Bumble Bee Knits

Baby Blanket & Teddy Bear

2010-02-25T14:20:00.002-05:00

Pattern: "Shawl" from Special Knits by Debbie Bliss
Yarn: Rowan Wool Cotton - color: 900 "antique" x 7
Needles: US6 32" addi circulars
Modifications: Omitted the edging

This baby blanket pattern has always been one of my favorite. The all over decorative seed stitch is beautiful in a simple stockinette stitch background. When you're knitting a 30" x 30" piece of fabric, it really helps when the pattern is easy enough to knit up quickly.

Pattern: "Cashmere Teddy Bear" by Erika Knight
Yarn: Jo Sharp Alpaca Silk Georgette - color: 750 "briar" x 1
Needles: US3 24" addi circulars
Modifications: none!

I can't think of a more classic toy for a baby. This teddy bear is so adorable! I love the hand-tied ribbon detail. I learned how do french knots for the eyes. It's my first attempt at embroidery!

It's been so much fun knitting for my baby. I'm due end of May. During my first trimester, I didn't think I would end up doing any baby knits because I thought everything would be outgrown too quickly. But as soon as my morning sickness subsided, I find myself looking forward to welcoming baby with some special hand-knitted gifts.

I really like the neutral colors I used. It's perfect since my husband and I want to wait to find out the sex of our baby.

Drops Tailored Cardigan

2009-07-20T18:00:00.005-05:00

Project: DROPS 97-18 Tailored Cardigan
Yarn: Rowan Purelife Organic Cotton DK - color: 987
Needles: US4 (3.5mm) addi circulars
Modifications: shortened sleeves

I've been working on this cardigan for a few months. While I was knitting this, I only posted a few photos on Ravelry and didn't talk about it here because I wasn't sure if this project would work out. It's finally done and I'm so happy it fits!

I usually avoid knitting with 100% cotton yarns. It's inelastic to knit with and the finished garment is a bit heavy. But I still enjoy knitting with Rowan yarns. I just love soft neutral colors. When I saw this yarn in the store, I immediately noticed this beautiful shade of almond beige.

I look forward to starting my next project!

Calum

2009-03-03T20:00:00.003-05:00

Project: "Calum" from A Season's Tale
Yarn: Cascade 220 - color: 4002 (charcoal)
Needles: US8 (5mm) 24" addi circulars
Modifications: changed the 3x4 sleeve and hem ribbing to 2x2

I knitted this sweater about 3 months ago for my husband. He prefers his clothes simple and low maintenance, so I used a yarn that's sturdy and easy to care for, and picked a classic design by Kim Hargreaves.

The pattern called for a 3x4 ribbing for the sleeves and hem, but I decided on a 2x2 instead so I can use a tubular cast-on. I really like how neat the cast-on edge looks with this method.

Another detail I'm quite happy with is the matching decreases along both sides of the raglan shaping for the WS rows. The pattern didn't specify the types of decreases to use (not that it's a problem). And I was happy to discover that the SSP decrease worked perfectly on the WS rows because it slants to the left on the RS, to match the K2tog decreases.

It's my first time installing a zipper for my knitting. I hand stitched it. It came out ok, but I will use my sewing machine for future projects that require zippers and do a better job next time.

He says it's warm and likes wearing it. I do like how this yarn softens up after washing. It's nice that this design is comfortable and casual for the weekends but not too casual that he can't wear to the office.

Hi!

2008-10-07T10:00:00.005-05:00

Budapest, Hungary

It's been awhile, I thought I should stop by and say hello. Hope everyone is doing well!

Just came back from a tour of central Europe. I would like to post again soon and give an update on what I've been knitting. I'll be back!

Still Knitting...

2008-03-30T17:38:00.002-05:00

Has it really been several months since my last finished project? Where did the time go?!

This is what's on the needles right now, I'm making a collared, long sleeve cardigan with cables in the front. It's a pattern from a back issue of Vogue Knitting magazine and the yarn is Cascade 220 in a dark brown. The back is done and the fronts are slowly growing. I'm excited to see how this one turns out.

Rosebud Cardigan

2007-08-21T11:21:00.001-05:00

Pattern: Rosebud Cardigan from Simple Knits for Cherished Babies by Erika Knight
Yarn: O-Wool 2-ply - 100% organic merino wool
Needles: US 2 24" addi circulars
Modifications: used hook & eye closures instead of using the rosebuds as buttons.

This is a surprise gift for my friend's new baby. I just love how the rosebuds make this cardigan look so pretty and adorable. I would've used ordinary buttons if I didn't find these little roses. The pattern uses the rosebuds as buttons but it seems to me that it might be awkward to fasten, so I added hook & eye closures.

The yarn is O-Wool 2-ply, an organic merino wool that feels quite smooth after blocking. I would use this yarn again for another project and hope there'll be a wider selection of colors available in the future.

While shopping for the little rosebuds, I also picked out some buttons to go with the Tangled Yoke Cardigan. I can't wait to start knitting it.

Fall Knits?

2007-08-14T14:00:00.001-05:00

Yes, it's been a long time since my last post. But I haven't forgotten about my favorite hobby. It's just that the weather is very warm and I've been spending time biking and enjoying being outdoors. I made some more prgoress on the Brilliant Retro since the last post, but not enough for new pictures, but hopefully soon...

I've been thinking about my "to-knit-list" for fall. These are some of the ones I'm looking forward to making.

Tangled Yoke Cardigan

I was so excited to see the new Fall IK issue at one of my local yarn shops. I've been looking forward to seeing Eunny's Tangled Yoke Cardigan. It's such a lovely pattern, I'm so happy! I really like this one, can't wait to start it.

Michael Kors Cape - VK Fall 2007

And I just started a new baby cardigan for a friend's new baby. It's the rosebud cardigan by Erika Knight.

I'm using an organic merino wool, the O-wool 2-ply.

Some progress...

2007-06-18T16:13:00.001-05:00

The back for Brilliant Retro is done. I started on one of the fronts...

I'm already planning (and started) my next project. I bought some Blue Sky Alpaca sport weight to knit a 3/4 sleeve cardigan. I went to M&J Trimming for the buttons. Button shopping is fun!

This project should be enjoyable. I've always wanted to knit a classic cardigan like this for myself. I'm using a pattern from this book as a guide. These wood buttons were exactly what I had in mind for the cardigan. This is the back in progress. My stitches are not very even because of the loosely plied yarn, but I'm still happy with how it looks so far.

I haven't made any progress on the Frost Flowers since last week. But I hope to have more of it to show you in a few days!

Alpaca Silk

2007-06-08T12:35:00.001-05:00

I've been wanting to try this yarn for so long. This is one of my favorite luxury yarns, Blue Sky Alpaca's Alpaca Silk. At last, I've decided on a suitable pattern. I'm using it to make Teva Durham's Brilliant Retro, from IK Winter '05. I think this project is perfect for it. I will be able to enjoy the wonderful silky feel of the yarn in this fitted cardi. I'm so excited! The silk content of the yarn will add a nice sheen and also give it some drape.

I hope I can finish it with no problems, I'm looking forward to wearing it.

Waving Lace & Frost Flowers...

2007-06-05T15:55:00.002-05:00

I started a pair of socks! It's the Waving Lace Socks from Favorite Socks. The yarn I'm using is Rowan 4-ply Soft that I bought from Rosie's during the recent Philadelphia trip that I mentioned. The shade is called "clover", it's a beautiful medium dusty mauve pink. I love the lacy pattern, so beautiful.

