Finished: South Bay Crochet Beret and my Amor Intenso Scarf

Pattern: Crochet Beret from South Bay Crochet
Yarn: Schulana Tweed Lux, 85% virgin wool, 10% silk, 5% cashmere, 110 m/ 50 g
Color: #05 charcoal
Price: I'm not sure anymore, maybe about 7 € for a skein, must be so pricy for all the expensive stuff like silk and cashmere. The yarn is ok, but well, it's not causing me to gush about it. I mainly bought it because it had the right color, was tweedy and had the right weight.
Amount: 1.1 skein (I had to start the second one because of the brim I think)
Needles: 5 mm hook (you can all be so glad that I'm on Ravelry where it's supereasy to enter the details for your projects, because I have such a lousy memory; just yesterday I entered the information for a scarf I had knit like a couple of weeks ago and I just couldn't remember the needle size anymore...)
Gauge: I got told that it's not so important, because you can increase until it's big enough and then you decrease. What I can tell you is that the maximal number of double crochets between the front post double crochets is 8. After that I started decreasing.
Dimensions: The circumference is 24 cm.
Modifications: If you follow the original pattern you will get a spiral pattern. I somehow felt that I did not like the spiral pattern, but I was not not following the instructions on purpose, so you probably will have to pay very careful attention to the instructions if you want to get it right (but what is right anymore, I like my version better :D). I will include here the notes I made on Ravelry for this project:

I'm doing the front post double crochet (fpdc) on top of the fpdc from the previous row instead of on the following double crochet (I used this online tutorial - http://www.crochetkitten.com/tutorials/fpdc.html - because I just couldn't figure out how to do a front post double crochet ). It doesn't create a spiral, but looks much better I think. TheWilk told me about her modifications, but the instructions are a tad confusing I think, because without thinking too much and simply following the directions I did the same thing as she did.

It also seems that I only made one row of single crochets instead of two.

My notes seem a bit messy, but the pattern is really easy and I was able to finish the beret in a couple of hours.

I forgot, the second knit item I wanted to post about is my scarf. I call it Amor Intenso Scarf for the colorway of the yarn.

Pattern: Mine, see below
Yarn: Handspun bulky from handpaintedyarn.com, 135 yard/ 100 g
Color: Amor Intenso
Price: $6.20
Amount: 2 skeins
Needles: Like I said, I can't remember, probably 6 mm
Gauge: Not important
Dimensions: about 24 cm wide and 2 m long
Modifications: None

DSCN4512, originally uploaded by projektleiterin.

The colors are gorgeous, aren't they? :)

Directions:

Cast on 27 stitches (I used the backward loop cast on). Knit 3 rows in garter stitch for the edge.

Pattern:

1. Row: Knit
   
2. Row: Knit 3, purl 3, * (knit 3, purl 3), repeat from* to the end

Repeat the pattern till you nearly run out of yarn. The pattern should end with the first row. Now knit 2 rows in garter stitch and cast off with a technique whose name I just can't remember anymore. :D Ok, I'll try to describe it: Knit 2. * Insert left needle into the second and first knit stitch and knit (as if you were knitting them through the back, it's just that the stitches are mounted differently). You have one stitch on the right needle again. Knit another one. * Repeat from * Break yarn and pull through the last stitch. Voilà, finished! :)

More information about the sweater that I'm wearing here.

Ugly acrylic yarn to give away

I have this super ugly acrylic yarn. If you want it, you can have it. Just promise you will pay for the shipping and this beauty will be yours.

On the needles: a lily of the valley lace stole

One of the current projects I'm working on.

The pattern is a variation of the Lily of the Valley Stole from the book Lace Style. My inspiration for using this yarn (laceweight from handpaintedyarn.com in the colorway: hortalizas) was this absolutely stunning Swallowtail Shawl, a shawl that also happens to feature the lily of the valley pattern. I love the little nupps and I love the combination of these rich dark red tones and the green. Don't the nups look like little roses?


Lily-of-the-valley lace stole, originally uploaded by projektleiterin.

Lily-of-the-valley lace stole, originally uploaded by projektleiterin.

colorway: hortalizas, handpaintedyarn.com, originally uploaded by projektleiterin.

Um, shit, I just messed up my template?!?! :o

Um, shit, I just messed up my template?!?! :o Guess, this will have to do for the moment... *sigh*

Edit: Ok, I made some changes.

A fun survey

A survey game from Victor's blog.

01. Can you cook? I think I can prepare a meal that most people would eat.
02. What was your dream growing up? Being a famous scientist (don't ask me what I want now...)
03. What talent do you wish you had? Spontaneously I would say, a good memory.
04. If I bought you a drink what would it be? You mean an alcoholic one? A cocktail maybe? I don't really drink a lot.
05. Favorite vegetable? Tomato
06. What was the last book you read? I think "Lying on the couch" by Irvin D. Yalom was the last book I finished reading completely. I really liked it.
07. What zodiac sign are you? -
08. Any tattoos and/or piercings? My ears are pierced.
09. Worst habit? Procrastination or indecisiveness - I can't decide right now, can I tell you this later? :D
10. If you saw me walking down the street would you offer me a ride? To be honest, no. I neither take rides nor do I offer them and I also discourage other people to do it.
11. What is your favorite sport? Running or swimming?
12. Negative or optimistic attitude? I'm extremely mood, but I would say the optimistic attitude is probably a teeny-weeny bit dominating.
13. What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me? Start talking to you.
14. Worst thing to ever happen to you? Being in love with the wrong person
15. Tell me one weird fact about you. I feel a certain reluctance eating berries that have been processed, like in yoghurt, cake, jam, etc.
16. Do you have any pets? Yes.
17. What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly? At the moment - don't. Otherwise - come in!
18. What was your first impression of me? Nicer than what I had expected from your self-description on Ravelry.
19. Do you think clowns are cute or scary? I think a bit scary.
20. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be? I don't want major changes, so I only wish my hair wasn't so flat.
21. Would you be my crime partner or my conscience? Conscience!
22. What color eyes do you have? Brown
23. Ever been arrested? No.
24. Bottle or draft? ?
25. If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it? Put it in my bank account and donate a part.
26. Would you date me? No, you don't like kissing girls. :D
27. Where's your favorite place to hang out? I don't have any place I really like to hang out. I like the sea though.
28. Do you believe in ghosts? I am afraid that I totally irrationally do.
29. Favorite thing to do in your spare time? Probably knitting or reading.
30. Do you swear a lot? Yes. :o
31. Biggest pet peeve? Not sure, the choices overwhelm me. :D. When people don't do what I tell them although it's good for them?
32. In one word, how would you describe yourself? Nice.
33. Do you believe in/appreciate romance? Oh yes, totally.
34. If you could spend 12 hours with me and ask/do anything you like, what would it be? Teach me Thai and show me how to spin.
35. Do you believe in God? Agnostic.
36. Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same? Yeah, doing.