Thursday, July 9, 2009

lola - the spoiled dog

she sure knows where to rest her head

...lola on a cashmere shawl in progress...

spinning lace

I purchased this lovely 50% silk, 50% merino combed top quite a long time ago at A Verb for keeping warm. The colour is beautiful and almost solid, so I decided to spin it fine and make two ply lace. So far I've finished first 2 oz and have another 2 oz to go. I'm hoping to get enought yardage to make Artichaut. I'm getting a little addicted to patterns by Anne Hanson...

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Casino shawl

Another one by the talented Anne of Knitspot. First best thing is the yarn - scrumptious and I love feeling it between my hands as I knit. I keep petting the knitted fabric, so lightweight yet so substantial. And oh, the colour!

Second best thing about this shawl is the construction. Starting at the long side you work your way towards the point. Can it get any better? I love the prospect of rows getting shorter and shorter. Also the edging is knitted simultaneously. Sweet!

Third best thing are the needles. Jenkins 4mm, 32 inch ebony circulars. Sharpest points I've seen so far and the smooth hard wood makes them not too sticky, not too slippery, just right for lace. Must get more of these babies...



Most luxurious project ever!

3ply yarns, it's getting boring!

Hedgehog fibres merino top, colourway: Consequences, from combed top to 3ply approx. fingering weight yarn
Cesanec z mojho obchodiku, farba Consequences, hotova vlnka je trojvrstvova, relativne tenka, vhodna napriklad na ponozky


I did few samples, here's single ply:

Spriadla som par vzoriek, jednonitka:

and 2ply:

dvojnitka:

but I liked classic and sturdy 3ply the best.

ale najlepsie sa mi pacila klasicka odolna trojnitka.
---
Then I had this lovely top from Pigeonroof studios lying around, colourway: Venetian
Potom som este mala cesanec z Pigeonroof studios, vo farbe Venetian

3ply almost bulky yarn:
hruba trojnitka:

it's way too light pink and girly for me, I wonder what to do with it...
ale prilis detsky ruzove to je pre mna...

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

sunny days

It seems like summer has arrived! So I went for an elderflower hunt and made elderflower cordial yesterday, which to me is the essence of summer. Fragrant, tangy, full of summer.

Takze som konecne spravila bazovy sirup, mmm to je leto v pohari.

To make your own, you'll need approx. 10 large elderflower blossoms and 1kg sugar per liter of water, lemon juice/citric acid to taste. Boil the water, let cool to room temperature then add flowers, put them in the water and let stand for 24 hours (you might need a bit of weight, like a plate to keep the flowers submerged). Strain the liquid through fine sieve lined with muslin, then add sugar and let to dissolve. You can speed up the process by heating the liquid a bit. Add lemon juice or citric acid to taste. I like mine quite tangy. The cordial won't keep forever, as there are no preservatives, but we usually drink it within a couple of weeks anyway :) I's essential not to wash the flowers because it's the pollen that gives the cordial it's distinctive flavour, so pick only clean flowers, not beside a busy road. Enjoy!


Here are the bottles topped with lemon juice, I love the way it looks