...like Kérkyra or Apokalókairo have been such a fun for me to design and knit! I am sure I speak for many a knitter when I say that we all need a beautiful, quick-to-knit project that requires just a skein of yarn, so we can use that beautiful skein we puchased on an impulse. Well, …
A long, hot summer…
...and a strange one, too, I must add, this summer 2020 has been especially busy, as I found myself teaching until July 20, before I could take a few days off with my family. This has been a hard year, it still is, for all of us in every corner of this planet, but, as …
Did I write a week? Well, apparently…
...I meant a month or so later, but here I am again. Adjusting. At least, trying to adjust to a situation that I really wish had never come up. I'm sure you're all with me on this. Covid-19 has taken us all by surprise if not by terror. I am not going to bombard you …
It’s been a few months since…
...my previous post and I don't know how many of you, knitters and friends out there, are still interested in reading my posts. It's totally my fault, of course, as I have been hibernating for quite some time, but it certainly wasn't intentional on my part. I will tell you all about it in a …
Early Release means …
...you get to purchase the pattern at an extra special price, right? Right! Its name means “gracious” and hopefully you can see why. It is light and airy; it is an extremely quick knit, which makes it the perfect project for a last-minute gift. The lace motif is so easy to memorize, you will be …
Manifesto
Hi, my name is Maria (aka #lacengarter_knits) and you can see me holding the only weapons I know I have to use to make my way into the huge, wide knitters’ community: needles and yarn. Although it may seem to some that I am the privileged, white-race, straight woman (and in a sense this is …
Tolerante has just been released…
...a week earlier than I expected! I am so greateful that my wonderful group of test knitters completed the test so early (this also means it is a really quick knit, the perfect summer project). Tolerante is the second shawl pattern from the series The Peace Trilogy. Its name refers to tolerance, of cource; the …
The Peace Trilogy…
...ebook is still at half price until the end of this month. This means that you have the chance if you purchase the ebook now (or until June 30) you have immediate access to the first pattern and you get to be notified every time a new pattern of the series is added automatically in …
Serenísimo is…
... the first in a series of 3 patterns under the name “The Peace Trilogy”. The “peace” I refer to is rather an inner feeling, a state of mind and an attitude. Knitting is a way of expression and colors communicate various mood changes. I found myself opting for these happy, bright yet quiet colors …
Inclusion in the knitting community…
...has been an issue for some months now and I am sure you have bumped into some post or another on IG or Twitter, not to mention Ravelry (a great discussion has taken place there). I admit that my first reaction upon reading these posts and comments was: well, for those of us who live …
Proud to present Fika Socks pattern…
...which is already up on Ravelry and available at half price for the exact 48 hours after its release! This means you need no coupon, you just add the .pdf to your cart and at the checkout you get the pattern at half price. The only restriction is ...well, time! This promo ends at February …
On new beginnings and old loves…
You may have noticed that I have been flirting with the "lace'n'garter" hashtag for quite some time; well, the more I use it the most confident I am about it. Although I have worked with various stitch patterns and techniques, in fact I have even designed brioche and/or mosaic and stranded colorwork items and will …
Fika – A sock pattern…
...coming up by the end of January is my first knitting pattern for 2019. Fika is a Swedish word which refers to " a coffee and cakes break" which should happen everyday and in the company of good friends and family. Can you think of a better start for a new year? As the holidays …
2019 – A year of new resolutions…
...has just begun! I hope you had a great time, both saying goodbye to 2018 and welcoming 2019. For me and my family it has been as it should be: cooking a nice, festive dinner and enjoying being well and being together with a glass of wine. At first, we had planned to go out …
Day #31 – On New Year’s Eve…
...the custom is to sing The New Year's Carols to friends and family, wishing them a healthy, happy and prosperous year ahead. Protochronia (=The New Year's Day) is a very important day for us Greeks and we have many versions of New Years Carols to prove it! I want to wish you all the best …
Day #30 – A much needed break…
...if only for a few days, is always necessary when running a creative business. Life is usually spent working and rushing, we barely take a moment off to relax, breath in and breath out and be thankful for what we have. This year's last weekend is my ultimate weekend off. I will enjoy serving freshly …
Day #29 – A year of patterns (Part B)
As I go through my 2018 self-published patterns, I feel so blessed that I am able to do what I love and to love what I do: knitting is a very solitary occupation, even when you are surrounded by knitters you are the one in charge of your project, it is the result of your …
Day #28 – I just finished …
...listening to "The Little Book of Hygge" by Meik Wiking and I confess, I got hooked. It describes the Danish way of living every moment and savouring little things in life in such an appealing way. I just love listening to audiobooks, I suspect all knitters do, and this one was just perfect for this …
Day #27 – The Christmas Bread…
...is traditionally served on Christmas Day; every bakery in town prepares fluffy, elaborate breads you can buy to enjoy with the special meals on Christmas Day. I always bake ours and I must say this year I used the "baguettes" recipe from the Craftsy class I had taken last summer: it was the best Christmas …
Day #26 – The Number Hundred is…
...a hat pattern I just released and my 100th published pattern, so, this one is a milestone. That's why I want to be able to share this (very simple, yet elegant) hat pattern with all the knitters out there, so, for a few days it will be free for download; yes, free, hurry up, my …
Day #25 – From my home to yours…
... Merry Christmas! May all your wishes come true!!!
