Tuesday, December 11, 2007

knitting swap box

turkish yarn, turkish coffee, yarn, knitting, swap, knitting swap

This is what I sent to my knitting swap pal. I recently joined the Holiday 2007 Swap on ravelry. I do hope my swap pal will enjoy this authentic small piece of Turkey. I didn't include in the picture the green (her favorite color) shades skein of very soft yarn. You can see 2 bags of Turkish coffee, a hand made brass ibrik (coffee pot), 2 tiny cups for coffee made from the finest Turkish porcelain in Kutahya. I also included a scarf pattern for that green yarn.

Cleaves by Katherine Summer O'Neal

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Ta-daaa! Another FO (finished object). I just love it. It is indeed different and it happened that a lady in a shop even wanted to touch it to understand how it is constructed...

I am very pleased how it turned out. I used only 2 skeins of Feza Jasmine, a very soft yarn which gave to this project the drape I wanted it. I used double pointed needle for the very first time in and I had hated it so much... But, I guess it was worth it, "no pain, no gain"...

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Loopy & Luscious tank

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Ta-da! I finished this project last evening. It was a fast and easy knit: only 2 rectangles, one with a very very loose bind off to get the scoop neck for front part. I like it a lot. The only thing that makes the difference here is working with 2 types of fiber: one very thin and the other very thick. (in my case, the thick is, in fact, a thick-thin yarn which creates lovely bumps). I used 12 mm (US 17) circular needle.

Original shawl patter here.

Friday, November 16, 2007

trying to get closer to Debbie New


I googled and browsed whatever was possible regarding Debbie New. I would love to get her book on amazon.com, but it is too pricey for me. I fallen in love with her scribble lace stitch and I was lucky enough to find a scarf on knitty.com with the pattern stitch: Loopy & Luscious

busy days on ravelry online community

I am lucky to be a ravelry member. Ravelry is a huge online knitting and crochet community. My username on ravelry is craftylady. I've already started a group Knitting Turkey. It is a place for knitters who live, lived, will live in Turkey or are somehow connected to Turkey. This group is for anybody interested in traditional Turkish stitches and patterns, Anatolian fair-isle, fabulous Turkish yarn, a guide to buying yarns in Turkey, etc.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

sabinette tank



This is my own pattern, inspired from Sabinette scarf, a Norah Gaughan design found on berroco's site. After I finished the front panel, I picked up stitches along one side and continued to work horizontally. I worked 5 edge (both edges) stitches in garter stitch. The middle of back has 5 rows of eyelet (yo, p2tog on WS) to avoid shrinkage.

model form


Look what my dear hubby brought to me: a model form to help with my knitwear design.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Vogue Knitting on the go! Crocheted Scarves. Designs from Norah Gaughan, Teva Durham, Mari Lynn Patrick, Sasha Kagan

Vogue Knitting on the go! Crocheted Scarves
Book Review

This book is small as a size only, because its content is very rich: 25 crochet patterns for scarves, shawls, wraps and stoles. The projects range from beginner to experienced skill level. I was pleasantly surprised to see among the designers famous names: Norah Gaughan (there are 2 designs of her), Teva Durham with a very intriguing free form scarf, Mari Lynn Patrick, Sasha Kagan, Katherine Fedewa. Definitely there is something for everybody and this book in very inspiring too: nice color combinations, nice stitches which can be used in other projects too, nice yarns combination.

v-0v-7v-15v-23v-14v-5v-17v-2v-21v-20v-9v-10

Friday, September 28, 2007

Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan. Book Review


4 2 32a 20 27 13 16a


30a 13a

I hesitated a lot before writing a review for Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan. I was afraid that I can’t put in the true beauty of this book. This book is far beyond knitwear designs inspired from nature. It shows new, innovative and unusual ways of garment constructions. The patterns are not for a beginner, but a beginner knitter can buy this book and knit the garments when becomes more experienced as I am sure the patterns in this book won’t get old-fashioned.
After seeing and contemplating Norah’s designs in this book, I am so proud to knit. Knitting is no more only for bored stay-at-home grandmas, hand knitting means fashionable garments, eye-catching and intriguing designs. There are cardigans, sweaters, tops, tanks, tunics, pullovers, skirts, hats, scarves, ponchos, mittens, afghans, all in 39 superb designs from a beautiful mind.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

I am not lazy

I haven't been knitting since sooooo long but not because I am lazy. I have been painting for a custom order since one week. 21 boxes to match the furniture in one room for a special customer. My main concern is now how to ship them from Istanbul to Austin, Texas. I approximate the total weight to 30 kg (66 lbs). When ready, I'll post picture with my creations. In the meantime, I miss my dear knitting needle. I recently received "Knitting Nature" by Norah Gaughan. I usually don't write reviews, but, when I'll have some spare time, I want to write down my thoughts on this amazing book.

Monday, September 03, 2007

Shopping for yarn in Istanbul

lori l. , who will visit Istanbul soon, asked my recommendation for yarn shops in Istanbul. Well lori, there are 2-3 good brands: Feza (the best yarn), YarnArt and Anchor (in this order). You will see Bravo (which looks so nice, a true eye-catcher), but I don't recommend unless you never wash your knits. One brand is very popular here: Nako. It is quite cheap, they have mostly acrylics. From Nako I suggest only yarns with minimum 50 % wool.

