Travel project

I've found the perfect project to take with me on my business trips for the next 2 weeks. It's the Woodlands shawl worked on only a skein of sock yarn! The pattern is simple but the 'shawlette' promises to be stunning judging by the projects at Ravelry .


Yarn: The Knittery , Colourway: Earth, Merino Cashmere Sock (60% merino 20% cashmere 20% nylon)

Here's a sneek peek at my Norwegian woods by SiviaHarding which is 1 repeat and Edging short of the finishing line. It's knitted with Dream in Color Baby in the Flamingo Pie colourway. I don't think this is the right colour to show off the design but I am looking forward to wear it with my usual dark office attire.


I'm not sure if there's much chance of knitting relating shopping in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh but any shortfall this end will be compensated with my booking into a hotel right smack in Hong Kong's yarn district of Causeway bay the following week!!! (I've got all the addresses, thanks to Ravelry)
It'll mean a daily two way 45 mins MRT commute to the office but what won't we do for yarn??? I'll have to come up with a sane reason why I HAVE to stay that far away though...

Last minute baby knits

I became a grand aunt for the second time this week and embarrassingly there were no baby knits to welcome Kate! I had clean forgotten her due-date and hadn't bought baby yarn nor planned a project.
Well, I started on a blanket with some Sirdar Snuggles and ran out when it was clear that the FO could only serve as an oversized burping towel! (total denial syndrome-itis again!)
After a frantic search I came up with these....

The Bootees pattern is from a Debbie Bliss leaflet and Magic Slippers by Sockpixie. Aren't they cute???

Yarn: Peony acrylic , Needles: 3mm, size: newborn

Am going to get some feedback on these slippers from the tired but happy mom (her firstborn is a boy), if baby seems comfortable in them and they don't drop off easily, I plan to knit more of these and not bother with another blanket.

Yarn: Sirdar Snuggles, Needles: 3mm, Size: 1-3 mths

Agatha FO

Fresh off the blocking board...I'll let the pictures do the talking...

Pattern: Agatha by thatloganchick
Yarn: Australian wool, 5 ply, Black

Needles: 4mm
Amount: 400 gm (yarn bought without labels and yardage information)
Size: Wingspan - 56" Depth - 25"

Notes: Followed pattern exactly, 4 repeats of main pattern

Would I knit another one? YES!!!

Can't put her down

Not having the recommended DK yarn didn't deter me as I found the remnants of a 5 ply Australian wool which could be a good substitute. It was bought as a scrap bag of about 700gms, no labels, no indication of yardage but there's 450 gms left over from another project which is plenty for Agatha, I'm sure. The yarn quality isn't too great and I would have prefered something softer in a different hue. But it'll do for now, I might knit another with some other yarn later.

I love the pattern, it's well written and the instructions, all 9 pages of them, user-friendly and easy to comprehend. Haven't been able to put it down since cast-on, however I think I will reserve it for daylight knitting from now. Black is a killer on the eyes and tires me out quickly

Here it is after 2 repeats....

Delayed gratification...

It was love at first sight with Agatha-ThatLoganChick and so I proceeded to purchase it at Etsy, planning to cast it on over the weekend.
I've been very good recently, knitting from Stash, so was certain there'd be a suitable wool mix or silky DK yarn tucked in there. Skeins are literally falling out when the cupboard is opened!
Now, how many mornings have we stood staring at the clothes closet ,surprised there's 'nothing to wear' when the bars are sagging with too many hangers? That's that same feeling I had when I searched and triple checked through the Stash for that just perfect yarn I would have bought and forgotten about many moons ago - there must be!
Nope, nothing, I came up with zilch, not even a substitute I might consider in desperation. Hmm...maybe my Stash is not as big as I thought????

Oh well! delayed gratification is good for the knitting soul sometimes and I might as well enjoy the online shopping....
Here's a peek at my WIPs...