Day #24 – |k’alanda|is the …
...equivalent of Christmas Carols. On Christmas Eve, during the morning, it is quite typical to see children going around the neighbourhood, singing the |k'alanda|; they are usually given some pocket money and some treat by the housewives that open the door. It is considered a good omen to have the children sing the |k'alanda| at …
Day #23 – A year of patterns (part A)
I do not consider myself a prolific pattern author; living is not as easy as I would like it to be, at least not here in Greece and this can be quite stressful. I know knitting is supposed to free you from stress and this is true. Releasing a pattern is a slow procedure, especially …
Day #22 – Let’s see what…
...wip I have managed to finish this year and how I feel about each one. I'll start with projects from other designers' patterns and will proceed with my own designs tomorrow. "Think Big" is a pattern by Deborah Newton that appeared in Vogue Knitting Magazine. I "magnified" the pattern a bit, using chunky yarn and …
Day #21 – Speaking of podcasts…
...as we were the other day, I did not mention that apart from "knitting theme" podcasts, I also watch some other podcasts on YouTube and one in particular is a weekly "must" : Explore Your Enthusiasm with Tara Swiger. I have been following her for at least 3 years, I have bought her books and …
Day #20 -I use my bullet journal…
...more as a sketchbook than as a planner, but then, it IS meant to be used that way, too, isn't it? This is one of my favorite things, one of those ways to relax and just enjoy a few quiet moments in the company of my colored pencils... in case you wonder about i, well, …
Day #19 – My husband is really…
...a hard person to please, when it comes to gifts. I've been buying him gifts for years, so I should know; well, he likes books and music, but then I wanted to knit a sweater for him, oh no, no, no, this will be too hot. I've made him scarves, they are lying there in …
Day #18 – Need to make …
...a quick last minute gift? Then, maybe you're interested in knitting a hat? I have sime suggestions for you, if I may: 1) La Mer Hat - a unisex stranded colorwork pattern 2) Sollux Hat - a slightly slouchy stranded colorwork pattern 3) |kastani'a| hat - a feminine slouch with a lace detail 4) Theta …
Day #17 – The Number Hundred…
...is the name of my next-to-be-released pattern. It is the hundredth pattern I 'll be publishing and, if things work properly, it will come live on December 26, the Boxing Day. The pattern will be free for download for a limited time period, so, make sure you read my daily posts here, to know all …
Day #16 – I simply remember my …
...favourite things and then I don't feel so bad! 1. Yarn ( oh no, really? again? oh, but take a look at these babes, well...ok) 2. The sea 3. The moments (to be continued...) Stay tuned!!!