So the Frost Flowers & Leaves shawl is slowly growing, I'm up to round 39. I had to undo a few rounds a couple times to fix mistakes. It's a bit frustrating, can't stand the dpn's right now, the knitting is very awkward. I'll just bear with it until it's big enough to transfer onto circulars and then see how I feel.

Frost Flowers & Leaves...

2007-06-01T00:34:00.001-05:00

Here's a little peek at my friend's surprise gift. It's the beginning of the Frost Flowers & Leaves Shawl from A Gathering of Lace. It was a bit of a clumsy start with the dpn's, but the pattern is coming out nicely. Can't wait to switch to the circulars, I'll be able to knit it easier. I'm so excited, I can't imagine her reaction when she sees this. I think she'll be so surprised, she has no idea I'm knitting something for her. I hardly ever knit for other people (besides my husband), but it's for a very special occasion so it's the perfect opportunity.

I can't stop buying knitting books. Lately I've been knitting mostly lace, and Victorian Lace Today is a must-have for any lace knitter, so I just had to have it. I can't believe I waited this long to buy it. I think I want to join the yahoo group for this book once I'm done knitting the Frost Flowers & Leaves.

These are some of my favorites...

Alpine Knit Scarf & Shawl in cherry leaf pattern

Rectangle w/ Leaf and Trellis pattern & Shawl in clover pattern

Myrtle Leaf Shawl & Curved shawl in diamond edging

I bought these mohair lace yarns during a recent trip to Philadelphia. Four balls of Madil Kid Seta in "roseberry" from Rosie's Yarn Cellar. It's the same yarn I used for the Icarus Shawl. This will most likely become the Alpine Knit Scarf, I'm itching to cast on!

Looking forward to this...

It'll be interesting to see some of the earlier designs.

Swallowtail Shawl

2007-05-24T18:45:00.000-05:00

Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl - Interweave Knits Fall 2006
Yarn: Handmaiden Sea Silk "rose" - 70% silk, 30% seacell - 1 hank
Needles: US 3 - 24" Addi circulars
Modifications: went down one needle size.

This shawl was a quick knit. I started it last Monday and finished it last night, that's 10 days!

My thoughts on the yarn: Sea Silk is very soft and beautifully handpainted. This shade of pink is just what I wanted for this shawl, it's a gorgeous seashell pink. When I ordered this yarn, I was hoping that the yarn would be a similar weight to Zephyr, but it's barely a laceweight, only slightly thinner than fingering weight. I prefer my lace projects to be light and airy. The yarn is beautiful but I'm not as impressed as I thought I would be. But I'm still happy I made something from it, silk is so wonderful to knit with.

I couldn't stand the stench during blocking. I had read about how you would notice a smell of the yarn after it's been submerged in water. The seacell smell was sickening! It won't linger around the house or anything and it's not extemely unbearable, but it just wasn't pleasant at all.

Some yarn shopping...

Seven hanks of Knit Picks' Alpaca Cloud in "peppermint". It's for the Frost Flowers & Leaves Shawl by Eugen Beugler for A Gathering of Lace. This is one of my favorite lace weight yarns, it's great, so soft and delicate. It's going to be a lot of knitting so this project will really test my perseverance, there'll be at least 3000 yards I believe...

This beautiful square shawl will be a very special gift for one of my best friend for a very special occasion. She's not expecting a hand knitted gift at all, I'm so excited!

So close...

2007-05-23T15:25:00.000-05:00

I was so close to finishing. I could've been all done if it wasn't for a mistake. It didn't seem to be a mistake at first because all the stitches added up, but the yo's in the pattern looked off, so I tinked back a few rows. It's so tedious to undo every single stitch. Hopefully there won't be anymore mistakes.

If all goes well, I should be done within this week. And I'll be able to begin and get a head start on a new project that wil become a special gift for one of my best friend. More on that on the next post!

Seven Facts

2007-05-22T15:10:00.000-05:00

I've been tagged by Jade this seven facts meme that's been going around. Here's seven random (maybe boring) facts about me...

1. I am a citizen of Venezuela who grew up in Hong Kong and now living in New York City. I can't speak Spanish.

2. I have to keep all my knitting books and magazines in their pristine condition. I love that my collection is very well kept. I would not let any of them be lying around when non-knitting guests come over to the house in case they might carelessly flip through my precious pages clumsily and make creases all over.

3. I like to have a pattern in mind before I go yarn shopping. It's fun for me to shop for a pattern and then look for the yarn to go with it. I like to have just the right amount for a project or have as little leftovers as possible. I feel that if I have the yarn first, I'm afraid I would not have enough or have too much that I'd be reluctant to knit the project and then feel bad about having extras. There are exceptions of course, I don't mind stocking up on lace yarns.

4. I prefer tea over coffee. But I do enjoy cafe mocha occasionally.

5. I absolutely hate thick and thin bulky type yarns. Yes, I hate thick needles, too. I avoid knitting with needles bigger than a US7.

6. Whenever the weather is sunny and warm, I'm always in the mood to go biking or taking long walks with my husband.

7. I like to frame my favorite photos of me and my husband together and also favorite vacation photos to decorate the house with.

For anyone who's interested in this meme, consider yourself tagged!

Habu

2007-05-21T13:55:00.000-05:00

Look how pretty!

I was so delighted to see these Habu laceweight wool at my local yarn store. I was attracted to those beautiful neutral tones. I was never a big fan of Habu, but I'm so excited about these. Each cone has 747 yards of super fine merino wool. The cream color one will be perfect for the Orenburg Lace Triangle.

The Swallowtail Shawl is nearly done...

Today's lunch, three cheese bread (toasted with melted butter and oregano) with red pepper aioli...

More lace...

2007-05-14T12:00:00.000-05:00

Here's my new lace project, the Peacock Feathers Shawl. I'm having fun with this pattern, I think it'll be very interesting to watch the feather pattern grow. I'm happy with the way it looks being knitted on a size 1 needle. I'm using Merino Oro for the first time, it's so thin! And I thought that Zephyr was quite thin when I used it for my first lace project.

Mmm, Handmaiden Sea Silk!

I can't wait to try out this beautiful and precious silk lace yarn. I love the color! I'm thinking of turning this into the Swallowtail Shawl from IK Fall 2006.

Trellis Scarf - Done!

2007-05-04T18:00:00.001-05:00

Pattern: Trellis Scarf - Interweave Knits Spring 2006
Yarn: Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud "sand" - less than 1 hank
Needles: US3 24" Addi's circulars
Modifications: used US3 intead of US5 needles called for.

My aunt's birthday present is complete! And I finished it before my deadline, too. I didn't talk a lot about this project because there wasn't anything important to say about the progress.

This project was very enjoyable for me, the pattern is easy to memorize after working a few repeats and easy to knit with just glancing at the chart periodically. Working the K7tog clusters are almost effortless as long as you purl the row before very loosely.

I can't wait for her to receive this, I hope she'll be surprised.

Some recent yarn shopping:

It was perfect shopping weather that day and I was in a very good mood after having a few days of dreary and cloudy weather. I bought a whole pack of this yarn from one of my favorite yarn store. It's Cashsoft DK in sage, I just can't get enough of the Cashsoft line, fairly reasonably priced for the quality, I love it. I'm using this to start another sweater for my husband. I was working on Jarrett for him but I want to put that on hold because I think I need to redo one of the fronts, and I don't feel like fixing it right now.

Uptown Boot Socks - Done!

2007-04-19T15:05:00.000-05:00

Pattern: Uptown Boot Socks from Favorite Socks
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in "gold hill"
Needles: US1 (2.25mm) Crystal Palace bamboo dpn's
Modifications: knitted 2" of the ribbing instead of 2.5", 5" of the leg instead of 8".

