Hanami

This stole is going away to somebody. So this post is really meaningful to me.



Pattern: Hanami
Yarn: Jaggerspun Zephyr, Ice Blue
Needle: 3.5 mm Addi Lace
Size: n/a
Time to finish: < 2 weeks
Notes: I did like 2 extra repeats on the basketweave section, and skip a couple of the blossom charts. This made me wanted to knit one stole only with the basketweave pattern, which I did last month.

Dream of Lace

I hope before the year ends, I will be able to catch up on my FO reports. So here's another from 2007, which makes 2 more shawl reports to go.


Pattern: Lace Dream by Eugen Beugler, Shawls and Scarves: The Best of Knitter's Magazine
Yarn: Jaggerspun Zephyr, Sage
Needle: 3.5 mm Addi Lace
Size: n/a
Time to finish: < 2 weeks
Notes: I think I'm left with nothing to say about the yarn since I had used it countless times and will still my top choice for lace knitting. Patternwise, it sank into my brain just after a few repeats. A slight different from the usual feather and fan.

Keeping happy thoughts

My nose is all stuffed up since the start of the week. My waste paper basket is filled with scrunched up used tissue. Anyway I thought I do post up some pictures of my old FOs.

My FPS was blocked way before I own a set of blocking wires. So bear with the slight scallop edges.



Pattern: Forest Path Stole by Faina M. Letoutchaia
Yarn: ColourMart Cashmere/Silk 2/36NM Lace Weight
Needle: US 2½ / 3.0 mm Addi Turbo
Size: n/a
Time to finish: 5 weeks and more than a year to take FO photos.
Notes: Finished up to 21st tier. I'm not a fan of nupps but still I did not omit any of them.

Shawls Overload

Overloaded with the number of shawls. I think I miss out a few others which are hiding somewhere in the room. Click on the picture to find out about them.

Demi - modelled

She was looking for Demi, so I took the chance to get her to model for me.

Thanks for all the well wishes. The actual preparations for the Chinese Customary wedding had just take a tiny step. *sweat*

on the WIP front, Venezia is up to 1 repeat of the color chart. and I did start Diamond Top from Runway Knits with the remains of a frogged WIP. more pics on the next post soon.

Embossed Leaves Socks

These were really simple and fast to knit up. I hardly like cuff down patterns, cuz I can't try them on as I knit. However, I don't knit socks as often as I knit shawls. So here's pictures first and details at the end of this post.

Pattern: Embossed Leaves Socks, from Favourite Socks
Yarn: Gems Opal in Fern, used 2 hanks with plenty of left over for my Asian feet.
Needle: Crystal Palace Bamboo DPNS, 2.25mm, US 1
Size: n/a
Time to finish: more than a week
Modification: I did 1 less repeat for the insteps.
Afterthoughts: I really love the DPNs, its one thing which I would use besides Addi's. I thought the yarn played a part in making this project smooth sailing. I had heard so much about this yarn which made me yearn some for a sock project. I wanted to give thanks to Susan for making this possible. Now I'm craving for more of the Gems.

Despite tinking a couple of times, the pattern was easy to follow. I had it at the back of my brain after 2 repeats.

Subsequently, I managed to finish another project last weekend. Seems like I have a backlog of FOs to be documented. For those on Ravelry, you might have already saw this pair of socks much earlier. I update more over there than I do here.

Back to work for now.

Demi - no more cables

The yarn for Demi had been sitting inside the stash for quite awhile. It came in handy when I wanted to just knit from stash. First of all, I quite like the ribbings and how it turned out. Also the chart was easy to memorise, although it does look rather complicated at first. The texture which Rowanspun produced is just lovely in my opinion. Fitting wise, I did the smallest size and followed the instructions closely. Now I just need to find some matching buttons. Nonetheless, I consider Demi a FO.

