Stash

Siona publicó hace unos días una foto de su alijo lanero, declarándose compradora compulsiva y animándonos a publicar fotos a sus lectores para no sentirse tan sola. Mi comentario, muy segura de mí misma, fue: "Me superas de calle". Así soy de sobrada. Hasta que me he puesto a sacar tesoros de las bolsas del rincón del fondo, de la caja que guardo debajo de la cama y de la cajonera de la mesa.

Siona posted a picture about her yarn stash a few days ago, admitting to be a compulsive yarn buyer. She encouraged her readers to upload a picture of their stashes so she doesn't feel alone out there. Overconfident, I commented her amount was larger by far than mine - until I began finding hidden treasures here and there: those bags at the corner, the box under the bed, the drawers...

Para hacerlo más divertido lo ha convertido en un sorteo. ¿Os animáis? Me da mucha vergüenza pero aquí va. Entre hilos y lanas me he encontrado con todo esto:

She's holding a contest to have a little fun too. Would you like to enter? I'm so embarrased to show this! Here it goes, all kinds of yarn:

Stash
You must be wondering where do I sleep

Prometo solemnemente no comprar más lana hasta que consiga rebajar este mogollón a la mitad. En serio.
I solemnly swear I am not buying more until I reduce this pile to half. Seriously!

Sunshine Blogger Award

Last week, my dear friend Libby sent me this wonderful "Sunshine Blogger Award." She says we were separated at birth, can you believe that? I do - somehow it happened. ;-)
So here are the rules for accepting the award:

  1. Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
  2. Pass the award to 12 bloggers.
  3. Link the nominees within your post.
  4. Let them know they received this award by commenting on their blog.
  5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

So, I'm passing on this award not to 12 blogger friends specifically, but to a group blog and all its members who are working hard and having a lot of fun making granny squares for charity:




Sue a.k.a. Mrs Twins, founder of SIBOL, recently wrote at Crochet Spot:

SIBOL is an online knitting and crocheting group with members all across the world. We make ‘Sunshine Blankets’ out of knitted and crocheted squares for the elderly in the UK.

The elderly are sometimes forgotten about often sitting lonely in nursing homes and hospitals as families tend to have very busy lives with limited time to visit. We are hoping that a gift of a handmade blanket will be like ‘a ray of sunshine’ when an elderly person receives one. Sending love and warmth knowing that someone cares about them and that the blanket will bring a smile to their face!

‘Sunshine Blankets’ are to be donated to nursing homes, hospitals and charities in the UK.

If you would like to learn more, or get involved in making squares please visit the SIBOL blog .

‘Lets send some sunshine!’.

I encourage everybody to visit their blog. They have already made seven happy blankets and the number is increasing soon with squares sent from all over the world. You don't need to be an experienced knitter or crocheter, just do your best. Would you like to help them? They are asking for:

  • 6" x 6" (15cm x 15cm) Knitted or Crocheted Squares.
  • Any Design, Any Colour, Straight Edge please.
  • Acrylic if possible (or whatever you have in your stash!).
  • No deadline, no panic, no rush.

So what recipient for the Sunshine Award would be better than Sunshine ladies at the Sunshine Blankets blog? :-D

Fetching

¿A dónde va Vicente? A donde va la gente...
Si todo el mundo en ravelry (o casi) lo ha hecho, será por algo, y yo no iba a ser menos. Allá por enero recibí un regalito de mis Reyes transoceánicos particulares (¡gracias Tea!) que consistía en dos ovillos de Knit Picks Andean Silk, un buen puñado de patrones, agujas laneras, marcardores y sujeta-agujas con forma de trébol, todo ello acompañado por dos postales preciosas de las Grandes Montañas Humeantes (suena graciosísimo en castellano) que no puedo dejar de mirar. Tardé un tiempo en decidirme en qué hacer con la lana hasta que haciendo una búsqueda vi los mitones y me convencí. Luego vi que la misma Toni había tejido un par, no sé cómo no me había dado cuenta antes. El patrón es sencillo a más no poder hasta para las que se les escapan los puntos con sólo mirarlos, como yo, y la lana es de lo más recomendable.

If everybody on Ravelry was making them I thought there had to be a good reason for it and I wasn't going to let it pass. Last January I got a delightful present from my own transoceanic Wise Men (thanks Tea!) consisting of two skeins of Knit Picks Andean Silk, several patterns, yarn needles, stitch markers and clover needle holder charms. She also included two beautiful postcards from the Great Smoky Mountains I can't help but look at them again and again. I spent many time thinking what to make with that yarn until I found the pattern searching through Ravelry database. I saw the mittens and I knew they were the ones. Toni had knitted a pair before - I don't know how I missed that. The pattern is really easy even for clumsy knitters like me that get stitches slipped from the needles just looking at them, and the yarn is highly recommended.

