Special Things.

I love to knit, but I also love to sew. Before I ever took a pair of needles sewing was already a very active part of my life, especially because my grandmother's sewing machine was left at my home. This Singer sewing machine (pictures above and below) was bought by my grandfather in the early 50's and it still works like brand new. Of course I have a modern sewing machine now, computerized with the latest technology, but I can't help having a special feeling towards my grandmother's sewing machine. It reminds me of her and enjoy using it.

My grandmother never knew how big her influence would be in my life but knowing her I am almost sure she saw in my early years of age a shared love for certain things. She left her Singer at my home perhaps with the plan to tempt me into sewing one day only to see that designing clothes became my profession later in life. Perhaps she saw something when she taught me how to crochet. I was about 7 or 8 when I crocheted a little carpet for the first time. All the patience I took to finish it, the many hours seeing how the work would grow...... finally discovering how I could create with my hands something. Sewing came natural to me.

Unfortunately she was not around anymore when I started getting curious about knitting although I was always amazed of the beautiful things my aunt would knit -it was like magic to see the many things she could knit-, so if I already knew how to crochet I self taught myself to knit. Of course, I made mistakes and now I am trying to fix one of them!

Here is a picture of one of my first knitting projects. It is a pullover knitted with three strands of mohair. It had very little to do with what I wanted to achieve and then what resulted was a very bulky and very warm piece!
I always liked the yarn (100% New Zealand mohair) so I have decided to unravel it. I am amazed as from one sleeve I got 3 skeins of 100grams each. No wonder it was warm! I will wash it and then use all the yarn for a nice pullover that I will later post about here.

I am still trying to finish my first project knitted in the round from the neck. I have discovered that it was voted by readers to be one of the few projects included in a compilation of the best knitting projects by Interweave Knits from the past ten years. I like it, I have now started knitting the waist (still missing the sleeves).

And last but not least, I have finished another scarf for the chilly nights. It is from Robin Melanson, a Canadian knitter whose sense of style resembles mine.

It is from Interweave Knits Winter 2004 and as usual I had to replace the yarn but I do like the results. I used Katia's "Azteca" (50% wool, 50% acrylic) -funny name for a yarn with colors never liked by the Aztecs!

See you soon!