Hints of spring: promenade

On the 24th of February, we went with our friends M. and B. for a walk between Croy and La Sarraz.
It was a beautiful day, still cold but not freezing.

We were looking for the graceful Niveoles:



But we found many other hints of the coming spring :



Most of theses photos have been taken by A.J.
My favourite is this one:

Living Knits

I have created a new set on my flickr account: Living Knits.
I want to collect there the photos of my knitted objects as they appear in real life, on real people.

Of course when the real people are cuter than any virtual model could be, the result is almost intolerably cute.



Of course cute is not always the right word...


(Can you recognize three of my handknits in this picture?)

But there are some little persons here no one can resist.



Beware! The cuteness is back!

unblogged: Good Friend Noro pullover

I don't know why I never wrote a post about this sweater:




It is my second adult sweater (but I finished it before the Hourglass), and the first I knit without a pattern (but with my trusty Knitting Workshop always at my side). It could be a couple of inches longer, but I love the colours of the Noro Big Kureyon, the warmth of the wool, the rustic but not itchy feel of the single yarn. I am particulary proud of the not-quite-raglan line of the shoulder decreasing, a little bit disapointed that the special desiging of the bottom rib does not show more, and totally happy with the short-row placed neckline.

I am a little on the unblogged side myself apparently. Well if you really want to know, in no particular order:

I still knit. (like crazy)
I spin. (a little)
I have started experimenting with the knitting machine (It is irritating but very interesting. And it hurts my back.)
I have open my DMC yarn box again and embroider a little bit here and there.
The sewing machine is back on the dinner table....

and:

The garden is calling my name since it is so warm and sunny.
I have three small children who still wants me for this and that. (and that too. and this again.)
I am back to work and university. Two weeks of holiday where much too short to feel well-rested. But the sun and the snow helped a bit to cheer me up side after the exhaustion of the semester and the exams.

All this is pretty good in fact. But then again after all this I don't really want to take pictures of my projects, less even upload them, write a post aso... Sometimes I miss my blog. But apparently not enough to kick my butt and do it.
I don't want to close it officially however. Who knows? If I am stitching again, I may even blog more some day!!
I still read the other blogs though. And of course I am very happy when I get comments, even if I cannot answer to everyone (blogger does not help me in this).

Have a Sunny February!

I'll be back soon

She needed a warm sweater. Now I want the same!

Happy New Year !!!

FO: Grey Drops Jacket

I love my Grey Drops Jacket.



This is a free pattern from Drops design.



The yarn is a cheap Manor Home yarn: Leysin. This is a strange yarn: the core is in a blended synthetic, and pure wool (I think) is all around. It is bulky but light, and I hope it will age ok.
If not, I may knit this jacket again in a more luxuous yarn, because I love it and wear it constantly since I've finished it, in the end of october!
I am not totally satisfied with my choice of buttons (found in my reuse stash). but they are doing their job.
Oh, and I have finally had the nerve to wash my jacket. It has grown a little bit, but it is still totally lovable. Many thanks to the Drops design team for the pattern!


I have lots more details on ravelry. Sorry for the outsiders! Please ask me if you need more details and I will try to answer.

!!!Lien sur le modèle en français!!!

(pics by my then not-yet 7 yrs old daughter. She is now. Time flies and I own her a post here.)

Sewing a Saucisson (and a snake)

In october, we've had lots of fun creating strange creatures from my daughter's old tights.



The one who has been the most excited about it is my 3 1/2 old one. Both softies shown here are his.



This is a very easy and fun thing to do. The children can help in choosing the colours, the shapes and the embellishments, and of course in stuffing the socks which is the best part for them. I was very happy to be using my big box of embroidery floss in all its colored glory.

It has been in use again yesterday for some Christmas Tree ornaments. Maybe I'll get a chance to show them here?

2 years and 2 days

Of deep love.





What can I say?



Happy birthday my sweet and funny one.

unblogged: pirate's hat

I cannot believe I never blogged about my Pirate's hat:



pattern: We Call Them Pirates by Adrian Bizilia from Hello Yarn
yarn: Sport 90 by Grignasco

It is my first stranded knitting project. I made it in September last year (!) for my then 2 year old son. To tell the truth I knitted it for me, but it was too small and his head is big too. He loved it imediately and has wore this hat with great pleasure on any cold occasion since. I am simply amazed that it never got lost. Hopefully it will last, as the hat will fit my son for a long time more, and the yarn is still in perfect condition.

In fact the hat looks nicer now than when I took this first picture.

I have more of this great yarn. It comes in many colours and it is strong and neat looking. (I have used it for my niece's BSJ too.) Now if only I could find my notes on this pattern I would start another one right now. I am hearing the stranded knitting call those days...



You can also have a look at the inside of the hat, or see an artsy shot of the top.

Can you guess that I love this hat? Thanks Adrian for sharing this amazing pattern with us.

FO: River rapids purple socks

Pattern: River Rapids Socks by Sockbug (modified)
Yarn: Regia

I am a big fan of Sockbug's socks. This is the second time that I use her River Rapids sock pattern. I had adapted it for smaller feet, but this time I followed her a little bit more closely. Well not so much. In fact I only used the pattern and the number of stitches she recommends but that's it. I went lazy and used my generic short-rows heel and I added the same ribbing that I invented for my daughter's socks. I think it flows organically with the river rapids pattern.

These socks are knitted for bigger feet than mine either. I hope to find a worthy recipiend for them at Christmas. :)

As usual, you can find more images on flickr.