On swaps

my SP8 hostess posted this question "Someone has stolen your stash and all your books: now what are you going to do?"
- This would be the best excuse to start stashing without feeling guilty.
- I should start a new life without knitting, take up something like going to the gym 3-4 times a week.
- Get back into my social life.

But then, I really want to do the first one. Knitting has become a huge part of me. It would be painful to let go of it.

Recently I have participate myself in a couple of more swaps. First on hand would be Yarn Aboard II. And I have a messenge to my pal. Dear Pal, whoever you are, I think I did not mentioned in the questionaires that I wish the least for fair isle sock yarns. Anyway, you should have a lot of time to plan my box.

Next up is Knitters Lace Swap. If you are my pal, do listen up. I'm fine with most lace weight yarns. If you are sending me Jaggerspun Zephyr, please send colors in neither Aegean Blue nor Teal. I have loads of them to last me many projects over.

Frost Flowers & Leaves Update #3

It's been more than 3 months since I started on FFL. In between there were distractions and I can't help but felt the lace pattern was monotonous. Good thing about monotonous is that I don't have to refer to the chart for every single stitch. The pattern is systematic but I still managed to live with a few mistakes. I just hope that once the shawl goes through blocking, everything will smooth their way out. Now the stamina to finish this off and I might even add another repeat is getting stronger.

Here's the pile of FFL, over my mole hill of clutter at, 46% away from completion.
and Dear Sarah,
The needle will defintely come handy for knitting 2 socks at once. Thus the chance of developing Second SOck Syndrome is minimized. I will be keeping the copy of mag you sent me and probably donate the extra one to the library or something.

On another note, I think it's time get a new phone, with all the functions packed in a candy bar. I might have more pictures in the future as this gadget packs a 3.2 megapixel cammie with Carl Zeiss optics. I have seen the pics taken by it and definately justifiable for the price. I can only be happier if I can get it at a fraction of the retail price.

Hectic and relaxing

It had been a hectic week with the opening ceremony in the office. and I need to prepare 4 quotations for one of my major accounts I'm managing. Finally got them all out yesterday. *sweats*

Anyway, it had also been relaxing once I got home, cuz I got to knit and do stuffs I want to do. And most of all, I got another package from my SP8. I haven't been scouting around for my SP's blog, so far I only knew her first name's Sarah. So I guess her identity is still safe from me. Check out the picture on the right. The bar of dark chocolate is da BOMB!

And a message to Sarah: Somehow I have gotten both the needle and the magazine. So I guess, you can start looking for somcthing else. =P
I think the magazine is a bit hard look for. So I guess I should kind of relieved you from that.

With the new needle, I went back to Frost Flowers and Leaves again. So from a huge hair net, its now big fish net hanging on a 120cm needle. Knitting with such a long circular is really taxing, cuz I need to move the stitches after knitting a few dozens of stitches. I really hope to finish FFL before that day. It would really be nice. I'm like 6 rows away from completing the 5th repeat, which tells you that I'm about half way through the entire project. So if I were to complete 4 rows each day, the probability to complete by then will be higher.

Less talk and knit more.

Frogging Fetching

I was working on Fetching on impulse the other day. I was sorting out the stash and saw this lonely ball of Rowan Cashsoft Aran, poor thingie. And I remembered that a particular pattern in the latest Knitty requires only a ball of aran weight yarn. Although I was about 10 metres short of the original yarn, I just went ahead and cast on.

As I approach the finishing of Fetching #1, I started to get paranoid of not having enough yarn.
But then again, I think I should have more than enough if I were to cast on 5 less stitches. So Fetching is making a trip to the pond.

More books

I think I should ban myself from the internet and from going out to the bookstore. These are the damages so far.
Anyway, the past 48 hours were spent sleeping, eating, caught a movie with SO, knitting and finished 6 dvds of Goong. I was so tired after 2 dvds of Goong that I was sleeping through half of this show. I guess only guys like the SO would prefer this genre.

On the knitting front, Petunia is almost 50% done. Mom is urging me to have this knitted for her. I'm still considering cause its really a beautiful piece. About 98% of the knit stitches are done through the back loop. I will try to get a close up of the stitches if possible.

I also got buttons for the Knit1 Summer cropped cardigan. I got 5 x 1 inch diameter buttons instead of the recommended 3 x 1.5 inch size. I ill continue this if I got stuck with Petunia's pattern.

Oopz, did I mention that Vogue Knitting Fall preview is up? An issue worth getting as I'm only attracted to the socks.

Pic of the day

Its the three things I stick with when the SO is not around.
- Japanese lace top, I shall name it Petunia, shade of the yarn.
- 11 copies of Death Note
- and both of them are placed on the TV, which means I'm watching Goong series.

And have you done frapp-ing me?

Another Update?

I seem to be updating daily. Well this is to help those who are interested in my contest to keep up with the commenting. Of course you can comment my past entries from the July 14th onwards.


Anyways, I was checking out my mail before I head to work this morning. And I came to know that my pal for Yarn Aboard II is Amanda!!! What a pleasant surprise. I found out from the questionaire that we have more than a bit in common. First of all, we are Birk fans or at least we wear Birks a lot. Second, we are not into self patterning and fair isle sock yarns. And we both like chocolates too. Which means whatever I might like would also make Amanda delightful.

