!!!!

Baby Blanket from Katia Magazine!

2007-03-17T08:23:00.000-03:00

Maybe I haven't told you this before, but I am quite a determined lady.

Having tried to work out the pattern for almost 3 days, I woke up on Saturday and picked up my needles.

One, two, three times... the ranting against the magazine started again...

SHAME ON ME!!!! I had misread the instructions all the time!!!

Instead of doing slip 1, knit 2, pass slip stich over, I was doing SK2P.

So, please forget everything I said about the Katia magazine. It was all my mistake.

Here is what I've knit so far.

Baby Blanket

2007-03-08T19:07:00.000-03:00

Remember yesterday I told you I was starting a new project???

This is it. I fell in love with it the minute I opened the Katia magazine. We even had a fight with my mum to see who would knit it.

Well, yesterday I got my needles, I got my yarn and I cast on. So far, so good.

Row 1, fine.

Row 2, not fine. "I must have made a mistake, 2 stitches seem to be missing. I should concentrate harder."

Frog.

Row 1, fine.

Row 2, not fine. "Can I be THIS stupid??? Let's try again."

Frog.

Row 1, fine.

Row 2, SHOOT ME!!! What the heck is going on????

Well, my dear friends, I don't frieking know what the problem is!!! But chart A is WRONG WRONG WRONG and I am not as talented as to discover the mistakes. So if any of you can see it, please do let me know.
Sorry for my ranting... but I HATE IT when they make this horrible mistakes. I mean, I bought this mag because I loved this blanket... and now it's downright impossible for me to knit it!!!
I know I'm not alone in this... it's happened to all of us, hasn´t it? But don't you think they should knit the things they print before selling you the magazines????
Anyway, I have an appointment with my ob/gyn tomorrow, so maybe I'll be able to tell you whether baby is a girl or a boy!!! I can't wait!!!!

2007-03-08T18:52:00.000-03:00

I always considered the International Women's Day to be rather sexist...

But this year's theme seems worth it.

For more info, visit http://www.un.org/events/women/iwd/2007/background.shtml

On Hold

2007-03-07T11:37:00.000-03:00

I don't like these two colours together... I'll wait till I find out whether Baby is a boy or a girl (my next appointment is next Friday and maybe the doctor will tell me then!) and use blue or pink instead of white...

And... there's something else wrong there. If you look at the pic on the right, you'll see how the knitting is slanted!

So, current project is a white baby blanket.

Pictures Galore

2007-03-05T10:22:00.000-03:00

First, let me show you what I received from Paula

Three sets of circular needles and a "Tejer la Moda" magazine with lots of baby knits!!! Thank you dear Paula for your generosity!!!!

Second, lots and lots of mags - a gift from one of my students. When she got pregnant, her friends and family gave her all these. She cannot knit, and when she found out I was pregnant she offered me her mag stash!!!!

Third, my mum finished a baby set for Ulises, my friend Melania's baby. I told you how talented my mother is... I think Mel and Ulises will like it.

Last but not least, this is what I've knit during the weekend. I know, it's not much, but I had a busy busy weekend visiting friends and family.

Long Time No Blog

2007-03-02T10:57:00.000-03:00

Hi everyone!!!!!!
It's been a long time!!!
First of all, let me tell you everything is wonderful here! I'm 19 weeks pregnant!!!! I'm so excited!!! I haven't started showing, it just looks like I've been eating too much pizza and pasta...
I haven't been blogging mainly for three reasons:
1. I haven't been knitting - ever since I finished the baby's sweater, I haven't touched my needles!
2. I haven't touched my needles because it's been horribly hot in BA...
3. It's been horribly hot and I've been feeling terrible... nauseous, headaches, tiredness... all those things I always said I wouldn't feel when I became pregnant.
In addition I´ve been working like crazy - lots of students, lots of translations and proof reading.
To sum up, when I got home I just felt like going to bed!! We bought the A/C so I turned it on and immediately fell asleep!
Anywhoo, today is my free day, and I decided to start knitting again - it's high time, I guess. I wanted to start knitting a baby blanket, but I'm afraid it might get hot hot hot again and I'd have to leave it on hold. So I finally chose a baby sweater from a Katia magazine.

By the way, the Katia baby knits mag I found has gorgeous designs and patterns. However, it's impossible to get hold of another issue here in BA. I have been ~~stalking~~ visiting news agents for the last month and they keep promising they will get them for me.

Well, enough for today... otherwise, I will never cast on!!!

Tomorrow I'll show you all the presents I've got (mags & needles!) from some wonderful friends.

Secret Project Revealed

2007-02-05T17:57:00.000-03:00

So this is my Secret Project...
First sweater for my first baby!
I'm pregnant (16 weeks - baby is due July 27th!!!) That's why the bed rest.
Thank God everything seems to be fine, the baby seems to be healthy and growing.
The pattern is from a Katia Magazine I was lucky enough to get in the yarn district. All the other baby knits mags I bought are HO-RRI-BLE!
It took me exactly 2 weeks to knit it - while I was at my mum's house all I did was knit!!! It was my first baby knit, so it was a little confusing at the beginning, until I got the hang of it.

And by the way this is my 100th post!! and it's about wonderful news, isn't it???
Congratulations are in order!!!

Obsessed With Circular Needles

2007-01-26T11:27:00.000-03:00

Remember I told you I bought some needles on my trip to the yarn district?

I inherited most of my needles from my mother and my grandmother. They're a bit old, some of them have blunt tips, some of them are bent. That's why I'm trying to buy new ones.

While shopping, I asked for circular needles everywhere. Most shops didn't have any at all. The shops that did carry circular needles, offered me the ones made in Argentina.

Come on! They're impossible to use.

Fortunately my Secret Project doesn't require circulars...

But I was so aggravated I even dreamt I was buying circulars!! And you wouldn't believe the ones I was offered in my ~~nightmare~~ dream... they had a rubber tube instead of a cable...
Can you even imagine knitting with something like this???

I would like to thank everybody for their kind words. I am still staying at my mum's - I can't move till Tuesday afternoon. Fortunately I am feeling much much better, everything seems to be going back to normal.

