love2knitpurl

Happy New Year - Dragon Year 2012

2012-01-22T23:29:00.002+07:00

Happy New Year for all of you :)

Welcoming the Year of Dragon - 2012
Xin Nien Khuai Le, Gong Xi Fa Choi, Wan Shi Ru Yi, Shen Ti Chien Kang!
Happy New Year, bless with Prosperity, Long Life and Health all year long!:)

(image courtesy from http://kopona.org/tags/Chinese/)

A year without a note

2011-12-25T18:09:00.004+07:00

When I looked back the last date I blogged, it is about a year already! It does not meant I was not knitting at all. I have finished a tablecloth, a mittens, a shawl and 2 hats.

I have quite major life changing in mid 2011 and it did effect to my knit and crochet time. But hopefully I will get my knitting and crochet mojo back, as I miss this creating process a lot.

There are some knitting projects that I would like to include in my wish-to-knit-list, such as:
1. Sporto (a hoodie sweater) from Knitty Winter 2011
2. Emmaline (short-sleeved sweater) from Knitty Spring Summer 2010
3. Cathode (short-sleeved sweater) from Knitty Winter 2004
4. Joannie (sweater) from Knitty Winter 2011 (note: seem need to tweak on the sleeve)
5. Cardiff Coat (Jacket) from Interweave Knits Fall 2011
6. Dahlia Cardigan from Interweave Knits Fall 2011
7. Magellan Cardigan from Interweave Winter 2011
8. Meriwether Wrap from Interweave Winter 2011
9. Summit Shawl from Knitty Spring Summer 2010
10. Quercus Cardigan from Knitty Fall 2011
11. Shapely boyfriend Cardigan from Knitty Fall 2011

There are some other projects from Let's Knit Series Books and Ravelry too, but now I am too lazy to pick it up and list those projects here ;)

If you have interesting top-down projects to knit/crochet, please share! Thank you! :-)

The Last Knit

2010-12-14T22:31:00.004+07:00

This is not my last knit :) Just want to share with you a short animation by Lauren Neuvonen, from Finland. Produced from year 2005, when knit craze was so hot!

Enjoy :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6ZjMWLqJvM

Directed by Laura Neuvonen
Country Finland
Year of Production 2005
Running Time 7 minutes

Short Chek-In

2010-11-28T18:44:00.009+07:00

I have not posted my work here for very long time, I am still knitting/crocheting tough, but not as often as before. Long hour at work shared some contribution to the very limit time I have for this fave hobby.

I am not sure I have posted this before, I have finished 2 crocheted dish-clothes, but only took pictures of 1 of it, here, taken from Japanese book, I am using cotton thread, held double all around, and self-dyed yarn

Yarn : Unicorn # 10, held double, less than 25 grams, and acrylic yarn # 20 (blue yarn)
Needle : Rose # 3/0
Start & Finished : April 17, 2010

Last week, somehow I really want to make a pair of fingerless mitten. I think I can use it at work, where now already in raining season, and somehow my work floor seems has air-con setting lower than other floors. So, a cotton fingerless mitten would be nice to warm up my hand a bit.
There are some patterns that interested me, from interweave knits, the japanese knit books, lion-brand, berroco, ravelry, and for sure Knitty

I found this Fetching Pattern from Knitty Summer 2006, by Cheryl Niamath, I casted-on using Sirdar Breeze Cotton yarn straight away, and in few hours I finished the half pair.

The 2nd pair was casted off on Sunday 21 Nov 2010, and then I cast it off by yesterday, it's quick and easy pattern.

I added 4 cables and I knitted 26 rows after wrists instead of 18 as it in the pattern (which too short for my palm when I tried it on).

Yarn : Sirdar - Breeze - color : Pink (0070), about 50 grams
Needle : 5 Double Pointed Needle Set - SKC, 4.00 mm
Start : 20 November 2010
Finished : 28 November 2010

Then today, I cast on a Snow Doily by Priscilla Hewitt. After work about 3-4 hours, I am finished. It is now in the kitchen sink, ready to wash and then use it (no blocking ;p)

Yarn : Unicorn # 10, held double all around
Needle : Rose # 3/0
Start & Finished : Sunday, 28 Nov 2010

So I am still knitting/crocheting, even tough not time spent on it as much as I used and would like to.
Actually I am working with a sofa-cover again now, working on my stash - the chenille yarn, it's crocheted, basket weave. Started that about 2-3 months ago, and still working on it. I love watching it growing, specially when I fold it, the basket weave composed a nice motif.
Since no pattern use for this sofa cover, I am still searching for the border motif.
Any idea? Kindly share! :0)

Progress Double Star Doily

2010-03-27T15:00:00.012+07:00

Now, it was on 1st week of Jan, and I was dream to finished this before Chinese New Year on Feb 14, 2010. So, sewn the 2nd parts of the doily to the central pattern, with some help from this book, All Stitched Up by Jane Crowfoot. This is book is value for money and I really glad I bought this, always be a good reference for finishing the project. So here the Central Doily before sewn with the 2nd part:

And after about 2 hrs ( i was mattress stitch this very slowly..-:p), I got this:

To make sure the 1st and 2nd nicely stitched together, I sewn these 2 parts together with sewing thread:

And it stitched nicely!

