As an architect, I just had to get a skein of yarn from The Uncommon Thread in the colorway Blueprint!  I even got to knit a few rounds at my new job, around 2 in the morning when I was waiting for files to export…

I knit these toe-up two-at-a-time on one long circular, though the two balls of yarn did cause a bit of trouble getting out of the subway when they got away from me.  And once the needle bounced up and poked me in the eye.

But they are my first socks for me, and I am pretty pleased.

The pattern is with a heel flap, which seems unusual for toe-up socks.  They’re great as a basic recipe, and I can imagine adding a pattern the next time.

pattern: Toe Ups For All! . Sivia Harding . Sivia Harding Knit Design

yarn: Blueprint . Organic Merino Fingering . The Uncommon Thread

I picked up a skein of the most beautiful blue yarn from Klose Knit, a lovely yarn store with a great selection.

Of course, trying to stash-down, I had to cast on immediately.  And knit double-stranded.

This hat is super-cute, but having not had a hair cut in three months, the modeled photos were not very flattering…  I so hope with the new do it looks okay.

Still waiting on the perfect buttons.

pattern: Little Things . Veera Välimäki . Rain Knitwear Designs

yarn: Continental . Lace . Malabrigo

I love Woody Guthrie!

For Father’s Day I bought my dad a book on making pizza, as well as a pizza peel, stone and cutter.

At home we finally got going, and made the Neapolitan style pizza and it was truly excellent.  The dough and sauce were made the day before, so they came together super fast on the day-of.  Just pop the stone in the oven to pre-heat for an hour, and each ‘za will cook in less than 10 minutes.

YUMMY!!!

I’ve been lucky enough to win a few give-aways over the past few years, but didn’t ever have the chance to photograph them…

So a belated “Thank You!” for these lovely prizes:

from Lizzy House who designs lovely whimsical fabrics and patterns

and Hawthorne Threads who have a great selection of lovely fabric and excellent service.

Bamboo shoots

Glass

Produce

Old finds

Buttons pop off

Ducks with ‘fros

Plus lots of knitting and re-knitting.

This is the Cria from Ysolda Teague’s Little Red in the City.  Everyone’s been going crazy over this book finally being released and I thought maaaaaaaaaaaaybe I could knit this out of 100 grams of alpaca fingering.  Right.

I tried liking this sweater as a bolero, but that just would not do!  So my shawl was ripped and now I love this sweater.

Many modifications were made, but I think that’s sort of in the spirit of the book which really intends to teach exactly how to make the perfect sweater for you.

I used a red contrast yarn left over from this project, just like when I knit a sweater for my grandma, and I really love the little touch of cute.

pattern: Cria . Ysolda Teague . Little Red in the City

yarn: Anthracite (?) . Alpaga . La Droguerie

This was my shawl…

But a sweater caught my heart.

Much as I tried to save the edging by cutting and just ripping the plain center portion, in the end one perfect knit trumps two awkwardly lopsided projects.

pattern: Cladonia . Kirsten Kapur . Through the Loops

yarn: Anthracite (?) . Alpaga . La Droguerie

The yarn I bought in Paris was to knit a Cladonia.  It’s a pattern that has been on fire around Ravelry recently and I just love the delicate lace.

The project was started on my flights home and I got all the way through the stockinette portions.  One of my flight attendants stopped to comment on the pattern, and he even asked whether the bind-off in the pattern was crochet or knitted – how cool.

The lace was knit over a few lazy days at home.

I added two buttons bought in Madrid at the cutest merceria, Almacen de Pontejos, where you really need to fight to be served.  There is also an i-cord loop to help it all stay around my shoulders.

pattern: Cladonia . Kirsten Kapur . Through the Loops

yarn: Anthracite (?) . Alpaga . La Droguerie

The shawl used up about half of the yarn, so a little over 100g.  It was so cozy and warm…  More on that tomorrow!

I had a wonderful trip to Paris a month ago (in my whirlwind of packing, moving, packing, moving etc. I’m painfully behind in blogging) and brought these home as a souvenir.  250 grams of alpaca fingering from La Droguerie.  The shop was delightful although not speaking French made ordering a bit difficult.  The attendant took my order and then went into the back to wind the yarn for about 10 minutes.  The yarn is so soft and lovely, and over the next few days I’ll show you what became of it.  I even got to knit some of it twice…

The 4 highlights of my trip in no particular order:

• Luxembourg Gardens
• Villa Savoye by Le Corbusier
• Les Brigands at the Comic Opera
• Fougasse at Maison Martin Boulangerie on the Ile Saint Louis