Yesterday Husband came and brought my knitting bag! Whoopie!! I've resumed work on my Secret Project. I can't show you any pictures because a- Duh! it's secret and b- I haven't got my camera here and I don't know how my dad's picture software works. Anyway, it's about to be revealed... if I can go home on Tuesday I will take pics and show and tell.

Remember I told you my mum is a tyrant when it comes to knitting perfection?? Well, she had knit about 60% of Ulises' Sweater when she realized she didn't actually love it. She asked me what I thougth. I told her it was quite nice... No no no she said, I don't love it. RIP RIP RIP. Three minutes later she was casting on a different Ulises Sweater. I´ll show you pics when I've got my camera...

Secret Project Interrupted

2007-01-24T08:56:00.000-03:00

Unfortunately I am having some health issues I need to take care of... Being the childish squeamish person that I am, and considering the doctor told me NOT TO MOVE from bed/chair, I moved to my mum's house for a couple of days - more like a week - till the doctor sees me again.
Once again, my mum is my heroe, you see...
The bad news is I left my knitting at home, and Husband won't be able to come see me until tomorrow I guess... so I'm sitting/lying around all day with nothing to do!!!!!

All your prayers, good thoughts, positive energy will be appreciated!!

Yet Another Shopping Spree

2007-01-19T18:37:00.000-03:00

Today my Mum and I went to the yarn district!!!

We had a great time - I always enjoy hanging out with my mum.

However, sometimes she can get MEAN!!! When I showed her Ulises Vest she looked at me and frowned. I immediately knew what she was thinking...

"This is way too big for a newborn - more like for a 1-year-old. And, you should have used smaller needles, the gauge is all wrong."

And then.... rip rip rip... without blinking, Ulises vest was gone.

After that we went to the yarn district.

I bought some Aero Needles - I'm trying to get them in all size numbers. Today I bought 2, 2 1/2 and 3.

And I bought some yarn to start working on my Secret Project!!! I'm still swatching, I'll show you when the swatch is big enough to be shown.

My mum bought some orange/peachy summery yarn and a ball of mathching orange/peachy/reddish ribbon yarn. I saw it and knew it was perfect for her. And of course, she couldn't resist the temptation when I showed her both things together (too bad I didn't take pics).

When we returned home after having lunch, she looked at the yarn I had bought for Ulises... and she sweetly offered to knit something for him herself so that I could start working on my Secret Project right away. I couldn't resist the temptation either. Like mother, like daughter.

Ulises' Vest

2007-01-17T12:43:00.000-03:00

My very good friend Melania is pregnant, and I've started knitting a V-neck vest for her baby Ulises.

She asked me not to use blue or light blue yarn - she has zillions of garments in these colours! So I chose this gorgeous beige that will look beautiful with something blue or light blue underneath...

In the pic you can see my own design (as usual I can't follow one pattern from one mag - the rebel in me needs to start changing things around) and the swatch.

It's the first time I've knit something for a baby... I can't wait to see Ulises wearing it!!!

Ribbing Is Boring and It's TOO Hot to Knit!

2007-01-13T13:01:00.000-03:00

Not much progress in my Verena Mag Cerise Cardi.
It's too hot to knit - in fact, it's too hot to post, too hot to move, too hot to think! Right now the temperature is near 36°C...

I thought it was just me - but today I talked to my mum and she has two Works in Progress she hasn't even touched for over a week. Then I talked to a friend of mine, she's pregant and knitting for her baby boy - she can't seem to finish a cardi for the baby... I've been thinking of knitting something for her baby - I need to buy some knitting magazines for babies - in the meantime, any suggestions?

Cerise Cardigan from Verena Magazine

2007-01-06T12:41:00.000-03:00

Finally I've been able to start knitting again.

You see, January 1st was THE HOTTEST DAY - temperature reached 44°C. Temperatures were really high until yesterday. And I've felt horrible ever since New Year. Yeah, nice way to start 2007: too hot to even move + really low blood pressure that makes you feel you're about to faint any minute.

It was so hot and I felt so bad that Husband told me PLEASE GO AND GET YOURSELF AND AIR CONDITIONER. Bummer, when I started feeling better to go out and buy myself one, the temperature started to fall.

Fortunately, yesterday the temperature went down to around 20 or 25C, so today I was finally able to get my knitting needles back to work.

I hope I can show you some real progress soon!!!

Buenos Aires Covered In White

2006-12-30T10:54:00.000-03:00

Let me tell you the temperature in Buenos Aires is around 30 / 37° C...

Of course it is not snow.... It never snows in BA, not even in winter...

It is a long-time tradition in the city to throw the diaries and agendas of the ending year on the last working day!!

I Got Mail!

2006-12-30T10:27:00.000-03:00

Thank you Arianwen!

Gold and Silver Card

Noni Bag Patterns! and a lovely Merry Christmas letter from Arianwen and her family!

Swatching & Christmas Ranting

2006-12-23T12:12:00.000-03:00

This is as far as I managed to get.

It's a pattern from Verena magazine, I'm using straight n.4 needles (though the neck requires a circular oh no)

It's almost Christmas and the past few days have been busy busy busy. Meeting people, buying/knitting last minute gifts. After lunch today I'll devote myself to cooking dessert. Husband and I are celebrating Christmas Eve with Husband's family, and I was asked to bring some dessert. I decided to go for a Brownie / dulce de leche / meringue cake. Super easy and super delicious. After toasting at 12 midnight we're probably going to meet my parents and some friends - that's when the party begins. Lots of laughter and fun there.

I want to wish you, all my dear blogfriends, a very merry Christmas.

An Irish Christmas Blessing
The light of the Christmas star to you

The warmth of home and hearth to you

The cheer and good will of friends to youT

he hope of a childlike heart to you

The joy of a thousand angels to you

The love of the Son and God's peace to you.

Happy Birthday and Anniversary!

2006-12-18T12:09:00.000-03:00

First of all I would like to thank everybody for your wishes and kind words for my B-day and Anniversary!

