New crocheted projects

The Deep Raspberry Shawl went fast! :), and I quickly made this Pink Camellia Lace Shawl to replace it on Etsy




And this romantic accessory

Rose And Ruffles Scarf - Neckwarmer




Extra long, 200cm, it can be worn in many ways - wrapped many times around the neck or as a scarf. I made this without following a pattern using a wool/acrylic blend (80%wool, 20%acrylic) in black and light grey-brown.

As far as knitting is concerned, stay tuned: free scarf pattern coming soon!

Too hot to work...

...but I still try. I have so much to do these days and a million things on my mind. Because I'm having a hard time going to sleep at night I do some knitting and I have almost completed a white Venezia Lace shawl and a very pretty cream-white scarf which might end up for sale on Etsy. Meanwhile I have listed a couple more items-
a cotton eyeglass or sunglass case, crocheted and lined for extra protection, closes with a pretty vintage button and I have decorated it using an unusual embroidery technique: the yarn is wrapped around a pencil then the flowers are formed and stitched on the item. Tricky but effective. I have then decorated each flower with a small pearl.





A couple more crocheted cell phone - iphone - ipod cases-
one in chocolate brown with pink Sarubobo doll and vintage button


and one cream - white with red Sarubobo doll and matching red vintage button


and because I really enjoy making them, a few more cute tiny Sarubobo dolls

don't you love to see mama and baby playing together? :)

so sweet!! You will find more details here
And lastly, the buy-one and get-one-free pattern sale is still on. Don't miss it!

Changes

A lot has happened since my last post. My peaceful life has been upset by unespected events and the necessity of important and not easy decisions. I will not go into details, what I can say is that I will have to face some unespectedly and extraordinary expenses and since the economy is not at its best here, like everywhere else, I have been trying to fight the overwhelming feeling of powerelessness working as much as I can. Because I am definitely not up to getting into challenging projects I have been working on small, simple handmade items that I plan to sell, actually some are already listed in my Etsy shop - a crocheted shawl


and two cell phone cases





and I will be adding gradually others. I have also decided that it's time to part with some things which I have cherished for a long time but have no real meaning to me at this point of my life. They are going to be listed in an Etsy vintage shop that I will be opening by the end of this week. Please check them out. I will add updates and more details soon.

Sweet Tango Lace Shawl

Finally ready. The testing took longer than I expected but here it is, pattern ready and available. Why did I change its name? Simply because the original wasn't so original after all and someone had already used it.
I love the lacy transparencies of this shawl!



Two of my testers have already sent me pictures: Wendy's Sweet Tango Shawl, beautiful in white...so light and lacy, makes me think of a wedding shawl!

And Debi's in lovely pink!


Pattern can be found on Etsy and on Ravelry. It includes written instructions and full charts.

Lei wedding ring afghan pattern

Project details:

size: 17"x 51"- cm90 x cm130
yarn: approx. 450gr fingering weight wool
2mm crochet hook

Pattern is available on my Etsy store or as pdf download on Ravelry (I'm missrita).

Pavone Shawlette pattern ready!

This shawl is worked from the neck down in five panels, ending with a simple crochet edging.
Experience level: advanced beginner.
Size: Approx. 130cm wide at widest point, 65cm long at longest point (after blocking).
Materials needed:
Approx. 300gr DK weight yarn
4mm (US 6) circular knitting needle
3.5mm (US 5) crochet hook
Markers.

Gauge: 22sts and 30 rows = 10cm (4ins)

Pattern and details on My Original Designs

This is for Katrin, Sara, and Carla, my volunteer test knitters: thank you ladies for your precious help!! :)

Carla's Pavone

Pavone Shawlette test update

My tester Sara is using Rowan RYC Silk Wool DK in purple! Isn't it fantastic? She's doing a great job. :)

Cupid Shawl: FO and new pattern.

And so I'm finally out of hibernation and what better way to come back than a new design? I finished this shawl in just over a week. (For the record, watching the Alien saga on dvd as well as Back to the future 1, 2,and 3!) It was fun to make but what I like about this project is that pattern is easily memorized and once you get the hang of it there's no need to keep referring to the instructions. Pattern is already available and you can find it as well as more details in My Original Designs or on Ravelry
So what is the next project? Well, first of all I will need for my hands to heal, then I'm going to start working on a knitting pattern that has been on my mind for quite a while. But...all in good time!

Et voila', Venezia lace shawl is a FO!

Details and pattern here

Knitting the last 5 rows of the shawl was a real nightmare, but I'll tell you all about it in my next post because today we are having connection problems :(
See you all (hopefully) tomorrow!

Edelweiss, a mountain flower.

Remember the famous movie of the '60 "The sound of music"?
Remember Julie Andrews singing and dancing on the Austrian alps, the breathtaking view of those high mountains.....what memories!
I simply adore those places.
These are the lyrics of the song:
"Edelweiss, edelweiss, every morning you greet me.

Small and white,
Clean and bright,
You look happy to meet me.
Blossom of snow
May you bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever.
Edelweiss, edelweiss, bless my homeland forever

Small and white,

Clean and bright,
You look happy to meet me.
Blossom of snow
May you bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever.
Edelweiss, edelweiss, bless my homeland forever"

Touching!

"Edelweiss" is the name of a flower that grows on the Alps. It is protected because it's becoming more and more rare. In the german language "edel" means "noble" and "weiss" means "white". Its stunning beauty has inspired me in designing a shawl.




Modesty apart, I find it is my best creation so far.

As for knitting progress on my top, having reconsidered the length I had to rip about 35 rows (ouch!!) because I started the decreases for the waist after 15cm, way too high. Thanks to my little sis' advice (she's a lot smarter than me!!) it's looking much better. Details on progress on my next post.

A couple more glimpses of our garden for those of you who appreciate nature.

Crochet tour-de-force

Finished!



And blocking nicely on the dining room table.
A real tour the force. A few more corrections to the pattern and that will be ready too. Details on Ravelry soon. (btw, my username is missrita).

The other night I started this cotton top. Leftover thread, the blue is new and the rest recycled but in excellent condition. I don't usually go much for stripes but this combination isn't too bad and it couldn't be helped since I only have a 50gr ball of blue.


After months without knitting, can you believe I had to do the provisional cast on twice because I couldn't remember how?
Goodness! I'm keeping it simple, just 1/1 ribs and it's probably going to be open at the front although I still have to decide about sleeves...or straps.

Today I would like to leave you with some photos of our garden which is beginning to come to life again. Thank you mother nature for your generosity!

Have a great weekend everyone!

A quick update.

Like I said in my previous post, more toys but this time they are knit..


..the pattern will be ready in one or two days.
Progress on Pink and Lacey's pattern:


so far so good. Nearly finished the mesh triangle which is obviously the easy part. We'll see about the lace border which I count to start possibly before the weekend.

Seems like we're heading for an early summer here in southern Italy. Days are warming up considerably and the garden....what can I say? It's glorious.

Iris,

daisies,


and you should see the roses! They are absolutely fantastic. I will take shots this weekend and post the photos on Monday.
See you all then!