Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Meeting new people

Is always a great thing to do!

I've had more students this week lined up for knitting & crochet classes and so far, it has been great! I've blogged about them here.

And speaking of meeting new people, I have a piece of great news: my girlfriend has just delivered a strong and healthy baby girl on Sunday!

So, as you can see, there isn't much knitting & crocheting time. I've worked on my Clappy but there's really nothing to show, except for the miles and miles of stockinette stitches; I've decided to lengthen it to be a shawl to be wrapped around me.

Time really flies!

PS. To the gals with bag envy, thanks for all your kind words. I am sure my swap partner would be happy to read them!

Friday, August 26, 2005

Happily spoilt

My dear friend Cherilyn, a Toronto knitter who I've met once in person is ever so sweet. She's always sending me handwritten postcards and little gifts. Her latest gift came in the form of this:

I always wanted to visit Canada -- maybe someday!

Next up is Kristine (who is blogless) but does the most awesome work using the sewing machine! Look at what she sent me as part of a Knit.Sew swap:

A gorgeous knitting bag that comes fully equipped with its own mini pouch and a knitting needles case! Not only that, she made it so comfortably spacious that I could tote big projects around as well! Look at those geometric prints -- did I mention that she scored these fabrics when holidaying in Lisbon?

Oh, and the tidbits too. What could a gal ask for? Thanks so much Kristine!

PS. Kristine, my mom's so green with envy. She's just decided to wipe the dust off the sewing machine and sew one for herself. LOL!


PPS. Oh, and if you still aren't sick of the chevron cushion cover photo I posted, see the twin shoot as I promised (just click on the underlined words).

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Cushion pattern possibilities

Wow! Thanks for everyone's help in pointing out the various cushion patterns for my consideration.

As Eilene asked, I am not sure if home knitting is going to be the next IN thing but it sure is, right here on my blog and at my house!

Here's a list of cushion possibilities:

Megan suggested that I browse through 200 Crochet Blocks or work some mitered squares while Christina reminded me that Rowan 36 has several cushion patterns in them. A piet mondrian pillow was what Yarnzilla (love that nick!) suggested. Dear Sophie directed my attention to Rowan's shark pillow that is just so up my alley. This Knitpicks retro throw is easily adapted for the cushions as Siow Chin pointed out (Which incidentally is hubby's favorite. He's a nostalgic guy.)

And so, we'll be *shopping* through my stash this weekend to pick out the yarns for me to start working on the project!

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Baby KAL update

Elspeth is still working on IM's baby blanket and Janette has a finished pumpkin hat to show!

Jennifer whipped up a batch of preemie hats for donation. Christina has such a cute model to show her completed v-neck vest and she's already onto something else! Baby soakers are on display at Diana's.

Let's hope I have something completed by the next update!

Saturday, August 20, 2005

Cushy talk

Thanks for all your kind comments on the earlier pillow case. Let's hope my swap partner would like it.

Look what I found this in my WIP basket today (we're talking about the basket that was pushed and buried right at the back of the closet):

Another cushion cover! There is two actually but only one made it into this photo as we only have one cushion in the house which it fits. These are crocheted 5 years ago.

Notice the colors? It's amazing that the shades of deep reds and pinks have been a favorite of mine for such a long time! (Just ignore the sofa color, I know it is a bad display job.) I'll have to go Ikea and grab another cushion-- you'll get the twin shoot later.

So why they are in the WIP basket for such a long time?

They lack closures; the buttonholes are all there. So button shopping is in order this weekend! (Please don't tell hubby that I could have used ribbon ties; it's been a long while since I did craft shopping for myself! Shopping for secret pal, exchanges or swaps don't count, do they?)

Wait, there's more. We bought some no-frills Ikea seat cushions for the dining stools last weekend. Hubby is now suggesting that I could make some covers to jazz them up. Duh!

Here's a photo of our dining area.


Would anyone care to make suggestions as to the patterns I could use for the covers? The seat cushions are square and I am hoping for a modern yet comfy look.

Friday, August 19, 2005

WIPs on the go

Is this:

It's meant to be a pillowcase for those small tuck pillows you use with your working chair. Except I couldn't find a pillow that size in the house! Alternatively, it could be use as a seat toppper.

The ribbons you see in the photo above is meant to be used for fastening. (You can tell that I really don't like closures.) The front is knitted in st st with a lace strip while the back is in moss stitch. It should be really cosy in winter.

And while on the go, I also started a new project. An easy, portable baby-related one, that is. This much I will tell you. My friend's already 9 mths pregnant so I must really hurry up!

