Knitting seminars at la.trap

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La.trap shop, Athens, is about to start a series of knitting and embroiding seminars. Since doilies are so hot right now* you might consider giving them a go. Amurigami is on the menu too - makes 'sushi' sound so last year.
*never thought I'd use the words 'doily' and 'hot' in a sentence that does not involve 'tea'.

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Croisette 74 today + preview

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Croisette 74 is launching in Athens tonight the first exclusive handmade vintage knitted collection for women, men and children. This project is the brainchild of Eleftheria Lagoudaki and Vassilis Barbarigos and is based on vintage patterns, all hand-knitted by traditional knitters all around Athens. The news were so exciting, I had to see for myself. The designs were hand-picked and knitted to perfection with complicated knitting untouched by machine. You'd think they'd have to cost a fortune but I was pleased to hear that childrenswear are priced around 40 euros and everything else is in the range of 100 euros (plus-minus). Orders are flexible and offer you the option of sur mesure, which means that it can all be made to fit your exact size and body type.
The launch of the collection will take place tonight in Athens, at Romvis 26 face gate (right next to Bliss cafe). I attended the filming of a special video created to showcase the collection in motion, which will be unveiled on the spot and is expected to lift off the vintage atmospere. It will all take place between 20.00 and 00.00 so leave home early this Saturday night. (flyer here)

*backstage material from the fashion clip coming soon.

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Croisette 74

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Countdown and website, here.

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Sublime Stitching

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Since we are all in the search for some unusual yet affordable pressies right now, let me suggest... stitching embroidery patterns. The one above is currently featured at Tatty Devine's* devine eshop, for 4 quid. You can check it out or go for a hella lot more at Sublime Stitching, including stitching kits and tools. If in Athens, you can always walk in at one of the many shops opposite Syntagma square (direction Monastiraki) for a blast-from-the-past (yet so now) experience.

I'm sure this crosses out at least one name off your list...Does it?!

*Reads 'Art jewellery handmade in England' right at the top. English stuff handmade in England. You know how excited I go about declarations of local production:)

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Kilometres of yarn and essie inside

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A window with so much yarn could never go unnoticed, let alone by a knitter:
It's the Toi&moi current windows, as captured at Glyfada's store:
And a piece of news on Toi&moi: nail varnish darling essie has teamed up for the first time with a Greek brand, making it's winter colours available at Toi&moi stores till end of December and/or while stock lasts. Sweet.

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Knitting forever

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Feels like I've been knitting this scarf forever. I probably have, now it's about same size as me in height, and growing. You see it's a gift and future owner wants it thicker and longer than anything currently out in the market. Ah... sure... almost done (not!) knit-purl-knit-purl...

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Headlines of what went on today

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12:00 - Arriving early at Technopolis, Gazi in my new shoes.
13:00 - The press conference for Fashion Week Athens reveals its hidden cards.
15:00 - Visit designer Barbarigos' atelier between Syntagma and Psurri, check out what's new.
16:00 - Whilst there, meet jewellery designer Angelica Komis who's just returned from showing in Munich.
19:00 - Back to Gazi, straight to Intrepid Fox for Holy Mustache's Vintage bazaar. (read about it here)
20:00 - Waiting for a friend who never arrives, start testing my new knitting needles.
22:00 - Knackered. Arrive at home. Want to tell you all about what went on but it's just too much and I'm just too tired. Posting headlines and promise to elaborate soon.

*next up, exclusive images from Celebrity Skin's preparation for their AXDW show. Less than a week to go...

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All I want for Christmas

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You know Christmas is approaching fast the minute you come across Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas" whilst switching stations on your radio. I am informing you that this has just happened.

What also happened though is Psarokokalo's excellent Christmas Tree, made from fabric scraps! I give it a week before I O.D. on Mariah's vocals, but this tree, I just can't get enough. Unique, arty and a member of the fashion family - well, a shredded cousin!

And whilst browsing at Psarokokalo's Etsy shop, I realised that All I Want For Christmas is this wool detail tee. Is this special, or what: 100% handmade, hand knitted, one of a kind. Come on Santa, this is an easy one.

Tic-toc...26 days to Xmas;)

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KnittaPlease & The Standard @ NYFW

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I received this picture straight from New York and I think it's a fab break from Paris posting. Yes, it is yet another KnittaPlease project, this time as part of all happening at New York Fashion Week, now. What you see is a knit graffiti installation in celebration of NYFW, emphasizing the intersections between textile art, design, craft, street culture and the DIY movement.