I like this and was thinking to just have 2 rounds instead of 3 as what written in the pattern but I would like to try the pattern, so I cast-on the 3rd round:

Now it's almost end of March, and am still working on the 3rd parts, reached the half around the 2nd border. Maybe I can finish this by May.

Double Star Doily

2009-12-20T13:32:00.007+07:00

Time flies.. very fast.. for me.. with all the work, i still can manage doing some knit projects. One thing that I am working on it, cast this project few months ago (around Sept if not mistaken), yesterday have finished first part out of three.

Project is a free pattern, called Double Star Doily from http://www.knitting-crochet.com. Have this copy for few years, and found this again when I went through my pattern stash.

Using white cotton thread, is has it weakness, even tough always washed my hands before working this, but seems some dust still sticking. So here it is, the finished center part (I hope when I wash this later, this stain will go away).

The central is make in section, total 10 wedges. However as advice in the pattern, it can be more depend on how loose is the stitch we knit. I am working with cotton thread # 20 (brand : Unicorn) and 2.5 mm needle. After cast off the 10th wedges and sewn 1st and 10th section, it lay flat nicely. Hmm.. am sure blocking will help to open up the pattern a bit (working with cotton, unlike the wool can bloom ;p).

There are some corrections on row 25 (center pattern), where it should be K6 (typo error, it shown a GBP symbol), row 37: should be K2 instead K3 and row 38, should be K6 instead of K8.

Grafting always challenge for me, need to practice a lot! Also found out this pattern shown a unique way on closing the center. Cool :)

There are 2 parts of border side, and already cast on and worked 3 repeat on 19/12/09. Need to rewind some of yarn for the borders. Hope can finish this before year end! :)

Now I am thinking of hemlock doily/afghan too..mmm.. after this :)

Another idea for Lace

2009-11-13T22:12:00.003+07:00

Hello... am been hibernating, lurking and knitting quietly in the corner. Drowning in workload also a good excuse.

Lately being more a good reader of craft world, and dropped by at Bloesem and shown a gorgeous lace work, a good idea for romantic evening don't you think? A Lace Ball Lamp...woww..

So Lace knitter... take your needle and thread again!! :-)

MERDEKA!!

2009-08-15T20:28:00.005+07:00

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY INDONESIA

!!MERDEKA!!

secret of long healthy life

2009-07-14T21:45:00.002+07:00

Do you have heard yarn material called alpaca? If you have check out the online knitting stores, bet you may heard about this cute animal.
Other than produce yarn, the alpaca also soo cute and good, and good for your health! :-) Also I like when she said about sometime we need to be forced to make new decision.
Well... better just check out this link video;-)

http://fittoboom.msnbc.msn.com/?source=msn&gt1=25054#/home/video/9/0

Make me thinking to switch the job .. how about you? :)

Another Afghan - Granny Square Rectangle

2009-06-07T20:13:00.015+07:00

Remember, that few years (sounds so long!!) I "inhereted" or other word got these a big bag (like 20 kg big plastic bag) yarns!! Mostly acrylic, and the brand has been discontinue.

From that yarns, I have made the baby cape for my co-worker baby girl, and stil have bunch of these socks-weight yarns. The heavier one had turned to this cabin log, from mason-dixon 1st book.

So, what the easiest and most importantly the fastest way to reduce this stash? I think, these yarns for sure are not something to wear against your skin. Possible you all who knew the quality of acrylic in early 80's knew how it feel.

On the other thing, since it is acrylic, this material quite durable, to go to washing machine, and dry fast ;-)

I have the idea already, it should be afghan project, for the living room (again!!), but what kind of afghan would it be?

Scanned throught the books, magz and webs (including raverly), then decide to have granny square, but it should be rectangle to fit with the 2-seaters sofa.

Other than the my "inhereted" stash, I also took my bro's stash. The colors (the aquamarine, light indigo and white and ah.. grey) are great to enhance my yarns, which are more to warm color (baby yellow, salem, chili red, maroon, dark cream, brown, dark brown and indigo, oh ya also light purple).

So here it is, I made these 18 squares and arrange it to rectangle and continue crochet all around, till finished all the yarns!

Afghan on the drying process, after wash

Due to different yarn weight, some of the rectangles are smaller than other, so when the afghan fold, it doesnt folded nicely.. but I don't really care :-) I like the color :-)

I arranged the color, from lighter/cooler hues first to the darker/warmer hues. And I keep crocheting till the yarn out, and continue with the next band. You can see continuity in this picts.

closer look

Yarns : Kinlon Sakura (how many ball band... ummm.. will update later) and some other brands (no ball bands attached in my bro's stash)

Crochet Hooks : Tulip No. 3

Time : somewhere around February/March 2009 - 10 May 2009

share your idea!