Knitting has been on a hiatus till I finish 11 copies of Death Note and I might knit a bit while watching 24 episodes of Goong aka Princess Hours. I need to have a second take of Death Note cuz the meaning of the storyline takes time to digest.

Back to work for now. And remember to place a pin on my frappr if you have not.

Back for tangy

I knew what was wrong with me. Anyways, after reading the comments, I decided to start Jaywalker #2 but *gasp* I cant find my yarn! and I cant remember which needle size. And that put me off sock knitting for the time.

I wanted to start something so I went through a small box of stash. A ball of Sirdar Snuggly 4 ply said Hi and I was reminded that its meant for this. Grab the right needle and went on to knit till my eyelids came down. It was too boring and not challenging at all. Moreover I wasnt watching CSI or any interesting TV shows. Left it aside and crept to bed since I slept at 3am+ the previous night after catching Pirates Of The Carribean: Dead Man's Chest for midnight show.

Then after on Sunday morning, I went through another bag of stash. This Petunia shade of yarn was calling out to me. I remembered that it was meant for a Japanese pattern. I frogged it months ago since I can't get 3 of the stitches to look right after seeking the help of knitters. I decided to rewind it and give the pattern a second try. And wala~~ I'm into the third repeat. (I hope to upload pics today)

So I guess, I was probably up for something tangy.
I'm craving for lime juice! or a shot of this.

PS. Get 5 extra tickets to my contest by adding yourself on my frappr map. It's just that easy!

On a slump or what

I do not know why, but PMS is definitely not the reason. I'm facing a slump-like phase. FFL was done with 4th repeat two nights ago, and I knew I have to start something new till I get a longer circular needle (80cm is not longer enough). However, I'm sitting here pondering which project to start. Total dilemma!

Should I (in no particular order) start or continue first?
- Jaywalker #2
- Lotus Blossom Tank from IK Summer 06
- Cherry, my only concern is running out of yarn.
- Pomatomus from knitty.com winter 05, will there be pooling if I were to use Lorna Laces Shepherd Sock yarn?

I guess the above will creat topic for discussion so you can earn more tickets. Haha! Here's a pic of the prizes. I added a couple of key chains and the lime green bag. The mohair yarn is from a Japanese brand which I chance upon on my last Taiwan trip. It should be a good replacement for Rowan Kidsilk Haze.

And yeah, thanks for all the early wishes.
i have not thought of how I'm gonna split the stuffs or should there be only one lucky winner?

less than a month

yep, time flies. It's less than a month till my birthday. So as what most people do, they have contests. Like guess the age and etc. There's also other contest like guessing the number of needles owned. Mine's gonna be easier than all these.

Start from this post till 10th August 2006, anyone who leaves a comment will get a ticket or places a pin on my Frapper map, will get 5 tickets. Which means the more tickets you have the more chances you had entered yourself in the lucky draw. Drawing of names will take place the day after.

Prizes? A copy of Debbie Bliss Book 4, a copy of Cotton Friend Spring 2006 (Jap), Clear & Simple Knitting Symbols (Jap), 3 balls of Japanese mohair yarn from my stash, 2 bottles of my favourite OPI nailpolishes. I will take pics of the prizes tomorrow. and I maybe adding more stuffs.

So what are you waiting for? Leave a comment and say hi.

PS. I love no spams.
PPS. My birthday's not today. =p

Outdoor shoots

This is one of the weekends which I prefer to laze at home. Before the weather turned cloudy, I went out to get more pictures taken.

Hold your breaths!

First up is the first FO this month.

Pattern: Diamond Fantasy Shawl by Sivia Harding
Yarn: 3 balls of Elann Far East Collection Cashmere Silk, 50g ea, 177 yards.
Needle: 3.75mm Inox circulars
Size: NA
Time to finish: 1 week? or less?

I really love knitting this shawl. The yarn was burning a hole in my stash and i really need to do something with it. This cashmere silk was acquired through a swap quite sometime ago. It got quite warm to knit as the shawl grew bigger. I still had 1 ball of it left.

The pattern was very easy to follow after a few repeats, especially the edging. What an ingenious way of creating an edge! I did a little different in terms of the "s1, k2tog, psso", I think i mentioned about it HERE.

And I think I own you knitters pictures of Lady Eleanor. Here goes:

The Lady is lounging on the garden bench.A close up of the Lady.

Seem like the Lady loves the outdoor a lot.

Added: Thanks for all the kind comments. Sometimes I need a little of these to keep my knitting up and going.

Busy needles

I had my camera's battery charged, however I had been so busy with a new project that I really have no time to take a picture of the latest FO. I had it blocked and ends weaved and tucked but just no photos to show. I'm feeling ever so guilty cuz I own you knitters out there so much pictures.

On another note, needles have been kept busy throughout and I'm expecting to finish the last piece of this project. Hope to start the seaming tonight.

And I found some pretty interesting knitting related clips on youtube.com.

Off to lunch.