I don't think I would be using this yarn again anytime soon. The colors of Lorna's Laces are beautiful, but I just don't like the yarn quality. I prefer a soft merino or any of my favorite 4-ply yarns. This gold hill colorway is lovely and I'm happy to have knit something with it.

After knitting a few inches on the first sock, I was uncertain about my choice of using a variegated yarn. I wasn't sure if all those colors would hide the cable designs. I thought of changing the yarn but I'm happy I decided to keep going. I think it turned out pretty nice.

I'm looking forward to knitting some of the other beautiful designs in this wonderful new book. There's the Anniversary Socks (Nancy Bush), or the Waving Lace Socks (Evelyn A. Clark) that I'm thinking of starting next.

I'm thinking of using the merino 4-ply yarn that I bought during a recent trip to Hong Kong. It's in a beautiful deep olive shade very similar to the original. But it's difficult to let go of "souvenir yarn" if you know what I mean. Maybe I should just go to the yarn store tomorrow and see what I find...

I crave lace...

2007-04-15T23:40:00.000-05:00

To satisfy my lace craving, I started on the "Trellis Scarf" from IK spring 2006, using Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud in "sand".

This is something I need to be knitting anyway, I want this to be a gift for my favorite aunt, who's birthday is next month. I hope she'll like the color. I'm knitting as neatly as I can, she's an expert knitter, I want to show her how much I've learned over the years and that this is a craft I sincerely want to continually improve on.

I have 342 rows left before the scarf is complete. If I knit 15-16 rows per day for the next 22 days, I'll be done in early May and still have plenty of time for the package to ship overseas.

It's a beautiful design. I think the K7tog clusters are very pretty (worth the effort!).

New yarns, and a pretty cable sock

2007-04-09T10:25:00.000-05:00

"Uptown Boot Socks" from Favorite Socks. I'm using Lorna's Laces in "gold hill".

I like the allover cable pattern, it's a pretty design. When the second one is done, this will be the first completed pair of socks in a long time. I've immediately cast on right after the first one. I'm determined to overcome second sock syndrome.

Meanwhile, the stash grows...

sock yarns, lace yarns and a book...

The Gossamer Webs Design Collection
Louet Gems Pearl "linen grey"
Ornaghi Filati Merino Oro "dark sage"
Knit Picks Shadow "vineyard heather"
Knit Picks Essential "fawn"
Knit Picks Gloss "dusk"

The Knit Picks Essential (bottom left on the photo above) is much prettier and softer than I expected, can't wait to try it out.

The Gossamer Webs Design Collection book reminded me about this lace shawl from the Interweave Knits Summer 2000 issue.

Orenburg Lace Triangle by Galina Khmeleva

I was so happy when I found a used copy. I originally wanted to make this in red (some Zephyr in the stash), but I want to look for something in off-white, just like traditional Orenburg shawls that are originally made in the natural colors of goat down.

Ribbon-tied wool vest

2007-03-29T13:45:00.000-05:00

Pattern: "Ribbon-tied wool vest" from Simple Knits for Cherished Babies by Erika Knight
Yarn: RYC Cashsoft 4-ply in cream 433 - less than 2 balls
Needles: US 2, 3 Addi's circulars

I've had this baby knits book in my library since last February. It's good to finally knit something from it. I want to give this to my friend's baby girl whose almost three months.

I love the eyelet and ribbon detail.

After grafting the shoulder seams, I didn't think the ridge from the three needle bind off was that attractive. But this technique is actually quite suitable for a baby garment with a simple design like this one, because it does allow the piece to lie flatter and seems to be a more comfortable fit with a less bulky seam.

China - Part II (Hong Kong)

2007-03-16T10:55:00.000-05:00

Bank of China Tower

After spending five exciting days in Beijing, I was back in Hong Kong just in time for the Chinese new year holiday. I enjoyed spending time with a lot of my relatives, it was a very pleasant family reunion.

Hong Kong's cityscape is beautiful and vibrant. Too bad I couldn't get a good shot because of the fog. I feel a little embarrassed posting these...

View of HK's cityscape on top of Victoria Peak

The next day, I took a ride on one of these...

to visit the Big Buddha in Lantau Island.

Tian Tan Buddha

I did make time to go to at least one LYS!

I bought some 4-ply yarn for a pair of socks, a pink chibi, and a pair of circular Addi's.

I almost couldn't believe the cost of the Addi's. It was 30 HKD, that's less than 4.00 USD!!! Four dollars! Not that I needed another pair of 3mm, I just couldn't let myself leave the store without buying one at this price. $4.00??!

China - Part I (Beijing)

2007-02-26T11:35:00.000-05:00

I just came back home two days ago from my three week journey in China. Just wanted to share a few pictures.

Temple of Heaven
The symbol of Beijing, built over 500 years ago, isn't it beautiful?

Temple of Heaven
(Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests)

Temple of Heaven
(Imperial Vault of Heaven)

Great Wall

Climbing up this section of the Great Wall requires good physical endurance. The slope is incredibly steep. It took me about an hour with breaks in between to reach the top. The view is worth all the effort.

Forbidden City

Inside the Summer Palace

Bronze Qilin statue

Marble Boat

Pictures of Hong Kong will be in the next post!

Icarus Shawl - Finished!

2007-01-21T17:45:00.000-05:00

Pattern: Icarus Shawl - Interweave Knits Summer 2006
Yarn: Madil Kid Seta (70% mohair, 30% silk) - color: 463
Needles: US 3 (3.25mm) Addi Turbo circular

My first time using a laceweight mohair, I immediately liked it after knitting the first few stitches. I was never fond of mohair until I noticed this yarn last summer at the yarn store and thought it would look very nice for this shawl.

This yarn (almost exactly like Rowan Kid Silk Haze) knits up nicely but it can be unpleasant when you need to rip back. I made quite a bit of mistakes and I remember I had to undo up to two rows more than once. And by the time I realized I needed to rip back, the fibers have already started sticking together, making the ripping process considerably slow. But it's still a very nice yarn to knit with, it turns into a wonderful piece of fabric.

Do you notice that almost two inches of the bottom edge is a different shade of pink than the rest of the shawl? It's my own fault, I underestimated the amount of yarn I needed.

It feels so good to be done finally. So now, back to knitting the rest of Jarrett. It'll be nice if I can finish it before I leave for Hong Kong in two weeks.

Plans

2007-01-16T16:11:00.000-05:00

My progress on Jarrett has been slow lately. I just finished making travel arrangements to go to Hong Kong and Beijing in February for three weeks. I'm spending five days in Beijing to see the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and various other places. The remainder of the trip will be spent in HK exploring the city and visiting relatives. I'll be spending Chinese New Year in HK for the first time in so many years.

I wrote down a few yarn shops that I want to visit in HK. I want to look for unique items like Japanese patterns.

I didn't have any problems getting through security with my Addi's during recent flights to and from Europe. So I'm hoping it'll be ok again this time because I can't imagine 15 hours of free time without knitting.

Happy 2007!

2007-01-04T10:49:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Best wishes for 2007!

This book just came out two days ago. I've been looking forward to the release day. It's a beautiful hardcover book, Classic Knits by Erika Knight.

The deep v-neck sweater on the cover was enough to make me want to buy it. The pattern suggests a lightweight cotton blend yarn, but I think I'll prefer a warm wool blend instead. There's also a round-neck cardigan in fine-weight mohair and a pretty camisole in fingering-weight yarn with a cute cable detail. These designs are delicate, feminine and absolutely wearable. I'm excited just thinking about what yarns to get.