2009-05-30T17:16:00.002+07:00

I have this purchase, from elann , back to nov 2006, and I have some specific pattern in mind (the shawl) for all these yarn except the Fresh Cream color, however, I found that cotton is much more suitable also the gauge.

So I still have these, Endless Summer Collection Luna, in these colors :

1. Silken Damask (2 balls),
2. Pink Pearl (2 balls),
3. Shimmering Cherise (2 balls),
4. Rasberry wine (2 balls), and
5. Fresh Cream (15 balls)

And now my knitting/crochet idea a bit slow down.. Do you have any idea to share what kind of knit/crochet pattern that may suitable with these yarn?

I will check Ravelry though, but always nice to have input ;-)

February Lady Sweater

2009-03-01T20:25:00.006+07:00

Hello visitors.. long hibernation and now I'm back again ;-)
Guess what, I was joined with the wagon who really enjoyed and admired very clever pattern from Pamela Wynne.
Her pattern really good for learning the Top Down method, which I would like to try for sometimes ago since I purchase the Knit From The Top - Barbara Walkers, but never really grasp the idea till I try this pattern.
First, I tried to download straight from her blog, but no luck with the PDF file, so - since I wasnt aware that in Ravelry, thousand of people already put this in next to knit list - I almost given this up. Then when I was back again and browsed around for easy and free pattern sweater/cardigan, I found this! I was very delightful! Happy..Happy..Happy :-)

So I downloaded, printed this and digged out my yarn stash. Since my plan to HK was cancelled, this pattern was the one I choose to make my holiday productive.

The yarn I chose was SIRDAR Breeze - cotton rich DK - a 100 grm value per ball- I had this for few years, bought 1 kg (10 balls!) , lovely baby yellow color, very soft and smooth again skin. And I never have a yellow for sweater/cardigan :-)

Started to knit on 22 Dec 2008, got 4 times Knit-Rip-Knit, coz I was too lazy to knit a swatch..;p
Then 5th attempt, I got the size right, so I keep going.

The good thing Knit from Top, as you are aware, we can try this on while we still working on it. My sis and my mom already eyeing this, and asked, when you finish that? Will you give it to me once you finished knitting? He..he.. he.. well.. I can borrow it to them for sure ;-)

So here it is:

To finished the sleeves, first I used the bamboo 4 dpns (PANDA), but it's too short (about 15 cms length), so it hurt my palm over and over. Then I bought this SKC DPN at hobby lobby. Choice were INOX or SKC. I have a lots of INOX needle and some of SKC crochet needle, and found SKC is cheaper than INOX (about IDR 10,000). So I picked SKC ;-)

February Lady Sweater on me :-)

Pattern : February Lady Sweater by Pamela Wynne, 2008 (http://www.flinknits.com/ or check on Ravelry).

Start : 22/12/08

Off the Neede : 11/01/09 (the fastest sweater I ever knitted!!)

Yarn : Sirdar Breeze Cotton Rich DK @ 100 grams - Lot 1779, Quality Share : 0063

Total Yarn Used : 340 grams

Needles : Pony Circular 4 mm (80 cm) and SKC 4 mm (20 cm)

This pattern is really good, and actually I would like to knit this once again, but different lace pattern and perhaps 1 size smaller.
I would like to thank to Pam too, for lovely and genious pattern you created! ;-)

PS: I think the Breeze has been discontinued, but Snuggly is look like the same when I check at Sirdar website.

Lady February Sweater => February Lady Sweater

2008-12-24T12:46:00.006+07:00

I have seen this pattern KAL for some months before and love to join with the crowd. First thing I was to do for sure, check out the page of Flintknits page. After read it at her blog and also on ravelry.. I would like to do pick up my needles and the yarn... but umm.. the pattern, after some attempts, I finally can download it from ravelry. Next step, the yarn and needles... Yarn... I planned to use some from my stash. It's about the time. But the pattern is using 5 mm needles, and the yarn I wish to use will not fit the size M of the pattern cause the gauge will not fit.

My yarn is Sirdar Breeze in yellow, it's cotton yarn, soft and suitable with our tropic rainy season here in Jakarta, where even we have some cloudy days but the temp will max down to 22 degrees celcius (or perhaps 20 in air-con room).

So I started knitting, with size L using needles 4 mm. I am now on the row where I have to add some eyelet increase. I am still do the counting where I should put the YO. Wish me luck :-)

My 1st Dishclothes

2008-10-19T22:30:00.009+07:00

This is my first disclothes, Knitted Round Dishcloth pattern from Mielke's Fiber Arts, LLC. Already gave to my mom and she already use it for blender/juicer top cover....:-)
Also I have joined with to the dishclothes knitter club!
check this group : MonthlyDishcloths at yahoogroups dot com

They have lots of free dishclothes patterns, and if I am not mistaken, every 2 weeks they have new pattern for KAL too.

