The postman always rings twice. Magazines

This week the postman brought me the Spinners' magazine Spin Off. It is full of interesting articles and enticing advertising. When I see this type of magazine I get, as we say in Latvian, a white envy  of the U.S. craftmen. They have it all. And with it I think not only the thing to buy, most of all those things we could get also living in Spain, but to continue that tradition - spinning, weaving, sewing, embroidery ...

By the way, looking at Wikipedia I found that spin off "is a Saxon word that refers to a project created as an extension of an earlier [..]." Sounds promising, right?

2nd Knitting Workshop

Last night we met at the usual place for the 2nd Knitting Workshop. Apart from the initiators, Ana, Teresa and Marie - this time also came Elsa and Aurora. We talked and knited and our good mood could not spoil even the unhappy and tiring waiter that we had this time.

With this workshop I understand that the lace is not as easy and simple as I have believed all my life, that there are people to knit something like that costs more concentration and effort. Knowing it I had not begun with so difficult design , but done is done, I think slowly, slowly we will reach the goal.


I am delighted to share my knowledge and I think organize another knitting workshop in the fall. We could learn patchwork, knitting Latvian mittens,  Turk's socks, some lace...

Silk flowers

Already, many times I've promised myself to not make small pieces, which can then be connected together, because everything that I have also initiated, has remained incomplete. But ...

Some time ago the projects in my Ravelry friend Daiga I found these flowers with a link to the blog of Petite Pimprenelle where he had posted the scheme.

When in a shop in Latvia I bought a fine thread of silk made in Italy, I decided to try them in crochet. And here they are - silk flowers. Yet I know that might come of all this, I have in mind a light jacket for summer with the French sleeves ...

Oh, gods and little fishes, help me to embody my idea this time in life!

"Leaves" and "Metro de Madrid"

After spending some time in my basket of needleworks, I finally hid the end of yarns, washed and blocked two progects, started a long time ago.

Leaves

It is made according to the pattern found here. The only thing that seems different is that I've used a finer thread (50% linen, 50% cotton). The necessary weight and fall have given by beads, and thanks to them the stole also makes a nice noise when you put it on a hard surface. Only the blocking gives me problems - I didn´t achieve symmetry...

The postman always rings twice. Yarns

During the Easter holidays I went to my country. As always, in Latvia I can not refrain from buying wool. I try not to get into the wool stores, but no matter, finaly good part of the contents of my suitcase is different fibers. In addition, we must recognize that in Latvia the yarn is cheaper than in Spain. Because there are maybe more knitters...

Silk and worms

I recently realized that almost everyone Spanish friends I know  as children have had  silkworms. Of course, in my country we have no silkworms (there are others), or mulberries so I have not had this childhood hobby, but when my boss told that the shoe box of his son had been born almost a hundred silkworms I could not resist and I said yes, I am ready to share house with some of them.

Now I have eight worms, I know how is a mulberry tree and eagerly hope my new pet convert in cocoons to try to get a thin silk thread. My English teacher laughs that I will only one thread of teeth, but the process of getting natural fiber now seems me more interested in the outcome applicable.

The postman always rings twice. Books

Some time ago, before Easter, I bought a couple of books and now at last I have them all.

Since I have a new sewing machine I have the desire to sew something and I've even bought a couple of fabrics. I began to look for patterns. I wanted something simple, but elegant at the same time. I´m seeing, searching and finally found - Nipponese sewing books. I made my first purchase from YesAsia (without shipping cost). Now I own Simple chic and Sewing talk of Machiko Kayaking, as well as recipe Sewing recipe by an unknown author. All books have a very good illustrations, and I have sewing experience, so I think that my non-existent knowledge of Japanese won´t bother me much.