Let there be peace

Happy New Year!

Yesterday I finally knit the tubular bind off row for my Let There Be Peace jumper! Today I wove the ends in and worn it.

The project notes are on my Ravelry project. Here are some photos (before washing and blocking)

The pattern is In Stillness by Alicia Plummer – nice and not very difficult. I would definitely knit this pattern again because it’s a very wearable one.

I substituted the required yarn with one from my stash; the fabric in my sweater appears denser than the one shown in the original pattern, but it’s still nice and soft. The wool I used didn’t match the pattern gauge, so I did a little swatch and went to town. In order to achieve my size (approx 36 inches, 92 cm, UK 12-14, or Medium) I followed the instructions for the smallest size (29.25 inches or 74 cm).

The jumper was started in April 2020 and really dragged on more than necessary – mostly due to long breaks in between.

Although there are a few less-than-perfect details in my making, I do like the result, the fit and the colour, which from afar it looks like gray but it’s a melange of beige, light and dark blue. The fabric gently hugs the figure without being tight.

Overall a very wearable piece. And it’s nice to make one’s own clothing 🙂

I wish you peace and health in 2022.

Merry Christmas, may it bring peace, wisdom and joy

Christmas wreath

Christmas day is upon us, hopefully bringing joyful moments and time with beloved ones.

We will be spending it in England.

We just received our provision delivery, and I will be making quince jam later today.

There will be tranquil time, good food, a little drink and maybe time for watching tv, knitting and some technical learning (we both work in software development).

Sadly it won’t be possible to attend Mass this time.

The Nativity shown in a stained glass window in the famous Rosslyn Chapel, near Edinburgh in Scotland.

Fortnum & Mason department store near Piccadilly Circus in London

Above is a picture of the decorations at Fortnum and Mason department store in London, the home of many delicious foods and drinks. I purchased some fancy teas for myself and the family, including my all-times favourite “Dragon Pearls” (rolled green tea leaves with jasmine, very gentle flavour).

Below, photos from a few days ago, taken on our way to the Christmas stalls along the Southbank of the Thames river.

At the market we got mulled wine, eggnog and bought a couple of vintage books. Then walked back home in the evening lights and fresh air. It was a nice thing to do, and one of the first festive breaks we had. The first break was a weekend trip to Edinburgh & Stirling in Scotland – more on it in another post.

Waterloo Bridge in London, on the way to the Christmas stalls on the Southbank

View of the Thames from the Waterloo Bridge

Finally, my Sunday Cardigan has seen good progress and the yoke is done, reaching the point where body and sleeves are separated. I hope to do that part tonight – last night i was too tired and didn’t want to risk messing it up.

Sunday Cardigan. The yoke just before dividing for the body and sleeves.

I send you my very best wishes for a safe and merry time. May it bring a bit of magic and some peace for us all.

May you spend this time with beloved ones, or have them in your thoughts for those who are far or no longer with us.

Lots of love

Jumper projects

Today is the jumper edition with updates on the sweaters currently in progress.

The first is almost done: it’s my Let There Be Peace jumper (In Stillness).

It only needs one last row that I keep procrastinating on because it’s the bind off in tubular stretch bind off method…

Let There Be Peace jumper (pattern: In Stillness by Alicia Plummer)

The other WIP project is something I cast on a few days ago: Sunday Cardigan Mohair by PetiteKnit.

I had some funky vintage mohair yarn in my stash and decided to give it a go. The cardigan is without buttons and is knit from the top down, so its length can be adjusted as needed.

I hope to have enough yarn. The sleeves are quite puffy and I might reduce them a bit. Also, the pattern entails a significant ease and I didn’t want it to be that wide, so I’m knitting an XS in smaller needles. I did a swatch but mainly to see how the fabric would look, without checking gauge, so it’s a bit of a shot in the dark…

Here’s a photo from a couple of days ago, it has grown a bit more in the meanwhile. The jumper has reached a width that it now needs to be moved to cord needles.

I love the pattern, a sort of camo in blue shades. It has a 1980s vibe, don’t you think?

Have a lovely day and keep safe!

Antler stitch cowl

“It’s a Wrap Cowl” by Melissa Littlefield (aka KnittingTheStash) is done and ready to be posted.

It’s an easy and beautiful free pattern, and I loved knitting it. The designer is very kind to give the pattern for free.

Although in the pattern the stitch is called a ‘wrapped stitch’, I renamed it because for me it conjures thoughts of stylised antlers. I’m sure there is some other name for the stitch as well.

This was made with the same yarn as the Acorn Hat, using as much yarn (59 grams, just short of 2 oz). They will be a present for a friend abroad.

It’a Wrap Cowl

Next, I have one last row (the tubular stretch bind off) to do on my Let There Be Peace jumper (aka In Stillness, by Alicia Plummer)…

And I cast on a new jumper!

Not sure when this is going to happen, as you know, Christmas 🙂

I wish you all serene, peaceful and joyous Christmas holidays.

Stay safe

Acorn hat. From London trough Berlin to FO.

I saw the pattern for Acorn Stitch Hat by Kim Kearney a couple of years ago while browsing at Loop in London. It’s a pretty beanie and I love anything oak/acorn, so home went the pattern with me.

The yarn was purchased in Berlin in 2018, during my birthday celebration surprise trip. The weather was fiercely cold but the city beautiful and its Fernsehturm (Radio Tower) is one of my favourite places ever. The tower was constructed between 1965 and 1969 by the government of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). With its height of 368 metres (including antenna) it is the tallest structure in Germany, and the third-tallest structure in the European Union. In addition to its main function as the location of several radio and television broadcasting stations, the building – internally known as “Fernmeldeturm 32” – serves as a viewing tower with observation deck including a bar at a height of 203 metres, as well as a rotating restaurant. The restaurant has wonderful, ever changing views, thanks to its rotating platform, and features beautiful original interior details, with a distinct 1960s / space era vibe.

Rotating restaurant atop the Berlin Radio Tower

Fernsehturm, East Berlin

This beanie was knitted for a friend who lives abroad. The warm shade of green is one of her favourite colours, and the lightly variegated shades add a bit of interest without overpowering the textured stitches.

You can find my project here.

I also made a cowl to go with it – more about it in the next post.

Have a merry Christmas advent, may you all be safe and in good health.