Done. Yesterday, first thing in the morning, I went into my boss’ office, and told her that I have received a job offer I would be stupid to refuse. Do you know what she said? - It might be better this way. - So, I’m over it. I told her that June 30 is the last deadline for me to leave, and she agreed. Now we are looking for a secretary, and I can train her.

I think she was  hurt though, at least this is what I felt from her during the day. She is off today, so things will settle down by the time we meet again. Thursday I’m going to Budapest for a training for my new job: I will work for a loan company.

I’m going to another job interwiev today: someone is looking for a part time assistant. I will keep my eyes open, ad take part-time jobs, until my business will be able to stand alone. I’m not scared, I think I will manage. My only concern is that I have to earn at least the amount of money I’m earning now, to be able to pay the mortgage. Let’s hope for the best.

I’M FREEEEEEE!

 Now, this is the perfect summer knitting. I can’t imagine how long would it take to make it in my size :D. But heck, summer will be next year too.

The pattern can be found in Vogue Knitting Summer 2007. And the yarn is available at Elann.com.

Think linen, cotton, and silk for summer knitting!

And not only garments: but jewelry can be knitted or crocheted. Look at these wonderful things by Blanka Sperkova (http://amanitadesign.com/blankasperkova/):

Amazing things can be found on her website.

I suggest you to use Google picture browser, to find knitted or crocheted jewelry inspiration.

I love to browse the internet for inspiration, not only Etsy, but Google too.

Tags: crochet jewelry, Google, jewelry knitting, summer knitting, wire knitting

Tomorrow I have to go to work again, and this time I need to decide if I want to stay for another 6 months or not.

I made a list, with pros and contras on both sides. Turned out clearly that I do not want to stay for a minute, even if the future is a bit blurry. So, I will go into my boss’ dreaded office tomorrow, and tell her that I will not stay until the end of the year. I want to quit as soon as possible. Preferably at the end of this month. Although I’m quite sure I will have to wait another month, at least until I teach the new secy.

Poor girl.

Anyway, I will let you know how did it went, tomorrow evening.

As I suspected, the drop-stitch cardi is a dream knit. It is going so fast, I feel that I can finish it next week. I have finished the back, and the left front is nearly done. It will be finished today, and I will cast on for the right front immediately. Tomorrow or the day after I will buy the zippers for the hood and the front. I think I will skip the zips on the sleeves. I don’t think I will need them at all, even they are decorative.

Yeah. My husband often teases me, why I knit socks or sweaters in the summer. I don’t understand the question. Why on Earth not? First, it takes so much time to me, that I probably will not finish them until the winter anyway. Second, there are yarns for the summer. Yesssss. Ssssssssilk, for example. It is just right for the summer. A cool touch on your skin. Or cotton. It will dry up your sweat. And all those non-wooly goodness of bamboo, soysilk, milk-fiber, corn, etc.

And what could entertain the knitter more than a delicate lace shawl. Knitting beside the pool. Or even better: the sea. There, if, you have a sea around.

Now, that the weather is getting better and better here, and Sára is starting the - ‘Let’s go to the swimming pool, Mom!’ - chanting, I’m starting to think about some summer knitting.

Not that I would be able to finish anything FOR this summer. But who cares, summer will be next year too.

So I just take my time and finish my sweaters first. Then I might look for a nice cotton or bamboo cami. Or I just knit some socks, on those warm and long summer evenings.

Tags: bamboo yarn, corn yarn, silk, soysilk, summer

Since I wrote about my favourites in the Summer IK, I have received it through my subscription. And I also received the Spring issue from Donna, who sent the GGH Samoa to me.  I have spent a few joyful hours looking through them. And both will keep me entertained for a long time.

Gosh, there is so much nice things to knit! When will I have the time and yarn to make all what I want? No question that I have to make a lot of them. Even if they doesn’t fit me, I can do it for my family, for Christmas! What a great excuse to knit!!

Here are my favourites from the Spring issue: http://www.interweaveknits.com/preview/2008_spring.asp#Aleita-Shell

- Aleita shell: this is not available in my size, but I think my sister-in-law would love it too.

- Linen trumpet skirt: I’d love to do it with linen, I guess that would be great for a skirt. I don’t think that I can afford that amount of yarn though.

- Katharine vest: Definitely will make this. I think I even have a great yarn for this. I will make a swatch with it to see.

I’m not the swatch making type though. Although I understand that I should make a tiny little swatch, so my measures would be accurate, I can’t force myself to do it. I just have to cast on right away. After about an inch or two I see if I’m about the correct measurement or not, and I usually have to frog the thing once or twice. Silly, I know. I can’t help it.

Tags: Interweave Knits Spring, Interweave Knits Summer, Swatch

Is GGH Samoa. What a wonderful yarn! It is a dream to knit with. Goes fast, and smooth. Wonderful hand, and soft to the touch. I’m nearly done with the back of my cardigan. Looks a bit small, but this is because of the dropped stitches. They keep the fabric shrinked. I guess blocking will help a bit, and when you weare it, it will stretch out anyway.

