AUTUNNO

November is already here and it's full of new challenges: a new teaching job, a new translation project, and I also joined a class of bharata natyam, Indian classical dance that I started several years ago and dropped with pregnancy and relocation. I found a teacher in my town and I'm sooo happy with it. I'm a really lazy person, but bharata natyam makes me feel so well and powerful that I think I can commute for 30 mins every week. Really.

Very few knitting projects, but the family need new stuff for these chilly mornings.

Honeycomb hat pattern is from the Japanese magazine ヨーロッパの手編み (European Handknitting). The superfast ribby neckwarmer patter can be found here. Both in Sesia New Jersey, 100% soft merino.

I'm back

It's been a long time from my last post... I spent my summer in Japan, then I was back here with hundreds of pages to translate. Busy days, a wedding in Maggiore Lake, a Japanese friend in Italy, but here I am.

At my return there was a wonderful surprise: the second package from my not-so-secret upstream pal Gabi: can you see her handspun? My son ate all the gummies...

And I made my third blanket for Cuore di Maglia: a pinwheel blanket with 5.5 needles, a quick knit for instant gratification.

 I have many projects on the needles and time is never enough!

Dopo un'estate in Giappone, centinaia di pagine da tradurre, un matrimonio (altrui) sul Lago Maggiore e un'amica nipponica da scarrozzare in giro per il nord Italia, eccomi nuovamente qui. 

Un ringraziamento doveroso a Gabi, la mia not-so-secret pal: nella foto si intravede una matassa magnifica filata da lei in persona. 

E poi il mio terzo contributo a Cuore di Maglia: una pinwheel blanket con ferri 5.5, rapidissima per soddisfazione immediata. Tanti progetti sui ferri e troppo poco tempo...

SP14 and summer holidays

I received this first box more than ten days ago, but I was really busy with deadlines, shopping and packing before leaving for Japan.

The green yarn is handdyed by my upstream and I think I'll knit a Lacy Baktus when I'll be back, this autumn. The winred yarn is a superluscios silk/wool blend. And now I can start spinning!!! I found a spindle and some roving to start with.

 

I really like my "not so scret anymore" secret pal. She's very friendly and we keep in touch frequently.

I'm leaving tomorrow for a long trip. I have translation projects to work when I'll be in Japan, but the first two weeks will be totally work-free: no mobile, and no laptop!!! I really worked hard this year and I need to stop for a while, enjoying the Okinawan sea and playing with my son. I bought a "shorty", which the shorter version of a diving suit, for loooong snorkelling sessions. 

I have just one knitting project for these first two weeks: Ishbel with some alpaca lace yarn in burgundy. I have to complete it before arriving in Kyushu, as it is a gift for my mother. 

I'm leaving here the stripy sock (just one finished), I'll knit the other in autumn. At my mother's house there's a box from Avril that is waiting for me!

Have a great summer!!!

Ecco il primo pacco dalla mia Secret Pal!!! L'ho ricevuto da più di dieci giorni, ma sono stata molto presa da scadenze da rispettare, cose da comprare e valige da preparare prima di partire per il Giappone.

Il filato verde è stato tinto a mano dalla mia pal e penso di farne un Lacy Backtus quando sarò rientrata. Il filato vinaccia è un misto lana/seta supergodurioso. E ora che ho spindle e lana, posso finalmente iniziare a filare!!

Finalmente domani parto per un lungo viaggio. Avrò con me delle traduzioni a cui lavorare, ma le prime due settimane saranno completamente vere vacanze, senza cellulare e senza portatile!!! Solo sabbia, mare e pesci. Quest'anno ho davvero lavorato senza sosta come una dannata e mi merito un po' di riposo, a godermi il mare di Okinawa e a giocare con R. Ho comprato una muta corta, per sessioni infinite di snorkelling. Parto anche uno zainone grosso come una casa, che su di me fa tanto effetto tartaruga.

E il knitting? Per le prime due settimane solo un ishbel in alpaca per mia madre, quindi assolutamente da finire prima di andare da lei.

Lascio qui un calzino a strisce, con la promessa di fargli il compagno in autunno. Poi da mia madre c'è già un pacco Avril ad aspettarmi!!!

Buone vacanze a tutti!!!

Still alive

I'm still alive. Busy, but still alive. I went to Alsace for a week for a workshop, when I met wonderful people and learned a lot of new things, but most important, I had the chance to think about myself, my work and how to improve.

Then I had a week of urging translation deadlines... and now I'm in Liguria for an interpreting job, which is exhausting, but very very stimulating. The result is that I have very little time to knit. I almost finished the thermis cowl I started on the train while going to Alsace: it took me more than two weeks!!! (I still have to cast off and sew in buttons, though)

I also have with me a pair of Noro Kureyon Sock, but I don't know if I'll even be able to cast on...

