Knitting: Impractical?

Is practicality in your thoughts when you are putting up your To-Knit List? Do you knit for practical usage or because you really need to knit that oh-so-pretty-i-must-have-it sweater?

I tried to use whatever I have knitted, but then I know that I can always frogged it and have the yarns recycled for something else. Not that I will do it to my FFL. Yes, the Frost Flowers & Leaves Shawl is indeed huge, approximately 5 square feet in size. Who would be using this as a shawl? Even yours truly who's standing at 5ft 5 won't need this. But this is going to be another milestone in my knitting journey. I'm gonna challenge myself with a major project each year. They may or may not be practical in any sense.

Anyways, sometimes the knitted piece's practicality is no longer an issue. It is seen as a piece of art or a heirloom. I might not leave behind a legacy or a huge stack of color bills, but heirlooms which may worth all the time in the world.

On another hand, which I've been frequently asked by non-knitters, are you going to wear this in our climate? I would just smiled back and continued on my knitting. Nonetheless, I'm afraid of the cold. The family calls me the cold-blooded. A simple lace wrap would keep me nice and toasty in the office, while a heavy stole companies me in a freezing cinema theatre.

The next time you see me turning blue, wrap me up in your thickest sweater.

Frost Flowers & Leaves Update #5

I think the photos will tell a better story.

After 4 months of working on this project. I finally have this shawl blocked. Its actually dried and off the block. I shall have it modelled soon.

Midweek treats

I really hope this week is getting better, it can be as I am expecting more packages. It's like buying yarns has became my full time job. Anyway, all the yarns had already been called for.
From the far left,
- Woodland Sage, Gloss from Knitpicks, between Diamond Fantasy and Swallowtail Shawl
- Blessed, Rowan Yorkshire Tweed 4 ply, won from a contest. (something from Vintage Knits)
- Cream, Merino Stretch from Schoelle Stahl. I shall knit this once again as I'm not satisfied by the result previously.
- Cactus, Soho Summer from Jo Sharp. Cherry shall turn into a cactus.
- color 97, Cash Iroha from Noro, a choice of either Raspy from Rowan Denim People or the Hourglass Sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.
I got to get them into ziplocks right now. And more edging to go for FFL shawl.

Opps, before I forget. Did I mentioned Yuvee was in Singapore the last weekend? I managed to meet up with her the day before she left for home. We agreed to meet at the usual yarn store. Fortunately we walked out from the store unscathed.

Blogspotlight Show #2 Local Knitters' Blogs

Another 4 noticeable knitting blogs have sprung alive on this little island.

Hooked on Yarn by the lovely Karyn. I saw her Sweetpea Shawl from SnB Hooker, and it was so pretty. Hope she's uploading pics soon.

Next three are from the Swallowtail Shawl KAL. Jollin, Regg and Matilda. Wish them success in the KAL, specially Jollin who has quit using Alpaca Cloud.

Frost Flowers & Leaves Update #4

On the home stretch here. Two weekends and I'm half done with the edging. So it isn't as tedious. And that means half the stitches had came off the needles. Here's a picture of one corner.
I started with 12 oz which is made up of a 8 oz hank and two 2 oz yarn cakes. I think I'm gonna left with 4 oz worth of Jaggerspun Zephyr in Aegean Blue. Most probably gonna destash it. any takers?

And thanks for the concern about my outburst in the earlier post. It must be the lack of knitting that caused it.

By the way, I finally got a new phone after 2 two years. The picture above was taken by this new gadget. I need to get a 2 gigabytes MiniSD card so that I can have those PDF patterns stored on the phone.

Ignorance is Bliss?!

Yeah, it is but not to the one who's being ignored. If I did something to deserve that, kindly tell me. Keeping mum will not help.

I see the turn of a friendship. Titanic sank, relationships breakups, who say friendships wont make a turn for the worst?

What a good way to start a weekend.

26 years and 4 days

Yep, that's roughly my age on the GMT 8+ timezone. One of the female species on planet earth who knows how to crochet for more than half of her life and has converted to knitting more than 18 months ago.

Anyways, I decide to draw 3 names for the give away. Incidentally, all 3 have pins on my Frappr Map. (in no particular order)
Elliphantom
Kessa
Valerie
Can Elli and Valerie leave your emails in the comments. I will be contacting you for your mailing addresses.


