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Wednesday, October 03, 2007
I've been unfaithful
To my knitting, that is.
Even though I profess my everlasting love for knitting, I have been having fleeing thoughts about my other partner, the crochet. In fact, the signs are all there: the latest Japanese magazines has been featuring lots of crochet....the glossy spreads tempting me to stray while the knit trends seem to steer towards beginner projects for the newbies. With the impeding arrival of winter, chunky knits takes prominence and that is not helping either.
So I dug out my old projects.
See these 2 pieces? Can you even make out what they are?
I started them and blogged way back in (get this...) November 2005. That's about 2 years ago!!
It was time to put them to rest. So I took a deep breath and ripped them all out. Yup...I couldn't bear the thought of them trying to catch my eyes and make contact from time to time; just peeking out of the WIP basket.
Then it just struck me why I procrastinated whenever I get myself emotionally involved with crochet. Those ENDS!!
As the pattern moved onto the mesh lace pattern, it got a TAD easier. But the tiny crochet hook just makes my finger hurt as I crochet quite *brutally* (I notice that I tend to exert a lot of force when I crochet. It's an old habit that I need to break, really...)
Just barely. As I was pretty particular about the fit and the color variegation, I took 3 visits to the FROG POND; each time getting a little smarter. You can never imagine how much torture it was. Is anyone as finicky about color variegations -- letting nature take its course? Or do you try to manipulate them?
The first time I crocheted in the round, the colors pooled so badly, while going diagonally. I tried to convince myself that the pooling didn't matter. However it really got to me so bad that I decided to rip back even though I was more than 3/4 through. (And the pooling result was just so hideous that I didn't even want to take a photo of it! Tsk tsk.)
But I am glad I did as I am quite pleased with the final results.
This pattern is from the recent issue of Keitodama, I think. Took me about 3 weeks to complete it.
The modifications I made are quite aplenty.
First, I changed the pattern to crochet in the round (or is there such a term as circular crochet?)
Then apart from sizing down to fit, I also re-sculptured the bodice so that there is waist shaping (the original pattern is totally straight cut). I also modified the sleeves by cutting back half as the updated style is really more *me* (whatever that means.)
As of now, that finished tank is still dressing my mannequin. I decided that an astrology consultation is in order to ensure that I will follow through with the zillion tails tucking marathon! *groan*
Now you know why knitting seems like a more attractive option to me!
(Oops...as I am preparing to post this, I now noticed that my latest color is the orange family?!)
Friday, September 28, 2007
While it's still hot out there
I'll still be rather working on sleeveless projects. Somehow the idea of creating sleeves aren't as appealing. Maybe it's the idea of repetitively knitting 2 identical items (or like other sock-phobic beings, the SSS - second sock syndrome) that makes me want to sit in a corner and weep?
Ok, so that last act would be distinctively diva-like so I won't thread in that direction. Instead, I would just most likely punish the project by hiding it at the bottom of the pile so that it would only see the light of the day the following year.
Lace is a really pet favorite. As witnessed by my recent projects...
With something like 60 odd stitches a side, one can't really complain about the length of time it needs to get the project growing. And grew it did!
In just barely a week, it's almost done. The project goes wherever I go. Including the sit-ins at our favorite McDonald's outlet in the vicinity where join me at times on occasional Friday nights. We gather after 10pm and sometimes stay up to the wee hours with doses of fries, coffee etc.
It's one of those rare pieces that gets me going so zealously that it gets completed in such a short time. Usually, the completion time is twice that.
Here are the usual photos:
I have reworked the sides several times so that I can get the top edge mould against my back properly. So there's no elastic band threading at all!
This orangey-red is really quite hard to photograph but I have to say I love this new shade. I have washed and worn it a couple of times now and the garment is still holding up its shape very well.
This is a really awkward pose as I was trying to take a self-portrait. It's really party wear. On days when I wear it out, I do put on a mini bolero so that it's not so attention drawing. I know this piece may not go down well with the conservatives but this is a style that I am very comfortable with in our Singapore weather.
The best part? It just took me only 3x 50grams balls to get it completed. (Happy dance...)
Oh, and remember the mini shrug (or shrugette) that I did for my baby niece? I finally managed to put it on her.
She really has a strong mind about the clothes she will wear. Obviously in the sweltering heat outdoors, she's just totally resistant of any layering.
It was a different story when we went to the supermarket though. The temperatures inside is just freezing so she allowed me to don the shrug on her. I really love how the color really brightens up her face!
The shrug looks really fitted on her so I would have to knit up another piece soon!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Knitting as art
It's not everyday that knitting is perceived as art form. Well....maybe in my practical filled brain, that is.