Fetching
Soft, warm & classy

Lana: 1 ovillo de Knit Picks Andean Silk color berenjena. 55% alpaca, 23% seda, 22% merino (¡puro lujo!).
Agujas: 3,5 mm de doble punta.
Patrón: Fetching de Cheryl Niamath.
Modificaciones: Monté 40 puntos en vez de 45 para hacerlos más pequeños.

Yarn: 1 skein of Knit Picks Andean Silk colour Hyacinth. 55% Alpaca, 23% Silk, 22% Merino (the ultimate in luxury!).
Needles: double point 3.5 mm / US4.
Pattern: Fetching by Cheryl Niamath.
Adjustements: Casted on 40 sts instead of 45 to make them smaller.

Fetching
Posing as a modest Regency lady :-D

¡Ahora ya puedo trabajar calentita en invierno! Lo malo es que durante la realización de las fotos uno de mis queridos cactus resultó herido... Nada de lo que preocuparse: ahora tiene un "hijo". ;-)

Now I can stay warm at work in winter! Bad news is one of my dear cacti got injured while I was taking these photos. Nothing to freak about: now my cactus has a "child" of its own. ;-)

Lost in Austen

Después de una Darcy, una Elliot. No me pude resistir. ¿Rebeca? Sí. ¿De algodón? Vale. ¿Jane Austen? Definitivamente, sí. Y además, es mona. Cortita, tipo spencer (que suena mucho mejor que "torera"), para aliviarme de los agresivos aires acondicionados del transporte público en el verano. Supongo que lo próximo será hacerme un gorro Dashwood o unos mitones Knightley... o lo que sea que me presenten con la etiqueta "Austen" colgada. :-P

After a Darcy, an Elliot... I couldn't resist. A cardigan? Yes. Cotton-made? OK. Jane Austen? Definitely, yes! And above all, it's really cute. A short one, like a spencer, just to shelter me from the cold of the aggressive air conditioners of the public transport in the summer. I guess next project will be a Dashwood hat or some Knightley mittens - or whatever I find labeled "Austen". :-P

Es un patrón fácil y entretenido. Además, la estoy tejiendo con unas agujas metálicas antiguas que heredó mi madre de una vecina y ahora me ha pasado a mí. Dan gustito.

The pattern is easy and fun. I'm knitting it with some vintage steel needles my mother inherited from a neighbour lady and now are mine. They're so nice.

Miss Elliot Spencer - 1st step
Elliot or Wentworth?

p.s. if any of you are a janeite at heart, don't miss this wonderful fantasy/parody! Lost in Austen.

Sunrise Sunset - finished

[ UPDATED 2019 ]

Sunrise Sunset
La Reina del Salón

Aunque ya llevamos un mes disfrutando de esta estupenda manta, por fin he podido sacar una foto en condiciones (es lo que tiene tener una luz pésima en casa 23 de las 24 horas que tiene el día). Mi tía vino de visita por San José y se la agenció para ella todo el tiempo que estuvo aquí. ¡Un éxito! Como regalo para su nueva casa que estrenará en breve, mi madre le ha prometido otra. Todavía está pensando el diseño y los colores, pero seguro que le sale igual de bonita y calentita que ésta. :-)

Sunrise Sunset Blanket
Lana: 5 ovillos de Katia Fama en crudo y 7 en marrón. 100% acrílico.
Ganchillo: 3,5 mm.
Tamaño: 1,10 x 1,60 m.
Patrón: Sunrise Sunset Afghan. En inglés. ENLACE ACTUALIZADO
Modificaciones: 150 cuadrados de 10x10 cm.

* Feliz Pascua de Resurrección *
Sunrise Sunset
The Queen of the living-room

Although we are enjoying it for a month, it hasn't been until now that I could take a good photo of this wonderful afghan - that is what happens when light at your place is awful 23 hours a day out of 24. My aunt came to visit by St. Joseph's for a few days and she borrowed it all the time. What a success! Mother has promised her to make a new afghan for her new house she will be moving in soon. Still hasn't decided on the design and colours but I am sure it will be as beautiful and warm as this one. :-)

Sunrise Sunset Blanket
Yarn: 100% acrylic Katia Fama. 5 off-white and 7 honey brown skeins.
Hook: 3.5 mm (US E).
Size: 1.10x1.60 m (43"x63")
Pattern: Sunrise Sunset Afghan. LINK UPDATED
Adjustements: 150 10x10 cm (4"x4") squares.

* Happy Easter *