Getting ahead in 2025 - and a visit to Porto

It's unlike me to have only one project on the go.  A flurry of finishing towards the end of 2024 meant my works in progress consisted of only one virtually-completed shawl.  

Time to cast on something new.

At home with us for Christmas, my daughter, Maddy, was in daily touch with her close friend, Emily, who was due to give birth very soon.  Not to just one baby, but to twins!  

I suggested I might knit a hat - or two. 

Baby Hat With Top Knot by Julia Taylor

Emily was very clear what she wanted for her yet-to-be-born baby girls - nothing identical and no pink!  Though this top knot hat is cute, the only other colour I had in the same wool was - you guessed it - pink!  Back to the stash.

Berry Baby Hat by Michele Sabatier

My other go-to pattern for new parents is the Berry Baby Hat.  I knitted two of these over the course of a couple of evenings using similar, but not the same, wool.  It's a good hat for tiny heads as the rolled brim can be adjusted as the baby's head grows.

With empty needles once more, and a holiday to Porto in prospect, I needed a portable travel project so I cast on another hat I've made many times before.

Tchaikovsky Hat by Helen Stewart

I knit most of the hat on the plane to and from our five day mini-break but Geoff captured me here on our final day, at a lovely cafe overlooking Porto, with my knitting just out of sight behind my right shoulder.  By the time I got home, I just had the decrease section to go.

This is a craft blog, not a travel one, but here's a snapshot of our trip to tantalise you.

Whilst Geoff and our pal, Dave, toured the Douro wine region for the day, my good friend, Caroline, and I toured the art district and visited a yarn shop!

It was hard to capture the beauty of the window display at Ovelha Negra but I took this close-up of the lichen clad branches with their woolly 'blossoms'.

Inside was a wonderful array of Portuguese and European yarns, covering every surface with colour.  It was all very inviting.

Sample garments showed off all the gorgeous yarns.  I loved the tiny jumper!

After a good look round, we met the owner, Joana, who made us feel very welcome.

The shop's own brand Portuguese wool had attracted me to visit in the first place and I chose this vibrant coral shade.  Ovelha Negro Victoria is produced with merino wool from Alentejo, towards the south of the country.  Portugal has a long history of wool production and merino sheep originated in the Iberian Peninsula.

With cabin-only luggage, I had to be restrained with my purchases but some complimentary Isager mohair silk made its way into my bag, as well as this skein of cheerful red Piopardo from Portuguese brand, Rosarios 4.  

Once home, I couldn't wait to cast on my souvenir yarn.  This colour work hat pattern proved the perfect project for my ruby red Piopardo yarn and I found the cream contrast wool in my stash.  It's Baa Ram Ewe Titus in the colour White Rose, now sadly discontinued.

Hellekindset Hat by Lanja Khon-Engheim

A week after landing back in the UK, all hats were complete.  They're both going to be gifts.  

You won't be surprised to hear I've cast on something new.  

However, after finishing five hats in a month, I'm not inclined to knit any head wear for a while!

Foot note : While in Porto, a good friend's daughter had a baby boy so the first hat I mentioned in this post will be going to baby Jake.