its sunday, and the last day of NaBloPoMo... and although I have kept it up for the month, I think sometimes I posted less than stellar posts. I have so much to learn. YH does it the best I think, she always has these good posts. she does write for a living after all...
I am on the last leg of the one row noro scarf #3. I am trying to finish it, so that i can start on the next scarf. I want to try the stripped scarf, i don't know if i want to do it in k1p1 (a la brooklyntweed)or try it in just garter (a la accessories bible)... maybe i'll start with the garter cuz i know i hate k1p1, and if i don't like that look then, i'll frog and do k1p1.
It has been hard keeping up posting everyday... and with posting everyday, there are bound to be some days that have lame posts.
Traveling with knitting things within China was very very troublesom. I brought my small scissors, and it was found everytime I went thru the detectors... and on the return back, they almost made me check it in... they had told me that i couldn't take it out on flights. they also were concerned about my umbrella, and this metal easel thing i was carrying. Plus my small needles... it was just very very troublesom. I think it might have been because I didn't check things in, so it was all very thorough, but still... i think the whole no liquids thing sucks because sometimes you don't have time to stop after security check to get a drink...and they don't serve drinks right away when you board. I hate traveling within China.
lets get finish up the one row, so I can finish up the Clapotis.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
10 UFOs I want to finish next year
Clapotisfinished Dec 7 08Charade Socks : working on currently12/22/08- crochet green sock
- mystery sock
- froot loop :currently working on... almost at toe 2/27/09
- mohair leafling
- blue bunny
- 28 bears
- berries quant: will have to dig out of box in garage
- daisy stitch scarf : will have to dig out of box in garage
Friday, November 28, 2008
10 things i want to knit in the next year
- Noro striped scarf :currently working on (11/24/09)
- Jaywalker socks
- Hermione's cable and eyelet hat
- kingscot (sweater)
- Elaine's Blouse (sweater)
- halloween creepy knit cloth
- rpm (socks)
- Cloning Anemone Rib (socks)
- spring forward (socks)
- hufflepuff Poa Scarf as worn by Cedric!!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
ten things i want for the holidays... that i'm most likely going to buy myself
- wii for china for animal crossing. it's easy to transport the disc back and forth from taiwan to china, but not so much the wii console.
- a new phone...the blackberry storm has hit china...i may look into that.
- a new tiny (mini) computer, for just emails and internet surfing
- backup hard drive to go with the mini computer for work, and personal use
- the etoile monogram LV bag (ok i may not get this one, it's WAY WAY out of my range)
- malabrigo sock yarn
- dvd player for my room in taiwan
- set of speakers for better sounds on my laptop
- tea, the high mountain tea
- the anna sui owl earrings
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Ten on...Wednesday?
a link from Princess Emerald's blog, brought me to this...
10 things I'm thankful for this year, in no particular order, or reason:
I have a few more scarves in my mental queue....
Oh! I created a webs wishlist (this is really for my sp13 pal, cuz I was stalking my own sp spoiler, and I found it hard to decide what yarn to spoil her with without really knowing her preference...my own spoiler has a large (HUGE) stash on ravelry, so it was hard also to buy her yarn that she didn't already have.), and I wanted to explain the yarn items.
The rowan kid silk haze... it's for the mohair wrap, but I'm not in a hurry to knit it. I just thought perhaps I'd gather some rowan kid silk haze in my stash in case i ever want to start it. Since the whole wrap is made up of single ball colors, I thought i'd list all the colors i'm into.
The Noro silk garden? It's for a future brooklytweed scarf, future.
almost all of the yarn on the wish list is just that, a wish list, I certainly don't need MORE yarn, but I have a want for more yarn, and i have realised I don't buy enough worsted weight yarn...although i have plenty of sock yarn.
as for the books... used copies, cheap copies, battered copies... all are acceptable to me.
tomorrow: ten things i want for the holidays that i'm most likely going to buy myself
10 things I'm thankful for this year, in no particular order, or reason:
- My parents - i am thankful for their love, their intentions, and the laughs.
- itunes - i know it's lame, but i like having some sort of "contact" with the outside world of china thru itunes, whether it be movies, radio or tv shows.
- having a steady income - in this ever fluctuating economy, i'm glad that my job is as permanent as I want it to be.
- gmail - it rocks!!
- yarn - having a stash distracts me, and lets me pass time.
- friends - without them, i'd explode from all the non-talking i do in real life, whether you be ravelry friends, old friends or new friends.
- airplanes - it just makes the traveling between countries that much faster!!
- Family - i've always had them, but it's only recently that I'm more in contact with them.
- Hong Kong - for making my time in China a little bit more bearable.
- having the ability to save - it's kinda fun to see the numbers keep going up!
I have a few more scarves in my mental queue....
Oh! I created a webs wishlist (this is really for my sp13 pal, cuz I was stalking my own sp spoiler, and I found it hard to decide what yarn to spoil her with without really knowing her preference...my own spoiler has a large (HUGE) stash on ravelry, so it was hard also to buy her yarn that she didn't already have.), and I wanted to explain the yarn items.
The rowan kid silk haze... it's for the mohair wrap, but I'm not in a hurry to knit it. I just thought perhaps I'd gather some rowan kid silk haze in my stash in case i ever want to start it. Since the whole wrap is made up of single ball colors, I thought i'd list all the colors i'm into.
The Noro silk garden? It's for a future brooklytweed scarf, future.
almost all of the yarn on the wish list is just that, a wish list, I certainly don't need MORE yarn, but I have a want for more yarn, and i have realised I don't buy enough worsted weight yarn...although i have plenty of sock yarn.
as for the books... used copies, cheap copies, battered copies... all are acceptable to me.
tomorrow: ten things i want for the holidays that i'm most likely going to buy myself
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
i frog you
Did I mention that I got a book on Men knits in taiwan? It's got a lot of scarves and some vests and some hats. I've decided to start a new scarf from the book, but as much as I love the patterns in the book, I can not read charts, as directions on their own. The asians are big on visuals, while I need words.
So I have to translate the charts into words in my head, knit it as i go along and figure it out from there. Usually I make some changes to the pattern, I'm more likely to take some elements of the pattern than an English pattern I find on the net, if only because i can't figure it out row by row.
I'm undecided on the pattern, it's really just a right twist and a left twist and a sea of stockinette, and some purls thrown in. It looked good in the book, but when i've knit it up, I'm not so sure, maybe it my yarn color??
I really don't want to frog and re-cast on again, cuz I have done it sooooo many times. the wool-ease started as a february lady sweater (1: first cast-on), then I frogged it to start the scarf, but it was not wide enough(2), then when I figured out how wide I wanted it, I forgot to add four extra stitches(3), Ugh! Recast!! (4)... the ends are so frayed from all the recast ons.
edit to add: I ended up frogging it anyway... I think the pattern is best suited for a yarn that is a lighter color. Plus i think the wool-ease feels a bit thin....
So I have to translate the charts into words in my head, knit it as i go along and figure it out from there. Usually I make some changes to the pattern, I'm more likely to take some elements of the pattern than an English pattern I find on the net, if only because i can't figure it out row by row.
I'm undecided on the pattern, it's really just a right twist and a left twist and a sea of stockinette, and some purls thrown in. It looked good in the book, but when i've knit it up, I'm not so sure, maybe it my yarn color??
I really don't want to frog and re-cast on again, cuz I have done it sooooo many times. the wool-ease started as a february lady sweater (1: first cast-on), then I frogged it to start the scarf, but it was not wide enough(2), then when I figured out how wide I wanted it, I forgot to add four extra stitches(3), Ugh! Recast!! (4)... the ends are so frayed from all the recast ons.
edit to add: I ended up frogging it anyway... I think the pattern is best suited for a yarn that is a lighter color. Plus i think the wool-ease feels a bit thin....
Monday, November 24, 2008
Holiday mode
Blury picture... on accidental purpose.