The truth is I had a very nice birthday party on Friday. I celebrated it at my parents' because my apartment is a little small... Just my family and some close friends of ours, but I really enjoyed it. Unfortunately my husband had to work that night, but then he was free all weekend long so I can't complain.

My Dad and I

Saturday was impossible in BA. The temperature reached over 40°C. I couldn't even move it was so hot.

And yesterday Husband and I went out for dinner to a pizza restaurant we used to go when we first met, around 10 years ago (Husband and I dated for a couple of months 10 years ago. We were really young, and neither of us wanted any kind of commitments back then. So I didn't see him for 5 years, until one night I ran into him at a disco, and 3 months later we were living together!!)

Today I gave some of the Xmas gifts to my students. Everybody loved them!!! I'm so relieved!! Even one of the guys said he really really liked it and that at home he has lots of candles. Wrapped Votive Sleeves with Glass Candle Holders!!

I still have to knit 4 more, but I have run out of wire!! I'll try to get some today or tomorrow.

In addition I have already chosen what to knit with the cerise yarn - a pattern from Verena magazine. I haven't knit the swatch yet, so I don't know whether it will work, but at least I have already found something I like!

Votive Sleeves

2006-12-13T19:51:00.000-03:00

7 out of 15.

I still have to knit 8 votive sleeves.

In the background you can see our Christmas Tree. I decorated it last Saturday while listening to Luis Miguel singing "Santa Claus is coming to town" and all the songs in his latest album "Navidades".

Next weekend is full of celebrations around here! My birthday on Friday, Wedding Anniversary on Sunday! I have threatened Husband: I must get one present for each. And of course another present for Xmas!

Talking about presents I have almost finished Xmas presents shopping!!!! I have bought gifts for my mum, my dad, my sister, my husband. I asked him if he wanted me to buy presents for his family and he said no. His family is not used to giving presents... He only told me to buy something for his 5-year-old niece, this is the only thing left for me to buy, shouldn't be hard she's into Disney's Princesses these days. Anything Princess will do.

I have to get back to the wire and beads - I'd like to give these next Monday and Tuesday, and

I'd better finish them before Friday before the party begins!

Argentina's Next Top Model

2006-12-08T17:11:00.000-03:00

Yeah! that's me in my Principessa!

Isn't it lovely????

Today I managed to finish it: first I did the picot edge around the sleeves.

When I finished I had to some shopping and I thought I would try to find the buttons (today is a Holiday here so I wasn't sure the shops would be open, in fact the first place I went to was closed, but then I saw a small, dull and rahter darkish haberdashery that was open, they didn't have a great selection of buttons but the ones I found aren't too bad).

When I returned I resumed work. I sewed all the loose threads - I didn't dare to count, but there were over 30 for sure.

Finally I sewed the placket and the buttons and Ta Da! Meet the FO.

What's next?
Well, around 12 or 13 votive sleeves.
A summer bolero for my goddaughter (her asking me to do it is a huge compliment, she's a very strict and classy teenager).
A sweater for me with my cerise yarn.
And I'm also working on a secret project. I cannot tell you anything, it's secret. I'll tell you more, but not now... And I can't show you the yarn yet, I haven't bought it yet. I guess you'll have to wait a little for that one!
Have a nice weekend everyone!!

Hooray for Circular Needles

2006-12-04T18:03:00.000-03:00

After my first ~~ordeal~~ attempt at knitting with circular needles, I ~~cursed and promised myself~~ thought I would never try again.

When the time came to start working on the collar of my Vogue Knitting Principessa, I read "cast on xx stitches on your circular needles". I was ~~screwed~~ in trouble.

Of course, being the ~~stubborn~~ determined person I am, I immediately grabbed my straigth needles.

I cast on maybe 60 or 80 stitches when I realized I wouldn't be able to make it - I had no room to maneuver. Oh, ~~F*ck~~ my...

I ~~reluctantly~~ decidedly took the Aero Circular Needles Paula brought from Chile. I started casting on.

So far, so good.

I started knitting the collar.

It ~~still is hard~~ took a while for my hands and fingers to get used to knitting like this. I guess it takes me three times longer than knitting with my straight needles.

Here's a picture to show you my circular knitting!

Today I finished the collar, but I still have a little sewing to do (the placket and the loose threads of the intarsia, and the buttons, of course), and I still have to crochet the sleeve edges.

I won't show you the complete picture until I've finished it and it's ready to wear, but in the meantime have a look at the collar:

Coming Soon...

2006-12-03T02:01:00.000-03:00

Today I finished the worst part of the project: the sewing!

I have to tell you I didn't understand the pattern until this afternoon. You knit the sleeve together with the front and back, and I had never done this. I wasn't even sure what I was supposed to sew...
The result:

Sorry about the blurry images - apparently my camera sympathizes with me and my blurry vision post-pinkeye!
Close up of the shawl-collar-to-be:
And the sleeve:
Now I need to study and figure out how to knit the collar. There's something called "Short Row Wrapping" which I have no clue what it is. I hope it's not too hard. I really want to wear it for my B-day!!!

Beaded Votive Sleeve Number 2

2006-11-25T20:40:00.000-03:00

I did some alterations to the second one.

It looks pretty much the same, only it was much easier to knit!

My thumb is not happy, though - knitting wire is not as easy as you would imagine!

Xmas Gifts

2006-11-25T12:41:00.000-03:00

Yesterday I some beaded votive sleeves in Grumperina's blog.

They are cute. They are not too expensive. They are not too difficult to knit.

Translation: perfect Xmas gifts for my students!

So yesterday after the gym I bought some glass candle holders.

Last night, after dinner, I threaded the beads.

Today, while having breakfast I started knitting.

Finished Object:

Not bad for being the first one. Of course I have to admit that the original ones are much better executed. But my students won't know!!

For the following ones I will need to change the wire. This one gets cut too easily.

And I think I may use more beads - and maybe a little bigger?

So, what do you think? Should I make these or do you have any other suggestions?

Knitter or Puppeteer?

