Christmas

Now, wouldn't any right thinking knitter have figured out, much much earlier, that 800 yds IS NEVER ever going to be EQUAL the 1000 yds recommended clearly in the pattern???? Is this silly optimism normal??? How long can a knitter be in denial I wonder?

I chose to ignore the many little voices trying to tell me yarn was vanishing at too fast a rate until reality finally sank through during a blissful state of knitting and dozing in the Eurostar somewhere between Paris and London, that there really, really won't be enough yarn for the next 2 repeats and top edge. It's just lucky for me that the seller has more!. Let's see if the colour lot matches...

rantings over... The WIP is Sivia Harding's Moonshadow lacy stole knitted lengthwise and I can't sing enough praises for it. It's such a clever design and easy knit. Am using fingering cashmere from Colourmart.

As usual, I'll be off work for the Christmas & New Year break and switching to my vacation job as a Couch Potatoe cum Knitter.

( cards from egreetings.com )

Memories..

I'll let the pictures do the talking...


Rowanspun FO in Switzerland....Noro Silk Garden jumper at the Rhine Falls


Family in my handknits enjoying pork knuckles at Black Forest

Lots of clogs...still no sign of a yarn shop so far....

Glass pyramid at the Lourve.....note the 'pile' between horse's legs

ONLY 10 minutes at Liberty in London and managed to grab these....did not look at or pet any yarn there..

Worked on Sivia Harding's Moon Shadow Stole during the trip.

On Vacation.....

Tweed jumper and Horizontal scarf FOs

The grown up Rowanspun tweed cardigan...

Pattern: Drops 103-15

Yarn: Rowanspun DK

Amount: 5 x 50 gm x 219 yds

Needles: 4.0 mm & 3.0 mm

Size: 39" : Length: 27"

Modifictions: Moss stitch for neck borders .

Sleeves are in plain Stockinette instead of Ribbing.

Another view of the mid section in 3 x 3 rib

Pattern: Tammy & Evan Forever by Haley Waxberg of Knitomatic

(originally from Spun mag)

Yarn: Scrap DK wool

Amount: 175 gm

Length: 46" Width: 6.5"

Needles: 4.5 mm

Notes: scarf knitted lengthwise in Garter stitch

All the dark colours, except for the light blue, were dyed with Koolaid.

Paying It Forward

The first time Nurhanne blogged on this, I had meant to join but as it is usual with me these days, (I prefer to admit to having too many knitting things on mind - it's got nothing to do with Age creeping in) I forgot!

“I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.”

On the knitting front.... hope to take pictures of the tweed cardigan and horizontal scarf FOs if there's good lighting when I get home from work this evening.

Miserable week

It must be one of the worst bout of Sinus I've had in years. Although a chronic sufferer, it's been relatively mild attacks for as long as I can remember. Not much knitting done, just wasn't in the mood..

Those who know of my Colourmart silk bargain way back in March 07 heard my constant moans on the purchase; I've got it figured out girls! With the combination of the Ball Winder and Swift, in between sniffles and pain killers...here they all. Aren't they lovely?

Would I do this again? Maybe...not too bad once I got the knack of it. I must say that Richard, Colourmart's owner, offers a fair deal as there's enough in the same shade for several stoles . Not sure what I'll do with them but here's a good idea;

Marble, by Kaffe Fassett in Rowan 41. It knits with 2 strands, each of a different colour throughout.

Ribbit

Sadly, this is no more....because..

• I was hoping it'd miraculously grow an additional 2" ease
• Thought Blocking will lengthen another 3"
• What would my non-knitting friends say if they found out I knit it???
• It'd stay in the closet forever...

thus....it is now growing up into this....

Drops 103-15

Noro Silk Garden Jumper

My connection at home has been out for the past few days and it's one of those crazy Mondays here at work this morning, so a quickie update since I can't wait to show off !!!

Pattern: Set in sleeves sweater

The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns by Ann Budd

Yarn: Noro Silk Garden (col 247)

Amount: 10 x 50 x 100 meters (with almost nothing left)

Needles: 4.5mm & 3.5mm

Knit for: self

Well, it was an easy knit except for my constant obsession in wanting every piece to match. If I had knit the left and right sides of the neck opening in the normal way, the colours may not match and so I did a 'huge skip' without a 'yarn break'.

