Secret Pal 6 - a revelação/the revealing

Voltei! Depois da azáfama dos preparativos do Natal, eis-me de volta. Com muita coisa para escrever e mostrar. Para começar, as minhas Secret Pals 6.

I'm back! After the hard work before Christmas, here I am. With lots of things to write and show. Starting with my Secret Pals 6.

A minha SP6-r (a pessoa a quem enviei presentes) é a Eva do blogue Pappardele. Ela vive na República Checa e, imaginem só, passou as férias do Verão em Portugal! Tricota bem mais do que eu, faz algumas fotos fantásticas, e foi um gosto comprar coisas para ela!

My SP6-r (the person to whom I sent presents) is Eva from Pappardele. She lives in Czech Republic and, guess what, she spent her Summer holidays in Portugal! She knits a lot more than me, makes fantastic photos, and it's been a treat to buy things for her!

A minha SP6 (quem me enviou presentes) é a Sally do blogue Miserycord. Bem perto do Natal recebi o último pacote de presentes dela (e escreverei proximamente uma entrada a esse respeito, com fotografias!) Adorei os presentes, alguns dos quais foram muito inesperados e já me estão a dar novas ideias. Mas adorei também conhecê-la. É inglesa, escreve imenso (o que é óptimo para quem, como eu, adora ler) e, curiosamente, temos muito em comum. Estou a ler o blogue dela, e estou a gostar de a conhecer mais. Além disso, outra coisa em comum: a SP6 dela foi a Filomena, a minha SP5! E ao ver as agulhas feitas à mão pela Filomena, tenho pena de tricotar com agulhas diferentes, com barbela, porque fico com vontade de fazer as minhas próprias agulhas! (hmmm, posso sempre tentar, quando tiver mais tempo!)

My SP6 (the one who sent me presents) is Sally from Miserycord. Near Christmas I received her last present package (I will write soon about that, with pictures!) I loved the presents, some of which were quite unexpected and are giving me new ideas. I also loved getting to know her. She is English, writes a lot (which is great for people who, like me, love to read) and, curiously, we have a lot in common. I'm reading her blog, and it's good to get to know her more. Besides, we have another thing in common: her SP6 was Filomena, my SP5! When I saw the wooden knitting needles handmade by Filomena, I felt sorry for knitting with different needles, with hooks, because I wish I could make my own needles as well! (hmmm, I could try, when I have more time!)

Foi óptimo, e acho que me vou inscrever no Secret Pal 7, afinal de contas!
It's been great, and I think I will participate in Secret Pal 7, after all!


Uma última coisinha, que encontrei aqui: One more thing, which I found here:

Google Search

Vêem ter aqui algumas pessoas vindas de pesquisas em motores de busca. Geralmente, coisas que têm a ver com malha, crochet ou linhas. Mas ontem às 11 da noite, alguém no Canadá veio cá ter procurando no Google: "eu amo minha mae english translation" (sem as aspas). Sou a segunda que aparece!

Some people come here sent by searches in search engines. Mostly about knitting, crochet and yarns. But yesterday around 11 PM, someone in Canada found my site by searching in Google: "eu amo minha mae english translation" (without commas). I'm the second!

Eu amo minha mãe = I love my mother. And it's true.

Random meme

(Em inglês, perdoem... Se tiver tempo depois traduzo para português!)

I saw this meme here. This is hard!

TEN random things you might not know about me.
1. I love math. When I don't have anything to do (not very usual nowadays), I calculate prime factors on large numbers, such as phone numbers of people I know, personal documentation numbers...
2. Most times I use a calculator, though...
3. I failed the driving license exam twice. I was so nervous my leg shaked visibly.
4. The third time, I did a perfect exam. I don't have a car and never drived since that day. When I have enough money to buy a car, I will take driving lessons again.
5. I have believed in God my whole life, but I have been (among other things) a pantheist, a modern pagan, a non-denominational christian, and finally came back to catholicism when I was 25.
6. I was a serious heavy-metal (trash, speed, black and even some death metal) fan when I was a teen. I listened to it continuously.
7. I nowadays love classical and ancient music, especially sacred choral music. I love Queen. I like the most recent albums of Rammstein.
8. I have seen several part-2 and part-3 movies without having seen the previous parts.
9. I am usually the last person to finish food in a meal.
10. I'm quite disorganized. Who am I kidding: I am messy!

NINE places I’ve visited
I have not travelled a lot like most people, so:
1. A nuclear laboratory.
2. Churches from 3 different denominations to actually worship there (it's not so usual in a country where the majority of people are "non-practising Catholics").
3. An Air Force base (in my teen years). We were several thousands of teens, together in big military tents and some of them in a big hangar.
4. The pediatry section of an oncological hospital. I was OK, fortunately, I just had a weird-looking birthmark which had to be removed and biopsied. I still remember the look in the face of the parents of a very small baby who was ill, the same day that I got the results of my biopsy which said I had no reasons to worry. I hope somehow they were able to make it.
5. Some men's WCs. (It was very urgent, and the women's WC was too far!)
6. A spiritual retreat center.
7. A clean room where small semiconductor circuits are made.
8. Several police stations.
9. A newspaper and several editorial houses.

(So many exciting travels!)

EIGHT ways to win my heart
1. Be a good story-teller. Really.
2. If you're a close friend, correct my mistakes without being harsh. Don't let them pass, that's indifference.
3. Tell me I will do better next time. And really mean it.
4. Truth. Truth. Soul-naked truth.
5. Look at me like I'm the most precious treasure. I cannot explain better, but it's the most wonderful feeling, when it's mutual.
6. Tell me you missed me.
7. Love me the way I am, though helping me to become better.
8. Be there when I need you. Let me be there when you need me. Call me if I don't guess.

SEVEN things I want to do before I die
1. Study theology. And Latin, ancient Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic.
2. Be a mother. Of several children. If life allows me that, between 4 and 6 children. Some of them adopted, probably.
3. Learn to read music.
4. Visit Italy.
5. Marry.
6. Find a job I love and be good at it.
7. Learn to dance.

SIX things I’m afraid of
1. Some kinds of stairs. When I was a child, I would climb them on all fours...
2. Losing my loved ones.
3. Heights.
4. Never being able to be a mother.
5. Not being a good mother. I'm also afraid of holding small babies, because I always fear I will drop them, but I am overcoming that fear now.
6. My own mind and its confusions.

FIVE things I don't like
1. Too sweet beverages.
2. Itchiness. It can be very unnerving and very distracting.
3. Turnip. It's one of the few foods I don't like.
4. Manipulative people.
5. Too much light or too much heat.

FOUR ways to turn me off
1. Lie or be false in any way.
2. Be lukewarm.
3. Ignore me.
4. Hurt someone and don't apologize.

THREE Things I do everyday
1. Daydream.
2. Say curse-words (sorry, it's true!).
3. Pray.

TWO things that make me happy
1. The ones I love.
2. Singing.

(only two things? but I also wanted to mention food, chocolate, coffee and, of course, knitting!)

ONE thing on my mind right now
1. Dinner. I'm hungry!

I tag whoever wants to do this!

Secret Pal 6

Enviei hoje a minha última encomenda para a minha SP6-r (a moça a quem dou presentes). Logo que ela receba, digo-vos quem é. Foi um prazer corresponder-me com ela e acompanhar as malhas dela! Ela tricota bem mais que eu! E passou as férias de Verão... em Portugal!

I sent today my last package to my SP6-r (the one I was spoiling). As soon as she receives it, I will tell you who she is. It's been a pleasure to know her and see her knits! She knits a lot more than me! And she spent her Summer holidays... in Portugal!

Curiosamente, a minha SP6 também me contactou hoje, para acertarmos os pormenores do envio da minha última encomenda-presente. Em vez de me enviar uma em Novembro e outra em Dezembro, ela vai enviar-me só uma, maior, hoje ou amanhã. Estou ansiosa por saber quem é! Só sei que é inglesa...