2006-11-24T11:30:00.000-03:00

I've decided to continue knitting in spite of my eye. I can't wait to finish this project!!! ´

See? I'm knitting with 6 different balls of yarn AT THE SAME TIME. I've never done anything like this before. It will be a while before I choose an intarsia project again.

And I can't wait to start a new one (though I haven't decided what to knit) with the yarn I bought when spring was about to start (Aug 25th). Yummy! I love the colour of this yarn!

Spring Sky

2006-11-23T19:48:00.000-03:00

I love this time of the day in spring...

Look at the sky from my window! On the left you can see the Congress Dome. And if you look closely you'll see there's a rainbow - it must be raining somewhere already.

Anyhoo... I haven't been posting simply because I haven't been knitting. My eyes are still killing me. The doctor said the conjunctivitis is much better, but now there is something wrong with my cornea - everything is blurry and I get bad headaches.

Next Saturday Dec 2nd there will be another International Knitters Meeting. Of course, we're meeting in the yarn district - where else??? I hope everybody can come!!!

International Knitters Meeting!

2006-11-18T14:11:00.000-03:00

Check out this knitters meeting

People from Buenos Aires (Argentina), from Santiago (Chile) and from Washington (USA).

This is Paula giving us presents.
From left to right: Paula, Carla, Gaby, Michelle, Vik, Ale and Frani.

Was this a success or what???

These are the things Paula brought all the way from Chile for me!!!

Two magazines full of patterns. I'll have a hard time trying to decide what to knit first! And some hand- dyed yarn I had told her I loved when I saw it on her blog. And a cute shawl pin!!

Three different circular needles!!! Now I have no excuse.... I will learn to knit in the round.

A ball of 100% natural linen in the most beautiful grape colour.

THANK YOU PAULA!!! I am so grateful for your kindness and for sharing this lovely morning with us.

Vogue Knitting Project - Placket Shaping

2006-11-17T12:27:00.000-03:00

In spite of my sore eye I've been knitting quite a bit.
In order to be able to actually see the pattern, I've had it enlarged threefold.
On the enlarged pattern, I highlighted the placket shaping, I marked where the neck shaping starts, and I corrected all the mistakes I had found while knitting the back.
At the moment I'm knitting with four balls of yarn - it is as messy as it looks!

Tomorrow is our Trans Andean Blogger Knitter Meeting! I'm meeting Paula at her hotel and we are meeting with Vik, Gaby, Ale and Francine at Milana. I'm sure there's going to be a lot of yarn, needles, chatting and coffee involved!!!

I WON the PIROPOS Contest!!!

2006-11-16T12:25:00.000-03:00

On Nov 6 Paula suggested a game. Everybody should tell their most memorable "piropo"

Whenever I remember the piropo that made me winner, I cannot help but laugh!!!

"Hey, Blondie (my hair was golden blond at that time) I'm gonna make you a saliva baby-doll"

Today Paula announced I WON I WON I WON!!!!

Sunday Sunny Sunday

2006-11-12T21:24:00.000-03:00

Today Husband and I got up and decided we didn't want to stay in. My eye still hurts and all, but I was sick of staying at home all day long!

What did we do? We went to Luján.

The first thing we did was visit the Basilic. We are not very religious, but the architecture is awesome. Look:

Luján Basilic

We entered the church, and the priest was saying Mass. The church inside is beautiful, the altar especially. Anyway, I thought it would have been quite disrespectful to take pictures during Mass, so I didn't.

After that we walked around the Basilic. There are hundreds of stalls where they sell a million different things: rosaries, pictures and statues of the Virgin and of different saints, and they even sell bottles for you to take some Holy Water with you.

Aftwerwards, we went to the City Park. Too many people so we just walked around for a couple of minutes. It's a pity, though, the area around the river is quite nice, but you really can't enjoy it.

I couldn't take my sunglasses off!!! The pinkeye is still bad.

After that we went to the Museum of Transport. Husband LOVED it. Husband loves vehicles. I took pictures and felt happy it was darkish inside (my eye still hurts!!)

Velocipedes

Plus Ultra hydroplane

Sulky

Finally, we ate hamburgers at Mc Donald's and came home in time for my eye drops.

Nap. Homemade pizza and minced meat empanadas.

Husband has just left for work.

Now I'm going to bed - TV and knitting for me.

FO and WIP

2006-11-10T11:20:00.000-03:00

I was about to start knitting when I suddenly remembered I had a UFO.
I started beading this necklace, and then I don't know why I never finished it.
It just needed the final finishings. It only took 10 minutes:

And since I have only been posting about the Vogue Knitting Project I thought this would be a nice change.

Last night I finished the back of the VK Principessa

And my eye is still horrible. It itches and feels swollen and everything is blurry.

How to Pick Up a Dropped Stitch

2006-11-09T19:33:00.000-03:00

I was about to resume my knitting when I realized there was a dropped stitch.

I panicked!

until... I found this tutorial.

Result:

Hooray for me!!!!

Pinkeye

2006-11-08T17:46:00.000-03:00

Yes. I got it from my husband. And Yes, I feel like never talking to him again.

It itches a lot. I cannot open my eyes when I wake up in the morning.

I cannot go to work.

Most importantly: I cannot go swimming!!!! I'm so upset. Especially now that I was swimming more and more every time I went to the swimming pool. I don't think I ever mentioned this before, but I used to swim A LOT - like 500 laps - three times a week, for a long time. Then I stopped swimming altogether when I moved and started living with hubby and changed jobs. I started swimming again last month, and I have been feeling so good about it.

Anyway, I'm so mad.

Here, look at my eye.

Do you see how small it looks?

Anyhow, the doctor told I was not allowed to go swimming, but he said it was ok for me to go to the gym. I have just arrived from the stretching class, and from yoga. Ommmm... still feel like never talking to husband again.

On the knitting side, this is how much I've knit:

I found more and more mistakes in the pattern (rows 75 and 77). Do these people even check what they print????
I have just finished knitting with 5 balls, and I'm down to 3 again. Oh my, I didn't think it would be that hard to knit intarsia!
However, I'm loving the way the project is coming along. I think it is so pretty and so girly!!!

