My favorite knitting project in 2012

When I only knew crocheting, I found a beautiful hat on Ravelry. This is a knitted project, but I bought it immediately. :) Finally 1 year later I could start to make this hat. I loved to knit, because it's very easy and fast! And the two pompons are really funny and cheerful.

Pattern: Toorie
Yarn: Barka Díva (50% Merino, 50% Alpaca)
Needle: 3.0 mm
Ravelry Project: here

Monday moodboard

Fish! 

tenderblue / oneandtwocompany / VillaYlle / krize

You can check more Monday Moodboards at Estella!

Secret Swap Cowl

I'm a member in a Hungarian knitting and crochet Facebook group. I love this group, because I can ask for help, if I don't understand a knitting pattern, and I like to admire the works and photos of other members. Now we are making a game: this is the secret swap cowl, so we must to make asecret cowl for the swap partner like long time ago, in the school at Christmas. :) We have filled a table about the most ideal cowl for us. For example, what colors and pattern you would prefer.
My swap partner would like to get  a not-too-tight cowl, and she wrote about her favourite colors, and she prefers the knitting cowl against the crochet. I have searched the ideal yarn, when I've found a pretty and very soft yarn: the Lana Grossa Merino Mix. I love its color (but I mustn't write more information, if my partner reads my blog... :)!

I've collected some beautiful patterns on Ravelry, and I tried to figure out for 3 days, which one to choose. ;) Finally I've started to make a pattern, but I wasn't satisfied. I've started again. Three more times. :P And when I've understood the pattern, I've choosen a new pattern. :P

Pattern: Origami Falls Cowl

My Ravelry project is here

(the color of cowl is in the reality, of course, not purple ;)

I had to start with picot hem technique. I start with provisional cast on, and I knit 7 rows (in round). The 8. row is *yo, k2tog* till end. Thereafter I knit again 7 rows. I extract the first chain row, and I pick the knitted stitsches to the needle. I fold back the knitting, and I knit a row till end with k2tog: 1 stitch from the first needle, 1 from the new needle. Finally, you have same stitches, and you must start to knit the pattern. The picot hem border is thicker and prettier as a normal, just stockinette border. And the 8. row, the *yo, k2tog* row now looks like as picot hem.

I think the cowl is really practical accessory, and this pattern is very pretty: a little laced, and a little geometric. I will knit this for myself too. :)

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? :)