Monday, November 29, 2004
Anniversary gift revealed
So you have heard about the belated anniversary gift that was in progress? Here it is:
A pair of wedding dolls!
See, I told you I was in a toy-making phase.
Anyway, I was done with it on Thursday.
More FOs!
On Saturday, I decided to ransack WIPs and found a "coming-to-3-an-a-half-years" of age hoodie pullover. Nothing fancy, it was a pattern out of Woman's Weekly (UK) and I had knitted it using 12 ply Magnum. There was only one sleeve and the hoodie to seam up. What's the problem?
I looked closer and realized that the sleeves are a different dyelot from the rest. Now as I do recall, it's the usual "I-bought-too-little-and-realized-that-I-didn't-have-enough-yarn" situation. After knitting it, I decided it didn't appeal to me enough and threw it aside (kinda hoping that time will cause fading and evening out of colors?) And I *thought* it was a little too big, even enough it's meant for my younger sister.
Nevertheless, Mom saw and egged me on to finish it. Boy, am I glad. It feels so good to finish something. No pictures but I would try and post when it's gone through the washes. I tried it on -- for something that's acrylic, this is pretty warm.
And the fairisle bordered/cabled sweater?
I am sure you know what I did -- I just took hold of the sleeves today and started frogging to the beginnings of the cables. Started re-knitting. It looks much better now IMHO. Frogging is not scary; it's just the amount of time spent doing and un-doing. I guess one can pretty much compare it to the half-cup full; half-cup empty situation.
I prefer to see it as half-cup full and take it as a learning -- READ MORE CAREFULLY FROM NOW ON!
Just in case you are wondering why I have been so productive the past week:-
I've been given a week's worth of medical leave for my wisdom tooth extraction. And during the course, had developed some drug allergies. It didn't make me feel better but I was itching and scratching. Knitting became the therapy to keep my hands busy.
Not only that, I am determined to reduce the number of WIPs I have and promote them to FO status. I have never been more motivated. It must be the last confession post that made me see the problems and confront them head on!
Thursday, November 25, 2004
Confessions of a serial WIP hogger
This is for me - my confession time. I have countless WIPs laying around and they seem to be nowhere closer to seeing the light. I tried to rationalize and jotted down a list (gasp!) of reasons that is stopping me in the tracks:-
1. Not sure if the final item can fit nicely; esp. the length/size of the final item [length is always a problem for me as I am skinny and lanky]
2. Not sure if the receipient or I would like the final object. Color schemes are very subjective, ya know? Variegated yarns are one of those.
3. Getting distracted by new yarn and tossed current project into WIP pile, promising to get around but never did.
4. Always itching to have multiple projects on hand. Remember all the various discussions about being a process or project oriented person? Multi-tasking in in my blood. Isn't it for most knitters too? Just a lightbulb on a new project and I am almost inclined to go on a major web surfing to get relevant info, check out other bloggers' progress or comments, I will start raiding my stash to start! I have 3 sets of circular needles: 2 vintage Boye Needlemaster sets bought off eBay and a Clover circular set....and have dpns and other circulars that I've acquired individually to use whenever I run out of needles (haha....most of which the WIPs are hanging from!)
5. Encountering pattern errors and getting my brain fried [i am on one now of which there are 3 errors ont the chart!]
6. Or more likely than not, not having to read the pattern instructions carefully prior to starting [and not paying enough attention] that ended up falling into the frog pond so frequently. Is 3-4 trips a regularity on yours? Mine is....duh!
6. Unsure if the receipient will like my gift (I haven't been quite successful in the gifting dept) -- in the end, i just *bought* a gift
7. Deciding the project on needles are not for the current state of mind, so have it parked aside and forgot all about it [I still have yet to devise a proper inventory system.] But hey, when you live in a 980+ sq ft of space with 7 other family members + a cat, there isn't too much space to spread things out for inspection! LOL. Thank god hubby and I are moving out *soon* -- by March 2005, latest I hope.
8. Working on your project before you realise that you are running out of yarn you can't get hold of anymore! [just happened with my Flower Basket Shawl!]
9. Seaming parties -- urgh! Until I last mastered the mattress stitch, this is the major artery blockage. Even when i now *got* it, I am always so stressed seaming up areas like sleeve caps, and neck bands or tiny toy parts. I think I may have been overtly critcial but whenever I don't see left/right lining up properly; I tend to just *file away* until the next time I am in a better state of mind to tackle it again. Timeframe: unknown
These are all adding to my ever-increasing trips to the frog pond.