Yarn: Acrylic - Self Dyed (Color: Corn)

Needle: Inox 4.5 cm

Date : Sept 23, 2008

Blumengruss Shawl

2008-10-19T21:10:00.015+07:00

I am writing again!!
After months not updated my page here, here I am!! Back from the corner. Lots of reasons that I could tell, from being super busy since February at work (always came home late even my mom complaint about it :p) and it give just more exhausted feeling in the night that I could only pick up my needle just during the weekend!

But then I have good news!! Already have new compie, a Dell Latitude D630 Notebook actually. After some time searching and been tempted to choose either I-Mac or regular notebook, my options fall to this one.

Wont be keep you all bored with non-knitting related (if there still reader on my page after months being neglected), why don’t I update you all with my latest finished object… BLUMENGRUSS.

Yeah, the pattern is from the in-famous Japanese Knitting Book “New Style of Heirloom Knitting” (ISBN: 4-529-03992-7). Same like other book owners, we fall in love with most or all the pattern from this book. The Aran and Fair-Isle wears such as sweater, hat and vest, also Shetland-kind of shawls. There are 3 shawls patterns in this book which are Blumengruss, Mountainash and Mondnacht, and all of 3 is being admired and put in the To-Knit-List. If you like to knot Mountainash, you can check out Grumperina’s blog. She has finished the very beautiful shawl.

Some other knitters also has finished their Blumengruss shawl which I felt I been helped a lot to understand the patterns such as Tres Chic Veronique, and I wished I found this site to help me translate or understanding Blumengruss pattern earlier! Would save lots of time with the border pattern.

For my Blumengruss, my choice of yarns is very limited here, so I picked DMC yarns, total I am using 4 colors: PINK (main color), Pale/Salem Pink, White and Maroon. This project was started since last year, then I was put it down due I have some difficulty to define the color combination I like. The started on October 07, 2007 (about a year ago!)

Even after got this colors I was felt hesitate to picked up this shawl for some reason. I was even worked on something else... like this baby wear set…a vest, a hat and pairs of shoes/boot

Pattern : Japanese Baby Knitting Book (for the vest – pattern no.23 (ISBN: 4-8347-2457-3)
Yarn: material is acrylic – don’t have the ball band since I got this from my brother stash.
Needles: Tulip Crochet Hook (3/0 and 4/0).
Finished Date: March 29, 2008 (I was worked these about 2-3 weeks).

The original pattern has some badges, but I didn’t the put those, instead I change a bit by give some colors block on the back side, where I combined color light blue and dark blue. The hat was taken from others pattern and at this time I already forgot which patterns I taken. I just remembered that the pom-pom was added to cheer give something to cheer it up.
The baby set was for my sister work-colleague which someone I knew too and the baby (as you already could guess) is a baby boy!! :-)

Now we are back to my Blumengruss, here are some of the WIP picts if you would like to see

This pattern actually is not hard, but somehow I misread the diagram. Instead of starting the border on the bottom (down side of the triangle) I was working on the shorter side (left/right side), which off course I always ended up with only ½ parts of total stitches from diagram shown. So I did tinked. And not just once, but 3 times !! Imagine the time I spent to knitted-tinked-knitted-tinked. Then I re-read the pattern again and again, and guess my mind was got it right this time.
The border is 10 rows repeat patterns. I can memorized it after the 4th time I re-knit the border on the correct side. He.. he.. I really suggest, if you are like to work with the border and knit it directly to the main part, better take time to familiarize the pattern with other yarn. I use a bigger cotton yarn to understand this border pattern.

When the 3rd side of border has been finished, I struggled with the Kitchener stitch to sew the beginning row from 1st side of border. After spent few hours learning about Kitchener stitch, I finished this shawl! Feels so great! You are the knitters with long time and some adventures already familiar with this kind of feeling.

So next day I take this beauty on the bath (after took all the safety pin off course).

So, here the beauty under the sun, after took some nice bath. I use apple shampoo and whoa.. the bath really took away the dirt (for sure after months of put it down and during I am working this).

We have very sunny day lately, and even I put this under the shadow when I dried it, took only about 2 hours.

I am not blocked this shawl properly, just gave some weight to make the center pointed nicely.

Finished Size; 200 cms x 150 cms

Pattern: Blumengruss (New Style of Heirloom Knitting ISBN: ISBN: 4-529-03992-7)
Yarn: DMC Color 53326 (Dark Pink - 1 balls is dye lot 19, the other one doesn’t have), Color B5200 (White), Color 5818 (Salem Pink, dye lot 51), Color 5813 (Maroon, dye lot 33).
Needles: INOX Circular Needle 3 cm, 3 ¼ cm and 3 ½ cm.
Time: Oct 07 2007 – Oct 01 2008.

My needles still clicking

2008-04-30T14:11:00.003+07:00

This s the longest period of my unblogging time. Almost 3 months!! Having crazy schedules at work plus non-cooperative compie at home, I am more into working my projects instead of blogging.

