Choose the right necklace length!

I made a picture about the length of the necklaces. On the Etsy there is a new function: you can choose the items length, color, size, etc. I've made this picture in order to help you to choose the right necklace length.

Monday Moodboard

Last time I wrote about the knitting fashion, and I showed my unfinished cowl. Now I've collected some modern and exciting cowls from the european group of Etsy.

dekkoline / Fnine / Berniolie / TheYarnKitchen

You can check more Monday Moodboards at Estella!

Cowl designing

I read a (Hungarian) blogpost about the 2012 knitting trends. The article wrote about this autumns trends to wear cowl, mittens and collar. I've learned quickly to knit in round (yet before the article ;), and started to collect some patterns on Ravelry. And I felt I urgently need a cowl! Now I have 2 works in progress, but no problem, I'll quickly make an easy cowl, without a direct pattern. At least that was what I thought. :)

I ordered my things during the weekend, so now my yarns are organized in boxes. I've chosen a purple yarn, whereof I made a shawl last year. I made a test with a 5.0 mm size needle, but I found, my needle is too big for this yarn. I tried again with 4.0 mm needle - it was much more nicer. So I started to make my cowl...

I knitted a short part border, then I tried a "dotted pattern". That was terrible...

Where are my dots...?

In a knitting forum the people said, I use a too thick needle. I pulled down the dotted part, and after the border, I changed the needle to 3,5 mm. But the dotted pattern still didn't look good. Finally I've chosen a lace pattern, and I've bought a 'high quality' needle for the magic loop technique.

Now I'm halfway through, and I think, I've divided back about fifty times. :P
If i ever have it completed, I'll post the knitting pattern! ;)

Pantone colors, 2012 fall

Every year Pantone makes a forecast about the most determinative colors of the next season.
What do you think about the current colors? :)

French Roast: this is a typical autumn tone, ideal alternative of black and grey.
Honey Gold: this warm  tone of yellow is quoted in the autumn sunshine. Use with Olympian Blue!
Pink Flambé: this color reminds me of the Pantone color of 2011 year. That was the honeysuckle. With Tangerine Tango it gives a very retro feeling. :)
Tangerine Tango: this is the Pantone color of 2012. Energetic, powerful and cheerful. I love it!
Ultramarine Green: about this color from the Pantone page: "“love magic” - witches and warlocks, misty landscapes, love potions and dreamy skies set the mood for colors this season" Great idea!
Bright Chartreuse: this yellow-green tone reminds me of the spring. Use with Pink Flambé - really fresh and powerful combination!
Olympian blue: intensive tone, use with neutral colors, for example Ginseng and Hasel.
Titanium: very elegant and many-sided color
Rhapsody: I really love this tone with Titanium. Elegant and womanly pairing.
Rose Smoke: it's like as my favourite nail polish. ;) Soft pastel and nude tone. Have you tried with Titanium? - yeah, I think, Titanium is a very multifunctional tone. :)

Which colors would you wear from these? :)

Monday Moodboard

CuteOldThings / TheRetroBottega / mablum / mademoisellebomode

Vintage. :) I'm back in Berlin, yesterday I was already at the flea market. ;)

You can check more Monday Moodboards at Estella!

Festival of Folk Arts, Budapest

On the last weekend of August it's the 26th Festival of Folk Arts in Budapest, in the Castle of Buda. During the 4 days, you can find about 800 traditional craftsmen, concerts, workshops, and you have the chance to get to know the handcraft gastronomy. In this year the theme was the "Art of the everyday life", and the old and rare crafts.

I love the feeling of the festival - the people in folk costumes, the live folk music, the scent of the  food being baked... You can try some different technics, for example wool felting, handmade paper- and candle making, basketry, bookbinding... I admire the old women making lace - you can't see this in other places in the everyday life.

The girl, who has made yarn with spinning wheel from painted wool, she was just 9 years old!

And I could try new technics at the festival: I have learned yarn spinning with drop spindle. A few weeks ago I've seen a woman to sit in a Café terrace (in Berlin) with a portion of wool and a spindle, and she has made beautiful yarn with her hands. I was very surprised, because I thought, it's only possible to make yarn with spinning wheel. 

The painted wool, and the spindle in the basket.

At the festival, I have met a kind and very professional woman, who has helped me to take the first steps with the drop spindle. The handspinning is a very old and easy technique, but you need a lot of practice, if you want to make useful yarn. ;) I bought a beautiful, purple-grey handpainted wool, and now I'm starting the exercise. :) I think, I've found a new, amazing hobby!
I will surely write about my new entertainment in the blog. ;)

Monday Moodboard

vadjutka / meilingerzita / boldcolorglass / noritart

I'm now in Hungary, that's why I collected some beautiful things from Hungarian artists. I don't wear in everyday life too much red, but I love these minimalist things. :)

You can check more Monday Moodboards at Estella!