Funnily enough, my SP6 emailed me today, to check a few details about sending my last package. Instead of sending two smaller packages in November and December, she decided to send me a bigger one in December only. I'm looking forward to know who she is! I only know she is English...

Já estão abertas as inscrições para o Secret Pal 7. Não sei ainda se me vou inscrever ou não, ando com pouco tempo e pouco dinheiro também! Posso também inscrever-me noutra troca de presentes menor (já encontrei uma). Logo se vê... Acho que só decido em Janeiro.

Inscriptions in Secret Pal 7 are already open. I don't know if I will be there or not, I'm not having enough time and also not enough money! I can try a smaller present exchange instead (I have found one). We'll see... I think I will only decide in January.

Tem sido uma experiência agradável. Conheço outras tricotadeiras, vejo as suas malhas, começo a conhecer as pessoas também, dou presentes, recebo presentes e... finalmente tenho uma stash que se veja! Estou tão feliz :)

It has been a pleasant experience. I meet other knitters, I see their knits, I start to know the person behind the knitter, I give presents, I receive presents and... I finally have a decent stash! I'm so happy!

Branching Out

(English translation and photos below)

E está pronto!

Informação:

Padrão: gratuito na Knitty.
Lã: comprada online na elann. Schoeller Esslinger Merino Soft, 2 novelos. Cor 16, Arabesque. É macia e lavável na máquina.
Agulha: 4.5 mm. Esta linha normalmente pede uma agulha mais fina, mas a renda fica melhor numa agulha mais grossa.

Modificações: Tentei bloquear com alfinetes e fio de algodão mercerizado, mas não fui capaz. Em vez disso, passei a ferro (com vapor) o cachecol (ainda bem húmido) pelo avesso (para não achatar os pontos). Uma série de vezes, com cuidado e "bloqueando" cada bocadinho que passava com as mãos, para conseguir manter uma largura constante e ponto aberto. Ficou bonito, macio e com um bom cair. Estou satisfeita!

Fotos/Photos:


Na mesma mesa: olhem como cresceu! Agora tem 14.5 cm de largura e 162 cm de comprimento. / In the same table: look how it grew! It measures 14.5 cm wide and 162 cm long.


Pormenor do modelo. A cor real é um pouco mais escura, mas parecida com esta. / Detail of the pattern. The true colour is slightly darker, but very close to this.

It is done!

Information:

Pattern: free on Knitty.
Yarn: bought online in elann. Schoeller Esslinger Merino Soft, 2 balls. Colour 16, Arabesque. It is soft and machine-washable.
Needles: 4.5 mm. This yarn would normally need a thinner needle, but lace looks better with a bigger needle size.

Modifications: I tried to block using pins and mercerized cotton yarn, but I wasn't able to do it. Instead, I steam-ironed the scarf (still damp) in the wrong side (so that I wouldn't flatten the stitches). I ironed several times, carefully and hand-blocking each portion I ironed so that I could keep a constant width and to open the stitches. It is pretty, soft and with a good drape. I am pleased! :)

Quase, quase/ Almost there

Se no reino das meias as coisas recuaram em vez de avançarem, o cachecol da minha mãe está quase, quase. Só falta rematar o fim e as pontas da junção dos novelos e bloquear. Foto:
While in socks realm things have gone backwards instead of forward, my mother's scarf is almost there. I just need to cast off, weave in the threads and block it. Photo:

Troca (com fotos) / Swap (with photos)

Como expliquei aqui, participei numa troca com a minha SP5-r. Eu vou enviar-lhe um cachecol tricotado por mim (surpresa, por isso não posso mostrar-vos fotos), e ela enviou-me linhas de que não precisava. Ontem recebi o pacote. E tive algumas agradáveis surpresas!

As I explained here, me and my SP5-r agreed to make a swap. I'm sending her a scarf, handknit by me (it's a surprise, so I cannot show you photos), and she sent me some yarn she didn't need. I received the package yesterday. And found some pleasant surprises!


O fio: veio mais um novelo do que eu esperava! :) Tem um tom de rosa-velho que me fica bem, é macio e lavável na máquina! Os novelos de lã são enormes ao vivo! Na foto, um pacote de lenços de papel para escala.
The yarn: she sent me one extra ball of yarn! :) The colour looks nice in me, it is soft and machine washable! And the yarn balls are huge! In the photo, a pack of tissues for comparison.

Chocolates numa caixinha elegante. Já vos disse que gosto MUITO de chocolate? Já provei um, e era delicioso! (yum) E um porta-chaves divertido com uma frase sobre cabelos com vontade própria (os dela são assim, e os meus também!) Brindes extra! É tão bom...
Chocolates in a chic little box. Have I already confessed that I LOVE chocolate? I tasted one today, and it is delicious! (yum) And a keyring with funny words about hairs that have their own ideas (my hair is like that, and it seems hers is, also!) Extra things are so good...

E o meu primeiro postal de Natal. Bonito e com uns brilhos discretos que não se vêem na foto.
And my first Christmas card this year. Pretty, and with a slight glitter that the photo doesn't show

Toca de tricotar com mais afinco no cachecol dela, para poder cumprir a minha parte da troca!
On to knit more on her scarf, to send her my part of the swap!

Desmanchar/Frogging

Estava a gostar de aprender a fazer meias. Foi a minha primeira vez. Uma série de primeiras vezes. A primeira vez a usar agulhas de dupla ponta, a primeira vez a fazer malha circular, a primeira vez com agulhas tão finas. Ao contrário do que se costuma dizer, a primeira vez não foi nada difícil... Foi até muito agradável, de tal modo que já passava os meus tempos livres a sonhar a pensar em continuar a fazê-lo cada vez mais. [Fazer meias, entenda-se, suas cabecinhas perversas!]

I was having a great time learning to knit socks. It was my first time. A series of first times. My first time knitting with DPNs, my first time knitting circular, my first time with very fine needles (2 mm). And, contrary to what people say, the first time was not difficult at all... In fact, it was very pleasant, so pleasant that I found myself daydreaming about doing it more and more. [I'm talking about knitting socks, take your mind out of the gutter!]

Isto era o que eu tinha feito até ontem à noite:/This was what I had knitted until last night:



Porém, já tinha lido avisos de que este padrão é mesmo justinho ao pé, e portanto convém não fazer um tamanho mais pequeno que o nosso pé, senão não passa pelo calcanhar. Fui experimentar:
I had already read warnings that this pattern makes tight socks, so you should not knit a size smaller than your foot, or it won't pass the heel. I checked:


(Por favor não reparem no pijama verde, e tenham em conta que o meu pé e a minha perna parecem mais gordos devido à perspectiva)/(Please disregard the green pajama, and please understand that my foot and leg are not so thick, it's a matter of perspective).

OOPS!

É assim que a meia está agora: This is what the sock looks now:

(Desculpem pela foto miserável)/(Pardon my crappy photo).

Começos, fins e recomeços/ Beginning, ends and beginnings again

Os últimos dias têm sido ricos em começos, fins e recomeços. (Não, infelizmente ainda não acabei a tese... Mas adiante!)

These last few days have given me several beginnings, ends and new beginnings. (No, I have not finished my thesis yet, unfortunately...)

Mas há bons começos e maus começos, bons fins e maus fins. E há maus fins que permitem recomeçar, e outros que não. Bons começos: o aniversário da minha mãe, que festejei no fim-de-semana antes deste, o nascimento de dois gatinhos filhos da gata da minha mãe, há uma semana (eu estava lá!), o aniversário de uma das pessoas que mais significam para mim, que celebro hoje (ele não lê este blogue, não é um tricotador, mas é um diamante de pessoa). São bons começos. Como são bons começos o começar uma nova peça em malha (por exemplo as meias) e ir vencendo as dificuldades aos poucos.