Day #15 – I must say I’m impressed…
...as I never expected I could make it to Day #15, yet here we are! So, what shall I write about today? Well, today, I would like to write about how I started practising Tai Chi Chuan and how this helped me overcome fatigue and stress. I know, everybody says knitting is the new yoga …
Day #14 – Making a list…
...of my absolute favorite Christmas movies is a "must" especially when there is a MKAL on, I like to knit while re-watching a movie; I can pay attention to my knitting and enjoy the season at the same time. It has also become a "custom" in our house to organize pre-Christmas movie nights with homemade …
Day #13 – Let the MKAL…
...start!!! Yes, you can finally start the official MKAL knitting and, if you haven't, you can always sign up and start knitting, there is plenty of time for you to start working on that #mindlessknitting project! As you may know, a Holiday Season MKAL has become a happy habit for me; I know that knitters …
Day #12 – On my needles these days…
...you can find (among other projects that I cannot share for the moment) a couple of socks that I'm knitting for my teenage-son: his feet have grown to a larger size, which means new "Santa Socks" this year! This is my only "fun" project these days, by fun I mean a project that is not …
Day #11 – Knitting podcasts …
...on YouTube are so many and so wonderful, I sometimes find it hard to follow them as much as I would like to! Nevertheless, I do my best never to miss my two favorites: a. The Fruity Knitting Podcast (what great job are these people doing, I feel so grateful to them for all the …
Day #10 – Counting the days to…
...the release of the first clue of the Season's MKAL and I'm so happy for this new collaboration with an Indie Yarn Dyer from Italy: Betta calls her yarn "Le Tinte del Bosco", which refers to the way she treats yarn and the natural dyes she uses to create her palette. She told me she …
Day #9 – Baking bread…
...is a real family treat and I managed to learn a lot about making and baking bread last summer, thanks to Craftsy and Zoë François! I learnt how to make French baguettes, pizza dough and variations of breads (like pita bread for instance) and our meals have been tastier with minimum effort! I highly recommend …
Day #8 – Reading Dickens is …
... a "must", but you know better than limiting your horizons: he has written more about Christmas than the famous "Christmas Tale" and his whole work is now Public Domain, so, just find your way to gutenberg.org and read as much as your heart wishes! My "Dickens favorite" for Christmas 2018 is from the short …
Day #7 – Socks make great…
...last minute gifts, especially if you opt for the "two-at-a-time" method! If you are looking for a quick and easy project to knit, I have some socks patterns on Ravelry that may come handy to you: Hope you find something that triggers your appetite! See you tomorrow for a brand new post! Take care!
Day #6 – It’s Saint Nicholas Day…
...a very special holiday in the Greek Orthodox faith (which is mine) and a very special day in our family: my late brother and my late mother-in-law used to celebrate their nameday, two people we miss so much, yet they will always live in our hearts. Today, I want to tell you why Saint Nicholas …
#Day 5 – Last year…
...I released a hat pattern that I really loved wearing during winter! I also made three last-minute gifts out of this pattern and I thought you may wish to revisit my Ravelry Store and give it a try! There is, of course, a story behind the name of this hat, as usual!Do you remember the …
Day #4 – Listen to the music…
...it is bound to make you happier! I make a Season's Playlist and I must say YouTube is such a great help, these days! I have so many favorites, in various languages, traditional and less traditional songs I like to listen to. I simply love English-language Xmas Carols of course, but you will agree with …
Day #3 – Cross Stitch your yarn leftovers…
...on a piece of plastic canvas. You can use any small cross stitch motif and make the best of your scrap yarn. You will probably need some white or red or any festive color your heart desires, to accentuate the feeling of the days. Once your project is over, you can cut the canvas, glue …
Day #2 – Xmas Penguins …
...is an amigurumi .pdf pattern you can purchase at MakeItEasyCraftroom on Etsy. Angelika, the Etsy Store owner, created this absolutely cute crochet pattern and needed someone to translate it into Spanish; I had the pleasure and the honor to do the job! The pattern is also available in English and French, as you can see …
Day #1 – The Fruit Cake…
...is not a Greek tradition for Christmas, but it certainly is in our home. As you will find out, if you follow me during this daily challenge, I like cooking and baking my favorite recipes from around the world; food brings back memories, not only flavors. I used to bake "The Christmas Fruit Cake" year …
This year I am inviting you…
...to a Holidays Season Count-down! Here is the plan I have in mind: you know how hectic these days can be, lots of things to do, especially when you are a crafter, I bet you are working on those last minute gifts, aren't you? Well, same here, so I thought if I share my pre-Holidays …
The last MKAL for this year…
...is a garter and lace shawl, what else? It's called "Season's MKAL" and it starts on December 13, 2018.Well, after all, it is the most wonderful time of the year or should I say the busiest one? Probably both, but knitters are multi-taskers, so, you can squeeze in another project, just for the fun of …
Giving thanks and happy discounts…
...seems the proper thing to do these days. I really feel grateful for so many things in my life. Thanksgiving is not a "Greek" holiday, but I do like the thought of expressing gratitude and celebrating with friends and family. Being a member of this huge international community of knitters, yes, I am referring to …
Fragilità
This pattern belongs to the series of “Le emozioni che nessuno vuole” (the emotions nobody wants). Sara Sol had this wonderful idea, to create special colorways for these “negative” emotions, these feelings we do our best to avoid. We know we can’t. Life is that way; so, we better deal with them, understand why they …
The Cantaloupe Pink MKAL will soon…
...be over and I am so happy that I can finally show you some pictures of my (already fnished) prototype! I made this shawl using a mercerized cotton yarn, a Greek brand of international fame: El. D. Mouzakis' "Petalouda" -which is the Greek word for butterfly- has never disappointed me. So, there you are! Crisp …