I like what KnittaPlease does. Indeed they are adding some unconventional, much needed warmth to urban fixtures!

Installation location: The Standard Hotel, 848 Washington Street New York, NY 10014 , September 9-17, 2009

See Knitta's May 2007 installation at The Standard Hollywood.

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Entering Bread & Butter

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This is a personal video I shot whilst entering the notorious BBB. It is definetely worth checking the official one too though, here (select "Review Movie" under the player). It was all so perfectly organised and so accurately themed, I am lost for words.

Back in the '30s, Tempelhof used to be the most frequently visited airport of the time. During the second world war, it served as a Nazi base and after 1945 it was passed on to the US air force. As BBB puts it, now they have "kissed the old beauty back to life".

I have a think for knitting, so you can imagine my excitement seeing this at the entrance (and random staircase handles and other parts inside). Although I did not verify this with the BBB staff, this looks like the work of Knitta.


The visitors had to "check-in" to enter, pick up the BBB bible from a running conveyor belt, staff was dressed as air stewarts/esses and the theme was complete with real planes next to the exhibition area. As you are soon to see, BBB was a real take-off...

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Still Knitting But..

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...this is going to be my last knitting post for a while. Besides, I think I'll be knit-purling till 2009 before my (very weird) scarf is ready!

However, I could not end the subject without showing you the beautiful pullover my grandma's friend made me. Advanced knitting involved, which i'll definetely try sometime in the future.

pullover: knitted by grandma's friend
leggings: Zara
boots: Toscania

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Knitting Update

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Saturday nights out are not my thing anymore I've decided. And what better way to spend the night than... knitting. I tell you, it's the new yoga. Since the last post my needles have been on fire. Here's my progress:It's about 25 cm but I am so proud of it:) Ooops. You expected it to be blue. Well change of plan! Did not have enough blue yarn to make a scarf (or anything really) (also it turned out a bit wider than planned so my sizing method is not very reliable).Top part, side A: knit-knit-knit...

Top part, side B: purl-purl-purl...

*To get this effect I did one row knit, then next row purl.

Bottom part is knit-purl-knit etc and then next row purl-knit-purl and so on, so that it looks thicker and different to the rest. I did about 25 rows like that (thin line between yoga and self punishment here...)

And still knitting away.

These days I've been checking all kinds of websites on the sport. I discovered that according to an older BBC report, style icons like Sarah Jessica Parker, Julia Roberts, Uma Thurman and Madonna have been revealed as knitters.

I also read somewhere that Kate Moss took on knitting to draw her attention away from bad habbits but hid well all her knitting equipment in a Chanel bag and kept it a secret as she thought knitting is "seriously uncool". Ha. Try telling that to Madonna dear Kate.

And then I came across these bangles made out of vintage knitting needles:

I think they are SO cool. I want one now.
They are made by Aussie designer Liana Kabel and are sold at her online shop for 35$.

I want the red one. Oh and that measuring tape brooch is wicked no?

Last but not least, since the last post I've realised I've got some knitting blog buddies.
Special thanks to all of them for sharing their love for knitting with me:
Taylor
Laroux
Couture Carrie
Juliet
and Jen

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Discover...knitting!

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I think I'm gonna knit away the wait till sales (Jan 15th, tic...toc...)
Have been watching this video on youtube and remembered how much I used to love it. It's wonderfully stress-controlling and one of the most rewarding diy activities. (if you are going to watch it, be warned, after minute 6 the content is kinda irrelevant)

So here's what you'll need:

-Knitting needles (mine are 5mm) (chopsticks do the job aswell but you'll end up with a micro-scarf)

-Yarn (you could be using other stuff too, but start with yarn!)

-Scissors (well not necessarily, but if you manage any knots that shouldn't be there they help)

I am using the blue...

I want to make a scarf just like this one (minus the stripes) (em..it's Accessorize and machine-made, but i'll try)
So I am sizing it using this simple technique and off I knit!
Knittaplease.com is such a mad website! For now I am knitting a scarf for myself (selfish?) but if I'm still good at it I may knit one for... Acropolis and send them a picture:)

Let me know if any of you guys knit!

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