I mailed off the package to Ferula and Emma this morning... or rather the guy came by to pick it up off my hands, so I'm hoping it will at least be in the system and in traveling mode by tomorrow. I'm hoping it will not get delayed by the thanksgiving holidays over in the states... but now that I'm looking at the dates it might.The chatter boxes at Ravelry are quiet... i think everyone is in holiday mode and offline more. Over here? not so much... just your regular old workdays for me... there's not even any Christmas feeling at all... no festive feelings, not even with the approaching Chinese New Year. The only festive holiday feel is the fact that all the Taiwanese business travelers are frantically reserving seats towards the end of January, but that's it!
Looking at my own schedule I think I need to write some post up for next week when I will be in Shanghai with no certain internet access... and now the more important question, what should I bring to knit whilst traveling??
I picked back up the Clapotis last night while watching 24 season 5 on DVD, and I was not able to locate the 4th ball of the yarn... and I am panicked that I have lost the ball, and I do not have enough yarn left over on the 3rd ball to finish all the decreases... ::gasp::
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Hibernating UFO
Nothing like closing that last stitch on a sock to make you feel like you've just accomplished the coolest knit ever.
Tada!! I have a sock!! After Seven months, I finally have a sock. Of course this thing was hibernating for THE longest time, but out of pure boredom today, I broke it out to finish the sock. It might take me another 7 months to finish the other/matching pair.
Of course I made plenty of mistakes along the way... like doing the SSK and the K2tog wrong, so I may not be able to produce the exact matching pair, but no one stares too closely at your socks anyway. i don't remember all the glorious details that a knitter would care about, but it fits me and that's all that matters. Oh right. I love knitting with the Dream in Smooshy, its soft and smooshy like it's name.
I still have to work on making the Kitchener stitch ends look normal... the last stitch always looks funky. I think YH has a solution in her knitting rules books... I just need to re-read it.
Although I hate knitting socks, I love handknit socks!!
Tada!! I have a sock!! After Seven months, I finally have a sock. Of course this thing was hibernating for THE longest time, but out of pure boredom today, I broke it out to finish the sock. It might take me another 7 months to finish the other/matching pair.
Of course I made plenty of mistakes along the way... like doing the SSK and the K2tog wrong, so I may not be able to produce the exact matching pair, but no one stares too closely at your socks anyway. i don't remember all the glorious details that a knitter would care about, but it fits me and that's all that matters. Oh right. I love knitting with the Dream in Smooshy, its soft and smooshy like it's name.
I still have to work on making the Kitchener stitch ends look normal... the last stitch always looks funky. I think YH has a solution in her knitting rules books... I just need to re-read it.
Although I hate knitting socks, I love handknit socks!!
36/50 books for 2008
I am compiling a list of books i've read for this year. trying to reach 50. Only 13 more books to go!!
- The Lucky One, by Nicholas Sparks (11/07/08)
- Dead Until Dark, by Charlaine Harris
- Claudia and the Genius of Elm Street (The Baby-Sitters Club #49), by Ann M. Martin
- Encyclopedia Brown Cracks the Case (Encyclopedia Brown)
- Undead and Unworthy (Undead Series, Book 7)
- The Secret Garden (Children's Classics)
- The Velveteen Rabbit (Paperback)
- I Am the Messenger (Paperback)
- A Study in Scarlet (Paperback)
- Undead and Uneasy (Undead Series, Book 6)
- Undead and Unpopular (Undead Series, Book 5)
- Undead and Unreturnable (Undead Series, Book 4)
- Undead and Unappreciated (Undead Series, Book 3)
- Mary Poppins (Audio CD)
- The Tale of Despereaux (Audio CD)
- Fearless Fourteen (Stephanie Plum Mystery)
- Undead and Unwed (Undead Series, Book 1)
- Twilight (Twilight Series, Book 1)
- New Moon
- Breaking Dawn
- Eclipse
- Slam by nick Hornby
- Be Careful what you wish for by alexandra potter
- Lean Mean Thirteen (A Stephanie Plum Novel)
Things I've Learned From Women Who've Dumped Me (Hardcover)
What I Learned From Knitting (whether I wanted to or not)
- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Paperback)
Knit One, Kill Two (Knitting Mystery, Book 1)
- Knitting Rules!: The Yarn Harlot's Bag of Knitting Tricks (Paperback)
Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter (Paperback)
French By Heart: An American Family's Adventures in La Belle France (Paperback)
- Other People's Weddings (Paperback)
- Kira-Kira (Paperback)
Shortcomings (Hardcover)
The Undomestic Goddess (Paperback)
- The Higher Power of Lucky (Hardcover)
Free Knitting!!
CO: Nov 19
FO: Nov 22
Yarn: Malabrigo Mint
Needle: 7 and 5
Pattern: Foliage from Knitty
Finished!! the hat for duel 4. I'm getting it ready for mail tomorrow, and it shall be on its way!! Yay! I don't think i'll have a chance at winning... but i'm still hopeful. Now that my HSKS obligations are finished with... I am feeling a sense of lost having no looming deadline ahead of me.
Maybe it's time to finish up the WIPs in my possession? Like this, or this or this?! Well at least until I get to those WIPs, I'm going to make some progress on the current scarf on my needle, ( although i'm itchy to start a whole new scarf)
Go ahead and click on the picture, it will take you to the site that you can make your own potter character. * note: I used the screen capture as the means to save it.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
over politics
Yesterday while watching the latest episode of House on iTunes, I finally finished ferula's item. But I won't post the picture of it until she receives it... for those of you who are on my friends and family list on flickr, you can just go ahead and stroll over to my flickr to view them. But be sure to sign in as it's for friends and family ONLY!
So the two people I spoke to about this didn't know that Obama has a weekly address podcast. So i'm making a public statement here about it just in case other people didn't either. I found it on itunes, just search for Obama's weekly address, it's a video podcast, lasting about 3 mins. this first one (nov 15)was about the economic crisis. I DL it. I thought it was very SMRT of him to use video podcasting, because it allows him to be reached to more people... as not everyone (ie me) likes to watch the news, but I do troll itunes regularly. So there you go, watch your presiden-elect's video podcast.
A worker of mine here in China just asked me to teach her how to knit. She's going back home for the chinese new year, and she wanted a full set of scarf, hat, etc cuz it's cold where she's from. I told her that I could teach her how to knit, but I'm not a very good teacher, I only know how to knit my own way. I don't hold the yarn like most people do... it works for me, but might not work for Joe. Anyways, this should be a fun experience.
I am on the last repeat of the leaf pattern, and I should be able to mail out on Monday for the Duel.... Emma, Stupefy!! (oh wait, I should say that on the other blog!)
So the two people I spoke to about this didn't know that Obama has a weekly address podcast. So i'm making a public statement here about it just in case other people didn't either. I found it on itunes, just search for Obama's weekly address, it's a video podcast, lasting about 3 mins. this first one (nov 15)was about the economic crisis. I DL it. I thought it was very SMRT of him to use video podcasting, because it allows him to be reached to more people... as not everyone (ie me) likes to watch the news, but I do troll itunes regularly. So there you go, watch your presiden-elect's video podcast.
A worker of mine here in China just asked me to teach her how to knit. She's going back home for the chinese new year, and she wanted a full set of scarf, hat, etc cuz it's cold where she's from. I told her that I could teach her how to knit, but I'm not a very good teacher, I only know how to knit my own way. I don't hold the yarn like most people do... it works for me, but might not work for Joe. Anyways, this should be a fun experience.
I am on the last repeat of the leaf pattern, and I should be able to mail out on Monday for the Duel.... Emma, Stupefy!! (oh wait, I should say that on the other blog!)
Friday, November 21, 2008
read later emails
i got an email in my box the other day from interweave, but i just ignored it because i get daily mail from interweave knits, they like to send mail everyday... hence the knitting daily website. I admit, it's hard to email everyday and have it be something i want to read... in fact I get delete more message each day, then I actually read them.
If the title from IK is promising, I save it to read for later, the title was [behind the scenes, winter photo shoot]. I'm glad I saved it because otherwise I would not have realised that the new winter IK is coming out!!