Following Paula's advice

2006-11-04T11:58:00.000-03:00

Yesterday Paula gave me some advice. She told me I should put the yarn balls in bags. Thank you Paula, it is working just fine!!!

Fortunately, I have finished knitting with 5 balls - now I am down to 3 - that is until row 83 when I have to add 2 more balls again. But let me enjoy this while it lasts!

I hope I can make progress at the weekend - next week will be busy again, so I have to take advantage of Saturday morning while Husband sleeps (he arrives at 7 am from work, so he won't be getting up before 2pm, and he might even take a nap!).

This project is coming rather slowly - I guess you won't be seeing a Finished Object too soon.

Vogue Knitting Mistakes

2006-11-02T20:16:00.000-03:00

While knitting this project I have found several mistakes in the VK pattern. As I am not such an expert, I only managed to notice the mistakes once I had done that part of the pattern. Being the perfection freak I am, it obviously led to ripping. And of course I had to write down where the mistakes are so I don't do the same thing while knitting the front!

Currently I am knitting with 5 balls of yarn at the same time. It can get pretty nerve-wracking.

I haven't made much progress - unfortunately I haven't had too much time to knit. And much of the time I did spend on knitting was devoted to disentangling yarn!

But at the end of the day I am happy with what I've got so far, so I won't complain.

Need Help Finding Easy Projects for Xmas Gifts!

2006-11-01T09:25:00.000-03:00

November is here, and I have decided it's time I started preparing small Xmas gifts for my students. I teach a bunch of 20 something and 30 something ladies, and two guys in their late twenties. Every year I give all of my students a small end-of-year present. Sometimes a panettone, sometimes some candles. You know, just a small present to let them know I care about them.

Every year I say to myself "girl, you can make the presents yourself" but then I find it is Dec 10th I never manage to do it.

I thought this year I might actually give it a try.

For the ladies I guess it will be easier. Maybe a beaded bracelet, or a crocheted bookmark. But what about for they guys? I always find myself in trouble when buying presents for men...

Any ideas you can share with me?

Row 39

2006-10-29T21:33:00.000-03:00

That's how far I've come this weekend...

Gratuitous close-up

It's taking me longer than I thought it would. Knitting with multiple balls is not making my life easy. In addition, the lacy patterns are hard for me to memorize - I need to check the chart almost every row.

I hope I will have some time to knit this week, but I don't think I'll be able to make much progress, I have so many things to do - why won't the weekend last longer????

VK Principessa on the Run

2006-10-28T17:16:00.000-03:00

My current project from Vogue Knitting Spring/Fall 06.

This is my first attempt at Intarsia. In fact, I didn't even know there was a name for knitting with multiple colours! This is how the wrong side looks:

On non-knitting news, my husband's eye was better... until yesterday, when he began feeling something strange again. He went to the eye hospital and they told him he has pink eye. The doctor gave him some eyedrops, and today he is better - again.
Some good news is Paula from Chile is visiting Buenos Aires on Nov 17th. How about arranging a meeting so that we can all get together and knit and chat??? It would be great to have a trans-Andean knitting meeting!!! I'm looking forward to your comments!!

I missed the knitting meeting!!!

2006-10-23T17:35:00.000-03:00

The meeting was arranged for Friday evening.
I had an appointment with my doctor at midday. I thought I could manage it.

I could have managed it. I left the doctor's office at around 2pm.

I went to meet my husband at his mother's. He said: "there's something wrong with my eye, let's go to the hospital."
We arrived at the hospital (public hospital that specializes in eyes) and waited there for 3 1/2 hours.
When we left, my husband looked like a grumpy pirate - with a patch in his eye.

You can imagine the rest of Friday and most of Saturday: it was me taking care of grumpy Husband.

That's why I missed the meeting.

FO!

2006-10-23T17:25:00.000-03:00

I finally finished the sweater and it's ready to wear. Too bad it's 30°C today...

I had to make some adjustments once it was finished - like work a round of single crochet around the neckline...

My husband said it looks too serious - I guess he wouldn't say that if I wore it with no tank top underneath like I had planned while knitting it!!!!

These Are The Times...

2006-10-15T20:43:00.000-03:00

...When I wish there were circular needles in Argentina

I have just started sewing. And honestly, my attempt at circular needles was a disaster - I got a pair of circulars made in Argentina and it was far far from good. But just thinking that if I had used circulars I wouldn't have to sew right now just makes my mouth watery...

Anyways, next post I'll be showing off my FO!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you Mums!!!

One Sleeve Down, One To Go

2006-10-11T08:26:00.000-03:00

This is what I´ve been up to. I have finished the back and the front of the sweater, and last night I finished the first sleeve (not bad considering I started it Saturday noon).

Tomorrow I´ll cast on for the second one (I will be soooo busy today I don´t think I´ll have time to do any knitting at all).

Hopefully, I should be finishing it next weekend!!!

I have yarn for two other Spring projects so I´d better hurry!!!!

Spring in Buenos Aires

2006-10-02T17:15:00.000-03:00

Perfect

Knitting Weather

Work in Progress

2006-10-02T11:12:00.000-03:00

This is my current project.
Specs:
Yarn: silk boutoné.
Needles: 3 1/2 mm.
Sleeves: raglan, elbow length.
Neckline: square (not there yet...)

Butterfly

2006-09-29T11:54:00.000-03:00

I finally found a white top I like to wear underneath the Butterfly.
And even though Spring has begun I haven´t been able to wear it - since I finished it, the temperature has been really really low.
If you look carefully you´ll see I´ve modified the pattern of the body. I find it boring to follow instructions. So I take my favorite parts and do them - and then I alter one or two things - I add my own little twists to it.
I think it worked out fine this time!

Spring Knitting in Buenos Aires!

2006-09-26T08:45:00.000-03:00

Our knit blogger group is growing!!!

This was last Friday, Sep 22, in Patio Bullrich Shopping Center.

Ale brought all her awesome circular needles. She even has some pairs of Addi Turbos. Now I understand why it was SO hard for me to knit with the circulars made in Argentina. She also brought a book on how to knit socks with two circulars. I looked in awe.

