I Want To Make This

This Draped Bed Jacket is absolutely stunning. I'm so in love with it. I stumbled upon on craftster when I was just surfing aimlessly. The gal who made this, Suz Anne was so kind to share the pattern with her own alterations. By looking at her sketch, it does look rather simple. All you need to do is to crochet a flat piece then followed by simple construction for the sleeve sections. Anyhow I don't think my crochet skill is up to par to make this. I tried crocheting simple stuff like flowers but still haven't manage to do anything that's a real piece of garment. Speaking of which my crochet top that started a year ago is still sitting in my UFO's basket. Anyone would like to attempt this beautiful jacket? Check this out, another similar one by Urban Outfitters and White Lies Designs.

Trick-or-Treating

Some halloween craft links:
1. Ben & Jerry's
2. Craftown
3. Allcrafts - make yourself a halloween garden flag
4. Styrofoam Craft - learn how to make a "Witches Brew" wall hanging

Happy Halloween and happy knitting, everyone!

Scarf News

In the midst of making flower pins, I started this Lace leaves scaft from Vogue Knitting Summer 05. I'm using Zara in deep purple. I really wanted to get some green yarn for this scarf, but the seller I have been checking only have very few balls of the green shade left.

Blooming

Here's my latest flowerpins creation. I'm really getting addicted to this thing. Last night, I stayed up till about two in the morning, so that I can finish up the white daisy. Spice is my favorite, made from japanese prints and felt. Each petals are handstitched and it took me about 2hours to finish one flower pin.



Left - Green Peas - Made from felt, embellished with sequins and beads.
Center - Spice - Made from japanese fabrics and felt, embellished with round wooden button.
Right - Daisy - Made from cotton fabrics and felt, embellished with beads.

I have a few more designs in mind and seriously thinking to set up a small shop to sell these babies.

Work In Progress

Thanks again for everyone nice comments on the noro scoop neck cardi. Not much knitting has been done these few days. A close friend of mine will be coming to visit later on today, so I have been busy cleaning the house. Remember my flower pin craze? After seeing so many of them in the mall, I was extremely interested to get my hands on and make a few myself. This morning, I manage to steal sometime and made these. The maroon rose pin is made from felt and the cream colored one is made from ribbons I found in my sewing basket.



The boring blue orangina for my sis is still on needles. Though it is progressing well, I do not know why I have such a hard time finishing it. I guess because I knitted it once and now I'm just feeling extremely bored with the pattern. Anyways, my sis has no idea that I'm knitting a top for her as her birthday gift. Just hope I can get it out of the way soon and move on to other stuff. The falling sleeves shell is still sitting there, untouched. I plan to frog the snug polo neck sweater and turn it into a cropped long sleeve bolero instead. Hopefully when december comes, I'll have a brand new wips to work on.

Noro Scoop Neck Cardi

Thanks for everyone feedback on the sleeve issue. I'm going to leave it as it is for now. It really doesn't bother me that much. Like what Mimi said, may be I can wait for a calm day to tackle those extra work. I'm just being bit annal sometime. Anyways, it's done and I really enjoy knitting this cardi. Finished the crochet edging on Tuesday and got some earth tone shell buttons.



Pattern from : Noro Debbie Bliss Collection
Yarn : Noro Silk Garden Shade 34
Needles : 4.5mm addi turbo circulars

I didn't exactly follow the crochet instruction from the pattern book. I tried figure out the stitch pattern but didn't do a very good job. So took out my japanese crochet symbol book, found some simple edging pattern and whipped out something that look similar to the original pattern. It's really nice to crochet once inwhile eventhough I dont enjoying doing it as much as knitting. I'm really getting the hang of it. Probably I should take out my long forgotten crochet top and finish it while I still have the mood.



It was drizzling this morning when I took some shots of the cardi, can you see the scallops crochet edging?



I used up only 6balls of yarn, it's actually less than what the pattern called for. I would like to get rid off the remainding 4 balls. If anyone interested to try out this beautiful yarn, feel free to leave me a comment or you can email me for more info. I'm selling it for $6usd a ball inclusive of shipping. With 4 balls, I think you can make a cropped vest or perhaps the infamous minisweater.