Of course, the Manchester jacket grabbed my attention... although i'm not sure i'd want to knit it, it's just a nice jacket that I'm drawn to.
I think one that I might (might being the word here) is Elaine's Blouse. I love the simplicity of it, and the broken lacey panels in the front, although i wished there was a full on boob shot so i can see the details of the peek-a-boo show better, and the gathered ribbing at the waist. (see i paid attention!! thanks to the gorgeous photos.) Of course I queued it in my Ravelry queue... and is frantically looking for yarn... maybe I'll go to the LYS in TaiChung once I get my magazine and look for yarn that is suitable. Wouldn't that be a nice initiation for the LYS.
and is anyone else drooling over these complicated little cables in the sandalwood socks? It's like Shifting sands but for the socks! Nice!!
I can't wait for my magazine to arrive!!
If the title from IK is promising, I save it to read for later, the title was [behind the scenes, winter photo shoot]. I'm glad I saved it because otherwise I would not have realised that the new winter IK is coming out!!
Of course, the Manchester jacket grabbed my attention... although i'm not sure i'd want to knit it, it's just a nice jacket that I'm drawn to.
I think one that I might (might being the word here) is Elaine's Blouse. I love the simplicity of it, and the broken lacey panels in the front, although i wished there was a full on boob shot so i can see the details of the peek-a-boo show better, and the gathered ribbing at the waist. (see i paid attention!! thanks to the gorgeous photos.) Of course I queued it in my Ravelry queue... and is frantically looking for yarn... maybe I'll go to the LYS in TaiChung once I get my magazine and look for yarn that is suitable. Wouldn't that be a nice initiation for the LYS.
and is anyone else drooling over these complicated little cables in the sandalwood socks? It's like Shifting sands but for the socks! Nice!!
I can't wait for my magazine to arrive!!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
On guard
the Duel for semi-finals in the hat bracket started last night for me around 11pm. I manage to stay up until around 2am to work on the hat, but I couldn't finish it in time. I had to put it away and sleep, my hand was giving me cramps from knitting for so long.
I had diligently been working on the HSKS6 project until around 11pm. When 11pm struck, I turned to the blog to see what was the pattern.
Foliage from knitty. HA. I have the perfect yarn. plus it's something i've already knitted, although i hated knitting that hat, it's the top down part that gets to me... i loath DPNs and it's always awkward working the first couple of rows... anyways.
around 2am, around the time when I've finished crying over Armageddon, I put down the knitting and rested my eyes plus hand. My hand is still slightly crampy today...i have definitely been knitting too much lately. I shall forge ahead because my duel partner has already finished her hat, and will be posting it with her owl tomorrow her time, which would be later today for me. So in order to have a shot at winning, I definitely need to finish the hat tonight.
Wish me luck.
p.s. after i finish the hat I shall finish the HSKS6 item.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
break out the sweater
I accidentally posted twice yesterday. Oops. I hope you didn't mind. I forgot I had a pre-post scheduled already, so when I wrote the post yesterday, I just published it. Well I'm sure no one minded, at least now I'm posting in the present tense and not past tense.
By the blog post over on the STR blog, it seems the last shipment has started to ship out, the international ones first, and i'm sure the local ones soon. Can you believe that it will be the last shipment of the STR sock club? It has been fun joining the club and getting all the yarn goodies, and especialy the useless emergency yarn (i mean that , but I think I'm not going to rejoin. I have yet to knit one of the socks that I have received....
YH is the trend of all that is knitting, she was helpful in showing some visuals of what a stripped scarf in Noro Kureyon would look like. Saartje was the only website that would load for me here in China. Its nice, but I might not have enough Noro to go around.. my Noro supply is low. Perhaps I should frog the one row and start on the stripped scarf?! Oh the horrors.
I manage to watch Wall-e twice last night after downloading it from my iTunes pre-order. I heart it. While watching, I made some progress on the thing for ferula... I am down to the last 3 or 4 repeats... almost finished!! Aren't you excited?! If I keep up the knitting, I shall have the thing completed today and mailed off for tomorrow. This way I can concentrate on the Hat Duel that's starting late tonight. I have a feeling Emma is way diligent, and I'll have to emplore my fastest owl and quickest wandwork should I want to win this duel, since she has the whole day ahead of her to knit, and I will have to wait at least 18 hours before I can... time is not on my side my friend.
the weather today is much colder than yesterday.. I broke out the CPH to wear with my thin tissue tee. It's still cold... so I have a scarf prepared. It's sorta pilly... I might have to take a shaver to it... it's cold. put on a sweater!!
By the blog post over on the STR blog, it seems the last shipment has started to ship out, the international ones first, and i'm sure the local ones soon. Can you believe that it will be the last shipment of the STR sock club? It has been fun joining the club and getting all the yarn goodies, and especialy the useless emergency yarn (i mean that , but I think I'm not going to rejoin. I have yet to knit one of the socks that I have received....
YH is the trend of all that is knitting, she was helpful in showing some visuals of what a stripped scarf in Noro Kureyon would look like. Saartje was the only website that would load for me here in China. Its nice, but I might not have enough Noro to go around.. my Noro supply is low. Perhaps I should frog the one row and start on the stripped scarf?! Oh the horrors.
I manage to watch Wall-e twice last night after downloading it from my iTunes pre-order. I heart it. While watching, I made some progress on the thing for ferula... I am down to the last 3 or 4 repeats... almost finished!! Aren't you excited?! If I keep up the knitting, I shall have the thing completed today and mailed off for tomorrow. This way I can concentrate on the Hat Duel that's starting late tonight. I have a feeling Emma is way diligent, and I'll have to emplore my fastest owl and quickest wandwork should I want to win this duel, since she has the whole day ahead of her to knit, and I will have to wait at least 18 hours before I can... time is not on my side my friend.
the weather today is much colder than yesterday.. I broke out the CPH to wear with my thin tissue tee. It's still cold... so I have a scarf prepared. It's sorta pilly... I might have to take a shaver to it... it's cold. put on a sweater!!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
the solution to procrastination!!
In an effort to slack off and not finish the item that has the looming deadline of Friday... I cast-on another scarf. (hehe... I am bad) In fairness, I did knit one row repeat, before I stopped. I am on the last 10 repeats of the project, with each repeat at 4 rows, so 4 rows per repeat isn't too bad, I know that's what you're saying, but the truth is that the stitch count per row is a lot.
the closer I am getting to the end, the less I want to work on it... ergh.
while I was de-cluttering my files on gmail, I found a scarf pattern for the Rowan Big Wool yarn. I originally got the yarn to make myself some bulky sweater... as bulky sweaters do not look good on anyone except the size negative 2 models, I quickly abandoned the project. The yarns sat in the discard pile since last year, but always semi in the back of my mind as usable yarn for a suitable project that's not a sweater. No one likes yarn to go to waste I say.
I forgot where I came upon the original pattern for the scarf, most likely Ravelry, but I saved in my gmail drafts and forgot about it until yesterday's decluttering.
I only worked on it a few rows to establish the pattern before falling asleep, it's a real simple knit purl pattern, nothing complicated. The only thing I have to look out for is to remember which row i'm on when I pick back up the knitting. this is also a four row repeat, row 1 & 4 are the same, as row 2 & 3 are the same.
Here is the Ravelry link for the pattern. Feel free to cast on with your own version of bulky or non-bulky yarn, as some people who have made it with worsted.
the weather has turned cold for the time being, I broke out my A/X scarf that I purchased. I know what you're asking, what about all those scarves you made?! I don't know what I did with them... they are lost in the black hole that is my room. I only have scarves that other people have made me, and the purchased ones.
And I call myself a knitter.
the closer I am getting to the end, the less I want to work on it... ergh.
while I was de-cluttering my files on gmail, I found a scarf pattern for the Rowan Big Wool yarn. I originally got the yarn to make myself some bulky sweater... as bulky sweaters do not look good on anyone except the size negative 2 models, I quickly abandoned the project. The yarns sat in the discard pile since last year, but always semi in the back of my mind as usable yarn for a suitable project that's not a sweater. No one likes yarn to go to waste I say.
