Aran or Guernsey?

It’s a long time that I’ve been thinking of knitting a long large scarf with traditional, but not too intricate and too classic aran or guernsey motives. 

One of my favorite yarns is DROPS Lima, which is very soft and makes an even and not too much elastic fabric thanks to wool and alpaca fibers mix. 

Last December I was asked to knit some accessories for my friends, so I've decided to use this occasion and order some "christmas decorations" even for me. As usual, from Fiordilana shop. 

I've been using DROPS yarns for several years and every time I try a new color, it becomes one of my favorite. I didn't like beige, now I like it, I didn't like lavender, now I like it... 

Almost all this yarn is already knitted up, and from time to time I watch this colorful photos and remember how happy a knitter can be. 

Well, after knitting 3 hats and one cowl I was free to start my long awaited project. 

Recently DROPS Lima became a bit thinner then some years ago. I knit very tightly and used to knit with 7 mm needles (like Umbrian Tale hat and cowl, which is soon to be published). 
With new Lima I use 6 or 6.5 mm needles.
I tried some different stitches and chose this combination.  

Is it aran or guernsey? May be non of them… 
For guernsey scarf the DROPS Nepal would be better... and it's already on my mind... Next winter.  
This scarf can be easily transformed into a blanket, adding some pattern repeats. 
You can also use Drops Nepal or any other DK or aran yarn.
You will need approx. 500 gr (1000 m) for the size 45 cm x 186 cm.
I used Lima 9018 sea green. 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/aran-or-guernsey

I like this scarf playing "solo", but it's cold outside, so now I'm working on the matching hat. Made with Lima color 9015 grey.

Ena's sweater.

01/03/2015 Finally, finally, finally! 

My Ena's sweater is completed: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Natie379/enas-sweater.

This project was started 11/04/2014. I took the yarn (with other different projects) to Moscow to have fun during my latest visit to Moscow. I fell in love with the idea to knit this sweater with contrast stripes on the yoke. And I think to make an excellent choice: Garnstudio DROPS Alpaca 7323 and 6309 look great together. It gives such a joy to knit with this colors. And it allows to combine this sweater with different garments and accessories.

Unfortunately, I  made an error, instead of making 6 and 7 repeats for the back and front parts I knitted 7 and 8, so I had to undo the front part. The back part became the front part. I don’t like the raglan sleeves, so I continued to knit straight in stockinette after the armholes inserting some blue stripes. In May I took aside this project as it was already too warm to wear it, hoping to proceed in autumn, but I restarted it only in February, tired of knitting only baby garments. 

Now as it is completed, I can’t wait to try it on. Still don’t have a matching skirt, but it would look nice even with jeans. Maybe I will add a kind of band or other little decor on the neckline later.

25/04/2015 I still have to regain my shape but this sweater is so nice and warm and perfect for fresh spring days to wait to be presented. I combined it with 7/8 vintage dark blue jeans, Chie Mihara shoes and tiny Furla bag (so gorgeous but absolutely useless for neomamma). 

There was even rather vintage looking pendant in my dresser. 

Selfie idea, "stolen" from Chie Mihara site.

Winter shopping in Moscow. Part I. Bias scarf with ribbed cables.

This winter I spend some weeks in Moscow. At first it was raining, then it was freezingly cold... but nothing can stop a knitter to go shopping.

My favorite shops now are:

"Semenovskaya pryazha" shop situated in the Moscow Spinniing Factory http://msf.ru/ , where you can find any kind of russian yarn for hand and machine knitting and cross-stitch kits. 

There I bought "a little" of mix alpaca/wool yarn "Peruanskaya alpaca" of Pehorka factory http://pehorka.ru/ The colors you can see in my stash on Ravelry.

This yarn is very soft and is perfect for hats, cowls and scarf, also for warm cardigans and vests for adults and, thanks to wonderful colors, children.

For now I knitted this little scarf  for my daughter http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bias-scarf-with-ribbed-cables

These are cross-stitch kits my aunt bought.

The second shop is a new hobby center called "Loft" http://LoftCenter.ru/

In that shop you can find anything to express your creativity. There are also different work-classes for adults and children. The choice of yarn is not so vast, but still rather good.

These are some accessories bought there.

Even cute needles for children.

Cnine Cosy.

A couple of months ago I found this pattern on Ravelry:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/chine-cosy

It's simple but so elegant and particulare. It can make any garment you wear look unique.

And surely you can play with different accessories.

Bette Accessory for Your Spring Suit (mix).

Here is my last finished project. 
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bette-top-with-keyhole-neckline

It was intended to partecipate in Fiordilana contest, due to be completed by the 10th of March. I did it at midnight of the March, 10, but it was too late to make the photos (:
So, it turned out to be a challenge for me - to knit a sweater in a week.
I used 3,5 and 3,0 mm needles and Drops Alpaca yarn... which is gorgeous! Chritmas time... First present has arrived...

Here is the summery:
2/03 Accessory for Your Spring Suit (http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Natie379/accessory-for-your-spring-suit) is still in process, but I want something new and sunlight. 
I cast on 116 st for the back part. It will be a little boring at the beginning, but the bright yellow color helps. I need something to knit in the car tomorrow. 
03/03 The back till the armholes is done, a bit more than one skein (without ribbing). 3,5 mm needles are much better than 4 mm, which I used to knit the Accessory for Your Spring Suit, so I'me afraid it will be reknitted… 
06/03 Back and front are completed, the ribbon is done (took several hours). Now I have to wash it and think about the sleeves. 
09/03 The sleeves are done, the 4/5 of the collar is left…. 
10/03 It’s done, looks better the I expected, but it is late night to make any foto. Exactly what I wanted, the lace pattern from the Bette top http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Natie379/bette-top-with-keyhole-neckline-2 , the shape of Accessory for Your Spring Suit http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/accessory-for-your-spring-suit

So, Bette sweater Bette sweater. has become Bette Accessory for Your Spring Suit.

Cute accessory - Chia Mihara Amen shoes. 

Now I’m working on the Accessory for Your Spring Suit itself with Alpaca Mix blue.
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Natie379/accessory-for-your-spring-suit-2

Some words about the accessories...

Here are my favourite shoes. Chie Mihara. Made in Spain, fortunately discovered in local shop. Very comfortable, stable, always very vintage. Deserves to collect. I have another pair, we'll post it later with an appropriate outfit.

The bag is Piper Minibag by Furla. Don't try to find the same one. When I lost any hope to have it, my husband gaved it to me as a birthday gift. Looks vintage even this one, don't you think?