Working and working, just waiting for August: sun, beach and sea... I'm coming!!!

SP 14

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I love wool (alpaca, merinos, cashmere blends, etc...). What I can say for sure, is that I don't like acryl or synthetics.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Straight needles are stored in a vintage purse sewn by my mother maybe 30 years ago, circulars are in Knitpicks plastic pouch.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I learned to knit in garter stitch when I was in high school, and I re-learned everything (from cast-on to lace patterns) in the end of 2007, by myself, with the help of the tips I found on the web.

I worked a lot, and now I consider myself... let's say intermediate.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes.

5. What's your favorite scent?
Sandalwood.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I'm not a sweets lover, but sometimes I eat some dark chocolate. 

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I'm trying to teach myself to sew. I never spinned, but I'd like to do. I also made some attempt in dying. Love it.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I like any type of music, from jazz to hard rock, I don't like teenage idols pop music. My mac can play mp3s, and I have an Ipod (that I can connect to my car stereo!).

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
My favourite colors are greys, greens and purples. I don't like pale colors and beige nuances, because they make me look sick.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Hubby is cat-allergic and we don't have any pets now, but there's a 4 years little boy.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I always wear scarves or shawls, never wear hats (I knit them for others), rarely wear mittens or gloves.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Cowls are my favourite because they're quick and give instant gratification. It's also a good way to use singles or left over skeins...

13. What are you knitting right now?
A shrug, aThermis Cowl and planning my second Ishbel.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yessss.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I like bamboo/wood circular  needles. 

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I bought a yarn winder on ebay and my knitting friends bought me a swift for my birthday!

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
mmm... A pair of slippers: I made just one.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

25th of April, Italy's liberation day, and it's also my birthday.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Yarn and shoes.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I have a subscription to Interweave Knits.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Mmm... don't know... spinning, maybe...

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I knitted two pairs of socks, one for me and one for my son. I have very tiny feets: eu 34 (uk 1.5 and us 4)

23. When is your birthday?
4/25

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?

Sure!!! azzuka!!!

Gitarella

Cristiana, Emma, Franci ed io ci siamo regalate una gita a dir poco perfetta: quattro donne con la passione comune della maglia, senza bambini e con tanta voglia di fare shopping. Unfilodi, con la gentilissima e Lulù e poi verso Manifattura Sesia. 

Decisamente da ripetere. Ci siamo divertite talmente tanto che ci siamo dimenticate di fare delle foto!!!

Cristiana, Emma, Franci and I spent an almost perfect day: four women, four knitters, no kids, all of us eager for yarn shopping. First we headed to Unfilodi, Lulù was really really kind with us, and then to Manufattura Sesia. We have to do it again. Absolutely. At least for every season. We had great fun, but we we forgot to take pictures...

Knitting afternoon

Last year, we promoted the World Wide Knitting in Public Day event in the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo café, we had a column in the newspaper and a lot of newbies. This year we wanted a more intimate meeting, so Franci  (hands below) chose Parco del Valentino. Emma (hands above) and I took our three kids and joined Franci and other few  knitters. It was a relaxing afternoon and I really needed it after working hard in translation with R. at home due to some fever.

Lo scorso anno, per il World Wide Knitting in Public Day, abbiamo organizzato un evento al caffé della Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo. Ci siamo sforzate di pubblicizzare l'incontro quanto più possibile e si sono presentate diverse persone. Quest'anno invece abbiamo voluto fare qualcosa di più raccolto e Franci  (mani sotto) ha suggerito il Parco del Valentino. Così Emma (mani sopra) ed io abbiamo preso i gagni e abbiamo raggiunto Franci e le altre per un pomeriggio di completo relax. Dopo una settimana di lavoro con R. a casa con la febbre ne avevo davvero bisogno...

And here's one of my latest FOs: Coachella from Knitty, the yarn is Silky by Madil, 100% cellulosic fiber (?) I bought for 

a disconted price in a LYS. The drape is lovely, but it tends to get loose while wearing. I'm completely boobless, so there's no problem with the drape in the front, but armholes are still too deep for me, even though I made it all shorter...

Qui invece, ecco finito uno dei miei ultimi lavori. Si tratta di Coachella da Knitty, il filato è Silky by Madil, 100% fibra cellulosica (?), comprato scontato in un negozio di Torino. Mi piace tantissimo come cade giù morbido, e non ho tette di cui preoccuparmi, ma dietro è un po' troppo aperto per i miei gusti, nonostante abbia apportato delle modifiche per rimpicciolire gli scalfi...

However, I really like it and I'm very grateful to the photographer that makes me look more gorgeous than what I really am.

Ad ogni modo, mi piace e sono davvero grata al fotografo che riesce a farmi sembrare più bella di quanto non sia in realtà.