I forgot where I came upon the original pattern for the scarf, most likely Ravelry, but I saved in my gmail drafts and forgot about it until yesterday's decluttering.
I only worked on it a few rows to establish the pattern before falling asleep, it's a real simple knit purl pattern, nothing complicated. The only thing I have to look out for is to remember which row i'm on when I pick back up the knitting. this is also a four row repeat, row 1 & 4 are the same, as row 2 & 3 are the same.
Here is the Ravelry link for the pattern. Feel free to cast on with your own version of bulky or non-bulky yarn, as some people who have made it with worsted.
the weather has turned cold for the time being, I broke out my A/X scarf that I purchased. I know what you're asking, what about all those scarves you made?! I don't know what I did with them... they are lost in the black hole that is my room. I only have scarves that other people have made me, and the purchased ones.
And I call myself a knitter.
new to me!
twist collective, twist collective. these two words have been popping up in the yarn circle lately... I don't know what it is... so I didn't pay attention to it at all. I figure I can't know EVERYTHING about yarn...
well that all changed when i viewed this blog post... (not the know everything about yarn, but paying attention to what Twist Collective is.)
her exact words
I think I may be in love with this pattern. I've always admire Norah Gaughan's patterns, it's always very classy and voguesque at the same time. It's not in Ravelry yet... but i'm sure it will be soon!! I've queued it, and will be purchasing the pattern soon!!
well that all changed when i viewed this blog post... (not the know everything about yarn, but paying attention to what Twist Collective is.)
her exact words
"It was while catching up on these posts that I learned the new Twist Collective had been released and my...oh my...oh my some lovely items!!!"plus the link made me click over, and am i really glad that I did because i found this pattern. It's the Kingscot by Norah Gaughan.
I think I may be in love with this pattern. I've always admire Norah Gaughan's patterns, it's always very classy and voguesque at the same time. It's Monday, November 17, 2008
Extra! Extra!
Ladies and maybe Gentlemen! I have a new home... well soon to be new home that is.
What happened with mknit was that I didn't pay for its renewal, so it got bought out by one of those website snatching people, after my web guy inquired about buying it back, they threw out a figure of $2400 USD for it.
Uh, no thank you!
Pete (the head honcho at IHS blogger) suggested maybe going with mknit.net although a nice suggestion, dot nets are not something that appeals to me. So after a few days of deliberation, and brainstorming with a fellow brainstormer, I came up with a seemingly brilliant one, that fits me perfectly, just as perfectly as mknit.com.
I won't reveal what is just yet, since things aren't set up properly, in case it gets snatched up in the last few minutes before it's all set up.
Exciting news!!
What happened with mknit was that I didn't pay for its renewal, so it got bought out by one of those website snatching people, after my web guy inquired about buying it back, they threw out a figure of $2400 USD for it.
Uh, no thank you!
Pete (the head honcho at IHS blogger) suggested maybe going with mknit.net although a nice suggestion, dot nets are not something that appeals to me. So after a few days of deliberation, and brainstorming with a fellow brainstormer, I came up with a seemingly brilliant one, that fits me perfectly, just as perfectly as mknit.com.
I won't reveal what is just yet, since things aren't set up properly, in case it gets snatched up in the last few minutes before it's all set up.
Exciting news!!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
question of the week!
this week on lime and violet's blog's question of the week is...
What would you wish for them to knit you?
Imagine for a minute that you aren’t scrambling to knit 20 gifts by the holidays, but that instead someone is knitting something for you. Probably not realistic, but go with me.
I would wish someone could knit me a warm Harry Potter scarf in house colors, or the stripped scarf in a nice vibrant and muted colors all at the same time.
I've been meaning to make a PoA Scarf for the longest time for myself, I've made 3 thus far in my whole 2 years of knitting time. 2 slytherin, one gryffindor... but i just haven't made enough time to knit one myself. The yarn is all ready sitting there waiting for me... I just need to cast on.
the stripped scarf... well the 1x1 rib bores the heck out of me, all the flipping back and forth with the yarn... yeeesh!
what about you??
What would you wish for them to knit you?
Imagine for a minute that you aren’t scrambling to knit 20 gifts by the holidays, but that instead someone is knitting something for you. Probably not realistic, but go with me.
I would wish someone could knit me a warm Harry Potter scarf in house colors, or the stripped scarf in a nice vibrant and muted colors all at the same time.
I've been meaning to make a PoA Scarf for the longest time for myself, I've made 3 thus far in my whole 2 years of knitting time. 2 slytherin, one gryffindor... but i just haven't made enough time to knit one myself. The yarn is all ready sitting there waiting for me... I just need to cast on.
the stripped scarf... well the 1x1 rib bores the heck out of me, all the flipping back and forth with the yarn... yeeesh!
what about you??
Saturday, November 15, 2008
travel knitting... be prepared.
Knitting. Check
Ipod. Check
Passport. Check
Money. Check.
Yesterday I got on a plane to travel from Taiwan, TaiChung to Hong Kong to get to work. Of course I packed my knitting. I thought about packing my HSKS6 project, but deemed it too large to fit for carry on, so instead I packed the trusty one row scarf and a new hat that I just started. But I really needn't pack the hat since I didn't have the small needles required for the ribbing part.
I pulled out my knitting right away, while waiting for the other passengers to board. I knit, I knit, I knit. While I was knitting, I thought perhaps if a person sat next to me, then they might be afraid that my needles might poke them or something while during turbulance, or think that I'm annoying just because I was knitting to pass the hour like this article. But I didn't care, it's my knitting, i'll keep knitting if i want to. (ugh i just read her apology letter, i think the quotations around the word "selvage" is correct, she does not care. If she wanted to do personal attacks, we can start with her horrible byline picture, the dark circles around her eyes, and her sagging face, but I wouldn't stoop to that low... or wait, I just did.)
I'm using the Noro Kureyon to knit the one row, and I was just about to get going on the knitting when I hit a snag. I spied a knot in the yarn, where the two colors joined in an un-natural way. I had three options I thought. 1. knit over the knot...ie ignore it. 2. untie the knot and keep knitting it using the method you had been using before, the double knit in. 3. Stop knitting and wait until you have a needle to do the russian join.
I really wanted to go with option number 1. I even contemplated it, thinking that i'll just keep knitting it now, so that later when I get to a place with the needle, i'll just frog to the knot... I had to talk myself out of it by thinking how much i hate frogging. Since I didn't want to do the double knit in... I waited.
the rest of the 30 min flight looked bleak without the knitting... what a girl to do? I broke out my ipod and started playing with the genius feature, but when the flight announced it's descend, I had to turn that off too... so last resort, I turned to taking a nap.
Yes the nap always works... plus I always seem to get sleepy upon descending, and is always surprised when the plane lands with a jolt and I wake up.
moral of the story is.. even when you don't think you need a tapestry needle, bring on, cuz you might need it.
Ipod. Check
Passport. Check
Money. Check.
Yesterday I got on a plane to travel from Taiwan, TaiChung to Hong Kong to get to work. Of course I packed my knitting. I thought about packing my HSKS6 project, but deemed it too large to fit for carry on, so instead I packed the trusty one row scarf and a new hat that I just started. But I really needn't pack the hat since I didn't have the small needles required for the ribbing part.
I pulled out my knitting right away, while waiting for the other passengers to board. I knit, I knit, I knit. While I was knitting, I thought perhaps if a person sat next to me, then they might be afraid that my needles might poke them or something while during turbulance, or think that I'm annoying just because I was knitting to pass the hour like this article. But I didn't care, it's my knitting, i'll keep knitting if i want to. (ugh i just read her apology letter, i think the quotations around the word "selvage" is correct, she does not care. If she wanted to do personal attacks, we can start with her horrible byline picture, the dark circles around her eyes, and her sagging face, but I wouldn't stoop to that low... or wait, I just did.)