But there are good beginnings and bad beginnings, good ends and bad ends. And some bad endings allow us to start again. Some good beginnings: my mother's birthday, which we celebrated around one week ago, the birth of two new kittens to my mother's cat, a week ago (I was there!), the birthday of one person which is very important to me, which I celebrate today (he doesn't read this blog, he doesn't knit, but he's a diamond). These are good beginnings. As starting a new knit (the socks, for instance) and conquering the difficult parts is a good beginning.

Por vezes os começos parecem difíceis, mas a dificuldade consegue ultrapassar-se. Outras vezes é preciso recomeçar. Há algo fundamentalmente errado e tem de se fazer de outro modo. Outras vezes ainda não é possível recomeçar.

Sometimes the beginnings seem hard, but we can overcome the difficulties. Other times we must start again. There's something fundamentally wrong and we must do things in a different way. And some other times the end is final, we cannot start again.


Fui passar o fim-de-semana a casa da minha mãe. Enquanto lá estava, um dos gatinhos morreu. Simplesmente deixou de respirar, de repente.

Hoje está aqui um dia cinzento e chuvoso. Sinto-me cansada. E com sentimentos mistos: feliz pelos aniversários de pessoas a quem amo, mas triste, porque a morte súbita e inexplicada, mesmo de um gatinho bebé, é triste.

Amanhã volto a escrever sobre malhas...

I spent the weekend at my mother's. While I was there, one of the kittens died. He simply stopped breathing suddenly.

Today we are having a grey and rainy day. I feel tired, and with mixed feelings: I'm happy because of the birthdays of people I love, but sad because every sudden and unexplained death, even from a small kitten, is sad.

I'll be back tomorrow to write about knitting.

Jaywalker

Estou com pouco tempo. Tenho tricotado no cachecol da minha mãe (está quase a acabar!), no cachecol-surpresa da Noo (vai a meio) e um pouquinho nas meias. Quando terminar o cachecol da minha mãe dedico-me mais às meias.

I am having a busy week and not much time to knit. Still, I have knit on my mother's scarf (almost finished!), on Noo's surprise scarf (half done) and a little on the socks. When my mother's scarf is finished, I'll knit more on the socks.

Para primeira vez, acho que está a correr bem... O próximo desafio será o calcanhar. Por enquanto, ficam aqui as fotos:
It's my first time, and I'm proud of the results so far... The next challenge will be the heel and gusset. For now, here are some photos:

costas (o fio branco marca o começo de cada carreira)/back (the white floss marks the beginning of the rows)


frente/front

Comecite / Startitis

(English translation below the photo, scroll down, please!)

Não adianta disfarçar. Estou fortemente infectada pela "comecite". Provas?

Tenho neste momento em andamento estes projectos (WIPs = works in progress):
1) o cachecol da minha mãe;
2) o cachecol-surpresa para a Noo;
3) o meu casaco (ainda em fase muito inicial);
4) os peixinhos de amostras de linha;

Tenho guardados os seguintes projectos por terminar (UFOs = unfinished objects):
5) o casaco de trapilho, mais ou menos a meio;
6) as perneiras pretas, à espera que eu ganhe vontade de as coser;

E mesmo assim comecei mais um projecto:
7) estas meias.

Não consigo resistir... São lindas (vejam estes exemplos)! E vai começar um knit-along, portanto se eu tiver dúvidas posso ir perguntando às pessoas mais experientes...

Lá me meti a experimentar as agulhas de dupla ponta e a linha para meias que a Filomena (minha SP5) me tinha mandado. E, para primeira vez, não está a ficar mal! Há um pequeno erro na primeira linha, ainda no canelado 2x2, mas não se nota e eu não me importo. (Desculpem a má qualidade da foto):


(English translation)
I cannot hide it anymore. I have a bad case of startitis. Proof?

These are my knitting works in progress (WIPs):
1) a scarf for my mother;
2) a surprise scarf for Noo;
3) my new cardigan (still incipient);
4) the fish made from yarn samples;

I also have these knits waiting to be finished (UFOs = unfinished objects):
5) the sad ribbon yarn summer cardigan, more or less half done;
6) the black legwarmers, complete and waiting that I sew them (this winter is being too warm here, I don't need them!);

And now I started another project:
7) these socks.

I couldn't resist... They're so beautiful (look here, here, and here for examples)! And there's going to be a knit-along, so if I have some questions I may ask more experienced knitters...

So I finally tried the DPNs and the sock yarn that Filomena (my SP5) had sent me. And it's not bad, for the first time! There's a small mistake in the beginning of the ribbing, but it's very discrete and I don't care. (Excuse me for the blurred picture)

Troca / Swap

Comecei mais um projecto de malha. Não apenas por "comecite", mas porque faz parte de um acordo de troca. Explico: a Noo (a minha SP5-r) tinha para troca várias linhas e um livro de que não precisava, com uma condição: que não lhe oferecêssemos mais linhas em troca. Depois de várias negociações, outra pessoa trocou um bolo de Natal pelas linhas azuis e brancas e pelo livro, e eu vou trocar um cachecol de malha feito por mim pelas linhas cor-de-rosa.

I have started a new knitting project. It wasn't just startitis, it'a part of a swap deal. Noo (the person I spoiled in SP5) had several yarn balls and a book she didn't need, and was willing to trade for something other than yarn. After several negotiations, another knitblogger traded a Christmas cake for the white and blue yarns and the book, and I will trade a scarf knit by me for the pink yarn.

Não posso publicar fotos do cachecol até que chegue lá, porque ela prefere que seja surpresa. Por isso, ficam aqui a foto da linha e o que eu pretendo fazer com ela:
I cannot publish photos of the scarf in progress yet, because she wants it to be a surprise. So, this is the yarn I will receive and what I intend to knit with it:


(Boogie: ver aqui/see here)

Amostrinhas / Yarn samples

Fotos no fim. / Photos in the end.

Como já contei, quando voltei a fazer malha com mais frequência, subscrevi dois clubes de amostrinhas de linhas. Porque queria experimentar muitas linhas sem ter de comprar novelos e novelos de teste, para saber melhor do que gosto ou não e conhecer novos tipos de linhas que em Portugal não se encontram facilmente.

As I had told before, when I started knitting frequently again, I subscribed two yarn sample clubs. Because I wanted to try several yarns without having to buy full balls or skeins of yarn, to learn what do I like best, and to know new kinds of yarn that I cannot easily find in Portugal.

A princípio, usei-as para testar pontos novos e fazer pequenos quadrados ou rectângulos de malha. Mas isso não me satisfazia. Queria fazer algo com elas de facto.

At first, I used them to try out new stitches and knit small squares and rectangles. But I wasn't happy with them. I wanted to do something real with these yarns.

Descobri que não gosto muito de amostrinhas porque são pequenas demais, e eu gosto de fazer coisas a sério. Não renovarei as subscrições. Mas já tinha subscrito um ano de amostrinhas, ou seja, vou continuar a recebê-las até Maio próximo. E não me arrependo de as ter recebido, porque aprendi de que fibras gosto ou não, e neste momento consigo identificar com mais segurança se vou gostar de um fio ou não pela informação que vejo online. Ou seja, consigo ver se gosto de um fio ou não sem sequer tocar nele, o que não é fácil. E quase sempre a minha intuição acerta nas características do fio ao vivo. Foi educativo.

I found out I don't like samples because they're too small, and I like to knit real things. I will not renew the subscriptions. But I had subscribed one year of samples, which will end in May. And I don't regret it. I learnt a lot about the fibres I like, and now I can identify if I will like a yarn or not by the information I see online. Without touching the yarn. Most of the times my intuition about the yarn is correct. So, I learnt a lot.

Mas faziam-me nervos aqueles fios tão diversos desaproveitados. Quadrados e rectângulos não serviam para nada, pelo menos aos meus olhos. Dezenas de novelinhos com 10, 12 metros de fio também não. Então, lancei-me a inventar um projecto para eles. Vou na terceira tentativa.