Vik organized everything. And there you can see her knitting her 6th dishcloth. She's using some lovely peachy yarn.

And then there's me, wearing an FO, with the butterfly on my lap, and swatching for my WIP. No, it's not a scarf. I had to try a couple of different things before deciding what to do.

We had a wonderful time, having coffee and talking non-stop.

I'm looking forward to meeting again soon!!

Blocking Lace

2006-09-19T10:42:00.000-03:00

I finished my Rowan Butterfly!!!
Right now, I am blocking the hem frill. I think that is the only part that will need blocking, so that the pattern stands out.
Since we don´t have any blocking tools here in Argentina, I made do without the fancy blocking board and blocking pins. All I had handy was a towel and some multi coloured pins.

Some Questions about Butterfly

2006-09-15T18:51:00.000-03:00

I did it!!!
Yesterday night I finished knitting the Butterfly!
Now, the finishings are in place.
Some doubts:
what is the correct order to finish it?

blocking
picot edges on underarm borders and neck borders
sewing seams

Can anybody tell me the correct order? The Rowan instructions tell you to press (?), join seams, knit borders and refer to finishing instructions (which I don´t have - I never bought the mag, Arianwen generously sent me the photocopies =) ).

But then Knitty tells us to block before seaming.

All suggestions are welcome!

Mother - Daughter Bonding

2006-09-15T18:16:00.000-03:00

Yesterday I had a wonderful day!

My mum came to visit me. We gossiped and had "mate". And after that we went to Falabella Department Store on Florida Street. They had invited us from Estee Lauder to meet some make up artists and since we are girly girls we couldn't say no. We went there, we got a facial, and then the make up artists improved our good looks =)

Of course, my mum couldn't help herself. She bought some eye cream and some eyeliner for her. And she gave me these:

(I could never afford to buy these things!)
Then one of the make up artists who we discovered is one of my best friend´s best friend (what are the odds? The world is SO small!) gave me a sample of a moisturizer and a bottle of mascara and my mum a sample of another moisturizer and another bottle of mascara.

And since her birthday is on September 26th I have her a bottle of shimmery peachy eye shadow.

We SO love make up - and as you can see - Estee Lauder is our FAVORITE!!!
And I SO love my mum. She is the greatest.

FO! Secret Garden Felted Bag

2006-09-12T09:56:00.000-03:00

Meet the Secret Garden Felted Bag

My sister Florencia is the lucky recipient of this bag.
(please pretend I am wearing a nice black suit and black stilettos instead of my pink pjs and slippers)

In fact, Flor is so lucky I even lined the bag!

On knitting news, my butterfly is coming along nicely, but slowly - my allergies got so bad last week the doctor gave me lots of medicines, and they make me sleepy. And I need to be 100% alert in order to knit the butterfly without messing it up!

Enlazadas - My Secret Pal

2006-09-12T09:30:00.000-03:00

My "Enlazadas" Swap package arrived yesterday:

Thank you María Graciela Canales
for your Beautiful Gifts: a pink violet bolero

and a necklace

Thank you! Gracias!!!

No Mercy

2006-09-03T21:27:00.000-03:00

Going.... Going...

Gone
A picture is worth a million words.
I took both parts to my mum. It didn´t pass her quality test.
There.
I cut the body from the hem frill, and I cast on again.
Back in Row 3 of the front body.

Butterfly Update

2006-09-02T10:16:00.000-03:00

This is why I haven´t been posting - I didn´t want to keep showing you a couple of rows of my butterfly. But here it is! The back and the front.
There is one little problem though, that I spotted last night when I cast off... I´m not going to say anything, because it may have been my exhaustion. I´m just telling you that I might be starting another butterfly back if what I saw last night is still there when I look at it in a couple of minutes.

Yarntastic!

2006-08-25T19:24:00.000-03:00

Today my mum and I went to the yarn district. Of course, I couldn´t help myself.
1. Delicious Cotton Boucle in four different colours for a project from Vogue Knitting Spring Summer 06 (I need to add that my mum bought light yellow one and I´m trying to persuade her to knit a matching bolero/cardigan for me.

2. Silk Boutone in a gorgeous golden/greenish. I still don´t know what I´m going to do with it... a sweater most probably.

3. Yummy Cerise Cotton. Again, I haven´t decided what to knit with this yet, but the colour was so beautiful I coudn´t leave it in the store...

My mum, in addition to the light yellow cotton boucle, bought some purple cotton for herself, and some off-white silk boutone to knit something for my sister. Silly me, I didn´t take pics of her yarn.

Anyway, I promised myself I wouldn´t even look at the new yarn till I had finished my butterfly. I have already started the body of the front, the thing is the weather is so freakingly crazy I have been having the worst allergy attack in my life, I haven´t been able to knit at all for the past three days. For those of you who are not in Buenos Aires, on Sunday, the temperature was 4° C and then on Monday it was between 1 C and 14 C. Then Tuesday and Wednesday it went up to 28!!! The weather is driving me crazy!!!!
Today I´m feeling a bit better, so I have resumed my butterfly!!! I´m looking forward to showing all of you my progress...

Butterfly - First Part

2006-08-18T23:55:00.000-03:00

I have just finished the first part of my Butterfly. I couldn´t wait to show it to you all!!! I am so so excited about it. It´s almost midnight, so I know I SHOULD NOT start the second part, especially since it is the hem frill, which is terribly difficult and it requires 100% of my attention.
Ok, off to bed then, and tomorrow in the morning I can start my day with mate and butterfly.

2006-08-15T10:43:00.000-03:00

On knitting news, I have been crocheting more squares for my throw. I have also started sewing some of them. I need so many more!! I don´t think I have enough to cover my legs.
These are my legs covered by what I´ve done so far. As you can see, PINK is one of my favorite colors. Pink pajamas and pink slippers (the slippers were a present from my mom for Children's Day).
I have also tried to continue with the butterfly. I took it again yesterday, I did a couple of rows and realized there was a mistake 10 rows before.... Frogging this was the hardest thing to do, the yarn didn´t help me much, and then picking up all the stitches again, oh dear, nightmarish.
Anyway, I guess I´ll knit some more butterfly tonight after work, but not too much, my back is not perfect yet.