I'm using the Noro Kureyon to knit the one row, and I was just about to get going on the knitting when I hit a snag. I spied a knot in the yarn, where the two colors joined in an un-natural way. I had three options I thought. 1. knit over the knot...ie ignore it. 2. untie the knot and keep knitting it using the method you had been using before, the double knit in. 3. Stop knitting and wait until you have a needle to do the russian join.
I really wanted to go with option number 1. I even contemplated it, thinking that i'll just keep knitting it now, so that later when I get to a place with the needle, i'll just frog to the knot... I had to talk myself out of it by thinking how much i hate frogging. Since I didn't want to do the double knit in... I waited.
the rest of the 30 min flight looked bleak without the knitting... what a girl to do? I broke out my ipod and started playing with the genius feature, but when the flight announced it's descend, I had to turn that off too... so last resort, I turned to taking a nap.
Yes the nap always works... plus I always seem to get sleepy upon descending, and is always surprised when the plane lands with a jolt and I wake up.
moral of the story is.. even when you don't think you need a tapestry needle, bring on, cuz you might need it.
Friday, November 14, 2008
offline again
I'm traveling today. so once again will be offline soon.
actually I shouldn't be online right now, I should be packing..
I hope to progress on some knitting today.
actually I shouldn't be online right now, I should be packing..
I hope to progress on some knitting today.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
i'm short.
i started a new hat yesterday, it's in the Nov edition of knit today. (that is all the knitting news I have for today.) as for non-knitting news....
I have a breezy non date today. I spent about an hour ransacking my meager taiwan closet for something suitable to wear. I bought new boots which I was determined to wear, and those tights that are so of the fashion this moment.
( what what you want to wear together maybe isn't always what ends up looking so good on you.)
I tried on everything in my closet, from fancy to fancier to even something of my moms, and finally I ended up wearing tights with the gray shorts a la ballet dancer style with a tight t-shirt (team edward) and pairing it with the new jacket, and this other pair of new flats. that combination just seemed to work.
I just hope he doesn't think the first impression and the second impression is too drastic of a difference.
first impression, I had my hair done and was super girly, today I'm going for more me.
do you think he'll think i'm too short?
I have a breezy non date today. I spent about an hour ransacking my meager taiwan closet for something suitable to wear. I bought new boots which I was determined to wear, and those tights that are so of the fashion this moment.
( what what you want to wear together maybe isn't always what ends up looking so good on you.)
I tried on everything in my closet, from fancy to fancier to even something of my moms, and finally I ended up wearing tights with the gray shorts a la ballet dancer style with a tight t-shirt (team edward) and pairing it with the new jacket, and this other pair of new flats. that combination just seemed to work.
I just hope he doesn't think the first impression and the second impression is too drastic of a difference.
first impression, I had my hair done and was super girly, today I'm going for more me.
do you think he'll think i'm too short?
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Holiday Knits 2008
did a little shopping on Tuesday, picked up some knitting magazines. 3 actually. Since they like to bag up the magazines here in taiwan, I wasn't able to flip thru it... I could only judge by the cover... and not really wanting to miss out on any Holiday knits, I bought all 3.
Today I'm just going to review what I liked about the Holiday Knits 2008 and save the rest for another day.
I'd love to tackle the River and Woods Afghan... it's right up my alley. I love afghan makings... it's the whole, look what I have accomplished feeling. My mother always says it seems real heavy to wash... but who the heck washes blankets, the most you do is sun wash it, not real wash... (or is that just me?!)
I also love the Frost Flowers Stole, but the daunting task of casting on 992 stitches using the cable method? ::wide eyes::
The Arrowhead Arm Warmers, I think I might use some of the colors from the STR from this year for it, since I have some instead of purchasing more BMFA in a silk yarn.
The hat on the cover, Berry Bobble Hat, is knit top down, and well bobbles is one of those that you either love or hate... I'm willing to give it a shot.
I love the Hourglass Eyelet Scarf, it's slightly lacey, but looks easy enough to knit. Right up my alley!!
I love the sweaters in the father daughter set on pg 37. If i had a family, i'd totally make it for my family. Best of all, it's in the Kathmandu Aran, which is super soft when soaked. LOVE (1)
There are of course little quick knits for those unexpected presents, or for yourself.
the Spice and Berry Latern Bag and Brick-stitch Tea Cozy.
and lastly isn't this the cutest thing ever?? Free pattern!!! DL here.
You can go ahead and visit the interweave holiday knit 2008 site to see more pictures, and to see what the yarn requirements are.
(all these pictures are courtesy interweave's site.)
Interweave Knits Holiday Gift 2008
VK: the holiday issue 2008
Knit Today: Nov 2008 issue (a UK knitting mag.)
VK: the holiday issue 2008
Knit Today: Nov 2008 issue (a UK knitting mag.)
Today I'm just going to review what I liked about the Holiday Knits 2008 and save the rest for another day.
I'd love to tackle the River and Woods Afghan... it's right up my alley. I love afghan makings... it's the whole, look what I have accomplished feeling. My mother always says it seems real heavy to wash... but who the heck washes blankets, the most you do is sun wash it, not real wash... (or is that just me?!)
I also love the Frost Flowers Stole, but the daunting task of casting on 992 stitches using the cable method? ::wide eyes::
The Arrowhead Arm Warmers, I think I might use some of the colors from the STR from this year for it, since I have some instead of purchasing more BMFA in a silk yarn.
The hat on the cover, Berry Bobble Hat, is knit top down, and well bobbles is one of those that you either love or hate... I'm willing to give it a shot.
I love the Hourglass Eyelet Scarf, it's slightly lacey, but looks easy enough to knit. Right up my alley!!
I love the sweaters in the father daughter set on pg 37. If i had a family, i'd totally make it for my family. Best of all, it's in the Kathmandu Aran, which is super soft when soaked. LOVE (1)
the Spice and Berry Latern Bag and Brick-stitch Tea Cozy.
and lastly isn't this the cutest thing ever?? Free pattern!!! DL here.
You can go ahead and visit the interweave holiday knit 2008 site to see more pictures, and to see what the yarn requirements are.
(all these pictures are courtesy interweave's site.)
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Too many "Na"s
Here's another "Na" something for the month of November. the National Knit a Sweater Month. Since I can not possibly participate in all these "Na"s, I'm already trying to do NaBloPoMo, and the NaNoWriMo, so I've decided to just pass the information along. I think it was started by Knitgrrl, and 2008 would be its 3rd annual event.
There's a Ravelry group since last year, join it for some support!
basically you just knit a sweater with 50,000 stitches, and while I know it's almost mid November, I think the more ambitious knitter can get a sweater done in three weeks if that was all you did, knit and breath knitting. It took me one month to knit the Central Park Hoodie, but that's cuz I went on vacation at the time, and I had to rip out and redo the sleeves a couple of times.
So it's do able. But this is coming from someone who's not participating in it so... there's no pressure for me! :)
On the NaNoWriMo front, I've gotten past the first week, but I'm lacking the momentum to keep it going... the rest of the words are daunting since I'm not sure what to write, and i don't want to keep just throwing in sex scenes for word count sake. ergh. I already want to give up... the one friend that i know in real life is most likely unable to complete hers due to massive schoolwork, so i'm all left alone. It seems that telling my mother that I was doing this was a good thing because she's actually very encouraging, which surprised me.
Having the LA nanowriter Omouse keep up weekly emails helps a bit because it's like a reminder that someone is "watching"... maybe i just need to revist my plot line and figure it out, then it'll be easier to write.
as for actual knitting news... since this is a knitting blog. I've been working on ferulas project along side the nano... i do one or two rows when i'm bored with writing. my mom came in last night, and was like, what are you making? a skirt?!
haha, it does look like a skirt! I finished another 120 meters last night, and that leaves me with 2 more grays to work with, then i can start using the house colors again, and then I'll be finished!!! Yay!!!
Monday, November 10, 2008
how much have you knit this month?