Some projects that I am working now is the afghan, knitting project to de-stash my yarn. I plan to use this afghan to cover the electric massage chair. Also on my other needles, the Blumegruss from Heirloom Knitting. Goosh .. it's about half year project.. should finish this while it still hot!! ;)

In between those 2 projects, my sis was asked to make a set of baby clothes for her co-work, so I crocheted a set of baby kimono, a hat and a pair of baby booties. Will upload the picts later. I use the vintage yarn , part of the stash that my coworker gave me some time ago and combine with my bro's stash.

I am really sorry for the reader if you kept finding the non updated blog page for few months, and thank you for checking me out :-)

Tomorrow we have a day off (not May-day or labour day, we dont have that here in Indonesia), so hopefully I could working on the pict and upload those here.

Cabin log afghan

2008-01-17T13:13:00.000+07:00

I was took about 10 work days off during the Christmas/New Year's week, planned to do some cardigan, continue my multicolor shawl from The new heirloom of knitting. But then considering flood that we had on early 2007, the actual actvities were cleaned up old clothes, old books, and spare some spaces for my yarn and knitting book stash if the flood come.

The cardigan will need to ripped off caused gauge issue. Turn out even I am using same needle size that close to the yarn ball band info, turned out it have more length that required.

So the only plan that successfully done was the cabin log afghan. Inspired from Mason Dixon Knitting Book, and desired to lessen my stash I made this afhan. The result was perfect fit for the sofa on living room. And mom said that this afghan is nicer and smoother than one that I crocheted 2 years ago.

So here the one I finished :

Yarn : Kinlon (acrylic-discontnued) - about 12 skeins each weight 40 grams (cream, dark brown, light blue, dark grey, olive green)

Finished size : to be measure first..;-)

Needle : 6.5 mm circular needle

Time : 3 weeks (finished on 31st Dec 2007).

Also Marian had visited Indonesia on first week of January.. but the water already on the street in my area. With water height aboout 20-40 cms in the street I couldnt make it to meet her. Really sorry Marian. Next time better ok?

Have you ready to warming up your needles? :)

2007-12-11T12:57:00.000+07:00

Here we are, at the final month of the year, where in my area, weather still unpedictable, sometimes hot just like summer, sometimes heavy raining (actually we already have flooding caused by the higher sea high tide, specially in northern Jakarta). On the other part of the world, you can see the ground has been all white covering with white snow. And I believe knitting time, specially if you are working with warm yarn like wool or alpaca. Bring your project, the yarn on the basket, the pattern and a glass (or more) of your fave drink, find a nice corner where you can sit so relax and feel the zen of your fingers movement...so soothing.. ;)

However if you are haven't found a project yet, let's check out Knitty Winter 2007!! I found some items that would be like to include in my to-knit-this soon list. If I have all time, the list would be (not in particular order) :

a. Aoife

b. Dahlia

c. Stardust

d. Jeanie

Also like to try for the chevrolace socks (lovely), there are others but this one is I like. It knit with 2 circulars method, new techinique for me. So hurry check Knitty out :)

Books Enrichments

2007-10-20T19:13:00.000+07:00

During my non-blogging period, I was collecting some knitting books :)

However I also found new interest with the embroideries, like hardanger and boutis.Boutis is kind like quilt ala french, and for my opinion, it's very sophisticated on final result.
"Some" of the books that I would like to share with you are :

IKjpnbook

Left : Interweave Fall 2007 Right : Let's Knit Series Vol.7 (ISBN : 978-4-529-04461-5)

the shawl look lovely isn't it?

jpn book 01: Spring Summer 2007 (ISBN : 978-4-408-62811-0)

jpn book 03a :

Left : Let's Knit Series Autum Winter 2007/2008 (ISBN : 978-4-529-04485-1)
Middle : Let's Knit Series (ISBN : 978-4-529-04451-6)
Right : Autumn Winter 2007/2008 (ISBN : 978-4-408-62830-1)

jpn book 03b :

Let's Knit Series Spring Summer 2007 (ISBN : 978-4-529-04385-4)

jpn book 4 :

Above : Boutis Un Object Blanc - Kumiko Nakayama-Geraerts (ISBN:978-4-579-11130-5)
Below Left : Sashiko Style (ISBN:978-4-88996-214-7)
Below Right : Hardanger Embroidery (ISBN:978-4-529-04439-4)

jpn book 5 :

Left : Bunka Knitting Book - Winter 2007/2008 (4910084761079)
Right : Keitodama Winter 2007/2008 (ISBN: 978-4-529-04480-6)

jpn book 6 :
Keitodama Spring Summer 2007 (ISBN : 978-4-529-04413-4)

jpnbookxstich01:

Above : Heart Warming Series Vol 5 (ISBN : 978-4-529-04418-9)
Below : Cats and Dog (Embroidery - ISBN : 986-7863-97-6)

jpnbookxstich04

Left : ISBN 4-8347-2498-0
Right : 4-8347-2480-8

jpnbookxstich05:
Illustration Stitch (ISBN : 978-4-7778-0364-4)

Off the Needle - Katia Vest

2007-10-07T21:27:00.000+07:00

Do you realieaze, once we hit the "BER" months (september, october, november, december), time feel like flying. I was started this Vest sometimes in late August 2007 (if I am not mistaken). I was started with making a swatch for both motifs. This is the first knitting project that I swatched and measures the gauge really carefully.