1. Demi, 2. Front close up, 3. Center panel of the chart, 4. Side Seam
Pattern: Demi, from Vintage Knits, Rowan
Yarn: Rowanspun Aran in Heath colorway, 4 plus a tiny fraction of the 5th skein.
Needle: Addi Turbo 5mm, Inox 4.5mm
Size: 30/32
Time to finish: over 4 weeks

a-Blaze-d

I'm still wondering when did I get this yarn, nevermind that. It was simply saddening that the project came to an end and I no longer get to play with it. I was inspired by her version and went digging into the stash. Found what I was looking for and never looked back.

Pattern: Blaze, from Knitty, by Jenna Adorno.
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpaca Silk in Slate, 5 skeins
Needle: Inox 3.75mm
Size: 30/32
Time to finish: Under 3 weeks
A close up of the collar/yoke.
I love how such simple cabling can create such an effect.

Beaded Cami - Beadless

I guessed that the cami will still look cute even without the beads and I was right on. I add extra decreases so that the body will be left with the same number of stitches as the yoke. However, I had some miscalculation and had to do decreases for the yoke piece. Also, instead of bind off and sew on the yoke, I grafted both pieces together. Looks pretty seamless to me though. Lastly, I find that 2 extra crochet chains are more secure so those were added.


Pattern: Beaded Cami by Black Dog Knits
Yarn: Puppy Yarn - Kona Cotton, 4.5 balls (40g each)
Needle: Addi Turbo 3.5mm
Size: Small
Time to finish: A week plus

This is one of the brand which is very sought after by me, since its unavailable here. Unless I'm able to decipher what's on Rakuten.co.jp and have it ship to me direct, it would take me another trip to Hong Kong for MORE! With the hike of yarn prices here, it just makes more sense to explore new yarns online.

Summertime Tunic

The last I posted a FO was in June. Since then I had a lot of problem making my computer and mobile phone communicate with each other. So I guess there will be some overdue FOs to be shown. First up is the Summertime Tunic.
Pattern: Summertime Tunic from Interweave Knits Summer 07
Yarn: Sea Queen - Linen Cotton
Needle: Addi Turbo 3.75mm
Size: Smallest
Time to finish: Almost a weekI used 1.5m of chinese knotting thread and 2 craved wooden beads as embellishments. The tunic was an easy knit. The only thing which was not to my liking is the rolled up edges. In order to avoid it, I used the sewn-up hem method. Indeed, the hem did not roll up as badly as it would have.
The yarn was bought during the Hong Kong trip. Something which was not found in Singapore and I just have to try it. A pretty fine blend of 70% cotton with 30% linen. Turns out that the knitted material is soft and light. Hope to try other range from Sea Queen too.

WIP Sunday night

Alright, I finally managed to connect my mobile to my computer. Quite a few pictures have been taken but these came out the best. Amd remember to take a look at this post, I updated it with a WIP photo. Blaze was long finished, like in August?

Standby for some WIPs pics, all of them were already "transformed" into FOs.
Tweed Beret which lacks a little block.
Both Lace Dream and Hanami which survived from the blade.
I guess I have plenty of blocking ahead of me. Also I've started on the Mimialist Cardigan and, Clementine Shawlette is waiting to have the other half cast on.

Kikimomonono

I really took my time to blog about my FOs right? Anyways, Kimono was finished before Louise got home, and managed to show her how nice Zephyr is for a shawl project.


Pattern: Kimono from Folk Shawls
Yarn: Jaggerspun Zephyr, Lady Slipper, <4oz
Needle: Inox 3.5mm
Size: N/A
Time to finish: less than 2 weeks.

I did a few more repeats than required since there's more than enough yarn. Zephyr has amazing yardage. I had also switched needle size, 3.5mm has been my favourite size for lace shawls. This stole is not well blocked, which is a little disappointment. All it needs is to be stretched out by the blocking wires. If only someone can send me a set, I would be forever grateful!

I've a few mistake during the beginning, but they were not vital. I did rip back a few rows during of the meetups cuz I mess up the stitch counts. It was painful but still bearable. The pattern only became part of me after 10 repeats, so I would say its an easy pattern to memorise. Mistakes like forgotten yarnovers are easy to fix, so fret not.

