Summer No-show Socks

Something new I tried very recently, is the concept of no-show socks. Socks that can be worn to provide comfort or to prevent the creation of blisters, and at the same time give the impression of a bare foot. Sheila Toy Stormberg over at Ravelry is really into this type of socks and has produced patterns for many different versions.

I followed Skimmer Socks, and it was pretty neat.

Kusafiri Shawlette pattern release

I am very pleased to announce the release of a new pattern, the Kusafiri Shawlette. 
It has spent the previous month in testing, and with the very helpful work and input of MadTatter, riverwatcher, mum2five, it is now ready! ^^

Crochet with beads and white bottoms

During studying I kept dreaming of sunny beaches and swimming, and thinking what my new bikini top should be, since my old one is falling big on me ever since I lost some weight.
I didn't have to ponder much: I came up with the idea of a crochet coral beaded bra!

A summer shawl

After completing the last cycle of knitting lessons, I was left with a few materials and among them were also a few cotton yarn skeins. Looking for a way to use them up, I came up with the idea of a simple summer shawl.

Bundle of swimsuit tops

I have been quite productive in the summer crochet department, for more than a month now I have been knitting swimsuit tops.. some as custom orders, one for myself, and quite a few for the Etsy shop.

I hadn't quite realised how many I made until I started documenting my progress for the corresponding Ravelry project: 10 bikini tops in different sizes and color combinations.

Last days in Iceland

During buffer day, and after having split up into two teams (5 and 4 people each) we enjoyed completely different things.

Hiking and bathing in the Highlands, the Golden Circle

After our first encounter with the warm and comfort of hotspots, we couldn't help ourselves but continue the practice on camping area situated around a famous hotspot, Hveravellir, in the Highlands.

Heimilisiðnaðarsafnið Textile Museum

One of the most interesting stops we did in our road trip was the one at the Heimilisiðnaðarsafnið Textile Museum in Blönduós, close to Akureyri.

Geothermal spots, bathing and the city of the North

We stayed a bit more in the same area, and visited Myvatn lake and the geothermal spots at Hverarond, before we continued to visit the biggest city of the North, Akureyri.

Summer knitting [and crochet]

And for a small break from the road trip story, the past month I have been doing some relax knitting - and that before I found a new obsession, which I will reveal soon!

More Highlands and whale watching

We were now in the North-East of Iceland and moving through lands that looked like rocky deserts. We had the most fascinating driving - it really felt like we were in some kind of James Bond movie, hiked in the snow, crossed at least 3 big rivers, met fellow travellers that faced the harsh nature as we did.

A wasteland, a glacier and the Highlands

Moving on through flat lands, slowly melting ice caps and greenish pointy mountain tops, our way through Iceland continued to change radically every few km.

Hitting the road

After leaving Reykjavik we took the east road and followed the coast, stopping every now and then for any attractive thing we came across. This when Icelandic nature hit us on the face with it's beauty. And it was just the beginning!

I C E L A N D

Iceland is the land of Ice and Fire, of imaginative fairy tales, of kind people, of unexpected events and rapid weather changes. A land that resembles no other, but sometimes places of our imagination or even other planets!

So it's no wonder that during our trip we saw and experienced things we wouldn't have anticipated. Because no matter what you read, or what kind of pictures you look at, living the Icelandic landscapes is something unique and unreplicable!

Düsseldorf

And so the story of the trip begins! But not with a place in Iceland, with Dusseldorf! My first day of travelling included a day-long stopover in this beautiful German city, so I took advantage of it and payed it a quick visit.

Bikini tops & frilly yarn experiment #3

So I am back from Iceland! And there is so much to tell from that amazing trip, I don't know where to start from! We took amazing pictures, had awesome time, and I learned a thing or two about Icelandic knitting, if not got inspired for new projects and designs!!

But before I move on describing what happened in July, I have lots to present from June. It was exam period (pretty hard one,.. again) and I didn't have enough time to prepare new posts: I also had my two part time jobs as well as several made to order items.

Sunbathing in February

 These past few days I am engulfed in a working frenzy - hyperactive all the time without end! The good thing is, that a lot of work gets done, and boy, did my room need tidying up and cleaning!

22.

August is the month of birthdays, but at the same time, the period of working and studying, and not having many friends around in town to go out with.

In our city, it's mostly one of the 'dead' seasons - everybody leaves the town, either for holidays or to go to their village/hometown. Which means that most of my friends are out of town, and the ones that are still here either work or study. Like me.

But there are some sparks or interest and entertainment here and there. One of them, my birthday! Last week I turned 22. Yeah, time flies by very fast! So fast, that my blog is already 3 years old! Imagine that.

Updates of the recent weeks

So, exams are almost over, and it's time for knitting!! I have my on my needles a tie and my first try on cotton shorts! But before those, I completed some other stuff. And yes, I did practice my embroidery! ^^

Η εξεταστική σχεδόν τελείωσε και είναι ώρα για πλέξιμο! Αυτή τη στιγμή δουλεύω μία γραβάτα και την πρώτη μου προσπάθεια σε σορτσάκι! Αλλά πριν από αυτά, τελείωσα αρκετά άλλα, και θα σας τα δείξω σήμερα. Ναι, εξασκήθηκα στο κέντημα! Μαζεύτηκα και τα κατάφερα! ^^

Die Semesterprüfungen sind fast vorbei und jetzt ist es Zeit fürs Stricken! Jetzt habe ich eine Krawatte und meine erste Versuch auf Shorts auf den Nadeln! Aber bevor diese zwei, habe ich schon ein Paar Sachen fertig gemacht. Und ja, I habe meine Stickerei geübt! ^^

Summer top

Another of my summer creations, is again as I mentioned before, a top. This time, I used my experience with this, in order to create a top that wouldn't require underwear. And I think I got it!

Άλλη μία από τις καλοκαιρινές δημιουργίες μου είναι, όπως έχω αναφέρει και παλιότερα, ένα καλοκαιρινό τοπ. Αυτή τη φορά, αξιοποίησα την εμπειρία μου με αυτό, για να φτιάξω ένα τοπ που δεν απαιτεί εσώρουχο. Και νομίζω ότι το κατάφερα!

Noch eine von meine Werke, wie ich schon geschrieben habe, ist eine Sommer Bluse. Dieses Mal habe ich meine Erfahrung damit benutzt, um eine Bluse zu stricken, die keinen Underwäsche verlangt. Und ich glaube, ich habe es geschafft!