Ciao Everybody!

Hi girls, it's such a long time that I don't write on my blog!

I have to say that I miss it a little, even if I'm still receiving many comments on my free patterns and that's making me so happy every time.

I'm sorry if I'm not replying to all of them, but this is the first time since more than a year that I enter my blogger account, and really the first time by then that I have something new to show you.

This is a ribbed cowl made from this Lionbrand Free Pattern, very easy and fun to make. A piece made to start again with knitting..

I've been doing other stuff during this period, first of all learning how to use the sewing machine. Sometimes I need to learn something new and to make different things, and that's why I've quit chocheting and knitting for a while.

Can you see? I've also cut all my hair..it's the first time I have them so short!:) Many changes this year!

Now I feel I'm ready again to have hooks and needles in my heands, so I can say that probably some new free patterns are coming out...within this year hopefully!

I'm still trying to do some sewing stuff, but I'm a beginner with the sewing machine as I've always handsewed in the past. We'll see.

How about you?

I hope you had a great 2010, and I wish you an even greater 2011.

As you can see this is more a letter to my blog readers, instead of an usual blog post. It came out naturally while writing, as I feel you're like real friends to me. That's because of all your nice comments left here for me and your support and appreciation.

Thanks dear readers, hope to write back soon,

Marta

Diagonal Eyelet Hand Warmers Free Pattern

Let's start posting again some more interesting things!
And what else could I choose to be back with, other than a new pair of cute hand warmers?
Fall is arrived with lot of rain here in Rome, making my hands cold.
It has been such a hot summer, that I'm really happy to be able again to put on a chunky wool cardigan, drink warm tea and watch the rain falling over the window.
This pair of hand warmers are made with a diagonal eyelets and ribbing cuffs and tops, I hope you'll enjoy this new free pattern!
Here it is:

Materials:
One ball 100% Merinos wool extrafine (50g/135m), any DK weight yarn will work
4.00mm Straight Needles
5.00mm Straight Needles

Abbrevations:
k = knit
p = purl
yo = yarn over
k2tog = knit 2 stitches together
st/sts = stitch/stitches

Handwarmers (make two!):
Cuff's Ribbing:
Cast On 34 sts leaving a long tail for sewing handwarmer's cuff and part of body.
Row1: k2, *p2,k2* across
Row2: p2, *k2,p2* across
Row3-14: Repeat Row1 for odd rows and Row2 for even rows

Body:
Row 1: k4, *Yo, k2tog, k4*. Repeat from * across.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: k5, Yo, k2tog, *k4, Yo, k2tog*. Repeat from * to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 4: Purl.
Row5: k6, Yo, k2tog, *k4, Yo, k2tog*. Repeat from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Row6: Purl.
Row7: k1, Yo, k2tog, *k4, Yo, k2tog*. Repeat from * to last st, k1.
Row8: Purl.
Row9: k2, Yo, k2tog, *k4, Yo, k2tog*. Repeat from * across.
Row10: Purl.
Row11: k3, Yo, k2tog, *k4, Yo, k2tog*. Repeat from * to last 5 sts, k5
Row12: Purl.
Rows13-24: Repeat rows 1 to 12.

Top's ribbing:
Row1: k2, *p2,k2* across
Row2: p2, *k2,p2* across
Using a larger needle (5.00mm), Cast off sts loosely doing a ribbing Row1.
Cut yarn leaving a tail for sewing handwarmer's top.

Finishing:
Sew handwarmer's top for approximately 2.0cm and cuff and body for 8.5cm, leaving 3cm of body open for thumb.
Cut yarns and weave in all ends.
Sew some pretty buttons on the cuff's ribbing if you like and enjoy your new pair of handwarmers!

About my free patterns

Hello my dear followers!
This is a post on my free patterns, the past ones and all those that will come (soon, hopefully).
I've seen many people selling items made using my free patterns on their Etsy Shops.
Some of them asked me to do so, and some other not.
I want to say here my opinion on this issue:
I'm happy and have really no problem if you sell things made with my free patterns in your shops, my Creative Commons Licence say that you can use, share and even modify the pattern yourself; it also say that you can't sell it (the pattern itself), and that you have to attribute the work to the author.
As I told to everyone who asked me to sell items made with my original patterns, I'm glad that you enjoy them and also use them to make cute items to sell on your shops; I'm only asking to write in your blogs and your shops who is the author of the pattern you're using for your items...that's all!
I think this is a nice way to let me know that you appreciate my work, and I'd be so thankful for that!
Hugs and best wishes to all of you!
marta

p.s.: let me know your opinion on this post if you want!

I've been published!

My "Emerald Green Handwarmers Pattern" has been selected to be published in the
Knitting Pattern-a-day: 2010 Calendar.
The image of my handwarmers is inside the calendar box cover!
Do you remember them?

This is a very nice news for me, and I'll probably submit some other original patterns in the future, they also have the Crochet Pattern-a-Day: 2010 Day-to-Day Calendar... some suggestions on which patterns I should submit?
The Calendar is very nice and well made. It is a rigid box with inside more than 100 patterns and monthly bonus projects. Every day is a single card that you can easily take out and follow to make very cute things!
I really recommend it. If you want to submit your patterns here's the link to their web page where you'll find all the instructions to do it, if your pattern is selected you can even win some money and in any case you'll receive the calendar with your pattern for free:
http://www.knittingpatternaday.com