Old Friends

Last saturday I met a new friend, Ling who was visiting from London. It's always a little awkward to explain this to the family, "I'm off on an internet date with a knitter from London," and leave them wondering why on earth I was meeting strange people I have never met before just because they knit.

In truth , I am always a bit apprehensive about meeting new people. I am a bit shy and I never assume that I am going to get along with every knitter I meet. There's bound to be just that one bad apple that will wind up spoiling the whole bunch. Thankfully Ling was very very sweet and I felt quite comforted. She was almost like an old friend.

She brought my last stash purchase of the year 2006, a bag of Rowan Calmer in Blush. I now have total of 15 balls in this colourway (although in 2 colour lots). Can you imagine?? I am rich in Calmer. It's all I can do just to stop myself from just diving into the pile.

She also gave a gift - a skein of HipKnits 100% wool (I think it's sock yarn).





Thanks Ling!!!

The funny thing is Jackie joined us a little later and both she and Ling were puzzling out why they looked so familiar. After a little backtracking and family history, they discovered that they were neighbours when they were in school! How freaky is that! They Were old friend after all.

Speaking of old friends - I dragged out this UFO and finally finished it.





Well it still needs the edging around the neck and bottom and a very stern blocking. I've been playing around with crochet edgings and settled a very simple net.





More pics once I am done with the edging.

Knitting goals for 2007

I am still getting my grip in 2007, a little aimless wandering around especially to do with knitting. Although I have been working on Ariann on and off, it's not inspiring me at the moment.

I have been spinning a lot more and I finished off the batts from Crosspatch Creations.





Started on my own hand dyed roving but I wanted to take a seres of photoes on how the colour changes on the bobbin so I'll update that on a later date.

On the knitting front, I have been looking over my huge stash and books and starting to decide what I really want to achieve this year.

These are the goals I have come up with and in no particular order -

1. At least one lacy top from the numerous Japanese Mags I have
2. At least one cabled sweater
3. At least one colourwork or fair isle project
4. Knee high socks for my sis
5. At least one shawl from Simple Stunning collection from Sharon …
6. Try to finish the Forest Path Stole
7. At least 3 spin to knit projects
8. Finish at 3 WIP or recycle the yarn and finish the project
9. Start charity craft project
10. At least 1 lace doily or table cloth from my very beautiful Japanese lace book which apparently has some Kinzel patterns in it.

Making lists really work!! I was so fired up that I immediately worked up a swatch with my chosen yarn , Rowan Felted Tweed, for what will be my colorwork project.





Not bad for someone who hasn't "stranded" since 1991.

So I have been thinking at first of making a tunic or vest with just a colourwork border at the hem. But I had a look at Eunny's Deep V and decided that that will work for what I want. Plus it has an added challenge, "Steeks"!!!

Catching up

Oh I know it's been some time since I posted but there's been so much going on the last 3 weeks.

1. A whirlwind trip to Penang just before Christmas
2. Christmas dinner with DH's family at our place, and dinner with my family at my mum's on Boxing Day.
3. Internet interruptions after Boxing day (and still continuing to this day). It's almost impossible to upload anything to Photobucket and getting into Blogger has only recently stopped being a pain.
4. New Year Eve weekend in the East Coast
5. Greg starting Kindy after the New Year - which was thankfully almost painless. He's enjoying kindy and looks forward to it every day.
6. Back to a whole pile of work for me and DH.

I haven't done much knitting. In fact I am still a little shellshocked at the amount of stash I bought in December to compensate for the 9 months yarn diet. When I feel a little less in denial I will show you the amount of Rowan Calmer I got.

It's not so much what I ought but now trying to figure what to knit with it. This weekend will be devoted to looking through my numerous books and finally starting to mark out what yarns would suit what project.

I hope to have a more to update in the coming days - espcially now the 'net is back to almost normal.

Meanwhile I will leave you with a few scenes of Penang which I took during our fly by visit.



The entrance to Campbell Street.


The view from the most prestigious hotel in Penang, The Eastern and Oriental courtesy of a more fortunate friend. I wish I had the chance to stay there.

Traditional kebayas hanging from an armoire at the Peranakan Museum Penang.