Now, is there a therapist out there who could develop a 12 step program to help me get out of my own mess? Or perhaps I should goad someone in the family into ripping my WIPs and re-balling them for me. Otherwise, I would have to figure out a way to live until a hundred years old. Send me some health receipes!
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Anniversary present...a late arrival
Belated....from me
Hubby's back! Yeah....but the anniversary present I had planned is a little late. *Always* I dunno why but I think I really some help on getting myself to be a good giftee; always a little hard-pressed for time.
He's such a dear. Bought me a cowboy hat like I wanted and a tin of cookies (with the oh-so-lovely Dog embossing on it... I will use it to store my stuff later.)
He's gone for a late night coffee gathering with his buddies so I hope I can get it completed by the time he comes back. Why am I*still* bogging away now?! Will show you pictures once hubby sees it.
Anyway, did I just swear off variegated yarn? Look what I've just got last Sat. I went out for lunch with Mom and found another yarn store. Nothing too exciting but I found this yarn cute enough to turn into a bag or something. Well, it's a BAG; not something that I'll wear; it's an accessory, not a garment -- it's, it's different. Oh well, you get the picture!
This color shows up a little murky on the digital cam. I am trying so hard not to start work in yet.
Clutter Management Expert Wanted!
Yeah, like I don't know. I think I need a WIP management expert to come in and take stock of my life! Re-sort my WIPs, yarns, books, magazines, patterns and the-what-have-yous... Perhaps there are some elements of truth in those who say that when the space around you in cluttered, your Qi is affected -- you just don't think and perform well enough.
Looks for our new apartment
I am still browsing magazines for our new apartment furnishing. Current trend here in Singapore is contemporary and minimalist. But it means no shelves and cabinets! Not quite for a stasher and a watch enthusiast under a roof eh?
This look, however caught my fancy. I think I just need to go for brighter ethnic accents.
What do you think? I know, still not quite many cabinets or display shelvings but we could work something out?
And I just went on to take another quiz:
You are Shetland Wool.You are a traditional sort who can sometimes be a
little on the harsh side. Though you look delicate you are tough as nails and prone to
intricacies. Despite your acerbic ways you are widely respected and even revered.
What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Interesting but guess what, I have *NEVER* worked with Shetland Wool before! Does any one want to send some my way?
Saturday, November 20, 2004
FOs!
Finally, something to show as FO since I started my blog ;P
This: 
Isn't it cute that it's finally have a face?
And 
Yup, this is the secret thingy I was working on. Just curious how it was gonna turn out.
2 completed projects in a single day.
Yeah! I feel better already. You know that feeling right? Whenever you keep starting projects (and I *do* have a serious case of startitis) and then something comes along and distracts you, just like:-
knitalongs on others' blogs that makes you want to join
new issues of knitting magazines with projects that make you go: "I want this and this..."
going on full blown SeX (Stash Enhancement eXpeditions) and then realizing you want to try out all the yarns you bought
having too much froggy pond trips with your current project
needing a quick thrill; after mounting a full fledge garment project
It'll take quite a bit of will-power to get yourself back on track and actually finishing it. Not dumping into the WIP pile, like I always like to. Small projects are far more exciting than big projects. But the showstoppers are always the frequent hi-powered seaming parties.
Which brings me to the subject of finishing:
They rank somewhat close to the bottom of my list. I seriously think that the ability to seam well and get fantastic results is very dependent on the mood one is, during the act. I don’t like the act but I do realize it’s a very important element to the end product. Finishing especially on small projects are so tiring that I would much rather knit a mindless stockingnet stockinette project for my hubby.
[Ha...wait till he hears this -- he's been begging me to knit him another sweater in fine cotton so that he could wear it in Singapore. He knows I am *sore* with him; having knitted 2 long sleeved & 1 short sleeved sweater in cotton and linen (no photos yet, I haven't quite laid out those monsters for the shoot.) He hasn't worn them enough to justify me knitting another one for him. He's a dear for wanting them but I am not prepared to go 3mm to knit 350 stitches or more in the round for him!]
Well, not now for sure.
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Knitting standstill
Brought about by the overwhelming amount of work in office.
Thank god I am resigning and leaving soon. That'll mean that I am out of job, have no salary and is formally a dependant on my other half. But more importantly, no more $$$ to go around spending on yarn and magazine purchases!! boo hoo..... How bad that it get? I dunno, that's why I am buying yarn like crazy to build up stash...haha [Beware: Crazy manical woman on the loose]
Anyway, I spent some time last night getting some changes done to my blog. See the right panel bar? Go on, stake your spot on the map, I would love to know where you readers are from, just delurk. I've also found an Asian knitters ring and signed up for the Knitting blog as well. And did I say that I added the Crochet Meetup button as well? Gals, seriously, if you would want to go into crochet, let's just do it!