Not for Me...

2006-08-15T10:36:00.000-03:00

I usually make things for myself, and I love this little bracelet I made yesterday, but this one has to go... Bye, Bye, Bracelet.

Butterfly - Body

2006-08-11T17:55:00.000-03:00

I have started the body of my Butterfly.
I found it excruciatingly unnerving to pick up the stitches from the hem frill. It was not as hard as I had expected!
And now all I have to do is go on knitting!
I think it is coming along nicely!
Last Wednesday I showed my Butterfly and a pic of the finished project to my 15-year-old goddaughter. She couldn´t believe her eyes... I know that right now she is racking her brains trying to figure out a way to ask me to knit one for her too!

No Knitting for Almost Two Days

2006-08-08T18:23:00.000-03:00

Sunday and Monday I had a horrible headache. And I think it was because of my back. SO my mum told me not to knit for a couple of days, because probably it was the knitting that was causing it.

Now I am feeling better, my back still hurts a little, but I NEED to resume Butterfly!! I´ll just take it more slowly.

It's Here!

2006-08-08T17:58:00.000-03:00

I got mail!

From

And it was...

and two other gorgeous patterns,
and a GRRRReat tiger card!

Thank you!!!

Butterfly Hem Frill

2006-08-04T23:14:00.000-03:00

Not easy. Challenging.
I can´t believe I´m actually knitting it!
And that I CAN do it!
I would like to thank everybody who generously helped me. Thank you, Arianwen. Thank you, Ann Marie. Thank you, Catheryn. I´m looking forward to seeing your Butterflies!
Here´s the Hem Frill.

Butterfly

2006-08-02T20:13:00.000-03:00

This is the yarn I´ve been thinking of using, but I´m afraid it might be too thin. What do you think?

And here is the first repeat of the hem (I used thicker yarn to practise!)

It looks awesome, but it needs lots of concentration and patience and focus on the pattern and stitches. Not easy, but totally worth the hard work.

Update on the Crochet Throw

2006-08-02T20:03:00.000-03:00

These are the squares I´ve crocheted on Monday and Tuesday.
I´m 15 closer to finishing it!

2006-08-01T10:08:00.000-03:00

Not only do I have to deal with this frustration during the day... now I´m dreaming about it!!!
Last night I dreamt I had finished it, and that when I tried it on, I hated it.
Does it ever happen to you? I mean, am I the only crazy person dreaming about knitting and yarn??? Please, tell me I´m not!
And another question - do you ever buy yarn that you think is simply gorgeous, and then when you start knitting you realize you hate it and there´s no pattern that will make you happy to knit with that yarn?

Crochet the Weekend Away

2006-07-31T18:18:00.000-03:00

At the weekend it was SO SO cold that I hardly left the apartment.
On Friday I met Vik for our knitter-blogger meeting (we saw a girl with an amazing long coat that we are positive was knit in the round).
And then Saturday and Sunday I stayed at home, I just walked to the mini market around the corner to get some cheese for the pizza!
That´s how I increased the number of crochet squares from 20something to 61 or 62!
So that you get an idea of how big this throw is going to be, in the second picture, you can see the TV remote on your left.

Mr. Rip It the Frog

2006-07-26T17:51:00.000-03:00

This is as far as I got, before I realized that if I finished the sweater and wore, I would look like a Large Furry Teddy Bear.

Hail Storm

2006-07-26T17:47:00.000-03:00

This is what I could see from my kitchen window, at 3.30 pm. The hail was coming down like crazy!!
I was smart enough to take a taxi to come home from work at 2.30!
I hadn´t seen such a hail storm in a very very long time. Fortunately, it stopped just before Husband had to leave for work.

Trellis-Framed Leaf

2006-07-24T22:02:00.000-03:00

Current Project: Sweater for myself.
Pattern: Trellis-Framed Leaf (from Vogue Knitting Magazine)

Yarn: Mohair.

Swatch: The bottom part is a pattern from a Verena Magazine. I didn´t quite like it.
The second part is from another Verena magazine. The last upper part is the Trellis-Framed Leaf (the first 6 rows I knitted on the wrong side. I didn´t fancy it, so after the 7th row I purled on the wrong side).

First Attempt at Knitting in the Round

2006-07-22T13:28:00.000-03:00

Oh my... What a SHAME!My hands hurt, my back aches, my head and neck feel horrible...

Scandalous behavior - how dare the stitches twist and turn like that????

Solution: Frog it, and use a thicker yarn.

Buttons

2006-07-22T13:22:00.000-03:00

Look what I found today, on my way to meet Vik.
They are not exactly what I had in mind, but they´re pretty close, and I think they will look lovely on my grey cardi.

At this new haberdashery, I also asked if they organize classes, and whether they teach how to knit with circular needles: the girl told me she thinks they DO! So I have to call her on Monday to check, and if they do, next Friday I will be there, learning to knit in the round.
Today Vik and I had our first attempt at knitting in the round. Vik got the hang of it quickly...
To see what I did, check the next entry...

Thank God For Coffee

2006-07-20T19:21:00.000-03:00

I couldn´t have done it without my true and loyal friend Coffee

Finally! It´s done (I´m lying, I still have to buy the buttons (I´d like to get something similar to these), sew them and open up the buttonholes)

Happy Happy Joy Joy

2006-07-20T13:47:00.000-03:00

I treated myself to these lovely Gerbera Flowers...

Vogue Knitting Fall Issue Preview

2006-07-20T10:16:00.000-03:00

I have just seen the preview of the Vogue Knitting Fall Issue.
Socks galore!
I´ll have to learn how to knit with circular needles, because I have to have those socks!