Remember the art exchange program I participated in previously? Well...not only was there the exchange, there was a display of the finished *artwork* that Arthur put up during the graduation ceremony.
Here's some photos of his project:
As all the works by the various participants are dimensional, Arthur decided to do a still portrait documentation.
Here's the shawl I knitted for Ling Nah.
Here's the charcoal piece that she did for me.
(ok, so it wasn't too obvious...but you can see the actual artwork in the earlier entry link.) I had fun participating and have Arthur to thank for making this happen. Apart from the stills you see here, we actually met up at Ling Nah's studio and there were some clips that we captured of our intellectual conversations that was pretty interesting -- we were discussing how to bring arts closer to the common public.
Speaking of art....the pink silk blouse is finally completed!
Here's a closeup of the collar which I especially liked.
This project has been languishing in my basket for a while as it took me a while to get the collar right. By "right", I meant picking the stitches and laying the pattern repeats so that it looks as though the stitches are travelling up naturally. Hence, a lot of unravelling and re-knitting.
Besides, there was 2 long drawn discussions on:
- whether it should be long sleeved as per the original pattern
The unanimous vote was for the no sleeves version as the ladies decided that with the lanky frame I've already got, there's no necessity to accentuate my skinny arms. Besides, they thought that sleeveless styles look way better on me.
- to convert into a dress or leave it as it is
Given the shimmery look of the silk blended yarn, I was also contemplating to extend it to a dress. However, I wasn't sure if I would get frequent wear out of the latter since I am more a jeans person. Hence, it was agreed that I should leave it as it is and perhaps knit a skirt separate subsequently so that this can be worn to formal occasions. [As to when the skirt knitting will take place, please watch this space.]
But I am really pleased with the way it turned out. Not to mention as usual, it's a yarn saver pattern for me. I think it's about 4 balls of silk blend yarns I used.
Other than that, there are some projects that I've recently completed but they'll go into the next few posts.
Friday, September 21, 2007
It's been a while...
Being away from the PC is getting way too comfortable when you have things in the offline world to keep you occupied. Bad ones included.I had the stupidity to wash a newly bought red skirt with my knitted bamboo top in the washer. I have already washed the skirt one and didn't think that there'll be any more dyes coming off. As with Murphy's Law, one is just so ever wrong.Honestly, it was a result of a grave oversight. I had them thrown into the washer but when the cycle stopped, I didn't immediately pull them out to air them. So I figured that wet laden skirt must have spread its dye into the top which it was resting on.Then came a slew of attempts as I tried to get rid of the stains. (Groan, I know...I so want to bawl my eyes out when I first saw my top!)There was the bicarbonate soda soak. The toothpaste on the area. Color bleach; except that I didn't dare to use too much of it lest it strips off all the color (remember the brown edging on the bottom?)Nothing really worked. Until I was recommended this product:The Dylon Color Run RemoverNow, here's the MAJOR DISCLAIMER: I am not saying that The Color Run Remover will work for all fibers. You will have to do a small test patch.I had to soak once in a barely lukewarm water for 4 hours (of which only slight stain fading was detected.) Not satisfied with the results, I went totally heavy handed and poured some scalding hot water on it and let the garment sit for another hour.The result?The stains are mostly gone and my knitted top is as good as new. The contrast edging has faded somewhat though but luckily, the color still goes well with the main body.The bonus?See that belt I was wearing? I had to sooth my nerves by knitting with the special order new silk blend yarn that's just came in (that's just us carrying it exclusively here in Singapore). A not-so-mindless project (I ripped and restarted 4 times as I wasn't pleased with the pattern) but it just took less than a ball of that beautiful variegated yarn!The Moral of the Story?Do not ever believe that it is ok to have a mixed color laundry; especially if you are going to throw in your handknits!
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Back from self-imposed exile....
Apart from being seriously busy with fun activities like trying out new cooking and baking receipes, it's been a *fun* time trying to wean myself from the internet and the PC. It's amazing the number of extra hours you get when you stay away from internet surfing.
I've been knitting too, rather slowly...but first the good news.
If you have heard about the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, well, they have released a Singapore version called "Chicken Soup for the Singapore Soul" recently. 
Leong Ching, one of the editors, contacted me and asked if I would contribute to the book on my dramatic career switch. I submitted my story and it can be found in the section titled A Life Less Ordinary.
And the topic title? "The Knitting Instructor."
Ok, I know I should have come up with a more creative title. *grin* PS. And I did a silly thing and almost wrecked my favorite bamboo knit top. I'll share that in the next post.
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