A cute summer hat. Very long story...

Two years ago I knitted this cardigan for my son.
Striped cardigan with anchor.
Like always, it was too big for him.
When he was born I knitted another smaller cardigan using the same lime-yeallow cotton yarn. No stripes, no anchor. I also knitted a striped hat.

Then we lost it, so I knitted another one.

This year the cardigan fits perfectly well, all we needed was a scarf.
Ok, let's knit a scarf!
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/NatieKnits/summer-scarf-for-ale

But the hat was a bit worn out, so I started the third striped hat.

And here we are, after more than 2 years the set is completed. As you can see I always reduced the number of stripes. And the last hat is knitted with 4 threads instead of 3 threads of yarn. Just like the cardigan and the scarf. Always with 3,5 mm needles.
All we need now that the spring comes back and we can show all this beauty to somebody outside!

Volo di Farfalle stole

Today I published my new spring pattern “Volo di Farfalle”.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/volo-di-farfalle

I don't really like to knit with summer yarns, wool blends are my all year round favorites. 

Spring and summer stoles knitted with light wool, alpaca and silk blended yarns are the best projects for this period of year. You can wear it with light dresses in summer evenings or use them as gorgeous accessories for bride and bridesmaids. 

A couple of years ago I purchased this beautiful Garnstudio DROPS Lace yarn (7238 Olive shade). It was still manufactured in 100 gm skeins. I bought 2 of them with an idea to knit a stole.

Later I changed my mind and decided to knit a vintage sweater, so I bought other 4 skeins (50 gm), and decided to mix them to make invisible any possible color difference. 

I also purchased 8 skeins of 501 light grey Lace and all this treasure was waiting and waiting...

This spring I was asked to knit some summer garments. I wanted to knit something particular, elaborate, but modern. Perfect for any taste. Suitable for any occasion.

I saw so many beautiful patterns and projects, but, like always, I wanted something different. 

The most important features of this stole are:

- the lace motives are mixed in asymmetric way;

- the stole is knitted with a yarn held double (still it weights only 240 gr). 

The stole is knitted in two slightly different parts and then sewed together using grafting method. 

Now I'm planning to knit another stole with light grey Lace. This time in 1 piece, with slightly different finishing. As grafting took so much time and this time I want to make the begging and the end of the stole looking absolutely different. 

For edges I used the 2 stitches i-cord.
You can easily adapt this pattern for larger stole or smaller scarf, play with the motives, knit them wherever you want.
The pattern is easy to knit and remember.

Enjoy summertime! 

Spring colorful coat.

The spring is coming and my son doesn't have any medium season coat. He is still small and can't decide what to wear. And this colorful red yarn (Tulipano 100% lana merino colorway 80) spent too much time in my stash. I had only 8 skiens, not enough for the sleeves. 

So I decided to make a kind of spring cleaning and make something colorful, but rather boyish. 

First I've knitted the back and front, and it was just enough yarn to knit a collar. So I started to try different stash yarns. The best was Peruanskaya Alpaca of Pehorka (colorway 876). I had 2 skeins. Held double, it was right for the gauge. 

After knitting the first sleeve I realized that the yarn was not enough. So,  I re-knitted the sleeve, omitting the scuffs. Completing the second sleeve I was ready to knit the ultimate part in other color, but fortunately, the yarn was just enough. 

For the scuffs I chose Garnstudio DROPS Lima (colorway 0701), which  was thinner then the main yarn, but it was even better for cuffs and i-cord finishing.

And this is it! I was asked about the pattern. I didn't use any pattern, just general measures. Maybe one day I'll publish this pattern, as it has it's peculiarities: different number of stitches for back and front, asymmetric sleeve shape, different back and front length. And I used short rows for the neck line, which is absolutely symmetric. Everything according to my meticulous personality(:

Let me know if you're interested in this pattern!

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Natie379/spring-coat

Cute toy pattern from my friend.

My italian friend Stefania knits, crochets and sews beautiful garments and toys. Recently she started her own blog where she share her projects and free patterns  http://handmadesteffistorch.blogspot.it/
She asked me to translate this easy crochet pattern "Il mio orsetto ROY" in English and was so kind to share it on my blog. 

To make this cute crochet Roy bear you'll need only a couple of hours and any stash yarn.

Materials: knitting yarn, fiberfill for stuffing, crochet hook, scissors, tapestry needle, decorative ribbon, button.