But it was sad to see all those different yarns not being used. Little squares and rectangles didn't seem useful, at least not to me. Dozens of small balls with 10, 12 metres of yarn were also not useful. So, I started searching for a project, and am now on the third try.

Primeiro tentei um projecto filosófico: tricotar tiras com os fios da mesma espessura, pela ordem cronológica em que os recebi. Filosófico porque iria cancelar o meu sentido estético e aceitar as coisas como elas viessem, mesmo que ficasse feio. Talvez servisse para eu aprender a aceitar aqueles momentos em que as coisas parecem não fazer sentido.
Ficou feio. As cores chocavam umas com as outras. Não consegui cancelar o meu sentido de lógica e beleza e aceitar as coisas como são. Tenho sempre de tentar transformá-las em algo melhor. Desfiz o trabalho.

At first, I tried a philosophical project: knit stripes with the yarns of the same thickness, following the chronological order I received them. It was philosophical because I would learn to accept things as they were coming to me, even if the result was ugly. Maybe this way I would learn to accept those times in life where things don't seem to make sense.
It was ugly. Colours clashed. I couldn't cancel my sense of logic and beauty and accept things as they are. I always want to transform them in something better. I frogged the work.

Segundo tentei adaptar o projecto de maneira a ficar mais bonito. Desmanchei as tiras, separei os fios por famílias de cor e passei a tricotar tiras de cores relacionadas. Mesmo que as linhas tivessem espessuras muito diferentes. Não estava feio, mas não me satisfazia.

Second try: I tried to adapt the project so that it would get pretty. I frogged the previous work, separated the yarn per colour families and went on to knit stripes in related colours. Even if the yarn were of very different thicknesses. It wasn't ugly, but I didn't like it.

Mas à terceira é de vez: tinha visto este padrão para manta de retalhos. E tentei fazer um peixinho. Um novelinho de linha não chegava, logo fui usando vários novelinhos de cores relacionadas para cada peixe. Sempre com a mesma agulha (agulha 6 mm). Quando é preciso, trabalho com o fio dobrado ou com dois fios diferentes juntos. Estou a fazer um pouco de batota no padrão, e as diminuições que estou a usar não fazem o efeito original, mas como a mantazinha resultante será para mim (por pequena que seja) e é um projecto para não cansar a cabeça, não me importo. E uni os fios com nós (que horror!) para aproveitar a linha. E os peixes não têm todos bem o mesmo tamanho, mas se eu os bloquear com cuidado e os agrupar criteriosamente quando os coser, acho que vai funcionar. Eu, pelo menos, estou a gostar. E estou a aprender muito sobre espessuras de fios e tensões.

But third time's the charm: I had seen this pattern to an oddball afghan. And I knit a fish. One of my mini-balls of yarn was not enough, so I used several balls of yarn in related colours to each fish. Always using the same needle (6 mm). When I need, I work with doubled yarn or two different yarns together. I'm cheating a bit on the pattern, and the decreases I'm using don't look like the original ones, but as the mini-mini-afghan is for me (no matter how small it is) and is a mindless knitting project, I don't care. And I am using knots to join the yarns (shudder!) to use every single inch of yarn. And the fish have slightly different sizes, but with careful blocking and careful grouping when I sew them together, I think it will look nice. I'm liking it. And I'm learning a lot about yarn thicknesses and gauge.

Estes são os que já fiz: / These are the ones I already knit:


Estes são dois incompletos que estão à espera de que eu receba mais amostras nas mesmas famílias de cor (embora eu talvez venha a desmanchar o beige): / These are two incomplete ones waiting that I receive similar coloured yarn samples (maybe I'll frog the beige one, though):

E este é um que ficou feio e que vou desmanchar (estas linhas não ficam bem juntas, e eu detesto eyelash yarn): / And this is an ugly one that I will frog (these yarns don't work together, and I hate eyelash yarn):

Amostra / Swatch

Já desfiz as 4 linhas, fiz uma pequena amostra para medir a tensão e vou refazer as contas.

I already frogged the 4 rows, knitted a small swatch to check the gauge and will redo the calculations.

O casaco novo / The new cardigan

Há algum tempo, comprei uma lã com desconto aqui. É thick and thin, 100% lã (não é merino), macia, e deixou de ser feita. Comprei as últimas meadas. Segundo eles, tem 160 jardas (146,24 m) por meada. Comprei 6 meadas, ou seja um total de 960 jardas (877,44 m).

Some time ago, I bought a discount yarn here. It's thick and thin, 100% wool (not merino), soft, and they no longer make it. I bought the last skeins. According to them, each skein has 160 yards (146,24 m). I bought 6 skeins, i.e. 960 yards (877,44 m).

A lã era (e é) esta: / This is the yarn:



Comecei com ela este casaco (vêde, por exemplo, o belo casaco verde que a Filomena fez com este padrão), mas cometi uns erros nas contas e tenho de desfazer as 4 linhas que tricotei. Escolhi este padrão para aprender a tricotar de cima para baixo, raglã, e sem costuras, e porque não sei se tenho lã que chegue, logo se vir que me falta posso sempre fazer o cós, os punhos e a gola noutra lã que condiga...

With this yarn, I started this cardigan (see the lovely green cardigan that Filomena knitted using that pattern), but I made a mistake in the calculations and must frog the 4 rows I have knitted. I chose this pattern to learn to knit top-down, raglan, no seams (yes!), and because I don't know if I have enough yarn, so if near the end I find I don't have enough, I can make the cuffs, the lower ribbing band (what's its name in English?) and the collar in a nice contrasting yarn...


Preciso de marcadores de pontos, e como não tenho vou seguir mais uma das ideias da Filomena e usar clips.

I will need stitch markers, and as I don't have them, I will follow another idea from Filomena and use paper clips.

Estou a tentar decidir se o faço em meia pura e simples (o mais provável) com diminuições para o tornar um pouquinho modelado ao meu corpo (mas não justo!), ou nalgum tipo de canelado (4x1? 6x2?) para que ele se ajuste ao meu corpo naturalmente. Qual é a vossa opinião, caros leitores? Quem quiser, diga-ma nos comentários.

Entretanto, tudo leva a crer que vou começar mais outro projecto de malha! Depois explico...
(Continuará...)

I'm still trying to decide if I'll knit it in plain stockinette (most probable) with decreases to make it a little fitted, or in some kind of ribbing (4x1? 6x2?) to try to make it more easily fitted. What's your opinion, dear readers? Please tell me in the comments section.

Meanwhile, it seems I'm starting another knitting project! I will explain later...
(To be continued...)

What kind of knitting needles are you?

E mais um. Mas não sei se concordo com o resultado deste... / One more. But I'm not sure I agree with the results of this one...


You are "turbo" charged.
Fast moving and classy, you get things done with
power and grace. Your expensive tastes can be
deceiving, since what you really value is
quality and efficiency. As you're careening
around those corners in life, finishing a dozen
knitted objects each month, stop and smell the
roses. Don't miss the beauty of process!


What kind of knitting needles are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

What kind of yarn are you really?

E enquanto não tricoto e não melhoro, brinco.

While I don't knit and don't get better from my cold, I play with quizzes.


You are 100% wool hand-dyed MERINO.
You like all things natural and would prefer to do
it yourself. You are socially conscious and
aware of your surroundings. You are kind to all
living things.


What kind of yarn are you really??
brought to you by Quizilla

Vírus / Virus

Depois de algum tempo em silêncio (muito que fazer e pouco tempo), volto. E venho falar-vos de vírus.

After some time of silence (too much work, too little time), I'm back. To post about viruses.

Primeiro: estou com uma constipação chata. Os olhos choram, lenços por todo o lado, dores de cabeça, tosse, e agora comecei com dores nas costas. O meu termómetro avariou-se e só agora fui comprar outro, por isso nem sequer sei se tenho febre. Não posso ficar em casa e faltar às obrigações, mas vontade não me faltava. O corpo pede-me para ir dormir, mas deitada respiro pior que sentada ou de pé, donde as minhas noites de sono ultimamente são mais curtas e com interrupções.