Jarrett Progress

I still have the right front and one more sleeve to knit before making the buttonbands and collar. I started blocking the pieces that are done.

I can't wait to finish and give this to my husband. I've been very good at knitting this sweater without distractions from other projects. Hope I get through the boring finishing quickly because I'm so anxious to start something else on my to-knit-list, most likely the Isla sweater. And also this lovely Kid Silk Haze cardigan.

Isla

2006-12-19T11:58:00.000-05:00

"Isla" from Rowan's A Season's Tale

A few months ago, I started making the Isla sweater from Rowan's A Season's Tale. I stopped after I completed about an inch of ribbing when I realized I wasn't enjoying it. The problem was that I couldn't stand the Yorkshire Tweed 4-ply yarn that I was using. It's not a bad yarn or anything, it just felt dry and slow to knit. I will save this yarn for a future project with a specific pattern that demands tweed. That will be more suitable. I do understand that Kim Hargreaves probably intended this sweater to be tweedy, but her designs are not only beautiful, they're versatile.

I was just talking about Isla with Blossom the other day and that conversation reinvigorated my interest for this beautiful raglan sweater! I'm looking forward to making it again. But this time, with a different yarn. So I went to Purl and bought some RYC Cashsoft 4-ply in a wonderful shade of rosy pink and a dark brown as the constrasting color used for the hem.

RYC Cashsoft 4-ply "mosaic" & "bark"

I will very likely begin making this as soon as I'm done with Jarrett. Speaking of Jarrett, here's a progress photo. The back is done and I'm in the middle of a sleeve right now.

Sweater for husband

2006-12-10T14:50:00.000-05:00

I went to Purl the other day and purchased some Cascade 220. I'm using it to make a cardigan sweater for Paul. The pattern I chose is Kim Hargreaves' "Jarrett", from Vintage Knits.

The pattern calls for a DK weight yarn, but I got gauge using the Cascade, which is a worsted weight yarn. And I even went up a needle size, too. Yeah, I'm a tight knitter.

I want to knit this as neat as possible. I really want this to look good. So I used a tubular cast-on instead of my usual long tail cast-on. It didn't take me too long to learn it, and it does make a big difference. It gives a nice and straight edge. Looks good with the ribbing. I like it!

It would be nice to have this completed in time for the holidays but I'm not going to give myself too much pressure. Whenever I give myself a deadline, it hinders productivity. So I'll just have fun with it.

Icarus Shawl update

2006-11-03T12:20:00.000-05:00

So I guess Icarus will have to wait until I come back. I'm so close. It only needs another 8 rows, plus the 4 edging rows and the bind off. But I gotta go pack and make sure I have everything I need for this trip. I'm so excited to go!

I'm taking Kim's "Tender" cardi, the Trellis Scarf from IK Spring 2006, and maybe a sock project with me.

Talk to you all when I come back!

Europe

2006-10-27T14:00:00.001-05:00

My Kim Hargreaves kit arrived this week! It took only 4 days to get here. I'm very happy that it arrived so quickly. I can't wait to cast on. I've decided to take this project with me to Europe next week. Yes, I'm taking a vacation to Europe for two weeks. A project is the first thing a knitter packs, right? :) It'll be my first time visiting Europe, my first stop will be London for two days. I'll also be travelling to France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria.

Icarus progress

The tail design is now visible. I just completed chart 2 and have 40 more rows to go before I do the edging. The rows are getting longer and longer. I'm at the beginner of chart 3 and have over 403 stitches on the needle right now. I wonder if I can finish this before I leave for Europe.

Catching up

2006-09-07T14:34:00.000-05:00

I haven't been knitting at all for the entire month of August. I've been spending a lot of time doing outdoor things like biking, going to the beach and just enjoy being outside while it's still warm. But I do have a photo of Icarus. This is the middle of chart 2. It's finally up to the part with the designs. It's only the beginning so it's hard to see. I have another 47 rows to knit before it's done.

I went shopping today and bought another project! This is "Aelf" from the latest Rowan magazine #40. I really like the color the designer used (lavender ice) but I'm already using that color on another Rowan sweater, so I chose the color "royal", a deep purple. I really like this design, I can't wait to start it.

Icarus in Mohair

2006-08-03T15:00:00.000-05:00

I started a new lace project. This is the Icarus Shawl from the current Interweave Knits. This Kid Seta yarn is a pleasure to knit. I really like how it knits up. This mohair stuff is wonderful, it's such a gorgeous yarn. So soft and knits into a puffy and warm fabric.

I couldn't take my hands off of it, I've been working on it every evening until I'm very sleepy and can't knit anymore. I'm about to start the fourth repeat now, it's growing very fast. I'm right in the middle of the tedious portion and I'm not bored. I guess a really nice yarn like this makes all the difference.

This is my first time knitting a triangular shawl. Pretty cool. I hope I will be experience enough for the Peacock Feathers Shawl after this.

I'm excited about my new mohair addiction. I went to Brooklyn General last weekend and bought three balls of Rowan Kid Silk Spray in "pebbles". It's a gorgeous yarn. I haven't decided on a pattern for it yet. Maybe Birch?

It's been so hot these days here in New York, over a hundred degrees, it's best to just stick to knitting lace even with air conditioning.

Kimono Shawl

2006-07-28T10:20:00.000-05:00

Pattern: Kimono Shawl from Folk Shawls by Cheryl Oberle
Yarn: JaggerSpun Zephyr in "cassis" - less than 4 oz.
Needles: US 5 Lantern Moon Ebony straights
Modifications: I made 18 repeats instead of 25.

It's finished finally! I'm so happy I'm done with this shawl! I'll be wearing this to a wedding next Saturday.

Not sick of lace just yet, I went to Purl the other day and bought some Kid Seta in a pale pink to make the "Icarus Shawl" from Interweave Knits. This yarn is very much like Rowan Kid Silk Haze, it's 70% mohair, 30% silk. I was never really into mohair but I'm starting to like it.

I also bought the "Adamas Shawl" pattern by Miriam Felton as well as the Peacock Feathers Shawl pattern. I did buy all the yarn to go with it and also a few other things. This always happens, when I'm near the end of a project I always shop like crazy. All this stuff should arrive early next week.

In the meantime, I want to cast on for another sweater. I should be working on the red cable sweater I have going on, but this one is a simple long sleeve St st with raglan shaping. I've been dying to start it while working on the Kimono shawl. It's the "Isla" sweater from Rowan's A Season's Tale. I got the yarn on sale since it's being discontinued. It's the Rowan Yorkshire Tweed 4-ply in "blessed".

My growing Kimono Shawl

2006-07-06T21:35:00.000-05:00

Kimono Shawl - 7 repeats

I've been knitting the Kimono Shawl exclusively for the past few days. I just want to get this one over with because I am anxious to begin other things. I do feel bad that I'm constantly abandoning current knits for new ones. So I'm determined to do at least one repeat a day to finish this as soon as I can.

So what am I distracted with now? I've had Rowan's A Season's Tale book for a while. I bought the book specifically for the pattern Charlotte and also purchased some Rowan Kid Classic for it at the same time. I haven't started it yet and I'm saving this one for the fall.

So I was flipping through the book again the other day and realized I kind of like Isla (long sleeve raglan) as well. I was excited to see that it called for a fingering weight yarn because right now, I'm into fine gauge knitting. So I searched around for a 4-ply yarn for it and found some Yorkshire Tweed 4-ply on sale and bought 11 balls. It should arrive in a couple days. I can't wait to finish my Kimono Shawl and cast on.

