I was so spoiled

Just couple of days before the Christmas, my sister&her family and my parents visited me. They came over from Romania and I was so happy to see them again. I miss them every single day.
My DS spoiled me with very nice present, a Rowenta spin brush. I recall to mention just once in the past that I would love to have one, but, dear her, she didnt forget it. Thank you!

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And my darling mother, she surprised me with what I miss a lot from Romania: Romanian wines which are not so famous worldwide (just lack of marketing) but their taste is incredible fine. Muscat Ottonel from Murfatlar wine is my favorite.


I like to have a glass of wine beside me (not for decoration purpose) while knitting evening.

Bamboo Knitting Needles

Look what my DH brought to me from his loooong trip to China. All these bamboo knitting needles need to be sanded for a smooth finish but I already have different sizes sanding paper.

Holiday 2007 Swap

And my package arrived. After one month in mail, from Allegan-Michigan to Istanbul-Turkey, 'he' was very tired but happy to find a new home. My swap pal, Coby (ravelry ID: cjkopec) sent me so many goodies: 4 skeins of Iceland 100% wool Crystal Palace Yarns, 4 scented soaps-hand made by herself (Love Spell, Cucumber Melon, Honey Baked Pears and Plum&Berries), the January 2008 issue of Creative Knitting magazine, body+soul magazine, Stitch’N bitch knitter’s design journal, a pattern for a felted bag to go with the Crystal Palace yarns AND La Pièce De Résistance, handspun yarn. The yarn was handspun by herself with fibers that she dyes and hand cards by herself. It’s a blend of merino, tencel, mohair and Romney. The color is lovely. I think I’ll keep the yarn just for petting, it’s so soft and, after 30 days in the mail, lightly scented because of the handmade soap. Thanks a lot, Coby! You do know how to spoil a person… and how to make me dance!

knitting swap box

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

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"...

Loopy & Luscious tank

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.

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.

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.

My First Knitting Pattern: a skirt

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.

Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan. Book Review

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.

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.

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.