First: I am having a nasty cold. Eyes crying, tissues everywhere, headache, coughing, and now I am having backache as well. My thermometer quit working, and I just went to buy a new one, but I haven't checked if I'm having a fever yet. I cannot skip work obligations and stay at home, but I wish I could. My body wants to go to sleep, but I breathe better while sitting or on my feet, so the last few nights I cannot sleep without interruptions to cough.

Segundo: não estou em condições de tricotar. Mas tenho vontade! Vontade de começar vários projectos de malha ao mesmo tempo. Isto é um vírus, sabíeis? Chama-se comecite (em inglês, startitis, o termo em português inventei-o agora à pressão). Ainda ontem, antes de dormir, comecei um (só consegui tricotar 4 linhas, e já concluí que me enganei no número de pontos e terei de o desfazer e recomeçar). Tenho neste momento em andamento: 1) o cachecol da minha mãe (31 repetições do padrão: só faltam 12); 2) um projecto de utilização das amostrazinhas que subscrevi (não pretendo subscrevê-las outra vez, mas só deixo de as receber em Maio) que depois explicarei; 3) o bendito casaco em trapilho, no qual não tricoto há mais de dois anos; 4) as perneiras pretas, à espera que eu tenha vontade de as coser; 5) o que comecei ontem: um casaco para mim. E ainda queria experimentar fazer meias... A lã para meias chama por mim! Mas estou doente e a tese ainda não está feita. Tenho... de... resistir...

Second: I am in no condition to knit. But I want to! I want to start several new projects at once. This is a virus, you know? It's called startitis (in Portuguese comecite, I invented the word now :) ) Yesterday I started a new project, just before going to sleep (I was only able to knit 4 rows, and I concluded I made a mistake in the number of stitches I cast on. I will have to frog and restart). So, my WIPs are now: 1) my mother's scarf (31 repeats, only 12 to go!); 2) a project to use the yarn samples I subscribed (I will not resuscribe them, but the subscription only ends in May) that I will explain later; 3) the God-forsaken half cardigan in ribbon yarn, which I left on the needles more than 2 years ago and don't want to see yet; 4) the black legwarmers, already knit but waiting for me to sew them; 5) what I started yesterday: a new cardigan for me. And I want so much to learn to knit socks... The sock yarn is calling my name! But I'm ill, and the thesis is not done yet. Must... resist... temptation...

What kind of yarn am I?

Uma brincadeirinha online:

An online quiz:


You are Shetland Wool.
You are a traditional sort who can sometimes be a
little on the harsh side. Though you look
delicate you are tough as nails and prone to
intricacies. Despite your acerbic ways you are
widely respected and even revered.


What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Não estou surpreendida com os resultados. Embora preferisse merino! É mais macio, e a minha pele agradece...

I'm not surprised with the results. Though I would prefer merino! It's softer, and my skin would say thank you...

Ball winder 2

Inspirada por algo que li aqui, que me conduziu aqui, resolvi arranjar uma alternativa barata e improvisada ao dobador de novelos.

Dado que não tenho berbequim, pus-me a pensar com que o poderia substituir. E lembrei-me de uma batedeira (das de bolos), antiga mas funcional, que há aqui em casa. E pus mãos à obra. O que se segue é uma descrição rápida, e com fotografias (um tanto desfocadas), do que aconteceu.

--------------------------

Inspired by something I read here, which led me here, I decided to find a cheap, improvised alternative to the ball winder.

As I don't have an electric driller, I had to replace it with something. And I remembered the house I live in has a portable mixer, not very modern but in working condition. In the next few lines you can see a quick description, with (blurry) pictures, of what happened next.

=========================================

A) O material/Things needed


Uma meada de lã por dobar, a batedeira só com uma das varas de arames metidos e um rolo de cartão dos do papel higiénico. Com um cortezinho na vertical, que na foto não se vê. / An unwinded skein, the mixer with only one of the whisks and an empty toilet paper roll, with a small vertical slit, which you cannot see in the picture.

B) A montagem (esquema teórico)/The setup (in theory)


(sim, isto não é uma foto. Foi impossível tirar uma foto à montagem em funcionamento)
(yes, this is not a photo. I could not take a photo of the setup)

Legenda:
1) A batedeira, de 3 velocidades. Assim que a montagem esteja pronta, é só carregar no botão, e corre tudo lindamente. 2) O rolo, com uma ponta do fio presa no cortezinho. É nele que o fio se vai enrolar. 3) Parte do fio pendurada entre a batedeira/dobadeira e as pernas da cadeira/suporte de meada. 4) Meada segura entre as 4 pernas da cadeira deitada na minha cama. Bem arrumadinha. 5) A minha mão a conduzir o fio, calmamente, enquanto ele se enrola sem esforço no rolo. A minha outra mão só tem de carregar no botão e pronto!

Caption:
1) The 3-speeds mixer. As soon as the setup is ready, I press the button and everything goes fine. 2) The roll, with one end of the yarn inserted in the slit. 3) Part of the thread hanging between the mixer/winder and the legs of the chair/swift. 4) The well-behaved skein in the 4 legs of the chair, which is lying in my bed. 5) My hand driving the yarn, calmly, while it the yarn is balled effortlessly.

C) O que de facto aconteceu/What really happened

1) Montar tudo como acima descrevo./Set up everything as above described

2) Ligar a batedeira na velocidade mínima. Começa a enrolar o fio, que, sendo de lã artesanal, não desenrola muito bem sozinho, muito menos naquela posição. Donde, a meada sai fora de 3 das 4 pernas da cadeira, e só não sai das 4 porque desligo a batedeira a tempo./Switch on the mixer in the minimum speed. It starts balling the yarn, which, being wool, does not unwind from the skein alone, even less in that position. So, the skein jumps out of 3 of the chair legs. Turn off the mixer in time to avoid that it jumps out of the 4th leg.

3)Voltar a pôr o fio na cadeira, desenrolar manualmente uns metros de fio que pus sobre o chão, e recomeçar. Quando esses metros de fio desenrolado terminam, a batedeira volta a puxar pela meada e tenho de desligar a correr a batedeira, não sem antes o fio se enrolar na perna da vara de arames e amassar um tanto o rolo de papel./Put the skein again in the chair, unwind manually some meters of yarn, leave them on the floor, and restart. When the meters of unwinded yarn end, the mixer pulls the skein again, so I quickly switch off the mixer. The yarn wraps over the toilet paper roll with too much tension and the roll gets all squeezed.

4) O método! Ir até à cadeira, desenrolar uns metros de fio, voltar para junto da batedeira, pôr a mão direita a guiar o fio, e com a esquerda ligar a batedeira. Não tirar a esquerda do botão, para desligar logo que o fio solte acabe. Repetir enquanto houver fio./The method! Go to the chair, unwind some meters of yarn, go back to the mixer, put the right hand driving the yarn, and with the left turn the mixer on. Never remove the left hand of the selector, to turn off the mixer as soon as the loose yarn ends. Repeat as long as there is yarn in the skein.

5) Não esquecer de se enganar a dada altura, e em vez de desligar a batedeira pô-la na velocidade máxima, fazendo o fio de lã, agora esticado, passar a grande velocidade pelo polegar direito. Ficar com uma queimadura por atrito no referido polegar e dizer os impropérios de preceito.../Remember to make a mistake somewhere in the middle, and instead of switching off the mixer, put it in maximum speed, so that the wool yarn, now very tense, passes in great speed over my right thumb. Get a friction burn on said thumb and start the traditional cursing...

6) Admirar finalmente o novelo de fio com o rolo dentro,/Admire at last the ball still with the roll inside


o fio fora do rolo e o rolo todo amassado!/The yarn out of the roll (look how nice the center-pull ball!) and the squeezed roll.


E a queimadura (podem não a consegui ver, mas ela está ali!), logo de imediato/The burn, a few minutes later (you may not see it, but it's there!)


e umas horas depois./and some hours later.