Red Cable Sweater

2006-06-26T14:59:00.000-05:00

So this is what I'm making with the Lorna's Laces that I bought.

I think the cable patterns on this Debbie Bliss sweater are gorgeous. This is from the Pure Silk Book. I'm substituting the silk for wool to make it suitable for cold weather. I love this "cranberry" colorway. Lorna's hand-dyed yarns are just lovely, I like the subtle variations in the color.

It's always fun starting new projects. Yesterday evening, I just couldn't wait any longer and cast on for the Orenburg shawl. I've been waiting until finally deciding on the right color. More on this later!

2006-06-20T13:33:00.001-05:00

Thanks for all the nice comments from the last post.

The color I'm using is "cassis". The needles are Lantern Moon US5 12" ebony straights. I bought 4 ounces (1260yds) of it and so far, I used up about 300 yards.

Those of you who expressed interest in making one, you might find it quite monotonous after a few repeats, but don't let that discourage you! The pattern is simple but it's still very pretty and worth the effort. Good luck!

Speaking of Zephyr, I bought more on a recent trip to Philly. I got it from Rosie's Yarn Cellar on Locust Street. I might use this for the Orenburg Lace Triangle that I've been thinking about. I've mentioned this pattern before on previous posts, it's from the Summer 2000 issue of Interweave Knits.

Zephyr in "claret"

I have so many projects in mind. I was at Purl the other day and bought a bunch of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in "cranberry". I might use this for a cable sweater. I'm still thinking about it, so I'll talk more about it later.

Lorna's Laces in "cranberry"

Orangina

2006-05-24T17:23:00.000-05:00

Pattern: Orangina by Stephanie Japel
Yarn: Rowan 4 ply cotton "provence" - 3 balls
Needles: US2 24" circulars
Modifications: Cast on 9 less stitches for the smallest size, went down one needle size.

This summer top is a lot of fun and very easy to knit. The lace pattern is easy to memorize. A nice quick project finished in less than two weeks. The fit turned out to be just right with the modifications. I used a warm iron to press the top edges flat. I'm surprised I only needed two and a half balls. The smallest size called for five. I knew there would be leftovers, it's just more than I expected.

It's about time I finished something. It's been a while since my last completed project. Now I'm going to continue on my lace shawls again. I can use a break from the cotton. It's definitely not my favorite kind of yarn to knit with. But cotton makes perfect sense for the season. And I really like this shade of lilac.

Here's a progress photo of the Kimono Shawl.

Wendy

2006-05-22T13:26:00.000-05:00

I've been reading Wendy's blog since last March. Besides the fact that her knitting is incredible, her blog is one of my favorite because her writing is so enjoyable. She posts five days a week and every single one of them is a delight. I was so pleased when I found out she was coming to New York to sign her book.

So on Sunday, I went to Knitty City to attend her book signing. I was such a dork! I couldn't go up to say hello until towards the end when it was time for signing. I was just really shy and nervous and embarrassed. What was I thinking?! She was very nice to me anyway and let me take a picture with her.

Anyway, so Wendy read from her book, answered questions and talked to all of us. Time went by quick of course. She also showed us her qiviut wrist warmers. They are unbelievable! Qiviut is so soft and delicate, it is so beautiful. Kay took a picture of it here. Yes! Kay was there! It was really nice meeting her, too.

Orangina

I've been knitting Orangina for the past few days. I'm using Rowan 4 ply cotton in "provence". I really didn't need to start this when I'm already in the middle of so many projects. But I saw Felicia cast on for it and I couldn't help myself.

Knit whatever

2006-05-03T19:36:00.000-05:00

"Kimono Shawl"

There are projects waiting for me to finish, but they can wait. I just want to knit whatever I feel like these days. I'll knit anything that entertains me, if it looks exciting, I'm casting on for it. Guilty for neglecting the WIP's? Nah! It's my hobby, just want to have fun, that's all.

I'm preoccupied with a bunch of things that I ordered online that came in the mail last week, more yarns and more patterns. I started "Kimono Shawl" from Folk Shawls using some Zephyr I bought. That's one repeat so far in the photo above. It's a pleasure to knit this using my ebony straights. They're pointy enough for the decreases. A lot of you know how frustrating it can be when using needles that are just too blunt for lace.

This is the reason for the insane price I paid for the magazine I bought from Ebay. The "Orenburg Lace Triangle" by Galina Khmeleva. Shawl patterns are everywhere, but this particular one seems very unique. This pattern is not too difficult, it does require picking up stitches and short rows, nothing I haven't done before, but it'll be my first time doing them on 2mm needles.

Another distraction is this, the "Trellis Scarf" in the current issue of Interweave Knits. I'm using the called for yarn, Knit Picks' Alpaca Cloud in "smoke". Ms. Clark consistently comes up with pretty, pretty lace patterns.

Spinning!

2006-04-24T14:41:00.000-05:00

I've always been curious about spinning and have been wanting to learn it for a while now. And especially from seeing all the masters do it from time to time. The process of how fibers are spun into yarn has always been a mystery to me. I know it's done using wheels or drop spindles but just never saw it actually happening.

So on Friday, I was just browsing the internet looking at yarns when I realized it's been a while since my last visit to The Yarn Tree, a lovely store in Brooklyn. Knowing that they carry all the materials needed for spinning, I decided to go there that evening. I couldn't even wait until the next day Saturday, I just suddenly had an urge to buy fiber and learn to spin and couldn't bear to wait overnight. Actually, it's funny, that's exactly how I got started with knitting, I just suddenly wanted to.

The owner Linda who's really nice, and very cheerful, helped me pick out what I wanted. I bought some Ashland Bay merino in a maroon color, a drop spindle, and a book to teach me how it's done. I could've just signed up for a spinning class but I wanted to try it out on my own first.

While I was there, I also bought some Tencel yarn in this beautiful rich mauve shade. Interesting stuff, it's made from wood pulp. It has a wonderful luster and is very soft. I want to use it as a laceweight yarn, I think it'll work out nicely, we'll see.

Tencel yarn - 4 oz.

Speaking of laceweight yarn, I placed an order for some JaggerSpun Zephyr in Aegean Blue and Cassis, 4 ounces each, and also some Knit Picks' Alpaca Cloud.

I do have projects in mind for all of them. The Alpaca Cloud will become the "Trellis Scarf" by Evelyn A. Clark in the Spring 2006 issue of Interweave Knits. The Aegean Blue Zephyr is for a shawl in the book "Folk Shawls" that's also coming in the mail this week. And I plan to use the Cassis Zephyr for the beautiful "Orenburg Lace Shawl" by Galina Khmeleva in the Summer 2000 issue of Interweave Knits!

This out-of-print back issue of IK is pretty hard to find. I've looked around a few times and no one seemed to have it until somebody finally decided to sell her copy on Ebay. I was so excited when I saw it, I was very lucky to have searched at the right time. I hardly ever buy used items, I turned to Ebay as a last resort. So since it was the one and only copy at the moment (who knows when another one will appear), I watched it constantly for three days and placed a bid three minutes before the auction ended and luckily, I was not outbid in the last few seconds. And the price I paid plus shipping was still under my maximum bid. All of the people who placed bids for it seemed to have wanted it pretty badly too.

Anyway, back to the spinning. So far, here's some slubby thick and thin singles, very sloppy as you can see. I kept letting the twist travel up to the fiber supply. And I need a lot of practice on my drafting.