Don´t Count Your Eggs Before They Hatch

2006-07-19T22:32:00.000-03:00

Almost finished Grey Cardi?
Have I finished it yet???
Nope.
Last night I sewed both front sides to the back, and started knitting the neckline.
When I finally cast off... I realized the left and the right were not alike. I started the neckline of the right front side 2 rows before I did in the left one.
So, today, I unsewed everything, frogged over 20 rows of the right side, knitted them again, cast off, sewed it back, cast on for the neckline, knitted the neckline...
And I have already sewn one sleeve...
And let me call it a day.
I hope I can finish it tomorrow

About to Be Finished!

2006-07-18T19:13:00.000-03:00

I´m just about to sew it!!!

Buttefly from Rowan 37

2006-07-17T17:57:00.000-03:00

I have been coveting this ever since I saw it...

Isn´t it gorgeous??? So girly, so romantic... lovely.

Grey Cardi´s First Sleeve

2006-07-16T21:54:00.000-03:00

I started it on Friday while waiting for the hair stylist at my Mom´s. On Saturday morning it came to the knitter blogger meeting with Vik. And today I finished it at home while watching Grey´s Anatomy (the episode in which Meredith and Izzie take up knitting).
I hope the grey cardi will be finished by next weekend!

To Be Sewn

2006-07-16T21:49:00.000-03:00

So this is the sock. It only needs sewing (thank you, Vik, for the back stitch tip!). I think I´ll sew it tomorrow evening... I can´t wait to see it finished!

Crochet Throw

2006-07-13T23:13:00.000-03:00

I´ve been working on these small crochet squares while waiting. I take my crochet hook and the ball of yarn in my bag everywhere I go.
If I have to wait for a student, I crochet.
At the doctor´s office, I crochet.
In line at the Corporate Records Office (IGJ), I crochet.
Too bad I cannot crochet or knit (or even read) in the car or on the bus (I have had car sickness since I was a little girl - my dad had to pull over al least twice on the way to Quilmes).
Anyway, you can see my twentysomething squares. They are on my bed, so you can actually see how much I´ve got, and how much needs to be done.
This is another project that will take for ever and ever!!!

Almost There!

2006-07-13T23:04:00.000-03:00

Brava! I´ve finished the Heel Part!!! Here you can see Miss Left Sock, spread on my bed. Of course, since I´m knitting it with two straight needles, I´ll have to sew it when it´s done... but it looks so pretty, I don´t even care! Anyway, little Miss Left Sock will have to wait for Mr. Right... I´m planning on resuming the gray cardi ASAP. I haven´t worked on it much this week.

Yuck I Hate To Wind Skeins Into Balls

2006-07-12T18:17:00.000-03:00

I admit it, I HATE winding yarn into balls.
I wouldn´t go so far as to do this!this.

Update on the First Sock Ever

2006-07-12T17:46:00.000-03:00

Here it is! Meet my First Sock Ever!

In the first pic, you´ll see my "row counter" aka Pen and Paper. I have been looking all over Buenos Aires to find a decent row counter- I mean, I´m not looking for anything fancy like the Clover Row Counter... I just want a simple plasticky thing like this one.
Anyway, it was impossible for me to find one in any of the haberdasheries near home. So I found the instructions to do a bracelet / row counter and here it is.

I´ve knitted 57 rows. That means 100 more. I still haven´t figure out the heel part... I´ll worry when I get there (in about 20 rows).

Knitter Blogger Meeting

2006-07-09T19:58:00.000-03:00

Yesterday in the morning I met Vik (on the left) for breakfast. We were supposed to knit and talk... we talked about knitting and girl´s stuff, but knitted nothing, not even a stitch. If you look closely, you will see Vik´s second pair of socks, her awesome chunky yarn coat, and my pink felted bag.
It was great to meet her, and she was so kind as to give me her sock pattern (to knit with two straight needles).
We had so much fun. We decided we will try and meet again another Saturday morning, and maybe some other knitters in BA would like to join us...
Of course, I couldn´t help myself. The minute I got home I found some yarn and started my very first sock.

Thanks Vik! I´m looking forward to the next time.

Felted Bag

2006-07-09T19:49:00.000-03:00

So this is the bag for my Sister. I asked her whether she wanted me to felt it again, but she said she likes it the way it is right now.
As you can see, it is far from finished... lining, magnetic snaps, handles... Anyway, I hope I can finish it soon, so that my sister stops asking me "when is my bag going to be ready?"

Green Bag Before Felting

2006-07-07T12:22:00.000-03:00

The Green Bag is about to go to the washing machine.
The Pink Bag was so gorgeous my sister wanted one. So here is the green one for her. I still have to find some nice fabric for the lining and some handles. So it is not really a Finished Object yet, but I thought an update wouldn´t hurt anyone. I hope you like it, and I hope my sister likes it, too!

Update on the Gray Cardi

2006-07-07T11:16:00.000-03:00

I´ve been knitting like crazy, and this is how far I´ve gotten.
All I can think is of the song "Neverending Stoooory". Have you seen the film? It was one of our favorite films while growing up. We so loved Atreyu and the luck dragon Falkor.
Now, changing the subject, the weather is just IMPOSSIBLE in BA! Two minutes ago it was pouring down with rain, now the sun is shining. No wonder I have a sore throat. My voice is kind of coarse right now.
If everything goes well, I´ll be meeting one of our fellow knitterbloggers tomorrow for breakfast. I am so looking forward to this!
Ok, I have to go on knitting if I ever want to finish this project!

Current Project

2006-07-02T21:24:00.000-03:00

This is my latest project: a cardigan from Verena magazine. Yarn: gray Shetland. Needles: 3 1/2.
It´s going to take FOR EVER!

Hubbie's Sweater!

2006-07-02T21:12:00.000-03:00

Still needs ironing... but don´t they (Husband & Sweater) look gorgeous?
It was quite a quick knit. I think it took me 2 weeks from beginning to end, maybe...

FOs? Not Yet

2006-06-30T21:39:00.000-03:00

I´m about to finish my two current projects.

1. Felted bag for Sister.
This is a pic of the bag before the felting process.

It still needs sewing, felting, lining, magnetic snap, handles.

2. Denim Blue Sweater for Husband.

It still needs sewing. But here you can see the new neckline.