D) Conclusões/Conclusions

Imediatamente a seguir, com dores na queimadura, concluí que queria comprar um dobador e um suporte para meadas a sério algum dia. E um gel para queimaduras já. Passadas umas horas, e tendo aplicado o gel, comecei já a pensar em maneiras de melhorar a engenhoca. (Continua um dia destes...)

In the next minutes, feeling the burn sting, I concluded I wanted to buy a real winder and swift some day. And a burn-relief gel immediately. A few hours later, having put the gel, I already thought about ways to improve the gadget. (To be continued some day...)

A question to all readers: Ball winder

(EDITED 2005-10-20)

Uma pergunta: onde posso encontrar um dobador de novelos (ou como quer que se traduza ball winder)? Escrevo mais em pormenor na parte em inglês.

Quem souber onde posso encontrar um não muito caro, por favor escreva nos comentários.

--------------------

A question: where can I find a ball winder which is not too expensive? I was thinking about my stash, and suddenly the thought of winding thousands of metres of yarn into yarn balls alone, without any kind of mechanical help, doesn't sound so appealing. I mean, I usually wind my yarn by hand alone. I stretch the skein in the feet of a chair (I drop the chair in the floor or over my bed) and wind it by hand. But I would prefer to wind faster so that I would have more time to knit. I have seen small (I don't have much free space, so this is important), portable electric ball winders which make very nice yarn balls in other knitter's blogs. I would hold the skein in my arms and the ball winder would make the job faster and better than me.

EDITED TO ADD: I have checked and all ball winders I find are mechanical and non-electrical. Well, so it seems I must continue to use the chair method...

If you know where can I find it, preferably in Europe, please write in the comments. If you know the price, please write it too.

Branching Out - progress(o)

Embora o tempo me ande a faltar, tenho arranjado um ou outro bocadinho para tricotar. E o cachecol para a minha mãe vai progredindo. Ainda na sexta passada tinha 17 repetições do padrão (foto e legenda abaixo), feitas aos bocadinhos, poucas ou nenhumas linhas por dia. Mas no domingo foi dia de eleições por cá, e depois do jantar estive a ver os resultados e projecções na televisão, e tricotando ao mesmo tempo. E agora já tenho... (espanto!) 25 repetições do padrão! Já acabei um dos novelos e meti o segundo, mas não tenho fotos actualizadas.

---------------

I'm not having enough time, but I was still able to find some minutes to knit. And my mother's scarf is slowly progressing. Last Friday I had 17 repeats (photo below). In Sunday (9th October) we had elections and after dinner I watched the TV coverage of the election results and knitted at the same time. Now I have 25 repeats of the pattern! I have already finished one of the yarn balls and started the second, but I don't have more recent photos...



17 repeats! I haven't blocked it yet, but I also like the look of it unblocked. (I will try toblock it, though).

Um pacote da Secret Pal 6/ A package from Secret Pal 6

Hoje recebi o pacote da minha SP6 (fotos no fundo). E trazia muitas coisas deliciosas (logo hoje que eu precisava de mimos):

Postais (claro), incluindo um escrito para mim, com um gato preto que me reforça ainda mais a vontade de arranjar um (preto ou de outra cor) para mim. Nota-se que gosto de gatos!

Chocolates (2 bombons de chocolate preto que se derrete na boca numa caixinha cheia de estilo) daqui.

Missangas diversas.

E linhas (Cotton Cashmere, Debbie Bliss). 4 novelos! Muito, muito macios!

Digam lá se não sou uma rapariga com sorte! Já agora, um beijinho para a Filomena, a minha SP5! Sou tão mimada por vocês as duas!

(Agora só me falta o tempo e a cabeça para tricotar...)

Muito obrigada, SP6!

----------------------------------

Today I received the package from my SP6 (photos below). I sure was needing a treat! I received a lot of wonderful, delicious things:

Postcards (of course), including a lovely one written for me, with a black cat! I am certainly a cat person, and I wish one day I can have my own cat (black or not)!

Chocolates (2 black chocolate bombons, yummy, soft, that melt in the mouth. Of course I have already eaten them!) from here. And the box, oh so chic!

Beads, several different beads (I am just a beginner in making my own bijoux. Mostly simple bracelets, but I have already bought material to make earrings).

And yarn (Cotton Cashmere, Debbie Bliss)... 4 balls of two delicious shades of blue-gray! Very, very, very soft!

I am a really lucky girl! My Secret Pals are the best! (a kiss to Filomena, my SP5, by the way!) I am so spoiled!

(Now I just need the time to knit...)

Thank you so much, SP6!

Present(e) 1

A minha Secret Pal 6 enviou-me um presente (obrigada, SP!): o padrão Hopeful! Por agora não tenho tempo para tricotar, mas fica já para depois... (Ela enviou-me também um pacote, mas ainda não chegou).

Alguns comentários ao padrão e sugestões podem encontrar-se aqui.

De resto, não tenho notícias. A tese avança devagar demais!

--------------------

My Secret Pal 6 sent me a present (thanks, SP!): Hopeful! Now I don't have the time to knit, but later I intend to make it... (She also sent me a package, but it hasn't arrived yet).

Some comments and suggestions about this pattern can be found here.

Other news: my thesis is slowly progressing, too slowly! I don't know when I will be able to finish it...

Word verification

Para evitar spam, pu-la a funcionar. Não é um inconveniente grande para quem escreve, e evita os comentários de spam.

-----------------

To avoid spam comments, now this blog has word verification in comments.

Secret Pal 6 answers

(posta apenas em inglês, desculpem).

Almost a reposting from SP5, with some few modifications (in italic):

I will post this only in English, I don't feel like translating this into my mother-tongue.

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high-end/natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

Of course I prefer higher quality, and mostly natural fibers. But I don't think of myself as a yarn snob. And as my budget is somewhat tight, I cannot be a snob. I have knitted with acrylic and found it satisfying (it was a good acrylic). I discovered some time ago that I don't usually like ribbon yarns, and I don't like splitty yarns either. Other than that, I have a slight skin problem. I cannot wear scratchy yarns, or my skin will get red and itchy. Please see the entry on allergies.

I also usually prefer yarns that knit with needles 3mm to 8 mm.
But still, I'm not picky. The most important thing is that the yarn shouldn't be rough on the skin. All the rest is secondary.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

I crochet. I have one big crocheting project in hands. I don't usually crochet with wool, though. And I don't usually crochet clothes.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)

I don't like the smell of smoke, but I'm not allergic to it. I have a skin problem (a mild one). So I cannot wear fibers which are not smooth. And I should prefer natural fibers, but I have found (trial and error) that some artificial fibers work great for me. The important thing is: they should be soft. Oh, and I remembered: they should not have a high percentage of angora. I have a sweater with 30% angora, and I can wear it with no problem (unless I'm having a severe skin crisis), but a 50% angora yarn might be troublesome to me.

4. How long have you been knitting?

I don't know. I learned when I was a child, but soon lost my interest. I got interested again more or less 5 years ago, I think.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

No.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

Because of my skin problem, I must be careful with things I use on my skin. (If you wish to send me a bath product, choose it like it was to a baby sensitive skin). Anyway, I like vanilla, cinnamon, almond, apple, mint (but please no mint-smelling bath products: potentially aggressive to my skin), pine, lavender, frankincense, rosemary... I don't usually like strong, heady scents (oriental-like). Added: I also like honey, tea and anise smells. And also: my skin problem is only in my face, neck and upper torso. In the rest of my body I have normal, slightly dry, skin. So when I cannot use a product in my face and upper torso, usually I can use it in the rest of my skin.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

Yes. In chocolate realm, I LOVE dark chocolate (the darker and the more bitter the better) and hate white chocolate. I like bittersweet and sour candy, also. I don't like excessively sweet things. I also love anise candy.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

Cross-stitch, half cross-stitch, Arraiolos rug making (I have made 1 and a half small rugs... I wish I had more free time!). Added: I started making (very simple) bracelets and earrings with beads, because there are so many nice beads to use! I also will try dyeing some yarn, as soon as I can find some Kool-aid or other non-toxic colouring.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if you want to make her a CD)

Yes, my computer can play MP3. Added: Unfortunately, I recently had to send the CD/DVD drive to repair. It should come back till the end of this month. I don't own a stereo. My radio/CD player cannot play MP3, though.