The sleeves were knit in the round so no problems there.

And, surprise, surprise! the front and back do match up during seaming!!!! There was nothing left over from the 10 balls of yarn I've got except for some yellow and blues scraps for the cowl like collar I wanted but it's worked out in the end don't you think so?

This was cast on yesterday - with the Katia Tundra I blogged previously.

Bye! and a productive week ahead to all!

Polar

Polar is an FO, one down and hopefully 3 more jumpers to go. I've got plans for a hat and mittens if there's enough knitting hours to end November but I'm not too confident about that. We'll see...

Pattern:Rowan Mag 30, SNUG by Kim Hargreaves
Yarn: Rowan Polar(60%wool 30%alpaca 10%acrylic)
Needles: 8mm & 7mm
Amount: 6 x 100g x 100m
Finished size: 32"

In the meantime I've casted on another jumper with the Noro wool/silk that's been calling out to me each time I so much as peep at my stash cupboard! The subtle blending of colours which then stretches into rich hues before another clever blend never ceases to amaze and delight as I knit away into the night. (that explains why I need a little snooze when I get home from work recently)

I could have not bothered to match the front and back, but being the neurotic that I am, they HAD to be symmetrical, so that is another ongoing challenge and I'm sure the sleeves ain't going to be easy. Life's more interesting this way isn't it?

Works in Progress

I have a grand total of 4, quite a decent and manageable number I guess.

Here's Landscape from Knitpicks, starting off as mine but claimed by DD who didn't like the stripey skein of wool at first.

Polar - a Winter jumper for DD,...just the neck to be cast off, sides seamed and sleeves attached.
Finally on its last leg, 2nd sleeve almost done and I'll have to decide how I want the raglan top to look when the pieces unite.
If a love-hate relationship is possible to have with a WIP, this is it! big time.

I find excuses not to knit it, I won't begin another Stole, I sometimes want to throw it into the frog pond, I take it out-often, then I fall in love with it all over again, I put it back into the basket....and there it sits.....What shall I do???????

The loot, the loot...

When I heard there were 'only' 9 packs, I thought; 'good, it'll be a cinge, they'll fit into the travelling bag I brought just for the job'. OK, so I misculculated again! Anyway, managed to bully someone to empty out a box for me and pack 'em all in, right to the top and since I didn't have tape to seal the covers(clever me brought a ball of string!!), the check-in lady decided to use a 'Fragile' sticker to close the gaps!!

Come and get them at the meet-up girls!!!!

Who cares if I haven't a clue how they were coming home, I had to have these lovely Katia Tundra from Spotlight, down from S$19.90 to $9 per ball!!! I grabbed all 6 so don't bother rushing there ya?

Thank you for a lovely evening; Regg, Jollin, Mira and ZhiYun.

Classic Top

It's a mad rush around here today, so a quick update! My Barbara Walker inspired top is finally an FO and worn to Bangkok this week - Straight off the blocking board and onto the body, literally! The passenger next to me, Prof Carla from Italy, actually noticed and commented on the seamless shoulder and sleeves!!!
I think I've got everything- length, collar, sleves, just right this time round and plan to knit a series of these in different variations and colours as casual office wear.

Pattern : Set in sleeves

Knitting from the top - Barbara Walker

Yarn : Japanese Peony - 100% acrylic

Amount: 8x 40g x ?? metres

Needles: 3.5mm





Not very tidy and still slightly noticeable but I'm real proud of my short- row shoulders and sleeves.










Decided to replace K2P2 ribbing with K2 P2 Cable2 P2 when I got bored with the sleeves and neck Ribs.

There's going to be much winter wear knitting from now and DD has requested for this jumper from a Rowan mag in Polar yarn which I conveniently have stashed.

Navy socks

Done! Navy socks for DH and I can't wait to cast on for a brighter coloured pair after this. Here it is modeled by the proud owner himself.