Yarn shops are everywhere here, as 90% of Turkish women are knitting. But, the magic yarn land, a street only with (cheap) yarn shops is in Eminőnű district and the place's name is Kűrkçű Han. Actually, this district of Istanbul, Eminőnű, is the shopping paradise. Words are not enough to describe the experience of shopping here. One day is not enough. Here you can find everything (gold jewelry, yarn, clothing, kitchenware, spices, beading accessories, fabrics, etc) at any price. As a foreigner, YOU MUST BARGAIN. The rule is: you say you like the goods (never offend a Turkish seller by telling him his goods are not nice just to get a discount) but you can't afford this price. You pretend you leave his shop, he calls you back to "talk again", you still say you don't agree and leave again, he calls you again. Patience. This "game" might be tiring for you but is usual here.

It seems lori l. will have a great time in Istanbul.

Friday, August 31, 2007

I am back!

Just want to let you know I am back in Istanbul. I spent a great time in Constanta.

Monday, July 16, 2007

happy birthday to me!

Today I am 32 years old. How do I celebrate my birthday? In airports, plane... in few hours I'll be headed to Romania.
I finished my Latoya tank from berroco.



It is very stretchy. I am still not happy with the straps but I was pressed by time so I didn't make any changes. After this project, I realized that I have to improve my finishing techniques.

My next project (in September) will be Norah Gaughan's capecho. I am also dreaming of designing something by myself. A tank or maybe a short sleeve sweater. Something simple but chic.

Sunday, July 08, 2007

Latoya tank vs. Norah’s capecho



Three days ago I started to knit Latoya from berroco.com (free and gorgeous pattern). On 16th July it will be my birthday and I was planning to wear Latoya tank on that special day (which I may celebrate it in the air as I’m planning to visit my parents in Romania and reach there by plane). I substituted the yarn with YarnArt merino stretch (50% merinowool, 40% acrylic, 10% elastane)

But, yesterday I found in the mailbox the winter issue of VogueKnitting magazine. My friend from Holland, Nadina, sent it to me as an early present for my birthday (thanks Nadina). She knew I was so excited to knit Norah’s capecho.

Now I am still undecided: to finish Latoya tank and then to start Norah’s capecho or to have two WIPs same time (which means I won't wear the tank on my birthday).

Thursday, July 05, 2007

FREE cable knit stitch pattern


Multiple of 18 sts + 2 extra border sts (the 2 border sts are not mentioned in the pattern)
In the above picture, the pattern is repeated twice horizontally.

Row 1 (RS): p1; k8; p1; k8

Row 2 and every alt rows: purl the purls and knit the knits

Row 3: p1; k4; c4b; p1; c4f; k4

Row 5: p1; k2; c4b; k2; p1; k2; c4f; k2

Row 7: p1; c4b; c4b; p1; c4f; c4f

Row 9: p1; k2; c4b; k2; p1; k2; c4f; k2

Row 11: p1; c4b; c4bp; p1; c4fp; c4f

Row 13: p1; k2; c4bp; p5; c4fp; k2

Row 15: p1; c4bp; p9; c4fp

Row 17: p1; k2; p13; k2

Row 19: p1; c4f; p9; c4b

Row 21: p1; k2; c4f; p5; c4b; k2

Row 23: p1; c4f; c4f; p1; c4b; c4b

Row 25: p1; k2; c4f; k2; p1; k2; c4b; k2

Row 27: p1; c4f; c4f; p1; c4b; c4b

Row 29: p1; k2; c4f; k2; p1; k2; c4b; k2

Row 31: p1; k4; c4f; p1; c4b; k4


Repeat these 32 rows


Stitch glossary:

C4b = slip 2 sts on cn and hold in back, k2, then k2 from cn

C4f = slip 2 sts on cn and hold in front, k2, then k2 from cn

C4bp = slip 2 sts on cn and hold in back, k2, then p2 from cn

C4fp = slip 2 sts on cn and hold in front, p2, then k2 from cn

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Coachella in Istanbul




I finished Coachella in 2 days. Personally, I feel the drape hangs too low in the middle that's why I'm wearing it over a white tank. But I like it a lot, it's simple yet elegant.

Friday, June 29, 2007

It lifts my spirit

There’s one blog that I like to visit almost every day. It is not related to knitting, it is about something I like to knit: bags. Why I love these bags? Because they are so pretty, and well finished and Debra ( she’s the “guilty” one for crafting such a gorgeous bags) is so creative in choosing and matching the colors. Her colors combination influences my mood, it makes me smile and feel happier. Debra is a gifted photographer too and her bags, wallets and pouches are very well pictured (good background and positioning of items). My favorite bags are:



Tuesday, June 26, 2007

yet another knitted bag


It's another knitted bag, a present for my sister-in-law. I was very crafty: I knitted, I cut one big wooden ring, I drilled holes in it, I painted it and finally it became a wooden button (the cerulean blue one with pale green dots)

Thursday, June 21, 2007

My bag stitch pattern

So, for Justine, and not only, my bag stitch pattern.
Note: very easy



This stitch pattern requires multiple of 5 stitches + 2 extra stitches (border stitches, i.e. one st for each side). I won't mention the border stitches in the pattern.

Row1 (RS): Knit till end of row
Rows 2-4 : Knit till end of row
Row 5: *[yo twice, K], repeat from * till end of row
Row 6: *[Slip 5 sts purlwise to RH needle, dropping same time the yo's from previous row; slip these 5 sts back to the LH needle and Ktbl, do not drop the stitch from LH needle, (yo, Ktbl) twice in the same stitch. Now pass(dropp) all the 5 sts to the RH needle.] Repeat from * till end of row. Now you should have the same no of sts on yr needle.

Repeat rows 1-6

For the swatch in the above picture, I casted on 32 sts (30 sts + 2 border sts). If you still have questions regarding this stitsch pattern, pls let me know.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

My Brea Bag from Berroco



I hope my friend will love it. This bag is her birthday present. It was a total challenge: knit, paint the wooden rings, make the handles somehow, use X-ray films to keep the lining&bag sturdy.

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