The Knaughty Knitter

For Today's Secret Scarf Class

bring #8 or #9 24" or longer circular needles.  

And last night in group Carole was knitting this.  It is made from Lindsey by Berroco and this is a free pattern from their website.  It was very lovely and made me want one.  It looks so comfy.

OOPS
Friday (tomorrow) is the last day to sign up for May's Secret Scarf Club. There is room in Saturday's class only.

We are back and open

We came back Tuesday - just in time for yesterday's storms.  Hope everyone is okay.  We barely have a small branch down on a tree and there is water in the field behind us half way from the creek to the house. 

We had a lovely relaxing time, no tv for a week is very odd - came back and this morning realized I had missed a lot of events in the news and it really didn't matter much.  More after I get through the mountain of boxes that are probably arriving today.....

just a quickie...Found Yarn! In a tiny little shop in Montespertoli that had perfumes ands linens (got some of those too) and just a bit of yarn tucked away. I got a bit of an alpaca blend. And we had the most delightful lunch nearby. Lots of laughing with the owner over her English and our poor Italian. Very fun and the food was delish! Bought wine too. The most fun thing today - a village market - lots of fresh vegetables and meats and cheeses and some other stuff. The best mandarin orange I have ever had. And little baby artichokes which will be ours during lunch tomorrow because it will be Easter and most things are closed, Making us very glad for the kichen in our castle home. Oops I havegone on to my other majhor obsession - food - so now back to yarn...I am more than halfway through a pair of socks and may get to wear them home...bye now

From Italy

Hey Y'all  It  is wonderful.  We are in a castle built during the 12th century and it is awesome, but cold.  Here's the view from the terrace

we went to Firenze today - fortunately on the bus, it is not a place I would want to drive.  Lovely and a great lunch.  Lots of crowds.  I was not successful in finding the yarn store, but I did find a knitter minding one of the shops and we talked.  You know how that goes.  Knitting is a universal language.

Here's just one picture from the Duomo in Firenze...it is all so beautiful here.

 

Just a quick thing before I go....I hope I get to see this.... a knitted ferrari

 

 

Last day to get yarn

before we close for vacation.  We will be back on Thursday April 28th.  I will be blogging in the meantime from Italy....food, architecture, possibly yarn.  It seems odd to me that the castle we are staying in was built in the 12th century - and has WiFi .  I am taking way too many knitting projects with me and as suggested by someone, crocheting for the plane so they don't take my lovely rosewood needles from me when we change planes in Paris or somewhere.  I have a stash of naturally dyed fingering weight yarns in greens and yellows and tans and they want to be a crocheted shawl.  I am really questioning though - how many balls of yarn can you crochet in 24 hours? I keep putting some in my suitcase and then taking them out for the plane again.... There are 2 long layovers and I am fast. 

Okay I am finally warm

after working outside much of yesterday and sitting on the porch knitting in between, I had moments of not being cold.....at least until I went in to the air conditioning..  Here I have the fans going and the doors and windows open for the moment. 

We have Square Needles!  Just a sampling of some palm wood needles from Laurel Hill.  They are pretty nice to work with.  They were out of #8s in square and sent triangular ones which I am trying out.  They're supposed to be ergonomically better and make for more even stitches.  I haven't seen any difference yet, but some folks love them, so they are here.

Morning Glory is finished

 The pattern will be ready this afternoon.  This was fun and I want to do another one.  It takes one skein of Noro sock yarn and we just got some cotton Noro sock yarn that would be great for summer wear.

If you are in Secret Scarf Club this month, please bring #8 or 9 24" circulars.....(It's tonight)

a few more new things

Today a surprise box came from Noro - really it was totally a surprise - the backorder was from way early last fall and I had forgotten about it.  There are some lovely new cotton things - a cotton boucle sort of thing that is very pretty, cotton sock yarn.  All this cotton and I read on today's Daily Knitting letter about how it is soon going to be too hot to knit with wool.  Really? I never think this.  Maybe ( and really mean only maybe) not knitting with wool out on the porch when it is 100 degrees out, but certainly inside when Doyle has cranked up the air and I am freezing under blankets with a hat and hand warmers on. (This happens when the air is on all - I turn it completely off when he isn't home.  So it is not that he puts it so high - just that I can't stand it almost at all).  I know I am wierd, but I still can't imagine not knitting in the summer.

Oh there's a bit of Cascade too - which means my early copies of 60 Quick Baby Knits is back in.  The publisher isn't releasing it generally until May, but Cascade has sent out a few copies early.  This is a fabulously cute book with great designs in it.

And last night I found Mexican Food Goodness.  On Northfield where the Bagel place used to be is now Carmen's Taqueria.  Fresh good food, more authentic, and friendly folks.  Okay, no margheritas but the food is great so I thought I'd give 'em a plug.