The good thing of making a swatch that as you already knew, the gauge really helpful to do the measure and plus good to practice the motifs too.

The yarn I used is Katia Creppyi-Chine, it's nice yarn, running smoothly on my circular inox. However for my own confinient, I balled the skeing first. Since it quite slippery yarn, I dont want to have tangled yarn in the middle of knitting enjoying moment.

As for the pattern, I was eyeing this since I saw the book... Keitodama Spring 2005 No. 131

And my eyes falen for this pattern :

as for the yarn, I bought it from my LYS - like end of 2005. I am not remembered what pattern this yarn for. But I bought 6 skeins of it. Still left 2 1/2 skeins. And I am wondering what kind of project that I could make from this leftover. It's varigated yarn, colors are ranged from white, ivory, light brown, light olive green.
Like the way it shaping the back :

Details of 2nd motif. It need a good blocking to make it look like nicer :)
Front view :
Details:
Pattern : Vest - page 20 - Keitodama Spring 2005 (ISBN : 4-529-04106-9)

Yarn: Katia Creppi - Chine about 4 1/2 skeins or around 220 grs ( Color : 3124 Lot : 63870, 50 gr/138 ms/151 yds)

Needle : Inox 31/2 80 cm circular and Aero 4 dps 3.5 cm

Time : Late Augus 07 (if I am not mistaken) - 23 Sept 07.

It may consider 99% done, since there's no buttons have put on it yet. I have cute wooden-like button, but I only have 6 instead of 8. After I put the button, I will wash it and do little block of it.

And since last week (29th Sept 07) I already started this beauty : Blumengruss from The New Style of Heirloom Knitting :

As for the yarn, I am using DMC Petra # 5
And I am on the first section of 3, on the 16th repeat. So far everything still running well :)

Details of 1st section :

Do you know that there is cool group: knitinginjapan at yahoogroup? Check it out :) Good for non-japanese knitter who like to cast on as soon as possible when see their knitting/crocheting patterns!!

Summer craftworks

2007-09-14T20:00:00.000+07:00

This year summer was really really weird... When the sun was shining, it was really really hot without wind breeze at all for days. We can see how the tree doesnt move at all, all leaves are staying stil. It's like looking to a painting.

However my needles wasnt stayed quiet...My sister was asked me to make her a crochet vest, from some of options, this was the one she choose. We went to LYS (which not so local for me.. since it was like 30 minutes by bus/taxi from my office or like 1 1/2 hrs by bus from my house), and she choose ORION yarn. This yarn is very light. It's acrylic with golden metalic thread. She bought like 4 balls each is 40 grams. The pattern she choose was a filet crochet with pineapple border on the waist and end of the sleeves.

Since I was taken her size measurement, I was guessed around, we almost in same size now, maybe I am a little bit bigger (thanks for lots of sitting down at the office for last couple years and not touch gym for even longer years..*hiks) . To make a story short, it wasn't turned too good. The armholes a little bit too big and the chest a bit too narrow... *hiks*. So, I offered here some options from most of the japanese patterns book (most of it was Let's Knit Series books). And she choose 1. And here it is :

Project : Crochet Vest - Japanese pattern books - Crochet Lace ( ISBN : 978-4-529-04342-7)

Needles : Tulip 4/0

Yarn : Orion - No Dye Lot - 2 1/2 skeins

Time : I forgot - but about 2 weeks, working on friday nights and weekend only... so it's like few hours in total.

While working this chrochet, I was browsed around on berroco's site... and I checked out this Brea bag. As I have lots of stash from my dyed experiments last year (gasp!!) .. I was thinking to make this one.. it look cute .. at least I can give to mom for her shopping to the market.. he.. he.. he...

I am using double thread for the whole parts, to meet the gauge of the pattern. Turned out that this project really helped to reduce my stash quickly... From 10 skeins (each about 20 grams), it taken 8 out of it.

Pattern : Brea Bag from Berroco

Yarn : Nilon - Dyed with Dylon (Olive)

Needles : Casablanca (from my oz trip on 2006) 4.5 mm

Modification : instead of using leather for the handle, it was single crocheted band then I attached to the gusset.

Period : Still working on it. For the body and bag handle - about 3 weeks.

I havent really finished it since I am not satisfied with the finishing result - but I like the motif of this bag body. Very nice cabled.

Detail of the bag

Now I am working a knit vest from Keitodama Spring 2006, will posted later :)

FO - Purple Shawl and 3 Colors Pillow Cover

2007-07-28T23:33:00.000+07:00

Pattern: The motif was from Skacel (discontinued website), original pattern was made for afghan.
Yarn : Self-dyed kitchen cotton thread (20/18 - if I am not mistaken) using dylon.
Needles : Japanese bamboo size 4 (about 3.25 mm). Sorry I can't read japanese so cant inform the needle brand.
Tulip Crochet hook 5/0 for the border.
Start : April 2007 Finish : 2nd week July 2007

Pattern : Japanese KnittingBook (ISBN : 4-529-04053-4 )

Modification : making this shawl become rectangular instead of umm.. not sure what is the shape called about, but the original pattern was made 2 pieces of this and sc-ch-sc all around.