Progress

2006-04-20T21:58:00.000-05:00

Remember this project from this post? I picked it up again this week. It's nice to be in a lace knitting mood again, I almost forgot how much fun lace can be. Yesterday I kept making mistakes and losing count of the stitches and had to rip back three times. It's better now, so here's 22 rows so far, still not much. I'm having fun making it and watching it grow.

Last week, I finished reading Stephanie's third book "Knitting Rules!". It's wonderful, she's hilarious! I kept laughing out loud! The chapter on socks is one of my favorite. The entire book is brilliant. It's very funny.

Socks and a New Project

2006-04-05T16:00:00.000-05:00

Friday Harbor Sock

I made another Friday Harbor sock using Patons Kroy Socks in a light grey. I'm not sure if I still like the color of the Koigu I was originally using when I first knitted this pattern a few months ago, I probably won't get back to that one, oh well. Hope I won't let this grey one stay single forever, we'll see.

I've been in a mood to knit socks lately, especially after seeing Wendy's beautiful feather and fan socks using this,

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock "gold hill"

I really like this "gold hill" colorway. I'll probably choose a simple pattern or even just stockinette and a rib cuff for this yarn. Those colorful stripes alone are beautiful enough to stand out, in my opinion. I tend to favor simpler patterns for socks when using self-striping yarns. If a pattern is interesting enough with intricate or elaborate designs, I lean towards solid or semi-solid colors so the designs would get to stand out more, like the Friday Harbor socks. The wonderful Jaywalker socks by Grumperina are beautiful either way, with stripes or a solid color.

Look how beautiful this is!

Felicia's hand-dyed superwash 100% merino wool in "vintage cherry".

I was very lucky to be one of the first to see this and quickly placed an order for it before anyone else did because her stuff goes really fast. I'm so silly, I'm such a hoard, I don't care, it's really soft, I love it!

So the Cascade 220 in the lovely pink/coral I bought recently will become Hourglass instead of a cable sweater that I originally planned on knitting the yarn with. The swatch I made felt soft enough for Hourglass so I cast on and made this much so far.

Inventory

2006-03-28T11:00:00.000-05:00

The size of my yarn stash is still relatively small... for now. It is very likely that I will continue to acquire more yarn in the future, so I might as well start practicing on being more organized.

I've been wanting to do this for a while now, so I went shopping and bought a few containers and some cedar & lavender moth balls fom The Container Store.

So here's almost all of the yarn that I've been accumulating for the past year. They're all spread out on my dining table so I can see exactly what I have. My stash is not large enough that I can't remember what I have, so no need to sort them by weight or anything, just want them to be stored neatly and to protect them from wool damaging pests. All my favorites and the good stuff gets to go inside the containers along with the lavender oil infused cedar balls.

I purposely didn't buy enough containers for all of the yarn, at least not yet. The ones that didn't fit went into ziploc bags. I know it's quite normal :) for a typical obsessed knitter like me to buy more than they can knit, but I should really try to control myself, so having a limited amount of space for yarn can maybe serve as a constant reminder that I should knit up X amount before I go shop for X amount.

Right now I'm creating a detailed itemized list of my stash on a spreadsheet. It'll also be a good way for me to keep track of how much I'm spending on this expensive hobby.

Hourglass? or Cable Sweater?

2006-03-22T11:56:00.000-05:00

Haven't been knitting as much as I'd like to, so that explains the lack of blogging material these days. But I did finish all the major pieces of Salina, it still needs cuffs and a collar before I do the seams.

Remeber this swatch? So I blocked it and noticed it got even more soft. Is it just me? This is not my first time using this yarn, and for some reason, it's noticeably softer and also slightly thinner than some of my previously purchased Cascade 220. Maybe this is a better batch?

I like this yarn a lot and I'm thinking of using this for Hourglass from Last Minute Knitted Gifts instead of the cable sweater from Rebecca 30. Until I make up my mind, I should really work on all the other lovely knits that I've been neglecting.

More on my "To Knit List"

2006-03-08T10:56:00.000-05:00

Ever since working on Salina for two weeks straight, it seems like I've been nonchalantly adding more projects on my "to knit list". So my "In Progress" list will just naturally get longer and longer. Anyway, can't worry about that now, just look at these! I went to Barnes & Noble yesterday and picked up a copy of the new Interweave Knits. These two are my favorite, I want!!!

"Trellis Scarf"

"Prairie Tunic"

I did swatch for the Rebecca Cable Sweater, I really like this color, normally I wouldn't choose a shade with coral in it, but it's very pretty. I think I'll get close enough to the correct gauge, so I'll go ahead and cast on very soon.

Cascade 220 "baby rose heather"

Look what I made for dinner last night, I love one dish meals, so easy.

Chicken and vegetables stir-fry

Cable Sweater

2006-03-06T13:03:00.000-05:00

The husband and I spent a beautiful Saturday afternoon walking around Soho and Chinatown. Since Purl was right there, I had to stop by for some of this

to make this.

Cable Sweater from Rebecca 30

The yarn is Cascade 220 in the color "baby rose heather". When I first saw the color on their website, I thought it would be pink, but it's actually a very soft coral and pink. I like these kind of colors that can't be described with just one word.

This squishy yarn (not at all scratchy) comes in a wide range of colors, in 100g hanks. The quantity and the color selection is what makes this yarn such a good value, in my opinion.

This pattern was the reason I bought the Rebecca 30 magazine when it came out last year. No rush to finish this, winter will be over very soon where I am, and I think cables will still be in style next winter.

Lace with Beads

2006-03-03T23:23:00.000-05:00

Continental cast-on, with beads

"Hanging Garden Lace Stole" by Sivia Harding

I haven't forgotten about Salina, just taking a break, I miss working on other things, I like having mulitple projects, the variety keeps me happy :)

This was already cast on before the Knitting Olympics, I blogged about it here not too long ago.

There are 107 stitches per row, 48 rows = 1 repeat, I need to make 12 of these repeats. Hmm, sounds like I'll be knitting this for a very long time. And this is lace, I make mistakes with lace, and undoing lace is no fun. My first lace project really tested my patience. There was a lot of undoing going on. Since it was knitted in the round starting from the center, there were 500+ stitches per round towards the end. When I knitted up to that point, it was scary, I had to undo two of those long rounds a few times to correct mistakes, because every other round is just purl, so the "activity" happens every other round. Of course, the ones caught early were not as painful. Not complaining, it came out beautiful. It was my most challenging knit so far. I learned so much from that project.

We'll see how I do with this one. I'll have a picture of it with at least one repeat very soon. So far, it's not much, 9 rows...

Knitting Olympics - Day 16

2006-02-26T18:22:00.000-05:00

Again, I've underestimated the time it takes to complete a project. Here's the back, front and half a sleeve of Salina... so no medal for me...

I was really hoping to finish it in time and I'm sad. But I'm still proud and happy that I participated in this challenge, it was a lot of fun knitting it while watching the games in Torino almost every night since the opening ceremony. And also proud of the amount I did, it's relatively good progress for a long-sleeve DK weight sweater in two weeks, so definitely an exciting and worthwhile two weeks for me nonetheless.

Knitting Olympics - Day 12's Progress

2006-02-23T19:56:00.000-05:00

Only two days left and I'm still working on Salina's front. And I still have two sleeves to knit. I'm not giving up just yet, but it looks like I'm running out of time. But I'll try my best, so tonight, I plan to finish the front and cast on for sleeve 1 and hopefully go half way but that's hard. And for tomorrow, finish sleeve 1 and work on sleeve 2 and hopefully finish it. And on Saturday evening, do all the finishing. If I don't go skiing on Saturday I'll have a better chance, but I kind of want to go, we'll see, maybe I can bring Salina with me and work on it a little in the car on the way to the slopes? Anyway, tonight's the ladies' figure skating finals! I'm looking forward to seeing Sasha skate!