Let's start!!

Rnd 1: 1 ch in a magic ring, 6 sc, join with sl st in the 1st sc. 

Rnd 2: 2 ch, 2 dc in every st (=12 dc), join with the first dc. 

Rnd 3: 2 ch, 2 dc in every st (=24 dc), join with the first dc. 

Rnd 4: 2 ch, 1 dc in every st (=24 dc), join with the first dc.

The belly of the bear is completed.
Now you'll make the paws and the head. 

The paws:

Row 1: 3 ch and 1 dc, 1 dc in next 3 st, 2 ch, turn the work. 

Row 2: 1 half dc in next 3 st, 1 ch, turn 

Row 3: 1 dc in next 3 st, 1 ch, turn
Repeat 3 times, finish with sl st.

Now let's crochet the head of our amiable friend: 

Row 1: 3 ch e 2 dc, 2 dc in every next 2 st, 3 dc in last st (=10 dc). 

Row 2: 3 ch e 1 dc in 1 ch, 1 dc in next 8 ch, 3 dc in last st (=12 dc). 

Row 3 and 4: 3 ch, 11 dc.

Next row - ears: 1 ch, 3 dc in next 2 st, 6 sl st, 3 dc in next 2 st, finish with sl st.

The half of the bear is ready. Now work the other half in the same way, sew 2 parts together, stuff the body, attach the ribbon and button.

Enjoy!

Abbreviations: 

dc double crochet 

sl st slip stitch 

ch chain 

st stitch

Umbrian Tale

This is my new long awaited pattern. It has a long story. 

The first cowl and hat were knitted with DROPS Lima manufactured in 2014. 

Later I knitted another set with Lima manufactured in 2016. And there was a quite visible difference. 

To my opinion, the "old" Lima yarn is very close to "new" Nepal.

Since then I’ve knitted several garments with DROPS Lima and Nepal. Several versions of Umbrian Tale.

In this cowl ("old" Lima 0701) I used double rise stitch, the hat is a bit smaller.

This cowl is knitted with "new" Lima (9020).






















At the end I decided to write 2 versions of this pattern, adapted to DROPS Nepal and DROPS Lima. I knit very tightly,  for Nepal I used 7 mm needles to obtain 16 sts x 26 rows, for Lima – 6 mm needles to obtain 18 sts x 29 rows. You can go down at least 2 sizes to obtain the recommended gauge.

It’s very easy to variate the size of both cowl and hat adding some stitches in garter stitch or changing the number of main cable pattern repeats.

The other day I completed the ultimate hat (Lima 519) and this morning I was happy to publish my new pattern which you can find here:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/umbrian-tale

This hat has an assymetrical cloche shape which looks cute and feminine. 

You can wear these cowl and hat together or separately, mix them with other garments.

For example I've knit grey hat to wear with yellow Byway scarf (pattern of Jared Flood).  

This set was knitted for one friend. She liked my original Umbrian Tale, but preferred simple double cowl in double rice stitch. Why not?

Cable Twin Hats

Last December I was asked to knit 2 hats for two sisters. Not twins, but they wanted the same hat: something warm, with cables, with pompom, and that remains steady, doesn't fall down or drapes. 

I thought that the best yarn would be DROPS Nepal, we chose the colors, beige 0206 and blue lavender 6220 (ordered, as usual, from Fiordilana).

I've ordered even these cute circular needles without realizing how short they would be. They are perfect for mitts or leg warmers. 

And then I've started to struggle with my usual problem - choosing the gauge.

After different fall starts with beige yarn I cast on the blue hat with 8 mm needles. On the 3rd skein I was more then sure that I absolutely disliked it. 

So I restarted with beige and 7mm needles. Then I knitted the rib (twice, I think).

And then I worked with the crown of the hat.
How many hours did I spent knitting the first hat? They would be enough for a sweater. 

But if you follow my pattern and have even medium experience in knitting you would need only a couple of days to complete it. 

I never make pompoms and I don't have any special accessory, so I used the traditional method - 2 paper circles. Now I'm going to buy a Knitpro pompom set, as it really saves so much time.

To be sincere, I didn't like all these hats with pompoms, but now as I knitted two of them, I'd like  to knit one for me, with Nepal orange 2920. It will be cute. May be with contrast pompom. 

And here are the twin hats for my friend and her sister. 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cable-twin-hat

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.