I will finish the back today, and maybe I will cast on for one of the fronts. I’m a bit scared about the hood part, because it involves short rows, which could be tricky with this drop-stitch pattern. We’ll see.

Anyway, this is going so fast, and it is such a fun knit up till now! I’m so glad that I’m able to make it with the recommended yarn!

Sára is getting better, and we are going back to the GP on Thursday. I hope she can go to the kindergarten from next week. She has a great time home, but I’m sure she misses her friends. One of her little friends phoned us yesterday, just to say she misses Sára. How sweet.

Tags: Drop stitch hoodie, GGH Samoa

Have you seen the summer IK preview on IK’s website? http://www.interweaveknits.com/

A lot of colorwork, which is not for me - yet.

But I like the green lace section, and I will add three of them to my queue:

- Eyelet surplice dress (this only if I will loose enough weight to wear a dress)

- Leaf kimono top: definitely. I even have the yarn for this. That long-time bought green cotton. I have a lot of that, so I’m sure it will be enough. This is going to be the next after I finish my drop-stitch cardi. And this will be my first lace project.

- Apres surf hoodie: If I can figure out how to make it without the hood.

I also like the Plaid halter, and the Roped shell. I will wait for the magazine to see how difficult they are, and I might give them a try.

Great news: Nonakednecks from Etsy had a sale for Mother’s Day. I had two items in my cart from them, and immediately I bought them. Two beautiful rings, with huge, sparkling stones. Some serious bling.

A swiss blue topaz. Isn’t it gorgeous?

Prasiolite (green amethyst). Beautiful.

I have a weekness for oversized sterling silver rings. I bought a beautiful green calcedony ring from them a few months ago, and since then I check in to see what new they’ve got, quite often.

This is it. My favourite ring of all times.

In case you are interested: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=15817

They have wonderful jewelry, check it out.

Tags: Etsy, Interweave Knits, nonakednecks, ring, stone

Here is a picture of my first attempt on dishclothes: the Mason-Dixon dishcloth. I have started this because I loved the pattern, and finished because I ran out of the yellow cotton. This one is to be frogged, but I have learned a new pattern, what I can use in a later design.

And the co-workers vest. Khm. Well, at least the part of the back. She is small, so it should go fast, but I’m just bored with this stockinette panel. And there are so many interesting knits to finish… I’m pushing myself to knit a few rows every day, at least while we are home with Sára.

And guess what! Yesterday my yarn from Donna has arrived! GGH Samoa, for the drop-stitch hoodie. Great yarn, I love it! Of course I had to cast on for the hoodie right away. I can tell you, this is the best cotton I have ever touched. It is soft, relatively easy for a cotton (ok, half of it acrylic), and it has a great crisp stitch definition, and a nice drape. Also it is elastic enough to make a nice, fitted garment, which will be still comfortable. I have a feeling that this cardigan will be a hit, when I finish, and I will love to wear it.

I have finished half of a pattern for the hoodie, and I say it is going to be a quick knit. You just going through a pattern repeat, and 10 cm is done with your knitting. Fun, and entertaining knit. I’m a bit worried though about the shaping, because it was a bit complicated for the first read, but I hope it will clean up as I get to it.

Tags: Drop stitch hoodie, GGH Samoa, Ravelry

As I promised (a few times), I show you some of my progress. First on the Caftan pullover:

This is the back. Not blocked yet. I know, it is huge. If it is turning out totally bad, it will be a great tent for Sára.

The front: I have already crocheted together the front panels with the front bottom. I think I will redo this, with a darning needle, because crochet makes it too heavy on the seams.

And the sleeve: this was a breeze to knit. Ahhh, and I need two more balls for the second sleeve. As soon as I can, I will order those two balls from Ebay, and hopefully I will be able to finish this sweater in the near future. I’m definitely making progress: finishing more and more things. I’m proud of myself.

All in all, this pullover was much much easier to knit than I have thought. I was a bit afraid of the cable panels, but they were really quite simple. And I love the way IK explains the pattern: it is really understundable, clear, and thorough. A beginner, even who is not native English, like me, can do it.

Tags: Caftan pullover, Ebay

If you thought that I’m fully organised now, that I’ve put away my neatly winded balls and cleverly organised project bags, you are WRONG.

My needles are still in a tangled mess. Except the straights. They are bent.

Something must be done with them. Again, Etsy. I have found some wonderful, clever needle organisers.

You can put your straights and circulars in a neat case, with all your knitting notions, then you make a roll from the case, tie it with a pretty ribbon, and you are done. This is, of course, if you didn’t yet put all your knitting needles and notions into your project bags :D.

Like this one from sarahkincheloe, her Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11465080

The good news: there are rolls for dpns as well! Dpns are well known to get lost, at least one of the five (four) piece set is always missing. Never more. You will WANT to put these nasty little needles away, just to be able to touch these little piece of art accessories.

Tags: DPNS, Etsy, needle case, needle roll