It's not obvious in this photo but the yarn's variegated; I love the way it's turning out!

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

In & Out

In:

I just joined another webring - Yarn Addicts Unite. Need I say more?
And I just found out about SP6 -- I am *still* thinking. Exchanges are just as fun.

Out:
Finally sent out my overdue package to my FYNS partner.

Could anyone guess what it is?

Baby KAL update

Let's welcome Jeanne!

Lu is experiencing the everyone-around-me-is-having-a-baby syndrome so she's gonna be knitting more items!

And I suppose everyone else is busy enjoying the tail end of summer?

Monday, August 15, 2005

3 days in a row!

This past week has been great for me! THREE incredible packages arrived at the doorstep; one after another in 3 consecutive days!

To start with:

Celia had me spinning from joy
I wanted to learn how to spin. So Celia and I did an exchange: she vowed to get me hooked on another evil force that will ensure that my stash keeps multiplying on its own while I did some enrichment to her yarn stash.

This is what I got from her.

There are lots of things in there: brown and white slivers, poly/cotton fibers, alpaca and even optim! Not to mention a spindle of course. The colors are so much more vibrant and gorgeous than what my crappy camera could show.

To give you an idea of how much of it she sent all the way from Australia, here's another photo:

Now, I travel a lot and I think I am a fairly good packer at that. This photo is my failed attempt of putting the loot back where it belongs - into the shipping box. It certainly shows that Celia has mastery the finery of packing! I should really pick up a tip or two from her. Thanks Celia!

Secret Pal dropped off another package!
Just when I was jumping for joy, another package came in the second day. From My Secret Pal.

Just look at those lovely stamps! She must have spent a lot of time reading my blog and researching on our weather for she sent me these!

Lots of Rowan Wool Cotton in my favorite shade of pink. Also, see that ball? Apparently, that's a shade of Opal sock yarn that only came in cones which she special ordered! She is just so generous to send some to me as she read me blogging about socks! Thanks so much Secret Pal!

Susan got me grinning
Her package arrived on the third day.

We both did an exchange: pink chibis are on her wishlist and I could always have more yarn and magazines. Look at what she sent me.

Of course, there is an Adrienne Vittadini magazine with that cover pattern that I so wanted to knit. And those skeins are the to-die-for Koigu. Hmm... there's 3 of them. [Inner voiceover: Wonder if I should do more trades to get the numbers up for a Charlotte's shawl?!]

And more! (We gals always send more things than we always promise to. LOL) Look at those candies! She even got me Pez¹ - a glow in the dark too! And a refill pack too. I remembered having them when I was much younger and I don't remember seeing them sold these days. I am so glad she sent me those tootsie roll and bottlecaps - I've heard so much about them and here's my chance to pop them into my mouth! Thanks Susan!

It sure feels like Christmas right now. You gals are great!

¹. Yeah, just what was I thinking? I thought of clicking to Pez's site and put up that link. And now I just found the Pez Fantastic: Teddy Friends series which is just so incredibly cute too! Help!

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Charmed

Does anyone get fanatical about knitting or crochet that they end up collecting ornaments/figurines too? (Knitting or crochet related, of course!)

A tiny sheep that glows in the dark! It's just barely 2 inches wide! I saw it in a stationery store and had to grab it.

And the next one is something that I like very much.

I bought it 4 years ago when I was on a post-lunch power pacing trip. (See, after lunch window shop walkabout is good for ya but bad for the wallet! LOL) This figurine seems to be made of some scrubby material. But it's so rustic and bearing (pun intended) for the bear's fur!

This felted bunny set is just way too cute! The blogger gifted it to Yarn Harlot.

And I keep seeing some of these cute wooly pals. Makes me wish more of these items are available in Singapore, like these tape measures, knitting charms and these are just so omigod! Talk about having your hobby on hands all the time or bringing it to the table!

Ok, I must be getting all sorts of crazy ideas from the past few days but I'll welcome anyone to send these to me! If your closet can't take any more skeletons, please feel free to hide them in mine. (grin)

"Me? A stashing queen?"
Now if what Toni claims that's who I am, I have to seriously go reflect upon my misdeeds. No more flashes perhaps? Or should I just go reflect and face my yarns? I'll gladly do that for hours!

I'll go send some packages out to charm some others tomorrow!

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Happy Birthday, Singapore!

To think that we've come a long way.
Today our country celebrates its 40th birthday.

There's a National Day Parade (or NDP as we always call it) held at the Padang. Compared to the past celebrations held at the National Stadium; seats at the Padang are so limited that many had to be content with watching 'live' broadcast on TV.