Knitting Olympics - Day 6's Progress

2006-02-20T11:54:00.000-05:00

This is where I left off on Thursday, not a lot of progress on the front. I'm not knitting this as fast as I expected. I was distracted during my fun weekend shopping and ice skating. I stopped by Barnes and Noble and bought these two books. Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush and Simple Knits for Cherished Babies by Erika Knight.

I'm thinking of knitting more for baby Danielle, the Debbie Bliss jacket I made for her was so much fun. Maybe this cute dress?

The bear pattern is what made me buy the book, it's so cute and simple to make. So many pretty designs and so little time. And I want to make socks, too. I just love the sock patterns by Nancy Bush. I need to make a pair already. After the Olympics, definitely socks and these socks.

Knitting Olympics - Day 4's Progress

2006-02-15T17:06:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone (the ones who celebrate 2/14) had a nice Valentine's Day yesterday. The husband and I had Japanese for dinner, it was very good.

Here's Salina's progress and finally a shot of it in sunlight. The back you see here is almost done. I like the waist shaping in this sweater. Can't wait to see how it'll look on me. I hope to finish the back and get started on the front or a sleeve tonight during the women's downhill skiing. It's great knitting in front of the tv, I've been getting so much done!

Knitting Olympics - Day 2

2006-02-12T22:14:00.000-05:00

The blizzard from last night left us with at least 20" of snow to shovel today. It took us about 3 hours to finish, but we did take breaks in between. The block where we live is a slight incline, so we had some fun and did this...

whee!

I am so sore from the shoveling, so tired, I took a long hot shower, ate some dinner and an Advil, sat down in front of the tv watching the men's halfpipe snowboarding and made 3 more inches on "Salina".

Knitting Olympics - Day 1

2006-02-11T23:14:00.000-05:00

I continued with Salina's back this afternoon during the Nordic Combined and Alpine Skiing...
5.33pm

beginning of waist shaping

I'm very happy with this color. I'm looking forward to wearing this, I like the tweed, it's nice.
9:18pmHad some dinner and made this much more before the figure skating. All the progress I made here are from one ball. I think I still have about 8-10 rows before I attach the second ball. This yarn is a good value, has good yardage. So what do you think? Not bad for day one, eh?

Knitting Olympics - Opening Day

2006-02-10T23:42:00.000-05:00

Rowan Felted Tweed - color: sigh 148

I am so excited to be doing the Knitting Olympics! So this afternoon, I went to Yarn Connection to pick up the yarn for "Salina", it was on sale! 25% off, exactly 6 balls left of this color, so lucky, it's not everyday you see Rowan stuff on sale.

During the opening ceremony, I cast on for "Salina".

Looking forward to the Alpine Skiing and Figure Skating!

Knitting Olympics 2006

2006-02-09T17:54:00.000-05:00

"Salina" from Rowan Vintage Knits

I'm in! I'm in! It was a last minute decision I signed up after the deadline but I'm in! The Knitting Olympics, hosted by Yarn Harlot. Over 3000 knitters have joined this challenge, I just have to be a part of this. I want to make "Salina" from Vintage Knits using Rowan Felted Tweed, I'm shopping for the yarn tomorrow. All current knits are to wait patiently for 16 days. "Salina" will require my full attention for the duration of the Winter Olympics.

Let the games begin!

First Attempt at Fair Isle

2006-02-08T11:14:00.000-05:00

After being tortured by Deli's demanding finishing needs, I think I'm entitled to cast on for two new projects. Two! I deserve it, no?

"Norwegian Stockings" from Folk Socks by Nancy Bush.

Where did the inspiration come from? From the talented Blossom over at Whispering Pine! Her beautiful work was so motivating, I actually bought the same exact color combination that she used. Silly me.

I bought this book a while back, just never made anything from it. I wasn't very experienced with sock knitting at the time and thought that this book would help me. Interesting book, the author gives a history lesson on early sock knitting.

This is my first attempt with fair isle knitting. I think I did ok for a first time. The stitches are pretty even. It was exciting watching the pattern come together as I knit. Very interesting and a lot of fun. I had no idea, I've been missing out! So far, no problems understanding the pattern. I love baby ull, so soft, it should get even more soft after a warm bath.

I also want to make the "Hanging Garden Lace Stole" by Sivia Harding, written for Knit Picks. I don't have a picture. Here's what I'm using.

My first lace project, the Paisley Lace Shawl, was very satisfying. Time for more lace. Who knows, I might have a special occasion in a few months when the weather gets warmer. I'll have something pretty to wear. I'll be using Knit Picks' lace-weight "Alpaca Cloud" in the color "Iris", 100% baby alpaca.

The pattern called for beads used in the cast on and cast off edge. I chose pink glass beads, it goes with the color "Iris", a heathered pale grayish color with a touch of lavender. I bought the beads in a pack of 72 at Michael's for $1.99! (The pattern called for 70 beads.) I've never knit with beads before, I hope it doesn't look tacky.

I hope I made the right decision on these two choices, we'll see, hope it won't get tossed in the reject pile.

It Fits ! ! !

2006-02-06T09:36:00.000-05:00

Here she is! Baby Danielle! Wearing her aunt Carin's creation! She's even cuter in person. I'm very proud of this sweater, it's very special, my first baby sweater for my first niece.

Patience is a Virtue

2006-02-02T17:54:00.000-05:00

"Deli" from Rowan Classic Cafe
Yarn: Rowan Cashcotton DK in "quartz"

"Deli" has got to be one of the most tedious designs ever created! And also one of the most beautiful. It's a lovely design by Martin Storey. The lacey edging, the elegant bell-sleeves, so feminine, I love it!

Knitting the long lace edging was pretty boring for me. I was so tempted to cast on for something new, but since it was so close to completion, I had to resist. Overall, the pattern is very simple, very easy to knit, I wish it was a little more fitted but I'm still happy with the results.

Thank goodness it's finished, I was getting so tired of staring at all that purple. Couldn't have done it without my Ott light, otherwise, I might have been screaming "my eyes, my eyes!" :) Nah, it's not that bad.

Deli's edge not growing fast enough

2006-01-25T16:05:00.000-05:00

Not much progress on "deli", still working on the lace edge. It's taking a long time and I hope I can finish it soon so I can move on to something else. Normally, I wouldn't hesitate to abandon a project for a while to cast on for something new. There isn't a deadline for it or anything, and I always have multiple projects going on at once, but I guess there's something about "deli" that's special.

am I long enough yet?

Look what I bought today. Misti Alpaca Lace in a very pretty neutral shade. I want to make another shawl.

100% baby alpaca, mmm

Almost There

2006-01-19T22:14:00.000-05:00

finish me already!

I'm so close to finishing this and I'm tired of knitting the lace edging already. And even when I do finish knitting it, it'll still not be over yet, I still have to attach it, and that means more sewing. (yawn)

I've been tagged by iSeL, my first meme, here it is!

Four jobs you have had in your life:
1. Assistant Manager
2. Graphic Arts Intern
3. Sales Associate at Coach, loved the discount!
4. Sales Associate at Aveda, loved the discount! (rosemary mint shampoo, smells so good)

Four (random) movies you could watch over and over:
1. Harry Potter
2. Fantastic Four
3. James Bond movies
4. Beauty and the Beast (loved it too on Broadway, it was excellent!)