Yarn : Coats & Clark Red Heart Super Saver Yarn Color 0774 (Light Raspberry) - Worsted medium - 198 gr - 364 yards/333 m - 3 skeins

Needles : Inox Circular Needle 6.5 mm & Tulip Crochet Hook 7/0 for the border.

Start : Last week of Jan 2007 - Finished May 2007 & June 2007 (for the border).

back from my corner

2007-07-26T22:19:00.000+07:00

Back to my knitting blog again!! I really missing my blog a lot! I have some things that caused me could not get online as often as before, but 2 top excuses were first was the network connection and second is workload.
As for workload I could not do much, just work as best as I could, and tried to not let the tiredness came between me and my knitting however I could only manage to take off my needles and yarns from the bag on weekend.
The really main reason was the network connection, because I am using dial up means I was had a single access to web world on my phone line at home using the govt telco company. Then suddenly it was weaker. I was had talked with the internet provider company few times and checked my compie many times without good explanation why my connection dropped dead.
Then series called with the Telco company started from their customer service till their branch which provide the line to my area. Turned out that their circuit (or something like that) was broken down as the result of the huge flood last January.

Cut this short, now I am using new telco operator and even the price is slighly higher than the other one, but speed is much better.

So, back to my knitting, during no-blogging time, I had finished 3 projects, 2 knitted and 1 crocheted. The knitted was the my mom's square shawl, the other one was pillow cover. The crocheted was my sis' vest.

Picture will post soon.. i think something wrong with the net tonight.

Currently I am working the Brea from berroco... it's looking great so far :-) Easy pattern, nice result too :) I have finished the front and back parts and now working for the Gusset part.

Mystery Stole 3

2007-06-28T13:49:00.000+07:00

Back to from the corner for a while, Melanie's has set a KAL for the Mystery Stole 3!

You can join the group, hurry!! Since i think she will limited the participants till 3000 people (now they have reach something like 2900...)

Lace is a good project to do on summer too :)

* back to the corner again* mode on

2 LBS of YARNS!!

2007-04-10T21:20:00.000+07:00

Or maybe I should call this thread instaed of yarn? :p

Well, this huge skein of yarn probably already in my stash about 3 years, I was so shock when it arrived from my purchase at ebay. It's so huge and it wasnt wound by the selelr to reduce the cost (lighter weight when it come in skein form).

So last weekend , I am thinking to better do something with this yarn. I already have the winder and yarn swift, but alas!! Those 2 are could not handle this 2 lbs yarns!!

(the left is DMC Pethra, the very thin in middle is this yarn, and the right is sock weight yarn that used as tie on this skein)

So I got to put it in the chairs, using 2 of these kind of chairs and then i made a ball aka winding by my hand.

After 2 days, (about 18 hrs winding for total 2 days) I still have about 300-400 grams left... I dont have the energy... Geez... Still not sure what I am gonna to do with yarn... it call for shawl... but havent got exact pattern in mind...ummm...

Pink Sweater... Completed!

2007-03-26T21:16:00.000+07:00

Ah.. finally I finished this pink sweater!! I had put lots of efforts and too much patience working on this sweater. Some main challenges were splitty yarn and the modification of gauge.

I was started this pink sweater in 2005, then working a bit in 2006. I was put it down caused I couldnt bear the splity yarn. I did not know what's wrong when I working with this yarn but my LYS owner said she doesn't encounter the same problem like mine.

So, in total I had worked on the body parts 2x (tinking all the way 2x), then the neck parts 2x, the sleeves parts 3x!! Tinking process and so many months I abandoned this project caused the pieces were not in clean stages anymore.

But after I finished the last stitches of sleves part, sewn everything in places, weaved in the end, then directly it goes to the bucket for washing! :)

I haven't take any pictures yet, but I had some old picture to remind me (and some of you) about this project.

This was taken on August 26, 2005

(just for my note : finished on March 24, 2007)

Long overdues new stash

2007-03-11T14:03:00.000+07:00

well.. it probably wont be too new anymore..since I got all of these from my US trip on dec 2006... but I like to share it with you all :)

So here come the new knitting toys , the needle's measurement and colored crochet hook was from Beverly at San Jose's area, the ribbons and buttons were from Greenwhich (SF) :

I got the reeling machine in solvang, danish community area, on the way back to SF from LA trip. They have the wooden one, but this cheaper .. ;-)

The ribbon from JoAnn's, only US1 for this 1 full rolls... I am thinking to use it as a side trim :

And Finally I got these red heart from Michael's , the purpleish (3 skeins) belong to my mom and I am working a shawl from her a this moment (picture will be upload later), the light brownish on the top at the back (5 skeins) belongs to me.. he.. he.. he...

