It's a sign....

It seems that even with the latest blog revamp, I've been having some issues with the template / blogger system.

For some reason, this template is configured to provide a standard jpg placement on the home page. And so, with the vertical and wide photos that I have for my numerous blog posts, they either end up looking squished or stretched.

And when I tried to use a percentile method, Blogger's system performs erratically. On good days, it will look ok. Other days, I end up pulling my hair.

So here's a note, if you see any changes or unwieldiness happening within the next few days, do bear with me. I'll try to make the transition as painless as possible.

Thanks for staying with me. :)

PS. I am also re-touching up the photos (from the newest) so they should look sharper. Let me know if they still appear pixelated.

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Amigurumi giraffe (plus pattern link)

I've blogged too much about my WIPs and UFOs. But there's one thing I got around to starting and completing within this year!

This is something that I started in Feb. It's been a while since I knitted or crocheted anything for my niece or nephew so I thought a crochet toy should be a quick project.

While the crochet went on quickly, the finishing bit is slow-going. There are 8 parts to this toy giraffe or amigurumi (a link to wiki for explanation if you are interested) as they call it:

• 4 limbs
• 2 ears
• the body
• the tail

Oh, and did I mention the spots?

I was very tempted to leave it spotless. I just really detest doing any more sewing than necessary. But you can't give the kids the wrong impression right?

I am very pleased when the spots are eventually sewn.

PS. For those interested, the project is from Lionbrand.

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Blogger is acting weird

In publishing my previous post.

I had it pre-written & scheduled to post on Mar 14 but somehow Blogger actually makes the post live immediately after!

That's very weird as I haven't done anything differently.

Not only that, now my landing page show the posts in full whereas previously it was supposed to be a snapshot summary.

Just wondering if their technology has changed? Or perhaps it's due to their maintenance schedule?

Anyone facing similar problems?

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FO mention in Interweave Crochet!

I should have blogged about this way earlier.

As usual, there are hiccups. This only came in the mail a month ago.

All the way from US. From one of my favorite magazine publisher, Interweave.

In the package is a copy of Interweave Crochet Summer 2008 issue. My Lily Chin crocheted dress FO is mentioned in its Readers' Gallery on Page 12.

No wonder at one stage, I keep getting hits to my blog where I see people searching for the abovementioned dress.

But I managed to only get my hands on the issue only recently -- there's some minor admin issues so I didn't realize that my FO was published until of late.

Nevertheless, better late than never!

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Entrelac stripes within squares

Remember last year where the craze was all about Lady Eleanor from Scarf Style, by Pam Allen?

It got me very intrigued. I love the entrelac pattern but really can't see myself spending a lot of time working a shawl like this.

So I decided to use the entrelac knitting concept and created something else instead.

On a particular day in Feb this year, I browsed some of my references then went to bed at 11pm.

However, I was so pysched up by the idea of entrelac knitting that I finally got out of bed at 2am in the wee hours of the morning to get the project started.

Crazy isn't it?

Does this ever happen to you? I mean, getting so bothered (or jazzed up) by a project or a roadblock that you just can't get to sleep; you end up forgoing sleep to be awake through the night to straighten out the problem or start a project?

I had the phone placed in the picture to remind me of my crazy obsession with my crafting. The time: 6.57am.

Once I manage to grasp the concept, it wasn't that hard to knit this project. (Hint: This project isn't going to turn out rectangular nor square.)

I love the way the navy blue and turquoise green complements each other. And if you have been following me for a while, you will realize that I am rather a Plain Jane.

The only thing I detest about entrelac knitting? Look at the amount of tails I have to tuck in!

The project is now temporarily on hold as I get distracted by the other posts.

There are so many things going on that I figured that the way to get things back on track is to blog more frequently!

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Keeping really busy

Last Tues, I was really sick. I was coming down with flu and cough so I decided to stay home. The self-imposed one day quarantine is of my own will since the H1NI virus news was splashed over the news and I didn't want to deal with suspicious scrutiny if I do an occasional nose blow or cough when out in the public.

So I spent the time browsing pattern books and decided that starting yet another new project is the best way to go.

It actually progressed rather quickly, save for the one-time major rip back as my brain was clouded by the drowsiness-induced flu medicine prescribed by the doctor.

If I am lucky, it may be finished right within this month.


Blog revamp
And if you have been trying to access my blog directly for the last few days, I apologise for this blog's intermittent loading issues.

This blog has been around since Sep 2005 so it's coming to be 4 years of age soon. I figured a blog de-clutter and revamp exercise is necessary so I plunged straight into it over the weekend -- I've been meaning to get around to doing it but well...

I may be doing some fine-tuning work over the next few days so once again, thanks for your patience.

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