Not So Great

I'm done with seaming. The sleeves turn out way too long. I'm really not happy. I tried shortened it about 2" while knitting. But after light blocking, it came out longer than I thought. The row gauge is definitely correct, I've checked and measured both sleeves couple of times. I'm thinking, I might have over stretched it a little while blocking. At this point, I'm just too lazy to frog and rework from scratch. Thought about wearing it with the sleeves roll up or may be eliminate the crochet edging. Do you think I can unravel the seam and frog a few rows from the bottom of the sleeve? Can't really think right now. I'm going to continue with the crochet edging for the front panel and see If I can come up with a better solution.

Little Treat

I have been doing a lot of housework since I took some time off from my full-time job. Cleaning, cooking, ironing....you name it. Lately I began to reliaze my pair of hands really look like crap, especially my nails. It's like a sixty year old woman hand. (I don't have the habit of applying hand cream.) I guess I'm just that type of person that's lazy to do anything but still wanna look decent. So anyways, while I was in the mall today I went got myself a manicure as a trade off for not getting any more new clothes or shoes. It was really nice to pamper myself once inwhile.



Currently, I'm kinda in a detashing mood. Once I'm done with the scoop neck cardi, I think I want to to something with the pile of alpaca I bought ages ago. Actually, those yarns was meant to be my hubby's sweater. He didn't mention to me that he's allegic to the fiber until I brought them home and almost finished knitting the back of the sweater. So, ended up frogging that thing and now I'm stuck with 15balls of sand color alpaca that I have no idea what to do. After staring at it for so long, I just feel like I can knit something real nice with it. Something with cables or lace perhaps. This new Keitodama Fall issues got some really nice design. But I'm a bit skeptical to attempt japanese knitting pattern, since I'm lacking sizing and experience with charts. What do you all think, any nice cardigan in mind? I'm thinking more like a button up cardi with cables.

Reply to comments
Hi Mimi, yeah the silk garden contain 45% of silk, 45% of kid mohair and 10% of lamb wool. It does look a bit bulky and corse. But after a light bath wih some softener, it turn out much softer than I thought. I'm currently knitting with 4.5mm addi turbo circular needle which is a lot easier to work with than bamboo.

Hi Yuvee, yes! you are right my scoop neck cardi is the same shade as the pattern in the mag.

Hi Anonymous, the the pattern gauge for the wrap cardi is indeed 18-19 stitches per 4" square. But I knitted one size up (the medium size) and it turns out just fine. I use 4.25mm bamboo circular and the gauge is 6sts per inch for the cashcotton 4-ply in stockinette.

Pretty Noro Silk Garden

Thanks for everyone nice comments on the wrap cardi. I love it too. I use the 4-ply cashcotton that I purchased from Singapore while back. Check out what have I been knitting after my laptop went into the shop. I started this project last saturday and it's almost half way thru. Not being able to get online allow me to knit even more during the day. My hubby was amazed how I can sit in front of the TV and knit for hours. He even asked if I'll ever get bored of it some day and what am I going to do with all those knitted garments. I just gave him a grin and continue knitting like a mad woman. Guess he'll never be able to understand the joy of knitting. Well, as long as he's not complaining that I abandon the housechores or spend too much money on yarn. I'm all for it. The back, front two panels is done. I'm working on the sleeve right now. See those beautiful shades of Noro Silk Garden, I'm loving it.



I was a bit intimated after I read the pattern. Never know how to knit a sweater sideways and cast on in non-standard places. But I must say this is rather a quick project and the pattern is really easy to follow. Hope mine will turn out as nice as keyboard biologist's scoop neck cardi by Debbie Bliss.

I'm Back With Wrap Cardi

Hi there, I'm back. My laptop is not completely fixed yet. The guys at the repair shop manage to piece back the screen to the laptop so that I can use it temporary while waiting for the parts to arrive. Isn't it nice! Well, it is quite a long story how I broke the damn thing. I still feel bad about the repair cost, but heck I'm happy my lappy is back for time being. I've been trying to upload the wrap cardi pics for the past half an hour. Atlast, here's the one week late post about my recent completed project.


