Sunday, October 31, 2004

A new look!

"Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog."

Apparently ... but I don't see the Haloscan template - it's really weird because I normally see the new template with the Haloscan thing for a bout a minute and then when I refresh it - it's gone!!!

* welcome to the Blog Twilight zone....*

Oh I hope you like the new look - Consomme helped me make a title banner - isn't it absolutely fantastic ?


Wednesday, October 27, 2004

Busy, busy, busy!

I have been quite productive knitwise yesterday. Despite coming home at 9.00 pm after dinner with friends, I managed to -
1. Wind this

into this.

It's the Butterfly SuUper 10 Cotton which I hear is sold as Tahki Cotton Classic in the US. I have decided that Anouk will be Lilac and cream, instead of Cream and pink.

2. Finish seaming Cute Patootie - all ready for the crochet edging tonight


3. Start on a mini Clapotis with leftover Patons bumblebee. The ladder stitches in Clapotis had intrigued me and I just felt like I had to try it out. I made it narrower than the original.

Click here for a closer look.
My fear is that this has to be severely blocked 'cos some major curling is happening at the edges.

What started out this buzz of activity is the lunchtime yarn shopping with Consomme . We just thought we'd "check" out this yarn store that was in a shopping all near my office.

Well! We sure checked it out. We were pulling bags and bags of yarn off her shelves and piling it on her table. I ended up buying more cotton - a Japanese brand with a nice gold sheen and 3 balls of Katia Mississippi for my next Clapotis.

This bag of yarn is still hiding in my car - I'm starting to hide yarn - not only from DH but from myself too. I am afraid if I put it in the stash room with the yarn - it becomes a legitimate purchase.

So I think it will stay in my car until Friday (Payday!) so I can say that I bought it next month. Yes - mixed tenses - but hey I am already bordering on obsession so who cares!



Monday, October 25, 2004

Lazy Weekend

We took our son Gregory down to his Grandparents place this weekend and he's staying there for two weeks. Mummy is not happy :( !! but Daddy thinks he should spend as much time with both sets of grandparents as posssible.

He actually enjoys being at his Kong Kong and Mama's place but the first few days are really tough for me.


Here's Greg just up from his nap in the playpen before we left - he always has this really funny sleepy and grumpy look when he just gets up and he totters around for a minute or two until he gets his bearings.


It was a cool-ish day - about 25 degrees Celcius and the trees look especially green and shady.


It got colder and rainier as the day went on and the hills were misty with low lying clouds.

We got to Melaka which is about 150kms away from where we live - without any mishaps and Greg settled right in with his beloved Kong-kong (grandfather in Chinese), although he did wake up crying for Mummy and Daddy once during the night.

While Daddy was watching the soccer game - Mummy was busy seaming up the Cute Patootie.

I didn't get the sleeves absolutely aligned so I have to rip that out again - currently the back is longer than the front.
Using the mattress stitch recommended by Consomme and Froggy , seaming was a breeze. Thanks gals for your helpful tips.


Friday, October 22, 2004

Lacy Tunic Progress

I was about 4 cm away from the start of the lace pattern at the back when Consomme convinced me that it was quite long enough. And about time too! I was sooo sick of the never ending stocking stitch.


So this the progress of the lacy tunic just before the lacy panel starts- about midway down my back.

Here's a belated photo of my book stash I got from Bangkok.

I had forgotten that I got the Adorable Knits for Tots - I love this book cos there are a lot of summery patterns for kids more suitable for this climate. And the colours are just so beautiful.

Consomme also gave me a bunch of acrylic yarn she didn't like anymore. I am thinking of making some simple baby afghans made out of 8" by 8" squares - a good way to practice my swatching and experimenting with stitches. If all goes well, we can sell these baby afghans at our local charity fairs.

I should be finishing Cute Patootie tonight and next on the needles is --- Anouk . I've decided to do it in pink and cream - somehow the red and green of the original doesn't appeal to me. But I can't decided whether I should make the bodice in pink and the border in cream or the other way around.


Projects in Waiting

Clapotis after I finish the Madeira Cascade Lace Scarf , I am either going to use the same yarn as the Madeira Scrarf or use Sugar nCream ( yarn snobs will yell but it's soooo expensive to get Lorna's Laces!"

Inky Dinky Stole from Fiddlesticks - with Lotusblossom's hand dyed lace weight merino - Lagoon

Jane Ellison's Butterfly with Noro Silk Garden

I am still not sure about the Apricot Cardigan from Rebecca - will keep you posted on that.


Yikes!! So many projects , so little time - and just not enough yarn.





Wednesday, October 20, 2004

Bangkok Jam

NB If you're wondering where all the comments went, I've just changed my commenting application to Haloscan. NB


Is Bangkok a great city or what!! My DH calls it a very large small town and that is precisely what is it. It's a jumble of hot and dusty narrow streets with plenty of tall modern buildings on the side. It's a city that hardly sleeps, with plenty of sights, sounds and smells. The people are friendly and the food is delicious although if you're not from this part of the world and don't have a cast iron stomach - avoid the sidestreet stalls and go for the airconditioned food courts in the shopping centers.