Four places you have lived:
1. Hong Kong
2. Venezuela
3. New York (I'm a proud New Yorker, I'll probably live here for the rest of life)
4. That's it!

Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. Sex and the City (huge fan! have entire collection on DVD)
2. Star Trek Voyager (huge fan! have entire collection on DVD)
3. America's Next Top Model
4. City Hunter (Anime) Ryo and Kaori should hook up, really

Four places you have been on vacation:
1. Las Vegas (it was with my good friend, just us two girls, so much fun)
2. Bahamas
3. Cape Cod
4. Canada (Toronto, Montreal)

Four websites you visit daily:
1. Yahoo
2. MSNBC
3. Weather
4. Billboard

Four of your favorite foods:
1. Tiramisu (mmm, mascarpone cheese...)
2. Pasta - rigatoni alla vodka, Vincent's linguine w/ medium sauce and fried calamari)
3. Red Wine
4. SE Asian: Thai, Malaysian (love char kway teoh, shrimp phad thai)

Four places you would rather be right now:
1. Shopping in Soho with my best friend
2. The Louvre in Paris
3. Purl
4. Shopping in 34th St. with my best friend

Four Bloggers you are tagging:
do I have to tag others? what if they get mad at me? :)

1. felicia
2. blossom
3. jade
4. stitchy

Finishing "Deli"

2006-01-11T22:29:00.000-05:00

pretty lace edging

To finish "Deli", I still need to sew the seams, knit two i-cords and knit the lace edging and attaching it. Here's the edge of one of the sleeves. My finishing skills seem to be improving since the baby sweater. My seams use to be so hideous. I'm surprised at how neat this came out.

First Baby Sweater

2006-01-07T20:04:00.000-05:00

Jacket with Moss Stitch Bands
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino - pink 006
Pattern: Baby Knits for Beginners by Debbie Bliss

The baby sweater for Danielle is finished! This will be the first sweater from her aunt Carin. A quick project that was knitted, blocked and seamed in five days. This sweater is a nice pattern, I love the seed stitch, it's so cute for babies. I'm happy with my work on this, no problems with the pattern or anything, but why does finishing have to be so boring? Weaving in all those ends seemed endless. But it really is worth it, it wouldn't be complete without it.

A very thoughtful Xmas gift

2006-01-05T17:04:00.000-05:00

One of my very good friend Kristen gave me a pair of Lantern Moon needles and this beautiful needle case for Christmas. I love it! She's a knitter, too, and a very busy mom, so it's hard to see each other often. So I try to have lunch with her whenever I'm in Manhattan. This is the most thoughtful gift in a long time, from anyone, except Paul :) Thanks Kristen!

The jacket for baby Danielle is almost done, I have the back and the two fronts completed and I'm working on the sleeves. I need to shop for some buttons. I hope I do a good job picking up the stitches for the neckband.

I love this pink

Jacket for baby niece Danielle

2006-01-03T14:52:00.000-05:00

Since Danielle came into this world, I only made her a blanket. She's a little over 3 months now, and I want to make her the adorable jacket with seed stitch from Debbie Bliss' Baby Knits for Beginners. I love the patterns by Debbie Bliss, her designs are simple and so wearable. Here's the pattern and my progress on the back so far.

Baby Cashmerino is very soft and squishy, one of my favorite yarns to knit with. I'll have to put aside all my other current knits because I want to have this finished soon so it'll be ready when my sister in law comes over with her in a few weeks for Chinese New Year.

"Friday Harbor" Socks

2005-12-21T14:14:00.000-05:00

"Friday Harbor" socks from KOTR in Koigu

I love this pattern! I've never had this much fun with sock knitting before. I'm almost up to the heel now. This is the front here, and the back is ribbing. Can't wait to make another design in this book. I've been distracted with all this sock knitting that I've been neglecting my other projects, like my Jaeger sweater...

Jaeger "Genoa"

I'll get back to it soon.

Today's day two of the transit strike here in NYC. Paul drove as close as he can to the 59th St. bridge and walked an hour to the office. Hope this will be over soon.

More Sock Yarn

2005-12-19T15:36:00.000-05:00

I'm becoming a hoard for sock yarn. Well, it's not much really, it's nothing compared to some other people. I keep telling myself that, but really, no more shopping until I make more things from the stash.

Here are the recently acquired:

My favorite, "merlot" sock yarn handpainted by the talented Felicia over at sweetgeorgia.

I bought some Patons Kroy Socks 4-ply, some Koigu in #1128, it's a pretty brownish mulberry shade, Regia Jubilee "taiga" 5467, I wanted to get the "india" colorway, but they are no where to be found at the moment, grrr... And a book! Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush. There are really pretty sock patterns in here, I like almost all of the designs.

"Deli"

2005-12-07T16:36:00.000-05:00

This is "Deli" from Rowan Classic Cafe and it's what I've been working on lately. All the pieces are being blocked while I knit the edging. The Rowan Cashcotton DK is a nice yarn to knit with, great stitch definition and very soft.

Hmm, what should I make next?

"Charlotte" from Rowan - A Season's Tale and "Genoa" from Jaeger JB16

Koigu Socks

2005-12-02T16:38:00.000-05:00

I'm like the last person to knit with Koigu. After seeing others who've made beautiful socks with it, I wanted to try it out. Now I know why so many people love it. It's a great sock yarn, so soft, and comes in so many colors, solids and stripes.

Besides being addicted to yarn, I'm also a makeup junkie. Just went shopping.

And look, I made a hat.

Ribbed Hat
Yarn: Classic Elite Lush #4441 (50% angora, 50% wool)
Pattern: Striped Hat from Holiday Knits by Allison Isaacs and Sara Lucas

Finished Projects 2005

2005-11-29T16:40:00.000-05:00

Paisley Lace Shawl
Yarn: JaggerSpun Zephyr (50% merino/50% tussah silk) - elderberry
Pattern: Interweave Knits Spring 2005
Completed: 11/26/05

"Klaralund"
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden #201
Pattern: Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton Book 2
Completed: 11/3/05

Birthday Scarf for Mom
Yarn: Cascade 220 #9441
Pattern: Diagonal Rib
Completed: 10/19/05

Pink Striped Socks
Yarn: Schachenmayr Catania (100% mercerized cotton)
Pattern: simple stockinette

iPod Socks
Yarn: Rowan 4-ply Soft (100% merino wool)
Pattern: ipod socks by Barbara Breiter

First Post

2005-11-28T13:11:00.000-05:00

It was in the winter of 2000 when I decided to learn to knit. I wanted to make a scarf for Paul, who is my husband now. I had no idea where to purchase yarn, and then one day, while visiting Paul's sister in Connecticut, I went inside a JoAnn's Fabrics. I was so delighted when I saw yarn and immediately picked out 2 balls of some Lion's Brand worsted weight 75% acrylic/25% wool yarn, a pair of Susan Bates US7 aluminum straights, and a how-to book. I was new to knitting at the time so using acrylic didn't bother me. The next day, I was back in New York, reading the how-to book and attempted to cast on, knit and purl. After that, I knew I've just became totally obsessed. Sadly, the acrylic yarn never made it into a scarf, because I soon discovered many fabulous local yarn shops in Manhattan and became fascinated with natural fibers and bamboo needles. But eventually, Paul did get a merino wool scarf from me. For a few years, I made small things like scarves and socks. It was not until this year that I became more serious and decided to make sweaters. I mean, I can't call myself a knitter if I've never done a sweater, right? After all these years, I still enjoy knitting very much.

I dedicate this blog to my husband, who loves me always.