Thanks to all those who have been leaving comments and pins. Its warming to know that my blog is being read and I shall continue to blop (blog-hopping).

Further on, I had a wonderful evening spent with the SO. After a sumptuous dinner, we walked over to Esplanade, it was so crowded. The bay stretch was crowded with early birds who's there to snap a good place to watch the fireworks display. I was indeed lucky to have fireworks displayed on my birthday. No pics to put up as most of the night shots were yucky. I guess its time to get a new camera.

Back to my needles, FFL is on the home run. And its like a far stretch. I'm not even a quarter done since sunday. I'm just hoping there's not much distractions. *cross fingers*

Overwhelmed Days

Things are pretty unsettle these few days. With some of the orders not reaching me on time. I'm getting really stressed out.

I will have the names drawn during the weekend for the giveaway.

I will keep this short as I need to get some rest. <3

Happy Birthday to Singapore

Its the 41st birthday of this tiny little island we call home. And lucky me, Mom got 2 tickets to this year's NDP. I started Jaywalker Sock #2 so I can have something to knit along the way. We set off at 2pm and reach there after 3pm. Every audience received a goodie bag, which includes drinks, tidbits, clap-o-sticks, mini fan, cap and touch light and etc and etc.

Slowly we waited as the stadium gets filled up with people. This is my second time in this stadium for something event like this. First time was about 10 years ago during my secondary scool days. Mom was kind of excited as this was her first time in this stadium. This was a very memoriable event cuz this 33 year old stadium is going to make way for a sports hub, which means no more "Kallang Wave" and the last NDP to be held within this premises.

Going to the real thing made so much different to the other NDPs which I had watched on TV over the years. Everything is so alive! The performers, lightings, laser effects and sounds. I may not have a bird's eye view of the parade, but the feel of being part of NDP make this year's parade a whole new experience for me. Last but not least I shall leave you with a short clip of the parade's climax.

Close, so close

I'm less than 20296 stitches (according to the excel sheet) away from finishing Chart 3 of FFL. No pictures to show, as its still a blue blob like last week's pic. The only difference is its mass and had occupied a larger area on my lap.

The weekend had been hot and dry. I was hoping for some rain to cool things down. The fan was on for as long as I was home. It seems like the dry season is here permanently.

I am so eager to finish FFL and have it block up. Before that, I need loads of junk food. Off to cook myself some instant ramen.

I just read the FFL KAL, and seems like the edging is going to be very boring. Hence, its gonna take more time than I expect. T_T

MORE RAMEN PLEASE!!!

New Magazines on the Block

If you do not already know, Rowan 40 is out. I found the patterns not as interesting. Only a couple caught my eye.

Next up is Debbie Bliss fall collection of Pure Cashmere. The patterns meant for this range was also blah. The aran sweater in there cover takes 19 skeins of yarns, but do bear in mind that each skein is only 25grams with 45 metres. The yarn takes 5mm needles and the tension is 18 sts 25 rows. Anyways the rest of the pattern takes just a few skeins.

However, Lousia Harding surprises me with her winter collection of patterns. Not that I wear wool in this climate.

I'm still tapping my fingers for the Rebecca Fall/Winter issue

Phildar will definitely come out with thick and fluffy kind of designs, which are just undesirable in this climate, again.

FFL is up to 70% completion. So i think i still need to work like 5 rounds each day which meant I need to work on it 5 hours each day. Now, I need 36hours a day.

Row call

I did one just after finishing 3/4 of the 6th repeat of FFL. So here's the report.

Total No of of balls : 137
Total meterage: 23200.5metres
Total weight (grams): 9100g

The above excludes the following :p
- 1 cone of Jaggerspun Zephyr
- Yarns which are going to be destashed
- Yarns which are still on their way to me.

I just ordered 9 hanks of Noro Cash Iroha from Webs Noro sale and also 6 balls of Jo Sharp Soho summer for Cherry. And not forgetting the recent knithappens.net spree and the knitpicks.com order. The figures are going in one direction which is North.

On a happy note, I think this figures are not staggering at all. And better still, I think there's plenty of room for expansion (In terms of figures not the space).

And if this is the first time you are visiting this blog, you are most welcomed to join my birthday giveaway.