If you have noticed the little knitmeter on the sidebars of my blog, you will notice that it takes in accounts to what i've knitted this month. I find that since i don't have a weight scale that it's just easier for me to log in the yardage (or meter) when I am at the end of the ball. The yardage is already listed in the ball band, I simply have to copy down the number. this is simply the easiest way to keep track.
So what do i do when I'm NOT at the end of the ball, but I've finished a project? well if it's just a little, I guestimate, but if it's real cruial to actual yardage, then I break out the meauring tape and measure what I have left.
I've also gone as far as measure out the estimated length per row and have done it that way... but that was in the beginning when I didn't know any better.
trust me, just go with the ball band yardage, much easier and much faster... i figure i knit so much anyway that it's not a shame if I lose a few yards here or there.
I mean it's a fun widget anyway, not like there's this knitting police if you fudge your numbers.
So what do i do when I'm NOT at the end of the ball, but I've finished a project? well if it's just a little, I guestimate, but if it's real cruial to actual yardage, then I break out the meauring tape and measure what I have left.
I've also gone as far as measure out the estimated length per row and have done it that way... but that was in the beginning when I didn't know any better.
trust me, just go with the ball band yardage, much easier and much faster... i figure i knit so much anyway that it's not a shame if I lose a few yards here or there.
I mean it's a fun widget anyway, not like there's this knitting police if you fudge your numbers.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
SP13 questionaire
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I like knitting with wool. an i hate to sound like i'm a wool snob, but i hate working with acrylic, even the best acrylic yarn out there still feels plasticy when compared with wool. i also hate mohair, like thin mohair. I love the feel of it, but i hate working with it.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? i have this multi layered pouch thing, and various pencil holders through out the room.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I have been knitting for two years, and some days. I learned from the Klutz knitting book how to knit, but purl I had a friend show me. the rest I learned online thru various knitting sites, it all started with craftster, and now ravelry. I am an intermediate knitter, i enjoy only luke warm hard projects that i'm ready to take on.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? i used to have a wist, but i haven't updated it in awhile. I can create an Amazon wish list.
5. What's your favorite scent? i like Lavender, roses, flower smells.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? i like fruit candies, and the cheese snacks, and sometimes chocolate.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I don't spin. Currently Knitting and Crochet is my focus. I'm a monogamist by heart.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)i like popular music, and sometimes unpopular music. currently i'm listening to a lot of "easy" listening, like augustana and daniel pewter.
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? i like greens and blues, i guess i can't stand neon orange alone... anything too bright and clashy and ugly... but really ugly is in the eye of the beholder.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I have a fish. family situation? uh, unmarried.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? i knit lots of scarves and hats, as for wearing them... i hardly do, which i find really weird. I've taken lately to wear the fingerless gloves i've knitted, but i find it too hot and humid to wear my own knits yet.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? scarves and hats, easy to complete thing. i also enjoy afghans, but they take FOREVER!!!
13. What are you knitting right now? I am currently knitting another one row handspun with the Noro Kureyon and a surprise project for my HSKS6 swap.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? yes.
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I usually use my knitpicks options, but if those aren't around, i turn to my few bamboo needles.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? yes i have both.
17. How old is your oldest UFO? i can't think of it right now... maybe that pair of charades that i haven't finished knitting the toes for.
18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe? my favorite holiday is christmas, although i don't celebrate it religiously, i do enjoy the present giving. I celebrate the Chinese New year.
19. Is there anything that you collect? i collect Blythes, lamb/sheepy things, i don't collect them, but i love sharpies.
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I have a subscription to Interweave knits, and I sometimes buy knitting simple if i see it the bookstores. I'm curious about Yarn Harlot's newest book.
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? i'm afraid of new techniques.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? i have a size 6.5 feet. i can be a sock knitter, i have enough sock yarn stash to be a proper sock knitter, but the tiny needles... it always takes me awhile to knit one proper sock.
23. When is your birthday? Jan 9
24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? mknit
further places to stalk me are listed below:
flickr (mostly PG-13)
twitter (sometimes i post profanity, so it's R-rating)
bonus question:
Are you currently in any sock-of-the-month clubs!
yes. i was in the raveled up sock of the month, i'm currently at the end of the Socks that Rock, and just starting out with Shelby's harry potter book club socks.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? i have this multi layered pouch thing, and various pencil holders through out the room.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I have been knitting for two years, and some days. I learned from the Klutz knitting book how to knit, but purl I had a friend show me. the rest I learned online thru various knitting sites, it all started with craftster, and now ravelry. I am an intermediate knitter, i enjoy only luke warm hard projects that i'm ready to take on.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? i used to have a wist, but i haven't updated it in awhile. I can create an Amazon wish list.
5. What's your favorite scent? i like Lavender, roses, flower smells.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? i like fruit candies, and the cheese snacks, and sometimes chocolate.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I don't spin. Currently Knitting and Crochet is my focus. I'm a monogamist by heart.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)i like popular music, and sometimes unpopular music. currently i'm listening to a lot of "easy" listening, like augustana and daniel pewter.
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? i like greens and blues, i guess i can't stand neon orange alone... anything too bright and clashy and ugly... but really ugly is in the eye of the beholder.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I have a fish. family situation? uh, unmarried.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? i knit lots of scarves and hats, as for wearing them... i hardly do, which i find really weird. I've taken lately to wear the fingerless gloves i've knitted, but i find it too hot and humid to wear my own knits yet.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? scarves and hats, easy to complete thing. i also enjoy afghans, but they take FOREVER!!!
13. What are you knitting right now? I am currently knitting another one row handspun with the Noro Kureyon and a surprise project for my HSKS6 swap.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? yes.
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I usually use my knitpicks options, but if those aren't around, i turn to my few bamboo needles.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? yes i have both.
17. How old is your oldest UFO? i can't think of it right now... maybe that pair of charades that i haven't finished knitting the toes for.
18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe? my favorite holiday is christmas, although i don't celebrate it religiously, i do enjoy the present giving. I celebrate the Chinese New year.
19. Is there anything that you collect? i collect Blythes, lamb/sheepy things, i don't collect them, but i love sharpies.
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I have a subscription to Interweave knits, and I sometimes buy knitting simple if i see it the bookstores. I'm curious about Yarn Harlot's newest book.
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? i'm afraid of new techniques.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? i have a size 6.5 feet. i can be a sock knitter, i have enough sock yarn stash to be a proper sock knitter, but the tiny needles... it always takes me awhile to knit one proper sock.
23. When is your birthday? Jan 9
24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? mknit
further places to stalk me are listed below:
flickr (mostly PG-13)
twitter (sometimes i post profanity, so it's R-rating)
bonus question:
Are you currently in any sock-of-the-month clubs!
yes. i was in the raveled up sock of the month, i'm currently at the end of the Socks that Rock, and just starting out with Shelby's harry potter book club socks.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
belated posting
Oops, I just realised that a day went by and there was no posting... uh, well even though it doesn't work that way, I'm going to post-post yesterday's events.
Yesterday (11/6) I took a trip up to Taipei with my mother to get my German Visa taken care of, but nothing really came of the whole day of running around like chickens with our heads cut off. the day just started out bad, woke up late, the Taipei City was on shutdown due to protestors, etc. We should have turned back right when we heard that the city was on lock down.
Possibly the only good thing that came out of the whole experience was that I was able to find a home for one of my scarves. I had knitted a Scrunchable scarf a while back, and while I wanted to keep it for myself, I thought since we were visiting my aunt at the hospital, she might like it. It’s a warm scarf, 100% wool, and muted in color, but still colorful at the same time. I didn’t know if she’d want it... (she had said earlier that she wanted me to knit her a phone cozy when she saw me working on the one for my mother)... so i was hesitant to give it to her.
But i thought that she might get more use out of it, since she’s going thru radiation, and chemo right now, it just feels like she might be weak and prone to cold.
We were about to leave, when i pulled it out of my bag, I had been carrying it around the whole day.
“here, I don’t know if you want it?” I said.
“What is it?” She asked.