Pattern: Toe-up from Wendyknits

Finished size: Length 10", Leg circ 7"

Yarn: Knitpicks Essential,

Amount: 2 x 50g x 231 yds

Needles: 2mm

Gauge: 10sts to 1" stockinette

I am still plodding away (very very slowly) with the Forest Path Stole and on the finishing leg of the green top. Hope to have an FO to show soon.

In the meantime, there's these Noro and Tapestry yummies waiting to grow into Jumpers, aren't they lovely?? and I do need new winter wear this year.......

The yellow sock yarn is going to be a nice change too.

Cool Cozy Shrug

Met up with Annie for lunch last week and we made a nostalgic visit to Golden Hands in Petaling Jaya (they're closing soon, after 30 years). Had to leave with the cotton yarn I've been looking out for and knitted this FO over the weekend.

Pattern: Cool Cozy Shrug from Creative Knitting - July 2007

Size: XS for YL

Yarn: 3.6 balls x 100g x 149 yds Sirdar Spree (cotton rich chunky)

Needles: 6.5 mm

Am glad that Kenny understood my ramblings on the sleeve (previous blog) as he's had similar problems. He's also made a better job of explaining in his blog and with clearer pictures.

So I frogged, gave up on the idea and am doing the 'body first' method. As you can see, I got a little bored with the body and started the short-rows sleeve which is growing well.

My toes are laughing.....

Nope!, am not in my new socks but at work sneeking this entry in!


Regg nominated me for this: (click to find out more)



and I am totally tickled (pink??)! It's the "Rockin' Girl" bit that will have my kids hooting with laughter I'm sure. "Mum....rockin'?????"

The Girls I'm nominating for the awards :

Michelle - a budding website designer (she designed my daughter's site ) and avid knitter

Mona - whom I envy for her artistic talents

Doreen - who knits and crochet beautifully all the time

Ruchira - who gives me hope that I may yet have a 'knitting daughter'

Pretty-knitty - whose site you must visit for exquisite knits and designs

Top down seamless set-in sleeves

I was a little bored with the second sock, so put it aside to continue my never ending pursuit of a perfect, seamless, short sleeves, classic 'office wear' top.

Using Barbara Walker's - Knitting from the Top as a guide I :

• decided on stockingnette and round neck pattern
• multipled gauge with 15" back-shoulder width
• cast on using provisional method and knitted back piece
• left 1/3 sts on work yarn for neck and worked left, right front
• shoulders worked with short-rows
• when front and back equals 1/3 of armhole, turn and pick-up sts for sleeves (see arrows)
• increase both sides at front then join collar to work in the round down body

All's well and I was happy with the progress, good fit, no shoulder seams, neat short rows and the sleeves looked really good as the increases were made.

But.....there are totally horrible kinks at sleeve pick-up points (arrows on pic) caused by the abrupt turning and I do not think they'd be smoothened out with blocking.

Have decided to frog when I get home tonight, maybe forgo the set-in sleeves but go for the 'body-first' method of knitting straight down first where sleeves are picked up later and working in shortrows from the cap.

More updates on the technique if I don't decide to frog everything and go back to good ole' knitting from the bottom!!!

I have been busy

knitting this KP Essential Navy sock for DH (his first pair of hand knits) and reading Kate Jacobs' - The Friday Night Knitting Club. knitting...........
.......

It's a good read, some sobs in between laughs and full of knitty wisdom, recommended.

Socks are definitely my new 'comfort knitting' but not this pair it isn't!

The plan was to knit the cream coloured FPS (at Tier 7 !!!!) during the evenings and socks in between times when I needed something easy. I also anticipate DH might complain if I ask to try out the sock on his foot too often.

Wrong, wrong and wrong! Guess what? each time I switched to FPS there'd be the " Aren't you knitting my socks??" question and every so often he'd stick his foot out for a fitting, without my asking! Gosh!!! I'm not sure if I do know this significant other half??

FPS won't be making an appearance in this blog for a while I'm afraid.

And..this is how badly the sock bug has bitten ....sock yarn!!!!...with more on the way.