Yuhooo... Anyone coming this Saturday?
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Am I a twerp or what?
twerp (n) : someone who is regarded as contemptible [syn: twirp, twit]
Source: WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University
That is me alright... I received a notice from the post office to collect a parcel. Mom's gone off to the Post office this morning and called me in the afternoon to tell me that it's a parcel from Canada.
*Now* I have a stinking suspicion that it is the parcel that I sent to my Secret Friend. The Postmaster told my mom that there is a missing post code or something so it was returned. Thank God I had the sense to request post office to "return to sender" if the package is not successfully delivered to recipient.
I guess I have to check where I bloody went wrong! All that postage $$$ for nothing! Hrm....and no one to blame except myself! *Wah* Why are things going so wrong for me lately?
I think I better watch which side of the bed I fall out of tomorrow morning!
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
More haste = more (time) waste!
It was somewhat a long weekend here in Singapore. Thursday was Deepavali, celebrated by Indians and yesterday (Monday) was Hari Raya, celebrated by the Malays. Here in Singapore, being a multi-cultural society, all citizens get to enjoy these festive seasons as gazetted holidays...nice huh?
So what did I do? Apart from spending a lot of meal time with my parents, since my hubby is out of town, it's down to knitting. So bear with me for a little while as this is a lengthy post than usual.
Which brings me to the subject of this post:
How true can Mum's words be? Never be too hurried to get into something. Read the instructions carefully. Check and recheck. Trust your instincts.
I will keep the frog pond queen title for myself. If you want to know why, this is it:
Can you tell me what you see?
That darned thing! I thought I was moving along fine, after all that false starts with the stranded, fairisle border. And now this! I re-read the instructions on the weekend. It says "Note that the chart repeats are outlined by bold." Hrm..... no wonder my cables are so asymmetrical! And I thought that's the intent of the design but when I took time on the weekend to compare the cables, eeks, that was it.
So this is what I thought I will do:
Dun be surprised *croak, croak*
But after attempting to rip down and fix a cable (remember for both cable patterns, it occurs on the left and right, front and back) -- it simply means that I have at least *12* cables to fix. Yeah, that include those on the sleeves as well.
Oh my god...what should I do? I can very well rip back and fix but it's just taking too much time off knitting probably. Unless you love using cable needle, crochet hook and stitch markers, all within that tight 5 - 6 stitches section. I can hear the cables telling me," Pokey, get out of here! It's already as cramped as it is." I am shoving putting it aside until I can bear to look at it again [read: next week]
So what did I do next? Gone into a fit and went on a yarn shopping spree last Saturday 1pm to get over my misery....I am forever doing that. I'll remember to write a will so that if I ever die, I will have these stash go to heaven with me; unless knitters around me are adopt these orphans. They are not expensive stuff though, the yarns are meant for my toy projects. I feel the urge kicking in....must be the holly berries, snowman and Santa that's all around.
Then I had to meet up my galfriend for a 7pm dinner. It was 6 hours of nothingness to most but I was most happy to report that I managed to spend half my time in a cafe knitting up the rest of the bear and a new toy, Mr Elfie!
Mr Elfie can't quite see and smile and you yet. I need to get the tiny stitches on it.
Cute huh? And in my eagerness to seam him up, I went back to Spotlight to pick up the fiber-fill, even though I already bought one 500g pack 2 weeks ago~! Talk about buying repetitively. But I am still shocked that mr elfie needed 5-6hrs of my time.
Conclusion: Toys are fun as quick knits. But beware the seaming party!
Other than this, I have also worked on my bear. Originally, I had one picture of it in the state of dis-joint-ment. But how boring....therefore, presenting:
Looks cute huh? It's scouring for candies in the bag.
Sorry for the rude bum shot. I have managed to sew the legs to it but one seems to be bigger than the other. Could it have been the stuffing? Whatever. (Seriously, I am not gonna un-do it. *I swear* !)
Solids vs Variegated yarns
If you have looked my FOs, you will see that most of it (apart from baby items), are mainly solid colours. No variegated. I have been to Yarn Harlot's site and she's publicly confessed her dis-taste for the big "V". That's me alright.
I *love* how variegated yarns display but they really can charm you off your feet and lead you to deception: lovely on the ball/skein; hideous on the needles. They somehow love to spread and sprawl (pooling) on the needles and climb up against themselves (stacking) that it's impossible to get anything decent. Unless I turn a blind eye to it during the process and cross my fingers that once FOed, it's gonna be fine. Hence, my hubby's variegated sweater still at WIP, I am never certain if it will ever go FO. Well...that's it. You've heard it from me.
