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.