Scraps

Here are the last two things I knit while in Italy. Both were just made from my head using the scraps leftover from the hats.

First, a very simple garter stitch headband, which, surprisingly, I like a lot.

Second, a bracelet, very similar to this necklace. (made from this pattern)

Three by Five

I finished up my Italy modified Turn a Square hat. Here is the finished product!

I really like the stripes! My pattern was:
1 CC, 1MC, 1 CC, 1MC, 1CC, 3MC (3 stripes of CC)
1 CC, 1MC, 1 CC, 1MC, 1CC, 1MC, 1CC,1MC, 1CC, 3MC (5 stripes of CC)
Repeat.

CC = Contrast Colo(u)r
MC = Main Colo(u)r

Italy

If there's one thing you have to have on a trip it's knitting. 

No wait. ... That's not 100% exactly right. It also helps to have clothes. And guidebooks. And shoes. And awesome people to travel with. ... And then maybe if you have all those things, it's pretty important to bring some good knitting projects with you. 

I just got back from an amazing week in Italy (Rome, Venice and Bologna). I still can't believe how awesome it was. My friends and I saw cool stuff, took tons of pictures, ate lots of gelato and had lots of laughs. What more could a girl ask for?

Normally for trips I totally strategize about the yarn I'm going to bring and the things I'm going to make. Somehow that didn't happen this time. I just threw some yarn in my carry-on with some needles and figured I would make something up. 

And that's just what I did!

That's pretty much what happened. I ended up making two hats (one on the flight there, one on the flight back) and then a few random things in the middle. 

The hat above is made based on the turn the square pattern. It's pretty easy to remember the formula. A super nice flight attendant on the flight home would stop each time she came by with something, and check in on my progress or complement me on the colour choice. So nice. I almost wanted to finish the hat and leave it for her. (I didn't have a needle to finish it or otherwise I might have.)

Anyways. I thought I'd also share a few of my favourite pictures I took. These are more things you might not always see photographed, although I did take pictures of things like the Colosseum too.  

I am so glad I went on this trip! And I'm looking forward to going on more!!

Saartjes

I'm off on a trip! I'm so excited!!
But before I go, here's my latest finished knit. Little teeny tiny booties.

They are going to be shipped off into the mail tomorrow. I hope they are liked. They've been done since... well, since January. Other than the buttons that is. I don't know why I waited for 2+ months to do a 10 minute job. Actually, maybe it took me 5. Why am I like that? Putting off doing something that *really* doesn't take that long.

For reference: I got the pattern from here. (Unfortunately, it looks like that blog hasn't been updated since 2009. Sad.) They were super easy to make, and used stash sock yarn I had. Great! I see more of these in my future.

Spring

I don't know how it happened... but it happened. Spring!! Well, really, it's been so hot these past few days that it's like summer. I went running today at lunch and was *drenched* in sweat by the end. It was soooooo hot. I mean... isn't it still March? Wasn't I out rolling huge snowballs just two weekends ago?
Not that I'm complaining. No! Although... I am slightly worried about just how hot this summer is going to be. You know?

But the warm weather means that this scarf I just finished is a little useless.

My spring/fall jacket has been too warm to wear the past few days. I take it with me to work just in case winter decides that, no, it isn't done with us. You never know in Ottawa. You never know!

But as of right now, this random scarf will have to live in my closet until next year. Time to start knitting with lighter yarn.

little bigger

I've been sick over the past two days. I hate being sick. Yesterday I slept, and slept, and slept a little more. Today, home from work, I haven't really wanted to sleep. But I haven't felt up to doing much. So I do what I pretty much always do when home sick.
I watched North&South and knit.
Yup. I think the stereotype is that girls love BBC P&P. I've never really been a fan. But North&South? I would watch it a million times and still love it.

The last two episodes were just long enough for me to finish this hat.

When sick, I find it better to choose small, easy projects. Something that isn't going to overwhelm you. Also, it's probably best to knit with yarn that can be easily washed. Like I said, I'm sick. This hat is gonna get a rinse before I give it to someone!

And now that the hat is done, and the picture is taken, I'm going to go sleep some more.

Headband

It's almost spring!! I swear. Really. It's almost spring.
Well... Maybe. Two weeks ago I was sure it was almost spring, and then we got two HUGE dumps of snow last week. Wow. I didn't not expect that now. Not that I mind. It was pretty ideal for a day of skiing and then snowball rolling.
Yay for new snow and slightly above freezing temperatures!

And I'm glad I finished this right on time. This headband has been in the works since I finished these, made from the leftover yarn. The whole top is the green that I was trying to avoid for the mittens.

I love having a new headband. Something to cover my ears, but not a full hat.

As with half of what I make, I kinda made this pattern up. A combination of this and this. Here's what I did.

Pattern notes:

CO 13 sts

Row 1: slip first stitch, knit to end

Row 2: slip first stitch, purl to end

Row 3: slip first stitch, knit to end

Row 4: slip first stitch, purl to end

Row 5: slip first stitch, k2, M1, k until 3 left, M1, K3

Row 6: slip first stitch, purl to end

Repeat row 5-6 until 25 stitches

After that you'll do a 5 row repeat until the headband almost goes around your head

Row 1: slip first stitch, knit to end

Row 2: slip first stitch, purl to end

Row 3: slip first stitch, knit to end

Row 4: slip first stitch, purl to end

Row 5: slip first stitch, knit to end

Make sure to stop on right side

Row 1: slip first stitch, k2, ssk, k until 5 sts left, k2tog, k3

Row 2: slip first stitch, purl to end

Repeat Row1-2 until 13 stitches remain

On next row: K4, BO2, k4, bo2, k2

K3, CO2, K3, CO2, K3

slip first stitch, knit to end

slip first stitch, purl to end

BO all stitches

As you can see. I also made the buttons out of the yarn. I made bobbles and then sewed them on. Random, but I kinda like'em.