Mini-projects, yes. Big ones, no!
Sunday, November 07, 2004
Beary nice
Here's my bear progress. All parts. I am still working on the rest of the limbs and the ears. You could say that this is getting on fast! Just don't like the acrylic too much though -- used Australian's Panda Magnum 8 ply. Feels a little rough on hand. Wonder if it'll be softer if I put it through a wash?
Hmm...that's a thought. Should try it when I am done with making all pieces, before the stuffing though. Can't trust the polyfill even though it's washable.
Still haven't yet look at the fair-isle project. Was too lazy. Will attempt to decipher it later. It's already 9+pm here.
Oh yes! And thanks to all who wished me happy birthday. It's so sweet of you! Tsk, tsk, it's bad manners that i forgot yesterday when I blogged. See how distracting those birthdays are, especially since I am approaching the big THREE - O (figuratively speaking) though technically, I am still 3.14mil minutes away from it?!
Saturday, November 06, 2004
Help! I have just committed one of the knitting's cardinal sins!
Buying insufficient yarn!
Remember the IK Flower Basket Shawl? I decided to use that silvery yarn to knit and the last time I binded off, it was 10 repeats and a tad too small. (It *barely* rests on my shoulders and the tips do not cross over at all.) RiGHT!
I thought I'll just pop by the store today to pick up another ball so that I can add 4 - 6 repeats (however much needed to make it decent for my use) and to *my* horror, they have none of it left...not even *one*! Yikes! Worse still, they are not importing that anymore...
What am I gonna do?
Why, as usual, find an attention diverter....something called *knitting*. In the meantime, I just sent an email to my knitting mates and hoped that one of them has it in their baskets
I decided that mr bean is too brown so it's gonna be mr bean / ms debbie bliss aviator bear ms greenhowe bear...see how fickle-minded I am? Photos to come when it becomes somewhat more recognizable tomorrow.
If there is ever a record for most trips to the frog pond, I am sure I am in the runnings, if not the champion! hmm...
Thursday, November 04, 2004
Happy birthday to me...
Yeah...a non-knitting blog subject.
It's my birthday and I still went to work today. It was great knowing that my friends out there are still thinking of me. No, no cake...no hubby (he's outstation)....boo hoo. Knitting's my best friend and I intend for them to keep me company.
Ok. Back to knitting. I have joined a bear-along sometime ago and thought I would do about it. Yup, just started my mr bean bear today on my way back home on the train (subways or metros, that's what you gals call it.) It will be my mindless project as it's all garter stitch. Don't you just love simple things? I think I would move onto Debbie Bliss' bear when I am done with this.
The office building I am working in has also put up Christmas decorations alread. It's so lovely. I have the strong urge to get some Xmas ornaments knitting done.
Oooh...my knitting schedule is gonna be real bad!
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
Who am I?
20 Questions to a Better Personality
Wackiness: 32/100
Rationality: 34/100
Constructiveness: 84/100
Leadership: 62/100
You are a SECL--Sober Emotional Constructive Leader. This makes you a Politician.You cut deals, you change minds, you make things happen. You would prefer to be liked than respected, but generally people react to you with both. You are very sensitive to criticism, since your entire business is making people happy.
At times your commitment to the happiness of other people can cut into the happiness of you and your loved ones. (This is SOOOO TRUE!) This is very demanding on those close to you, who may feel neglected. Slowly, you will learn to set your own agenda--including time to yourself. You are gregarious, friendly, charming and charismatic.
You like animals, sports, and beautiful cars. You wear understated gold jewelry and have secret bad habits, like chewing your fingers and fidgeting.You are very difficult to dislike.
Of the 50646 people who have taken this quiz since tracking began (8/17/2004), 7.2 % are this type.
In general, I think a little wayward...I don't quite confront, I love peace but I have absolute no patience for people who are ignorant yet act like they know everything when you try to teach them. Usually for those with egos as such, I have to write them off.
Monday, November 01, 2004
Progress & new stash report
Here's a picture I promised, of my WIP. See I am working on it. Did it in the round as I couldn't bear the thought of following the colored blocked on the reverse as well -- on the round however, everything is done on the right side so mistakes are easier to spot and correct.
I am very lucky to have my Singapore knitting buddy turn up last Saturday. No one else came. Boo hoo! If you gals out there see this, please come the next time ok? Chrissie brought along lots of her past projects. Too bad I forgot to take photos.
Another peek: my Spotlight purchases
I have already started using the variegated brown yarn to start something...which I will show when it's done.
Stumble It!