Decided to stay with stockinette so as not to 'distort' the colourway, but might change to the Blueberry waffle stitch for the leg. Yarn - Supersock from Cherry Tree Hill in Spring Frost; Needles - 2mm

Office Casual (the third) with Peony acrylic yarn on 3.5 mm needles. I don't have a particular pattern and is winging it as I knit.

MOSS Lacy Wrap

A quickie update from the office!!!
Fresh from the blocking board and put to work right away this morning.

Moss Lacy Wrap by Teva Durham

Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, 65% wool 35% silk, DK weight
Amount: 3.1 x 50 gm x 192 yds
Needles: 4.5 mm, Blocked size: 22" x 62"

Next project???? Has to be something a tad more colourful than the FOs I have been churning out the past few months!!!

Holiday FOs

The long Chinese New Year break is over and it's back to the grindstone at the office. The usual masses of emails blinking for attention and numerous meetings to catch up with.

JS left for his 3rd year at Monash Uni in Melbourne last night with more of Mum's 'every stitch with love' FOs. While knitting the Grey Alpaca jumper (previous blog) he mentioned he'd like a vest and a 3 in 1 scarf-ski mask-hat 'thing' he's seen cyclists wearing.

After much Googling I saw this Buff and with additional inspiration from the Magknits Malagaiter here's my version. I'm afraid I forgot to take a snapshot of the knitted tube :(

Pattern: Ideas from the Buff and Magknits Malagaiter

Notes: Mistake Rib (gives a good stretchy tube), thin 5 ply yarn makes its easier to fold for hat

Size (stretched) : 14" length by 10" wide (to fit face or head circumference)

Yarn: Bendigo Woollen Mills, 5 ply Classic 100% wool

Amount: about 360 m , Needles: 3.5mm

Pattern: Petrol from Knitty.com (modified with a 4 row K2P2 rib at bottom)

Yarn: Jaeger Extra Fine Merino Aran, Jet black

Amount:8.5 x 50g x 95yds

Size (finished) : chest 36" length 25"

Loose bed socks from DK scraps knitted toe-up.

Happy Chinese New Year!

I'll be away at the in-laws and later my hometown, Penang. Enjoy the holidays, eat as much as you like - the dieting can come later :). I hope to get much much knitting done.
In fact, I've downloaded all episodes of Agatha Christie radio shows to knit along with!!!

Grey Alpaca Jumper

I'm tired out with baking for the coming Chinese New Year or Spring Festival in 2 weeks. There's an additional 4 loaves this year and that makes 20! I could and should have started preparing weeks ago and not have to bake and then soak the next lot of dried fruit ingredients in brandy/rum for another batch every evening. Oh well, procrastination always win and its become a mad annual rush, I might as well make it a personal tradition!

On the knitting front...the grey alpaca jumper for JS is completed and there's a black Aran wool vest on the needles which I may be able to post as an FO next week.

Pattern: Book of sweater patterns ( Ann Budd)
Yarn: Bendigo Woollen Mills - 100% Alpaca , 8 ply , Grey
Amount: 2.6 x 200g x 400 yds
Size: chest 42" ( finished )
Needles: 3.25 mm & 4 mm

It was a very hot afternoon but JS was persuaded to put it on for a snapshot. He had actually said there's no need for more woollies this year but then DH had mentioned several times my handknits for JS were heavy-like an armour!!!. And so to prove hand knits are as good as store bought sweaters, I decided on the alpaca and this is a lofty 550 gms compared to his other 900 gms Cleckheaton DK jumpers! Except he has to remember no machine washing is allowed.

No more space

There really is no more space in the Stash cupboard, does it mean I can't buy yarn and for how long??? Would I be resolute enough not to?? Not visit my favourite online stores??? How does one handle the withdrawal symtoms???

Look what's cheered me up today, a knitting tote from this little shop I chanced upon this moning. The owner has a friend who makes curtains and cushions for some well known brands and makes bags out of the remnants.

..................... ....

Here's hoping I don't ever have to carry knitting into a hotel lobby with matching Lounge set covers as the bag!