“A Scarf.” I replied.
“Of course I want it, you made it.” She said with pride, “ and it’s going to be cold soon, this will come in handy, and it will match everything! Thank you.”
My aunt’s such a cheerleader if you can’t tell.
I’m happy that she fawned over my simple scarf, my aunts (i have a few of them on my mom’s side and my dad’s too, but that’s another story) have always been real supportive of my many creative outlets.
as for actual knitting, I picked up the needles and knitted a few rows last night... i’ve been slacking on the knitting since nano has taken over my life... i need to get a move on the knitting since that deadline is coming up sooner than later.
let’s try not to forget to post again huh?
Yesterday (11/6) I took a trip up to Taipei with my mother to get my German Visa taken care of, but nothing really came of the whole day of running around like chickens with our heads cut off. the day just started out bad, woke up late, the Taipei City was on shutdown due to protestors, etc. We should have turned back right when we heard that the city was on lock down.
Possibly the only good thing that came out of the whole experience was that I was able to find a home for one of my scarves. I had knitted a Scrunchable scarf a while back, and while I wanted to keep it for myself, I thought since we were visiting my aunt at the hospital, she might like it. It’s a warm scarf, 100% wool, and muted in color, but still colorful at the same time. I didn’t know if she’d want it... (she had said earlier that she wanted me to knit her a phone cozy when she saw me working on the one for my mother)... so i was hesitant to give it to her.
But i thought that she might get more use out of it, since she’s going thru radiation, and chemo right now, it just feels like she might be weak and prone to cold.
We were about to leave, when i pulled it out of my bag, I had been carrying it around the whole day.
“here, I don’t know if you want it?” I said.
“What is it?” She asked.
“A Scarf.” I replied.
“Of course I want it, you made it.” She said with pride, “ and it’s going to be cold soon, this will come in handy, and it will match everything! Thank you.”
My aunt’s such a cheerleader if you can’t tell.
I’m happy that she fawned over my simple scarf, my aunts (i have a few of them on my mom’s side and my dad’s too, but that’s another story) have always been real supportive of my many creative outlets.
as for actual knitting, I picked up the needles and knitted a few rows last night... i’ve been slacking on the knitting since nano has taken over my life... i need to get a move on the knitting since that deadline is coming up sooner than later.
let’s try not to forget to post again huh?
Thursday, November 6, 2008
My new LYS
I found an actual LYS (the address translated into English: No.21-7, Jingcheng Rd., West District, Taichung City 403, Taiwan), not the hobby shop with some yarn stuff, but an actual whole store dedicated to Yarn!!! Man was I in heaven. It's not too far... close enough that i can call my LYS, and go once a week if I felt like it. Only an hour and a half by bus from where I'm starting out, but about 30 mins by my own car! Nice huh?
I discovered it thru the newspapers of course. The weekend section of the dailys is doing a special feature about Taichung Shops, and it featured this yarn shop in a short blurb. I didn't even think of visiting it... I am big and mighty in thinking that it was going to be a dinky yarn shop, not worth visiting. But my mom saw the article and mentioned that maybe i wanted to go.
well mom, if you think i should go, then i guess we can go take a look.
yesterday we had my dad's car, and got directions from my dad, and set off on this adventure. The place isn't hard to find, v. bus friendly ( you'd take the same bus as if you're going to Shinkong & Sogo in Taichung for me anyway.), and there is a parking structure about 3 blocks away. The store front is mainly an attention getter.
It has tons and tons of knitted, crochet items, in a small space. the real yarn is placed upstairs and in storage. On the second floor, two doors down, the real yarn heaven begins.
The spaceous 2nd floor, holds different Japanese yarn. i had thought that perhaps they sold Noro, since they had a noro display framed, but she didn't. she pointed me towards something that had similiar noro color stripping. I was ok with that, but i had really wanted to see if i could buy Noro in taiwan... well my quest continues on that i guess.
since in most asian places the yarn is bagged up, they have the knitted sample color cards for you to touch and look at the colors. it's all very overwhelming when you see it. I mean buying yarn for me is as much a tactile experience as anything else... so it's a little weird when i can't touch the actual yarnball.
I ended up purchasing Bacara Epoch (which i found some on ravelry in stash, so i'm glad i'm not the only who's purchased this yarn.) I bought 10 balls. I don't know what i'm going to make. each ball is $380 NTD, which at the current exchange rate for USD is $11.57. Actually now that I've done the conversion... it's actually kinda expensive. Hm...well i'm sure i pay more when i have them shipped to taiwan in shipping added...
they also had this organic cotton that i wanted to give it a try... maybe next time I visit, i'll get the organic cotton.
besides the massive yarn collection, they also have a huge notions sections on handles, safety eyes, needle felting, japanese books, needles and accessories, even ribbon yarn. apparently they also have classes...
I mean i still do not like how the sales assistant kept standing there while i looked. I even told her that i wanted to just look for myself (code for leave now!!) but she said it's ok, and kept standing. Thank goodness that after i decided to purchase some yarn, she walked away, and left me to browse... i always feel pressured to buy when they stand there.
I'm really glad I went. I'm beginning to love taiwan more and more, can you tell. I might just settle down here and never leave!!
I discovered it thru the newspapers of course. The weekend section of the dailys is doing a special feature about Taichung Shops, and it featured this yarn shop in a short blurb. I didn't even think of visiting it... I am big and mighty in thinking that it was going to be a dinky yarn shop, not worth visiting. But my mom saw the article and mentioned that maybe i wanted to go.
well mom, if you think i should go, then i guess we can go take a look.
yesterday we had my dad's car, and got directions from my dad, and set off on this adventure. The place isn't hard to find, v. bus friendly ( you'd take the same bus as if you're going to Shinkong & Sogo in Taichung for me anyway.), and there is a parking structure about 3 blocks away. The store front is mainly an attention getter.
It has tons and tons of knitted, crochet items, in a small space. the real yarn is placed upstairs and in storage. On the second floor, two doors down, the real yarn heaven begins.
The spaceous 2nd floor, holds different Japanese yarn. i had thought that perhaps they sold Noro, since they had a noro display framed, but she didn't. she pointed me towards something that had similiar noro color stripping. I was ok with that, but i had really wanted to see if i could buy Noro in taiwan... well my quest continues on that i guess.
since in most asian places the yarn is bagged up, they have the knitted sample color cards for you to touch and look at the colors. it's all very overwhelming when you see it. I mean buying yarn for me is as much a tactile experience as anything else... so it's a little weird when i can't touch the actual yarnball.
I ended up purchasing Bacara Epoch (which i found some on ravelry in stash, so i'm glad i'm not the only who's purchased this yarn.) I bought 10 balls. I don't know what i'm going to make. each ball is $380 NTD, which at the current exchange rate for USD is $11.57. Actually now that I've done the conversion... it's actually kinda expensive. Hm...well i'm sure i pay more when i have them shipped to taiwan in shipping added...
they also had this organic cotton that i wanted to give it a try... maybe next time I visit, i'll get the organic cotton.
besides the massive yarn collection, they also have a huge notions sections on handles, safety eyes, needle felting, japanese books, needles and accessories, even ribbon yarn. apparently they also have classes...
I mean i still do not like how the sales assistant kept standing there while i looked. I even told her that i wanted to just look for myself (code for leave now!!) but she said it's ok, and kept standing. Thank goodness that after i decided to purchase some yarn, she walked away, and left me to browse... i always feel pressured to buy when they stand there.
I'm really glad I went. I'm beginning to love taiwan more and more, can you tell. I might just settle down here and never leave!!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Stupify!
I got word from my duel partner Fleur that she was done with her hat and sending out this afternoon, which ever afternoon it is for her. I panicked and started the hat right away... I had been lacking motivation, and I guess her having it finished was the exact motivation that i needed. I didn't want to lose... not since I've come this far into the rounds.
