On and off the Needles

Hap hap happy feet!!!! How can feet not be happy with this happy yarn and happy socks!!! I love the colors and the stitch pattern was super simple. p2, k4 repeat 4 rows, k2,p2,k2 repeat 4 rows, k4, p2 repeat 4 row and repeat the 12 row sequence.

I have made progress on my cardigan. I'm working on the sleeves, I put markers in my decrease rows so it is easier to count how many decreases I have done.  I followed the instructions in my favorite knitting book for sewing seams, there are specific ways to sew together bound off edges or horizontal seams, edge to edge or vertical seams, and horizontal sewn to a vertical edge seams. This sweater has all three types of seams and with a little steam I think they will look pretty dandy.  We have had lots of cool windy days here perfect for knitting. linking to Judy's OTN. --Ann--

On the Needles

Progress on my cardigan the back is done and the front sides are in the works, why knit one side  when I can knit two at a time and have them exactly the same length.  linking to Judy's OTN--Ann--

needle play

Playing with needle and thread again. Just odd pieces of fabric, leftover batting and short spools of thread.  I like some designs better than others.
And then it turned into a little bag with a reused zipper.  The bag looks like the right size for sock yarn and needles. The forecast was for a warmer day today so thoughts of going for a walk were in my head and then the wind came. It was a good day to sew.  --Ann--

Design Wall

Not much change on my design wall but it is almost Saint Patrick's Day and I need a wee bit of green.  I added all the gold and black corner triangles I thought it was black heavy on the left side but adding the triangles evened it out so I could stop rearraging blocks. I haven't been able to use my rotary cutter because I was walking around like a tourist and stepped off the sidewalk and fell on my knees and the palms of my hands. I got up and readjusted my dignity and walked off the sting, no damage to the camera. The heel of my right thumb is still sore and very tender with some tasks, the rotary cutter being the worst. I have 23 pairs to trim before I can sew them together.  I hope by next week I have made some progress. Linking to PatchworkTimes Design Wall Monday.--Ann--

On the Needles

 I was making progress on these until I got a sale email saying some yarn was listed at sell out prices.

I started this sweater to try to predict if I will need more yarn.  I knit 7 1/2 inches of the back with the first ball of yarn so if I use 3 balls for the back and 3 for the front that leaves me with 5 for the sleeves. That should be enough hmmmm.  The sweater pattern was in the Love of Knitting Magazine fall of 2013.  Our snow is gone here but is too early to think of gardening. Happy knitting and linking to Judy's OTN.--Ann--

Finale

Things to love about Italy:

1. the gelato--a different flavor everyday
2. the coffee
3. the wine with every meal
4. the pasta--so many shapes and sauces
5. the pizza
6. the pastries
7. the shopping--leather bags
8. the art even on the street and "no entry" signs
9. the architecture with the warm sunbathed colors.
10. my great niece being there to visit!!

Let's do it again and see everything that we missed the first time.  --Ann--

Santa Croce

Santa Croce Cathedral where all the greats are buried.

front facade of the Santa Croce. The interior was the most beautiful I have ever seen.  The Duomo was grand because of its size this because of the frescos and stained glass.

 Michelangelo is buried here as are Leonardo daVinci, Galileo, Rossini who wrote the William Tell overture, Dante, Niccolini who designed the Statue of Liberty.

 The view from my bedroom window of our flat.--Ann--

A Quick trip to the Grocery Store

We stayed in a flat a couple blocks from where grand niece was living for the semester so we picked up a few things at the grocery store.

 The fresh produce looked sumptuous.........

 He could spot a tourist...the breads and pastries.........

 the deli

 cheese

 and more cheese

 olive oil, sunflower oil and corn oil don't you wish our packaging made it that easy?!?

 Pasta in a aisle as long as our cereal aisle. a shape of pasta I had never seen.

 ah the vino with the black rooster for Chianti from the region.

Believe me I had to slap my hands so I wouldn't fill up a cart as if I were cooking for a family of five. I just bought coffee and yogurt.  The flat we were staying in was on the third floor. We could handle that no problem?! The web site didn't say that the apartments had 15 foot tall ceilings, seventy five steps up and seventy five steps down.  Makes a person think twice about how many groceries to buy at a time. My fitbit said we walked 95,000+ steps from Monday to Monday and 3 of those days were travel without many steps. We walked 41+ miles in and around Florence. --Ann--