I like classical music, especially choral. I love sacred music (ancient, medieval, gregorian chant, baroque...), and also some profane music from the same periods. I don't like the pop gregorian phenomena (sp?) though. I'm curious for byzantine and orthodox sacred music. I also like heavy metal, and rock. Some examples: I own all Metallica CDs prior to 1994 (I don't like their new style). I like the newest Rammstein albums (Mutter and Reise, Reise), but not the older ones. I LOVE Queen, every single album of them. But the safest bet is sacred choral music. Added: I like gospel, too.
And I'm starting to like soundtracks of movies (the orchestral ones, like LOTR or Star Wars).

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

I usually prefer secondary, complex colors. But I also have some primary colors clothes. An example: I don't usually like orange, but I love rust color. And I have one orange T-shirt. Added: Colours I just can't stand? Bright fluorescent colours, I think. (English is not my mother-tongue, so I spell colour/color according to my mood).

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

Single, sharing a house with 3 other girls (I would prefer living alone, but my budget does not allow it). I don't have pets, and will not have them until I can afford living alone.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)

Being happy. Building a family with someone that brings out the best of me, and bringing out the best of him. Finding a job that allows me not to share a house (the other girls are nice, but...) unless I choose to do that, and that I can wake up every day looking forward to another day at work. Making people happy around me. Being a better person, and a better Christian. Added: keeping the friends I have, and making new friends. Learning new things until I die.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

Yarns that knit with 2.5 mm to 5 mm needles. Really, I prefer finer yarns!
But I still like yarns up to 8 mm needles... I don't usually like ribbon yarns, but once I knit a sample of a ribbon yarn I liked. Added: I recently tried merino (see this scarf) and loved it. It's so soft, and still not splitty!

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

Scratchy fibers. Splitty yarns. Added: I don't like most eyelash yarn, unless it is used only for a small detail, or if you are knitting a small furry animal ;) I also cannot imagine myself knitting very bulky yarns (yarns that knit with needles thicker than 10 mm). They scare me, and besides, I don't own needles thicker than 8 mm!

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

I don't think I have any.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Don't know. I'm knitting scarves now, because I'm very busy and not having time for bigger projects, but I like sweaters and cardigans as well. And I have plans to design and knit a simple top soon...

17. What are you knitting right now?
A scarf. And also Yarn of the Month samples and Elann samples :) Added: I frogged the samples and started a weird project with them. With all of them. It's called "Learning to accept" (quite philosophical) and I will post more about it as soon as I have time. Let's just say I decided to knit a potentially ugly object on purpose, just to teach myself some much needed virtues!
I have also enriched my stash (with the help of my SP5 and also while buying presents for Noo), so I have a lot of projects to knit when I have more time

18. What do you think about ponchos? (this is really a curiousity question for us)

I cannot understand them. Nobody wears ponchos here since the 70s, anyway.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

I have never knitted with circular needles yet. In the special kind of needles I use they are harder to find. See below. Added: My lovely SP5 sent me some, so I will soon try them.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I prefer aluminum coated with a greyish enamel. They are called INOX, I believe it's the brand name.
But I use an unusual kind of knitting needles: needles with a hook.

I knit the way everybody else does, but I use this kind of needles. I could not find a picture of straight knitting needles with hook, so I will illustrate with double pointed needles and a picture of the hook. Added: you can see more pictures in the posts about my SP5 packages.

My mother and my grandmother, and all my family knit with needles like these, and I cannot knit well with other kinds of needles. My mother owns DPN and circular ones, all with hooks in the ends.
So, please do not send me needles unless they have a hook like the ones above.

21. Are you a sock knitter?

No. My mother can knit socks, though, and as soon as I can, I will try. (Thanks, Filomena!)

22. How did you learn to knit?

My mother taught me, and I keep learning by reading online references.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

3 and a half years old, I think.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

Favorite animal: cat. Favorite mythological animal: dragon. Favorite animated character: I don't know. Favorite movie character: Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. I love his duality. I also love the Star Wars universe...

25. What is your favorite holiday?

Easter (I'm Christian!). But also Christmas Eve, a strong holiday in my country.

26. Is there anything that you collect?

Coins. But I believe sending money in mail is forbidden. Illustrated postcards, written and unwritten.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
None. (Tight budget...)

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Some good knitting reference books (any suggestions welcome!). The Star Wars books, also. Hard-core theology books, especially the ones from John Paul II/Karol Wojtyla (I know I'm weird...). I can read fluently in English. Added: I also like a good novel, but I'm not having the time to read now.(

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another?
Well, some. Here are the links:
Hopeful (a very worthy cause, also), these 3 wonderful patterns (even though I'm not an experienced knitter, Ribby Cardy, Mrs. CB, Lo Tech, some cardigan which looks like this, OSW, Orangina, and also some patterns from Whitelies Design, such as: Bella,Shelley, Angelina, (with a very different yarn, less shiny) Heather, and even (with some small adaptations to make a more modest summer top that I can wear outside my house!) Rita Mae and Alene. I really love their designs! I also like these tall stockings, which would have to wait till I learn how to knit socks!
(It seems I decided to make a bookmarking list of all the patterns I like!)
30. What are your foot measurements, and what kind of socks do you like?
Good question. Let me see: 22,5 cm long, 21,5 cm perimeter (measured just below the smaller toe), 25,5 cm around the thinner part of the ankle, 42,5 cm around the fatter part of the calf. Maybe you don't need all those measurements, but I have never knitted socks, so I don't know! I like socks which are soft. I have never worn hand-knitted socks since I was a toddler (then, my mother knitted me some wonderful lace socks, in wool and in cotton. She still has a pair of them somewhere), so I don't know, really. As long as they are pretty, of a colour I like and not scratchy, I think I like all socks! I wear commercial socks, a lot of them stripy and coloured (those I wear with trousers), and maybe one day, when I'm experient enough, I will knit tall socks to wear with a skirt!


I have already contacted my SP and my SP-r, and I'm looking forward to this exchange!

Secret Pal 5 :)

Chegou o pacote em que a minha SP5 se revela! Ela é a Filomena do Tricot e tal. Já dei uma olhadela no blogue, e posso dizer que quando for grande quero tirar fotografias como as dela...

Quanto aos presentes, são excelentes! Ela excedeu-se em generosidade, e só posso dizer que contribuiu para melhorar muito o meu dia! Aqui fica a foto-reportagem possível (desculpem a má qualidade das minhas fotos, ainda me falta comer muita sopinha para tirar fotos decentes...)

Um beijo enorme à Filomena, e muito, muito obrigada!

-------------------

Today I received a new SP package, and the mistery is finally revealed! She is Filomena from Tricot e tal. I have checked her blog, and when I grow up I want to take pictures as she does...

And her presents are excellent! She exceeded herself in generosity, and made my day much happier!
This is an amateur photo-report (excuse me for my blurry photos, I will have to eat a lot of soup and vegetables to grow up and take good pictures...)

A huge kiss to Filomena, and thanks!
=============================


O pacote fechado/The closed package


O pacote aberto e a carta em que ela se revela/The open package and the letter in which she reveals herself


Muitos presentes!/A lot of presents!


Mais postais/More postcards


Lã para meias... Que vontade de aprender a fazer meias e usá-las à mostra, com uma saia de ganga!/Sock yarn... How I wish to learn how to knit socks and wear them with a skirt, so that everybody can see them!


Lã branca para tingir / White wool yarn to dye


Muitas agulhas de tricotar, e uma seringa para tingir lãs (numa foto invertida).../A lot of knitting needles, and a syringe to dye yarn (in an inverted photo)...