I got a slow start because for some reason i couldn't figure out how the dcs worked. I mean I've done dcs until the cows come home, but this time, it just didn't make sense.
ch2, dc into the ch2, [dc [x] stitch(es), 2dc into the stitch] repeat twice; dc [x]. (where x is the same number as the first x.) But that's just my opinion.
Yay! Doing the brimm of the hat makes it less dunce like, and more witchy like. It's quite floppy.
I did nothing today but work on this hat... and it's finally paid off. I rather like the hat, and if I was going to wear something like this for halloween it would be a quick hook. the brimm takes forever though... I thought each round was going to kill me. I would have stopped at round 4, since round 5 makes it really really floppy and covers the eyes, but I wanted to follow the directions. Fleur can easily frog the one row if she feels the same as me.
I went with a gray because that was the yarn I bought with me back to Taiwan... it doesn't look half bad as a dark gray witchy hat.
I wasn't thrilled about making this hat, but now that it's all done, i rather like it, it sorta has a novelty feel, PLUS no proper witch can call herself a witch without a proper witchy hat!!
One hour into the crochet.
I got a slow start because for some reason i couldn't figure out how the dcs worked. I mean I've done dcs until the cows come home, but this time, it just didn't make sense.
Two hours into the crochet.
I am slowing getting the hang of this... I don't feel like the pattern was written very well, ie where she says, ch 2, dc into the chain two, dc [x] stitches, 2dc into the next stitch* then repeat around, should really have beench2, dc into the ch2, [dc [x] stitch(es), 2dc into the stitch] repeat twice; dc [x]. (where x is the same number as the first x.) But that's just my opinion.
Four hour into the hat.
Yay! Doing the brimm of the hat makes it less dunce like, and more witchy like. It's quite floppy.
All done!
I did nothing today but work on this hat... and it's finally paid off. I rather like the hat, and if I was going to wear something like this for halloween it would be a quick hook. the brimm takes forever though... I thought each round was going to kill me. I would have stopped at round 4, since round 5 makes it really really floppy and covers the eyes, but I wanted to follow the directions. Fleur can easily frog the one row if she feels the same as me.
I went with a gray because that was the yarn I bought with me back to Taiwan... it doesn't look half bad as a dark gray witchy hat.
I wasn't thrilled about making this hat, but now that it's all done, i rather like it, it sorta has a novelty feel, PLUS no proper witch can call herself a witch without a proper witchy hat!!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
New Stash!!
Upon arrival in Taiwan, I found yarn waiting for me... 2 new yarns to add to my stash. The last installment of the Raveled up Club Yarrrn! and the first installment of the ShelbyB's Hogwarts colors, Mirror of Erised. (first of seven colors.)
taken directly from the listing of the Hogwarts colors: A subscription to this sock club includes a skein of handpainted sock yarn in colorways that are inspired by the Harry Potter books and movies. Each book will have one skein represented, for a total of 7 shipments, and will be based on a significant character or event that occurs throughout the book, not on the cover art.
From the first book, the event is Mirror of Erised. It also came with these fantastic stitch marker that matched perfectly. The yarn is mainly pale yellow with splashes of light blue. I am really pleasantly surprised by the colors, really wasn't what I expected, but I love it.
The dyer gave me a glimpse into why she chose the colors that she did.
The colorway was inspired by a combination of the book and movie. When I originally read the book, I saw a huge gold/silver antique mirror. I think in the movie, the darkness of the room, and the shadows and the way the light plays off the mirror inspired the blue bit, from where Harry first sees the mirror and keeps going back to it. The yellow comes from the way my mind saw it while reading the book- the way light reflects from a mirror in real life. So I suppose it's partially book, movie, and my imagination. :)
I can't wait for the next color to arrive!!
Yarrrn! Is the last installment of the Raveled up club. It's black and white with a splash of red (blood), very fitting of the Pirate theme. I'm very sorry to see the end of this sock club, I've enjoyed getting the yarn installments, and getting to help out Ravelry, but not all the colors were my absolute favorite, nor have I knitted with the yarns excluding the first one that i broke out to knit the mystery pattern that didn't get very far.
I think some of the yarn colors I might take and make into the drop stitch scarf.
taken directly from the listing of the Hogwarts colors: A subscription to this sock club includes a skein of handpainted sock yarn in colorways that are inspired by the Harry Potter books and movies. Each book will have one skein represented, for a total of 7 shipments, and will be based on a significant character or event that occurs throughout the book, not on the cover art.
From the first book, the event is Mirror of Erised. It also came with these fantastic stitch marker that matched perfectly. The yarn is mainly pale yellow with splashes of light blue. I am really pleasantly surprised by the colors, really wasn't what I expected, but I love it.
The dyer gave me a glimpse into why she chose the colors that she did.
The colorway was inspired by a combination of the book and movie. When I originally read the book, I saw a huge gold/silver antique mirror. I think in the movie, the darkness of the room, and the shadows and the way the light plays off the mirror inspired the blue bit, from where Harry first sees the mirror and keeps going back to it. The yellow comes from the way my mind saw it while reading the book- the way light reflects from a mirror in real life. So I suppose it's partially book, movie, and my imagination. :)
I can't wait for the next color to arrive!!
Yarrrn! Is the last installment of the Raveled up club. It's black and white with a splash of red (blood), very fitting of the Pirate theme. I'm very sorry to see the end of this sock club, I've enjoyed getting the yarn installments, and getting to help out Ravelry, but not all the colors were my absolute favorite, nor have I knitted with the yarns excluding the first one that i broke out to knit the mystery pattern that didn't get very far.
I think some of the yarn colors I might take and make into the drop stitch scarf.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Mom's Phone Cozy
*mknit.com is currently offline right now, so I've moved back here temporarily until i've sorted out the issues, since I'm participating in NaBloPoMo.
FO: Oct 31 2008
CO: Oct 2 2008
Yarn: Spinning Bunny Merino/Tencel Hand Dyed Yarn
Needle: US 0 (2.0mm)
Pattern: Camera Sock (ravelry link)
FO: Oct 31 2008
CO: Oct 2 2008
Yarn: Spinning Bunny Merino/Tencel Hand Dyed Yarn
Needle: US 0 (2.0mm)
Pattern: Camera Sock (ravelry link)
I was finally able to finish mom's cell phone cozy. Of course the finishing took a lot longer than the actual knitting part (ok I may be exaggerating a bit)... I wasn't really able to attach the extra loop correctly like I like it. I tried using the beginning ends, the closing ends... it all didn't work. I finally settled on adding a crochet loop separately, and not using the left over ends. It worked out well.
I had to wait until I had her phone to make sure that the length was good enough, since my itouch is thinner. She seems to like it, showed it to my dad. They ooh and ahh appropriately. (my family is very supportive like that.)
Because of how thick her phone is, I switch the direction of the closing stitches, so that the design can be more prominent instead of getting lost in the sides of the phone.
The little design was an impromptu of the Malabrigo V stitch... I felt like I wanted to embellish it, so i sorta made it into a flower shape.
Although I Kitchener Stitch closed it, perhaps I should have 3 needle BO...
In conclusion, I barely like making socks on such small needles... i don't know why i thought a phone cozy will make things better. Besides the fact that Mom asked me to make her something, I don't think I would have tackled this in a million years even though it's on the top of my queue.
I think my mom likes it, so that's all that matters.
I had to wait until I had her phone to make sure that the length was good enough, since my itouch is thinner. She seems to like it, showed it to my dad. They ooh and ahh appropriately. (my family is very supportive like that.)
Because of how thick her phone is, I switch the direction of the closing stitches, so that the design can be more prominent instead of getting lost in the sides of the phone.
The little design was an impromptu of the Malabrigo V stitch... I felt like I wanted to embellish it, so i sorta made it into a flower shape.
Although I Kitchener Stitch closed it, perhaps I should have 3 needle BO...
In conclusion, I barely like making socks on such small needles... i don't know why i thought a phone cozy will make things better. Besides the fact that Mom asked me to make her something, I don't think I would have tackled this in a million years even though it's on the top of my queue.
I think my mom likes it, so that's all that matters.
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