So, well, my blogging schedule has pretty much been non-existing these days. But nevermind, I’m catching up (again) today with a Maker Update of the last three (!) weeks. A lot happened: I went on another holiday, got a needle disaster, put projects in hibernation and started new ones, and dived into the rabbit hole that is called watercoloring. Read on if you’re curious. 🙂

BOLSA NEGRA PROJECT BAG

IN HIBERNATION

THE EASY ONE JUMPER

I’m bringing back the In Hibernation section, because something stupid happened. After our vacation to the Azores islands, where I brought this jumper for travel knitting, the BF and I went on a spontaneous 4-day ski trip with friends. I took the same jumper with me, on the same needles, but they got taken away by the airport security in Gran Canaria.

I was so mad at this sad, sad woman who looked at me like I was a child-criminal, continued to nod and make tut-tut sounds. Of course, I told her all the things: that 1) knitting needles by law are allowed, that 2) they’re not even metal, that 3) they’re not blades (and that therefore the max-6-cm-rule doesn’t count), that 4) I take them with me all the time (even two weeks before), that 5) THEY fucking told me last time I was allowed to take them, which is why I did it again this time, that 6) I had a 12-hour flight ahead of me (actually 2,5 but she didn’t need to know that), that 7) they were super expensive (they were not, but again, what if they were!)… And so on, and so on.

It didn’t work and on top of that, there was this nodding, tut-tut sound making guy behind me who advised me to put knitting needles in my check-in luggage next time. LIKE WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!? 1) LIKE THE MAJORITY OF TRAVELERS THESE DAYS I DON’T EVEN HAVE ANY CHECK-IN LUGGAGE, AND 2) WHY DO YOU THINK I WANT THEM ON THE PLANE ANYWAY? — Which is exactly what I said to him and that felt very, very good and satisfying. I don’t get angry at people in public very often (especially not at people who are ‘just doing their jobs’), but man, don’t you touch my knitting needles! ><

In the end, the boyfriend (who is a pilot and passed through crew security and could have easily taken my needles) payed a visit to the particular security lady, demanding my needles back. She would have, weren’t it that she had already thrown them in a very deep (and locked) trash bin. So it was all for nothing as well! And I had nothing to knit on during the flights, and neither during our warm and cozy post-skiing nights in our apartment. It sucked!

YARN: DROPS BABY MERINO // COLOR: #26 LIGHT OLD PINK
NEEDLES: LANA GROSSA VARIO MESSING CIRCULARS + 80 CM CABLE // SIZE: 3 MM
PATTERN: THE EASY ONE BY JOJI LOCATELLI

NORDERNEY JUMPER

Worse, I don’t have any replacement needles for the ones that got taken away. We found a really cool knitting store in Granada (before we headed to Sierra Nevada), which seemed to have everything (also hand dyed yarns and swifts!), but it was closed. Such a tragedy, isn’t it? It gets worse, because for the last cuff of the last sleeve of my Norderney jumper, I need the same needles. So yeah, no progress on The Easy One jumper and no finished Norderney. 🙁

YARN: DROPS KARISMA MIX // COLOR: DARK BROWN (#056)
NEEDLES: LANA GROSSA VARIO MESSING CIRCULARS + 80 CM CABLE // SIZE: 3 MM, 4 MM
PATTERN: NORDERNEY BY ISABELL KRAEMER

SALOBRE BLANKET #1

And now that we’re at it, may I remind you of the fact that I still have my first version of the SALOBRE blanket on the needles? It only needs a few more rows, but I had ran out of yarn. Probably gonna get everything that I need in May, when I’m back in The Netherlands for a few days.

YARN: LANA GROSSA LINEA PURA CASHSILK // COLOR: WHITE (#07)
NEEDLES: LANA GROSSA VARIO MESSING CIRCULARS // SIZE: 7 MM
PATTERN: SALOBRE BLANKET BY CHAIN TWENTY

FINISHED OBJECTS

HAND DYED YARNS

So like I always do when knitting doesn’t go my way (haha), I dye yarn. I’ve added some new skeins of LAS PALMAS and ENERO to the shop, and dyed up a custom order (which is so much fun you guys!). I’ve also introduced a new colorway called NOCTURNA. She’s got all the blues and purples and is super pretty!