I haven't yet uploaded all my photos but will briefly let you have

THE YARN STORE REPORT

First stop is the Emporium Shopping Center - it's the closest to our hotel and boast the most upmarket designer label stores. It also houses the exclusive Emporium Department store which has a fairly large craft section at on the 4th floor. Crossstitch fans will find a Pinn Stitch outlet at one end and some acrylic yarns on the other end of the 4th floor.

There were a few wool and some cotton but the brands were not ones I am familiar with. BUT they had a rack full of Japanese craft magazines and some expensive treasures at the counter behind the glass case namely - A ball winder for around US$35.00 ( which I didn't get) and The Boyes Interchangeable Needle Set for US $120.00 ( which I didn't get either).

To get to the Emporium by BTS ( Bangkok Transport System) or better known as the Skytrain - stop at Phrom Phong Station on the Sukhumvit line - You can access the Emporium shopping center from the station.

The next place I went to was Central Department Store at Chidlom ( same line on the BTS - also with an entrance from the station) on the 2nd Floor. Now this section is almost entirely for knitting. There was even a couple of customers knitting away with some very chunky yarn ( heaven knows when winter starts in Bangkok?). For a tropical country like Thailand, there's hardly any cotton to speak off. Most of the ladies were knitting in Wool. Central carries a number of Bernat and Red Heart yarn - TLC Amore being one I can remember. Schachenmeyer Nomotto Catania and Jazz were the only cotton or cotton mix yarns available. And surprise! Surprise! They had Gedifra!! mostly novelty yarn but still Gedifra.

I was very tempted to get some Schachenmeyer Merino wool in a grape colour - looked absolutely delightful at $5.50 per 50gm ball. BUT I didn't. I wanted to get the same colour in Jazz - cotton/acrylic mix BUT they didn't have enough.
So I ended up just buying an Inspiration magazine, the Japanese Let's Knit series Spring 2003 and 2 balls each of blue and pink cotton for some baby knits I have planned.

There's something about being on holiday - I am too afraid to spend on yarn cos what if I run out of money for food. At least that was what DH was saying ...( NOTE - never bring your DH yarn shopping with you - he was quite horrified at the prices and came back eyeing my stash very suspiciously.)

That's as far as my knitting adventures in Bangkok went. I'll post a little about the off-knitting adventures once I get most my pictures up.

Back from Bangkok!!

Just a quick not to say that a full update is coming.
Keep checking in.

Thursday, October 14, 2004

Lacey Passion

I have decided that next month's stash will be devoted to lace.
I know it's only the middle of the month but once I come back from Bangkok I don't think I will spending on anything except for the bread and water I have to eat everyday.

I have Cherry Tree's lace yarn on my Watch list on eBay for the longest time and now I have found some nice handpainted lace yarn from eBay sellers Lotus blossom and Serendipity. Plus a source for handpainted Zephyr Jaggerspun. So watch out, November, it's lacey time.


I've finish one panel of the Madeira Cascade Lace shawl - 36" long. I plan to join another 36" panel to make the shawl a 72" stole. I thought of adding 2 more panels to the side to make it broader but have decided I like the width the way it is.

It's turning out to be such a unique peice of work, very very soft and the yarn has a nice sheen to it.

Tonight I shall decided which project to bring to Bangkok with me - the Cute Patootie or the Lacy top. I'll try to report from bangkok if I find a nearby Internet cafe.

Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Noro! Noro! Noro!

It's here! It's arrived! It's beyoootiful!

I haven't even taken it out of the package because I am too afraid to spoil it.

This is Noro Silk Garden in colourway no 37.

Siow Chin from HK helped enabled me. Noro Silk Garden costs less than US$10.00 in Hong Kong and the postage is half of what I would have to pay if I get it from UK or US.

Still it is the most expensive yarn purchase I have made to date.

Now if only my Jane Ellison book will get here so I can start on Butterfly.

Last night I was still too disheartened to knit for myself so I started Cute Patootie using the Paton's Bumblebee I got for my son's project. This knit is going to my friend Jean's little boy. I have finished the back and am starting the front tonight.

As for my son... I have decided to knit him Knitty's Devan sweater with some sock yarn I am expecting in the mail.

I'll be in Bangkok for 4 days over the weekend and will be checking out the yarn and craft stores there. I got a few leads courtesy of Bangkok Mom who is not a knitter but has kindly given some directions to several possibilities. SO expect a full update next week.



Sunday, October 10, 2004

First Finished Object other than a scarf for 15 years

The Shapely Tee is done!!
But I am not doing a happy dance yet. First I have to tell myself that it is the 1st project I have done in 15 years that's not a scarf.
2nd it's the first time I am doing short row shaping for the bust.

By the above reaction, you may have guessed that I am far from happy with it. It is completely my fault, though. I guess I thought I was knitting for me 15 years ago.

Lessons learnt form the Shapely Tee
1. MOST Important, acknowledge how much weight one can put on in 15 years especially after marriage and one kid.
2. Be honest about your bust size.
3. Short rowing is supposed to be done just below the binding off for the armhole. Now if your bust do not... um.. " peak" at the armhole then I think the short rowing should be several cms lower than the armhole.
4. If you are self conscious about rolls of fat around your waist - don't knit a fitting top.
5. I suck at seaming

I'll post a pic of of the Shapely Tee once I am braver.