Here's the front and back panel after light blocking.



I used only three and a half ball of cashcotton for the wrap cardi. Instead of picking up 160sts as the pattern call for, I did a simple double crochet around neck edge. I am starting to think I want to knit another cardigan with this yarn. I am really obsessed with cashcotton. The yarn is terrifc, so nice to work with...I can really go on and on about it. Hmmmm...perhaps I can knit Deli from Rowan Classic Cafe Collections. Nevermind, I probably shouldn't even think about starting another new project right now. Did I mentioned I have a new wip on my needle and it is 50% done. I shall post some pictures tomorrow.



Pattern from : Rebecca 29
Yarn : Rowan Cashcotton in Cork
Needles : 4.25mm bamboo circulars

A Post From Friend's House

I won' t be able to blog or check my mails for the next couple of weeks! Arrggg....I broke my laptop's lcd screen last week and it's sitting in the repair center right now. Don't really mind about the waiting time but really pissed at myself that I have to fock out about 500bucks for the repair. (That's a lot of money for yarn and books...Sign!)

Anyways, I have been knitting. My Rebecca wrap cardi is done. I finished seaming and sewed up the sash last nite. It looks great and I'm really happy with it. Too bad, I won't be able to post any picture right now. Anyways, I started a new project, not the Peacock Plumes Bolero though. I shall elaborate more when I get back. Till then, happy knitting everyone!

Heads Up

Thanks to Lois heads up! The new Vogue Knitting Holiday Issue is coming out soon. I want to make these. Can't wait to get my hands on the mag.









Another new knitting mag is coming out in about 2 weeks - knitscene by Interweave Press. Go check out the preview of the issue, free patterns will be available October 14.

Itchy Itchy Hands

I have been knitting a lot lately, finished one project after another. But somehow I realized the amount of items I want to knit is really a bit overwhelming. A week ago I spent sometime going through my knit list and I actually have more than 20 items I want to knit. Not to mention the amount of new patterns I discovered recently. (Well, isn't that normal to every knitters out there?)

So I told myself again for the xx times I should not start anymore new project until I finished something in my wip. Well, I'm glad I did finished the lace trim bolero eventhough I wasn't so excited about it. Yesterday I swatch for another new project -- the Far East Peacock Plumes Bolero. I don't think I'll be starting this one anytime soon. I really want to finish the Rebecca eyelets cardi before I start anything new. The back for the cardi is done and now I'm working on the left front panel.


Here's a swatch using sienna on size 4mm needle. The pattern stitch should be about 7.5" wide but mine came out 5" to be exact. Waaaay off gauge.

By the way, have anyone seen the Far East Peacock Plumes Bolero in Elann. I swatch the lace pattern with Jaeger Sienna but it didn't turn out so nice. My gauge is way off. I'm thinking to use another substitute, may be cashsoft or cashcotton. I haven't really decided yet, will try to do another swatch end of this week. Anyone interested to join me for a kal? I won't be starting this now, may be around the 15th of this month. So that I'll have enough time to finish another wip.

p/s: Thanks for everyone nice comments on the bolero. I think it is because of that white tank , that's why it look a bit weird to me. May be I should wear it with a prettier dress next time around. Happy knitting, eveyone!

Not Again

I stayed up till about midnight on friday, finished knitting the lace trim and have it seamed up. So it is finally done. I kinda like the FO but I really don't think I'll make another one of this again. I totally agree with Wendy, the pattern is rather simple with it ever boring stockinette stitch. But having have to knit the lace trim and sew it on separetely as you go is really killing. To avoid messy tangles up, I took a short cut by finishing the lace trim first. Let me tell you, I was jumping for joy when I knitted about 67" of lace trim. Not to mention, I think I spend nearly 2hours on seaming the lace alone. Anyways, prior to seaming, I soaked the front panel and have it blocked for another round. Looks like it doesn't curl up anymore. Here's my version of the not so sassy lace trim bolero. I'm too lazy to pose and you should definitely check out Wendy's version. So nice!



Pattern from : Vogue Knitting
Yarn : Katia Nilo in Black
Needles : 3.5mm bamboo circulars