NOCTURNA on FUERTE sock (shop here)

ILLUSTRATIONS

A while ago, I wrote about the idea of introducing knitting- / fashion related stationery products to the shop. Well, I’ve started working on that! I’ve made my first two water color illustrations! There’s so much to learn when it comes to this craft, but I’ve been loving it so far! The idea is to create a cool stack of illustrations and print them on postcards or calendars or whatever. I’m very curious to hear your thoughts about that!?

SKEIN OF YARN WATERCOLOR ILLUSTRATION

WORKS IN PROGRESS

GUERNSEY WRAP

No progress on Guernsey again, but since there are not many projects left to work on these days, I think she’ll get some love soon. (Until I run out of yarn for this one too.)

YARN: KATIA BASIC MERINO // COLOR: BEIGE (#09)
THREAD: DROPS GLITTER // COLOR: GOLD (#01)
NEEDLES: PLASTIC STRAIGHTS // SIZE: 4 MM
PATTERN: GUERNSEY WRAP BY JARED FLOOD

SPAGHETTI STRAP TOP

This design project was in hibernation for a short period of time too, because I needed to dye myself a new skein of Las Palmas. I did this week, so I hope to finish the top soon. Finally, how exciting!

YARN: CHAIN TWENTY FUERTE DK // COLORWAY: LAS PALMAS
NEEDLES: LANA GROSSA LALA BERLIN CIRCULARS + 80 CM CABLE // SIZE 3.5 MM
PATTERN: SPAGHETTI STRAP TOP (FOR NOW) BY CHAIN TWENTY (FORTHCOMING)

SEED STITCH SCARF

I told my newsletters subscribers about this already, but guys, going on holidays is NOT good for business. I didn’t make enough money last month to stock up on supplies for new products. As a result, I don’t really know what the next shop update (on April 5th) will entail, besides some new yarns. So I thought, why not knit up some easy always-good-to-have-in-the-shop accessories with stash yarn? I’ve got a lot of this light grey Drops Karisma in my stash, so I made a swatch in seed stitch. Seed stitch has always been one of my favorite knitting textures, and now that I’ve taught myself how to knit continental, it knits up so much faster than it used to do too!

YARN: DROPS KARISMA MIX // COLOR: LIGHT GREY (#044)
NEEDLES: LANA GROSSA LALA BERLIN CIRCULARS + 80 CM CABLE // SIZE: 4.5 MM

FUTURE PROJECTS

CHUNKY SWEATER

Starting this project will force me to sit down and devote some time to designing and making sure I do it right. I don’t know why I don’t allow myself that time. Other tasks just continue to come up, I suppose. Let’s make it happen this week, shall we?

YARN: U/KNIT TOPINAMBUR // COLOR: GREY

SOCKS

Now that so many projects are in hibernation, I may find some time to cast on socks?

ACQUISITIONS

CHAIN TWENTY FUERTE DK LAS PALMAS

Like I said, this one is for the Spaghetti strap top!

CHAIN TWENTY FUERTE DK // COLORWAY: LAS PALMAS (SHOP ALL YARNS HERE)

STATISTICS

In week 10-12: 1

• 1x Chain Twenty FUERTE DK // colorway: LAS PALMAS

Out week 10-12: 0

In 2018: 4

• 2x Rosários 4 Camwool
• 2x Chain Twenty FUERTE DK

Out 2018: 3

• 3x Drops Paris

PLANS

I’m continuously working on creating a routine as a small business owner who has a million things to do. And, may I add, as a small business owner working from home with a boyfriend who has plenty of time off and wants to go to the beach with you all the time. It’s getting better these days, but it’s slow progress, so bear with me if I don’t get all the things done that I keep telling you I want to get done. Anyway, next week I wanna work on my CAFETERÍA coffee coasters pattern and my Spaghetti Strap top design. I also hope to squeeze in some time for more illustrations. Happy making y’all!