E/And CDs!

E para a minha Secret Pal

(As my Secret Pal 5 is Portuguese, this post is in Portuguese only).

Um beijinho muito grande e obrigada pelo postal virtual! Estou muito curiosa por que te reveles!



(O postal virtual que a minha SP me enviou: "Tricotadeira Adormecida", porque estou cansada devido à tese.../The virtual postcard my SP sent me: an Asleep Knitter, because I'm tired from my thesis...)

To my SP-r

(Em inglês, porque a minha SP-r é inglesa).

I have been Secret Pal to Noo, from Spitting Yarn.
It's been a pleasure to be exchanging emails with you, and giving you craft-related gifts. I loved watching you receive the presents, and you already knit one wonderful shrug from one of the yarns! By the way, you take much better photos than me... And your blog has a "cleaner" look, which made me decide to change this blog's template, as soon as I have a little free time.

Now, borrowing this idea from several knitterly blogs: Google Images I get when I search for:

My birthplace:


Porto, Portugal

The place I live in:


Lisboa, Portugal

I don't have time to search for more pictures. Still, I love both my cities. :)

Voltei / I'm back

Voltei de pseudo-férias. A tese ainda não está pronta e não tive tempo para tricotar quase nada.

Deixo-vos duas sugestões, por ordem cronológica:

- Apoiar as vítimas dos incêndios em Portugal, e/ou os bombeiros que precisam de se re-equipar;

- Apoiar às vítimas do Katrina, por meio da Cruz Vermelha dos EUA;

---------

I'm back from my pseudo-holidays.

Two suggestions, in chronological order:

- Help the victims of forest fires in Portugal, and/or the firefighters, which need to replace damaged material;

- Help the victims of Katrina hurricane, helping the local Red Cross;

Pseudo-férias /Pseudo-vacations

Último post de hoje, prometo! Vou de pseudo-férias amanhã. Ou seja, não vou estar em minha casa (vou para casa da minha mãe), vou andar muito menos pela Internet, mas vou estar a trabalhar arduamente. Deveres académicos chamam por mim! (A tese, que ainda não comecei a escrever, e quase nem vou ter tempo para tricotar, buááá..... Snif, pronto, já me recuperei :-) ) Não sei se actualizarei este blogue enquanto lá estiver. Um beijo aos leitores, boas férias a quem for de férias, e bom trabalho a quem estiver a trabalhar!
-----------------------------------

This is the last post today, I promise! I'm going on pseudo-vacations tomorrow. This means: I will go to my mother's, I will surf much less the Internet, but I will be working hard. Academic duties call for me! (My thesis needs to be written, I haven't started yet, and I almost won't have the time to knit... :'( [Cries like a baby]). I don't know if I will write in this blog while I'm there, so, a kiss to all of you readers!

Knitting adventurer :)

Uma brincadeirinha... Acho que me revejo nos resultados, embora não tenha cabelo roxo :P Mas já começo a fazer algumas coisas menos simples, e sobretudo não tenho medo de NÃO seguir as instruções ou até cometer pequenas "heresias"... /A little game... I think I agree with the results, though my hair isn't purple :P But I'm starting to do things that are not so easy, and mostly I'm not afraid NOT to follow the patterns or even be a little "heretic"...

You appear to be a Knitting Adventurer.
You are through those knitting growing pains and
feeling more adventurous. You can follow a
standard pattern if it's not too complicated
and know where to go to get help. Maybe you've
started to experiment with different fibers and
you might be eyeing a book with a cool
technique you've never tried. Perhaps you
prefer to stick to other people's patterns but
you are trying to challenge yourself more.
Regardless of your preference, you are
continually trying to grow as a knitter, and as
well you should since your non-knitting friends
are probably dropping some serious hints, these
days.
http://marniemaclean.com

 What Kind of Knitter Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Presentes, presentes! / A lot of presents!

Recebi hoje uma nova encomenda da minha SP! Fiquei felicíssima! Não só porque gostei muito dos presentes, mas também porque já receávamos que a encomenda se tivesse perdido. É que ela já tinha enviado a encomenda há mais de duas semanas, e não é nada normal que não tivesse chegado. (Note-se que eu e ela vivemos no mesmo país). Ela contactou-me no princípio da semana para ver se eu já tinha recebido o pacote, e a partir daí andámos a trocar mails todos os dias, e eu à procura pelos Correios (que me davam sempre resposta negativa). A minha SP ofereceu-se para me enviar outro pacote caso este se tivesse perdido (é um doce de pessoa!). Mas, felizmente, acabou por chegar, hoje de manhã!

As fotos foram tiradas à pressa na minha sala e estão uma porcaria (desculpem), mas não tenho paciência e vou "postá-las" mesmo assim. Fotos, e legenda (bilingue) com a descrição das prendinhas depois do texto (itálico) em inglês.
-----------------------------------------------

Today I received a new parcel from my SP! I'm so happy! I liked the presents a lot, and also we were getting afraid that the parcel was lost somewhere in the postal services. My SP sent the parcel more than two weeks ago, and it should have arrived much sooner. (We both live in the same country). She wrote me on Monday to check if I had received the parcel, and since then we started exchanging emails every day, and I went several times to check in the postal services (which always gave me negative answers). We were getting very worried. My SP told me that if the parcel was lost she would quickly make another parcel to send me and replace it (she's a very sweet person!). But, fortunately, it arrived this morning!

I took some quick pictures in my living room. The photos are quite crappy (I'm sorry), but I'm not pacient enough so I will post them like this. I describe the presents in the caption of the photos.



1) A encomenda acabada de abrir, na sala. De cima para baixo e da esquerda para a direita: a caixa da encomenda, 2 conjuntos de 5 DPNs com barbela, e mais uma agulha circular de 3 mm com barbela (das que eu gosto, de metal com o esmalte cinzento :-) ), uma caixa de incenso de baunilha com suportes em barro (nunca usei incenso, parece interessante o aroma a baunilha), um saco de gomas agridoces (já comi algumas, yum!), 4 novelos de algodão azul (um tom de azul delicioso, mais bonito do que se vê nesta foto), 2 novelos de lã para meias, mesclada de vermelho, rosa e arroxeado (cores fantásticas, essas então é que não consegui captar na foto) e 2 postais. / A recently opened parcel, in the living-room. From top to bottom and from left to right: the box, 2 sets of 5 DPNs with hook, and a circular needle (3 mm) with hook (the kind I love, coated aluminum :-) ), a box of vanilla-scented incense with holders (I never used incense, but I like vanilla scented candles), a bag of sweet and sour gums (I already ate some, yum!), 4 balls of blue cotton yarn (the colour is much prettier "in person"), 2 balls of sock wool yarn, variegated in red, pink and violet (a wonderful colourway, which I wasn't able to portray in the photos) and 2 postcards.



2) A lã para meias. Foto desfocada, e é difícil mostrar as cores, mas dá para ver o vermelho, o rosa e o arroxeado. Deve dar para meias altas. (Projectos, projectos!) / The sock wool yarn. Blurry photo, and it's hard to show the colours, but you can see red, pink and violet. I suppose it's enough for a pair of tall socks. (So many plans and so little time!)


3) O algodão. A cor vê-se um pouco melhor aqui, mas ao vivo é mais clara e ainda mais bonita. Outra foto desfocada! Ainda não sei bem o que fazer, talvez um top? / The cotton yarn. The colour is more similar here, but it's lighter and prettier. Another blurry photo! I haven't decided what to do with it, maybe a summer top?


4) E mais uma foto desfocada, onde se vêem, mal, as agulhas de meia (2 conjuntos de 5), a agulha circular, o incenso e seus suportes, as gomas e os postais. / And another blurry photo, where you can see the DPNs, the circular needle, the incense and holders, the gums and the postcards.

Um beijo à minha Secret Pal! / Kisses to my Secret Pal!