I wonder if ribbing is slimming ......

Thursday, October 07, 2004

Top Ten Reasons to Buy Yarn

Just saw this on Knitting Review forums

The Wool Bin's Top Ten Reasons to Buy Yarn

- 10 -
It's not illegal, immoral or fattening. It calms the nerves and gratifies the soul.

- 9 -
I must buy it before my husband retires and goes with me on shopping trips.

- 8 -
When the big earthquake comes, all the yarn stores will be swallowed into the ground and never seen again.

- 7 -
I need the weight in the trunk of my car for traction on slippery roads.

- 6 -
It keeps without refrigeration. You never have to cook it, feed, change, walk it or wipe its nose.

- 5 -
I'm participating in a contest — she who dies with the most yarn wins.

- 4 -
It's on sale.

- 3 -
It’s less expensive and more fun than psychotherapy.

- 2 -
It helps keep the economy going.

- 1 -
It insulates the closet where it's kept.


--------------------

I have two more to add

11. It was cheaper than the original yarn required by the pattern

and then

12. The yarn I thought would be a perfect substitution was not so perfect after all.


--------
Yes yes yes I have been a naughty girl. I broke down and ordered a pack of Rowan's All Seasons Cotton in the colour Sahara (a nice greeny khaki or khaki green) from CucumberPatch UK's eBay shop.
She has some really good Rowan steals.
So I am all set for Ribbed Cardigan from Rebecca Magazine.

Wednesday, October 06, 2004

Blocking Board

You never know what you can find at your local Tesco's supermarket. I went on Monday to get the fortnightly stock of diapers and cream - and stopped at a small section for sewing items. I found row markers, stainless steel pins, and several INOX knitting needles.

In other parts of the supermarket (or hypermarket as they are called here) I found very cheap towels and foam core board. And voila, I have a blocking board.

Okay so it doesn't have any measurements but it's good for the first try. I'll have to look out for gingham next time I pass by a fabric store.

Thanks goodness for Tesco's.

Oh and I didn't get the diapers I wanted because they were having this freaking contest where one had to buy TWO large packs of 72 to enter to win RM 1000 shopping vouchers. Apprently there was a bit of a run on the diapers ( pun NOT intended) and they're out of stock for the day!!!
So I had to buy a more expensive brand instead!! GRRR!

So hopefully all pieces of the Shapely Tank will be blocked in time for the Seaming Party with Consomme tomorrow night.

After last night blocking, I thought to take a break from the green lacy top and took out what Consomme and I call the "funny yarn". I like the colours and the texture but it is a bitch to knit on 4 mm needles cos there are so many strands to keep track of. So I thought I'd try making a lacy scarf with 6.5mm needles,using Madeira Cascade Lace Scarf free pattern from Crystal Palace.



4 panels of this and I have a lacey stole.

Seriously the yarn is super soft and silky, if you can get over the multiple strands.

Monday, October 04, 2004

Saturday Out

Oh I had a great time on Saturday with Consomme . Hubby was on a treasure hunt to Penang and my son stayed home with my aunt so I had the whole day to natter about with Consomme.

We first visited another yarn store in the vicinity but I didn't see anything I liked there Except for a Katia 100% wool aran weight yarn which would be lovely for the Rebecca Cardigan. The colour was nice but I was hesitant because of the wool content. So I decided not to get it.

Then after a bite to eat, we went to Brenda's to check out her new Online Sandy and Japanese Half Cotton yarn. I was dying to start this pattern- and after much deliberation, I chose Mark & Kittens Bianca in a fresh mint green. Needless to say, I had to start right away. So we sat at Brenda's for a good part of 2 hours to knit away and chat.

Here's my progress after two days:-

And here's a more detailed look at the lace pattern.


I am just crazy over this project and I can't wait to finish and wear it.

We decided to have a coffee so we went off to the nearby Starbucks to have a coffee and another hour of knitting before we went our separate ways.

What a satisfying Saturday it was. There's nothing like another knitter to encourage and enable, especially in the yarn department.

My mum came back on Sunday with a little suitcase full of yarn for my sis's 2 cardigans. I'll take some pics of that later tonight.

Sunday, October 03, 2004

More Blogging Blues

My entire photobucket album is empty!!

Why??? Why??? Why???

Update Monday morning 4th October 2004 - I had to re submit all my pics again. Luckily I still had them in my hard drive.

Friday, October 01, 2004

Blogging Blues

Today is not a good day for this blog. PhotoBucket seems to be down and I realised this morning that I messed up the codes when changing the template. There was no way one could post a comment.
I also had to fixed the Refferes list which pushed out the right column too wide.

Once I fixed that, I thought I would have some nifty progress bars. What seemed a simple thing took so long because I could not figure out the Hex codes (for colours). Then I realised that I don't have to include '#' in the code... DuH!

Anyway I hope that you like my new templates in my favourite colours of Rose and Olive. I want to decorate my new house with this scheme in mind, we already have the beige walls.