Me, I even had the opportunity to watch the military vehicles drive pass our new apartment!

Monday, August 08, 2005

My stash(es)

So the conclusion that we've reached is that I have a decent-huge sized stash. *ahem* I am just thinking: perhaps there's a stash matrix standards out there, similiar to the garment sizing charts that we can all go benchmark ourselves and see where we are at from time to time?

If you take a moment to think about it, my stash would probably be tiny compared to another knitter with 20+ years experience -- I have about 11 years of knitting experience myself. Perhaps someone would step out and share their stash too?

And speaking of that, I have something else to show you. If you think my SeX is bad, take a look at this:

These are my pattern books. No doubt about it. They range from Vogue Knitting, Sandra (a german magazine), Knitters, to the occasional Interweave Knits, Rowan, Keitodama to pattern books and guides such as the Flawless Knit Repairs (an independent publisher) and Jean Frost's Jackets that you see in the foreground.

I couldn't resist checking out the knitting magazines and book section whenever I am at Borders or Kinokuniya. And they end up going home with me. That's the advantage when you work since you have your own money to spend. But I've been avoiding the bookstores for a while now since I have not been working since January - I have weak willpower. LOL.

Just when I managed to sort these out into piles and happily thinking that they are finally organized, hubby called out from the next room,"Honey, you've got another box of knitting/crochet magazines here! Do you think you are really done with your unpacking?" D-uh.

Then he comes into the living room and goes,"How many of these cubby holes are left? Are you really going to be using all up? I see another 2 trash bags of yarns waiting to be sorted."

Moral of the story: if you ever need to unpack your darkest secret, do it when NO one is around. Absolutely, no one. Not including the one who sleeps by your side at night.

Go ahead, laugh at me.

I can't help the slow progress. If you have ever stuffed your things into that closet where you'll never open for fear of things crashing down on you, you will understand how wide-eyed I was with all these unpacking.

I am a true blue hoarder at heart.

I ended up spending time savouring and admiring those things that were out of reach all these while and oh-aahing over those items that I never recalled buying.

This is one of those:

Before knitting and crocheting came into my life, cross-stitching is my hobby - it's a craft that I picked up from my grandma when I was young. This wall clock was stitched when I was about 16. It was being put away for a long time and now I am glad to be able to display it. It would look great in the guest/yarn room where the walls are a light shade of green.

I hope it still works!

Friday, August 05, 2005

How big is big?

...when we talk about stash size?

I have unpacked about 60 percent (I think) and this is where it is at. Is it decent, small or big? Mom thinks I have acquired the seX (Stash Enhancing acquXition) syndrome.

Just so you get a bird's eye view of my stash
(Remember, you are the second person to view this...my hubby hasn't seen it yet.)

And if you notice, my yarns are repacked so that they are all in transparent ziploc bags (others come in their default clear packaging) - it just makes yarn searching much easier from now on. Guess how many ziploc bags I have used to date now. I need to get more again this weekend - the ziploc bags, not the yarn.

Perhaps a inventory cataloging session is in order?


When I am unpacking, I also saw this FO which made me remember why I love to crochet lace.

This is just so delicate looking, isn't it?
(Just pardon the no blocking efforts...)

Wish I am able to knit and crochet at the same time!

Baby KAL update

Diana has just made it to our Baby KAL list and she has a great gift to all - she wrote up a free baby sweater top to share. Go check her site and say hi!

If anyone have Caron Dazzleaire, please go over and see if you could help Christina who is looking for some colors to knit a baby blanket for Joshua.

BGK has some FOs to show and so does Janette. Alison also has a beautiful and incredibly gorgeous ballerina wrap.

Me, I am starting another baby project, but it'll be a secret.

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Bit by bit

Clapotis is coming along slowly. I'm up to 8 repeat on the straight and have used 3 balls. So if I were to follow the pattern accordingly, I could end up using only 5 balls. Let's see if it's long enough after I have added the fourth since that'll signify my arrival at the end line of the straight rows.

For the record, I am happy to report that the words of Celia, Peggy and Siow Chin are so true. The pooling in fact is much less noticeable with the dropped stitches. So glad that I didn't make that frog pond trip.


And for those who are interested in this:

I've finally gotten around to writing out the scarf pattern. and it's now posted here. I've also decided to name it Zigzaging Shanghai - if you want to know why, read that post.


And bit by bit, my stash and WIPs are revealing themselves to me. I never recalled having so many WIPs! I'll try and take an inventory one of these days and perhaps set up a schedule to finish them, for what's worth.