Fila di Nerissa

Ok, I am just that bad with titles. I was destashing very hard for the past couple of months, as I foresee new stash on their way. And I'm glad that I got the latest issue of Rowan 41. It helped me get rid of 4 balls and 3 balls remains. If anybody wants them, its going at US$18 for the whole lot of 3. (inclusive of shipping).

Ok here comes Nerissa.
Pattern: Nerissa from Rowan 41
Yarn: Filatura di Crosa Millefili Fine- 100% cotton, Shade 209, 4 balls
Needle: Clover metal, size 5, 3.6mm
Size: XS
Time to finish: less than 2 weeks.
I had a really hard time trying to catch the truest color for the yarn. The closest is probably the first picture. A very soft and easy yarn to work with. Of course, good stitch definition.

Pattern-wise, its very easy, the stitch pattern is easily memorise after a couple of repeats. Amongst Rowan patterns, Nerissa has the least finishings to be done. I tried to follow closely to the instructions, 'cept for the length cuz I was using something with a smaller gauge.

With the lack of models, I am not able to show u how stretchy the stitch pattern is. Do not worry if it look smaller than usual while knitting. That'e the way how ribbing looks like.




Last but not least, I give thanks to all who left comments about my Teal Feathers. Thank you so much!

Teal Peacock Feathers

This FO had been in the closet for a few months. I was just too lazy to take it out. This is probably one of those which I will keep. And since I took it out today, I might as well take plenty of pictures of it. So may I present to you the Peacock in all its glory.


Pattern: Peacock Feathers Shawl by Fiddlesticks
Yarn: Jaggerspun Zephyr - Teal, less than 4 oz
Needle: 3.5mm Inox grey, size 5 crochet hook (I might be wrong about the hook size)
Size: n/a
Time to finish: 6 weeks

This was started last year right. It did not get finished till before Chinese New Year. Why? Cuz it wasn't portable as it was knitted from a cone. (I can jolly well see myself knitting from a cone very soon.) Anyways, then came the blocking. My back was aching after spending more than an hour pining and getting the edging into shape. But all was worth it!

The pattern is well organized. The charts are easy to follow. The design is very intelligent to create the feather motifs, especially the "eyes". The only dread is to crochet the edgings, but they were the icings on the cake.

Jaggerspun is a true winner for lace projects. Whenever I start looking for lace weight yarns, it is always Zephyr that came to mind. I still have 1 lb of 4 different shades to play with.

I shall leave you with more pictures.

Pomatomus

I got my parcel of sock yarns weeks ago. I thought I do finish the shawl before casting on for another project. I had my mind on a few different sock yarn brands and various colorways. And I had the perfect chance to get a few hanks of yarns at a good discount. Hence the shipping is kind of waived.

I did not suffer from Second Sock Syndrome this round and hope never to have it again. I cast on for the second sock just before I did the turning of heel for the first one. So the progress of each sock was on par with one another. Finally took some pics to proof I've been knitting during the absence.



Pattern: Pomatomus by Cookie A.
Yarn: Interlacements Tiny Toes in Submarine, 2 hanks
Needle: 2.5mm Addi Turbo
Size: n/a
Time to finish: 2 weeks

The yarn is nice and stretchy for a 100% superwash merino fiber. I have like 30 grams of yarn left (I have a average Asian feet size US 6). Due to too many sock yarns on stash, it will probably take me sometime to get more of Interlacement. Perhaps my camera ate some of the vibrance, its pretty in real life.

FO report

First FO in 2007,yeah!

Pattern: Lucy in the Sky by Laura Chau
Yarn: 7 balls of Debbie Bliss Merino DK, Color 225003.
Needle: 4mm Addi Turbo
Size: secong smallest size (bust 33")
Time to finish: 3 weeks

I was trying to destash these merino yarns, and the first ball went through a few swatchings but it just wasn't what I was looking for. When I first started Lucy, I wasn't sure how it would turn out. The yarn itself was pretty OK. The sleeves were shorten by 1 inch and that's the only modification. It fits pretty well so I have to watch my weight in order to make more wears out of it. Here's some close up of the diamonds.