kitty: Ori Ami Knits arrives in hardcover - Duplicity Pullover by Olga Buraya-Kefelian

Pattern: Duplicity Pullover by Olga Buraya-Kefelian Book: Ori Ami Knits Fiber: Habu Textiles A-1 Tsumugi Silk Habu Textiles A-148 Wool Stainless Steel Colour: 14 & 52 in A-1 ??? A-148

I am so happy to say that my hardbound copy of Ori Ami Knits arrived a few weeks ago. If you haven't checked it out yet, it is certainly worth a look at either Ori Ami Knits or the group on Ravelry. The pattern collection are the creation of Olga Buraya-Kefelian and Vanessa Yap-Einbun, with two patterns written by Kirsten Johnstone. The book is absolutely lovely and as you all already know I am addicted to Habu yarns so the book is perfect. The patterns are a little edgy with interesting constructions techniques, but most importantly to me they are available in 10 different pattern size ranges. So even us Rubenesque girls are in luck. It is so rare that you can find trendy designs that are available for the 32 inch bust as well as the 50 inch bust. So thank you so much girls for treating us all with respect! (It means more than you can imagine. I am so tired of being treated as a second class citizen particularly by indie designers.) Duplicity marks the second sweater in the book I have started. The first (Abyss by Olga Buraya-Kefelian) is still setting on the shelf behind me waiting for me to sew the last few snaps on and it will be done. But in 80 degree weather the thoughts of a cardigan seem really unnecessary. For me the book represents a great source of patterns to use up my stash. I have been setting on two bins of Habu yarns looking for a book just like this. Though I love the patterns by Setsuko Torii there are not that many of them on the market and they all begin to look the same. Olga and Vanessa have brought us a new Fresh Outlook on design to use with our much loved fibers.

kitty: never say never

B-Day Gift for Olga

Pattern: Lace Textured Shawl Fiber: Habu A-113 Silk wool Colour: Burgundy

Ok, I guess I should have kept my mouth shut when I knit the Textured Shawl for Vanessa in April that I would never knit this shawl again. Olga started hinting that she really wanted a version for herself. So I figured I might as well knit 1 more shawl for her. It even turned out that after I sent her her bday gift that had a hank of yarn in it she started the shawl with it. So the gig was up since I had already done the first 4 repeats. Oh Well... Guess I should never say never. I finished it while she was visiting for TNNA this past two weeks so I was fortunate enough to catch a couple of really cute photos of her modeling her B-day gift. Thanks so much Olga... :)

A Textured Shawl Recipe Pattern by orlane - Ravelry Link

kitty:Copenhagen, DK May 2010

Sorry I haven't been around much lately. I have a really good reason, I have been in Copenhagen, DK. M got invited to give a speech so I tagged along for a belated bday vacation.

Day 1 - Copenhagen - Walking around Tivoli and the area around the hotel Day 2 - Copenhagen - Boat ride and getting lost around Gammel Strand Day 3- Copenhagen - Shopping and Omiyage acquisition Day 4- Copenhagen - Botanisk Have (Copenhagen Botanical Garden) and Rosenborg Castle Day 5 - Copenhagen - Post and Tele museum, Strogent, Boat Ride (Gammel Strand (The old Banks ) Boat Tour, Thorvaldsen Museum

M's photos to be honest are so much better than mine, here is his link Copenhagen 2010 but he isn't finished uploading.

The city is absolutely amazing. I didn't really know what to expect to be honest. I knew that it had been one of the top 3 green cities in the world for awhile, but I had no idea how clean the air would actually be. Or how clean the water would taste. One evening we went to this outside Italian cafe and the woman at the table next to us started to smoke. Now normally I would have just hurried through my meal and left, but we couldn't even smell the smoke. It was almost like the air just absorbed the smell. You would walk by parks and smell the flowers in bloom, but not a sniffle or sneeze. I don't think my lungs have ever felt so good. The city is very casual. Chucks (High Tops) seemed to be the shoe of choice. Whether you were a woman on the stock exchange, business man, secretary, or convent store worker you were wearing your Chucks with pride. Not just boring white and black though, plaid ones, polka dot ones, bright colour ones.

The thing though to remember is that it is a walking city. The cabby might catechized you for grabbing a cab for a mile drop off. He though didn't understand how lost and how tired you might have been when you finally found a cab. Cabs except at the metro or blue signs, don't really exist. If you plan on flagging down a cab while you are out, you will be waiting a long time.

The colours and the mix of old and new were really beautiful. The sun really didn't come out until after lunch and it coloured the skies the most brilliant blue you could imagine. While the morning light is pretty overcast and gloomy.

All and all, the Mcdonalds sign sums up the trip. I could really see myself retiring to Copenhagen.