These lovely silky yarn on big corn are from Artfibers, the small one the "free" one when you buy about USD 100 you'll got 10% off... (that's a lot of money and making me broke! :p)

The lady there very patient and let us to play around with their yarns first before we decide to buy it. However it would be nicer if they can reduce the price too.. he.. he..Oh ya, I have the famous Flower Basket Shawl (Interweave Knit) copied from Artfibers pattern collection.. finally! Since the Fall 2004 magazine edition had ran out of stocks and dont know when they will re-print it again.

For sure .. some books and magazines : Knitting Nature, Rebecca, IK Spring 2004 and VK were from Greenwhich, Knit from Top, Lace Victorian Today from Amazon (my friend kindly allowed me to use her home address in US, so I got fast and cheaper shipping price), The Yarn Harlot 2nd book, got from Barnes and Nobbles :

I am thinking to go back to US again... for more serious yarn/fabrics/books shopping... but for sure, got to get some saving first ..Thinking about Stitches Mid West or East.. and Rhineback...hmmmmm..... Anybody want to be my buddy travel? :) I was visited Greenwich with my mom and she was almost fallen asleep in the chair.. he.. he.. he. poor her.. ;)

I am back again

2007-03-02T22:02:00.000+07:00

I am missing my blog! After through the flood that lasted for 7 days (!) and all the cleaning, fixing and re-organizing everything again, I am ready to post something on my blog again.

Some new stash that I got from my trip on end of year 2006 to San Francisco are ready to be show-off plus the new projects that I am working on it now.

On the next post it will be the yarns, yarns and new knitting toys plus for sure the local of "Water World" in Jakarta... (for real!!)

Welcome 2007 and Icarus

2007-01-26T15:14:00.000+07:00

It's almost 2 months past that I had absent from blog world. As addition for the classic excuses (busy at work), also I was busy prepared for my trip to US at december 2006 with my mom.

Before my trip to US, I worked on Icarus Shaw by Miriam Feltonl from Interweave Summer 2006, using fingering weight yarn. I forgot the brand here, but it was from China, color chili red.

I did not know what material of this yarn first, so I did some test with bleaching. I cut small thread then put it on the bleaching liquid. The yarn slowly disappeared, that means it made from protein based, so my guess that this yarn 100% wool.

Icarus pattern really nice to work with. As far as I remembered I only 2-3 times tinking because I made few mistakes. The yarn also help too, it very light, smoothly sliding on my inox 3.5 mm circular needle.

This shawl was started in first week of December 2006, even though I knitted as much as my fingers can do the knits and purls stitches, I picked it up again after I left it for 2 weeks from my trip and finished in the January 14th 2007.

Before block the size was around 70 cms (length) x 50 cms (height)

After blocked it grown to 219 cms (length) x 113 cms (height), and I am very happy with it even though there are few uneven stitches. Total yarn I used 2 2/3 balls around 60 grams (each balls is 25 grams).

So this project was the last project in 2006 and first finished one in 2007.

I will post more about my trip and all the S.E.X (yarns and books) from my US trip, at this moment I present my Icarus shawl :

just off the neddle - before block

Drying Process - only takes like 10 minutes!

Blocking process - about 3 hours

After weave-in all ends, time to show off :)

It was like 32 degress celcius that time and I almost melted.. he.. he..

Btw, I had been tagged by Cyn .. will answer it in the next post :-)

A dozen of cute little craft :)

2006-11-30T09:37:00.000+07:00

There are lots of amazing things created in craft world, either in cooking, needle work (embroiderry, sewing, knitting, crocheting, tatting), sculpture, painting, basketry, etc.

Some creation are too good to be true, some are created straight from our heart, some are combined between feeling, creativity, patience, passion.

If you like cooking and you like sculpture perhaps this can be your inspiration.

I got to warn you that I posted lots pictures here, and it could take you breath away with its beauty of creation. This made from chocolate or icing if I am not mistaken. If it's trully make from chocolate, I wonder who will have heart to consume these beautiful thing.

Now, are you ready?

--
pict baby 1

pict baby 2

pict baby 3

pict baby 4

pict baby 5

pict baby 6

pict baby 7

pict baby 8

pict baby 9

pict baby 10

pict baby 11

pict baby 12

Now you seen it all, which one or two or three is/are your favorite?

sweety pinky cape :)

2006-11-17T15:45:00.000+07:00

It's been a long time... November already...time is flies so fast. I realized that I havent posted any single thing for this month.
My WIP that started on October knit and crochet. They are Icarus Shawl, baby cape and hat and storage box. The baby items and Storage box are crocheted. I am on the 5th repeat of Chart 1 on Icarus Shawl and then finished crocheted these baby cape and hat 2 weeks ago.

Working on baby items like this was fun, since it's tiny so the feeling of accomplishment was great. I like all the things on this projects. Why I choose the cape and hat, it's because the yarn are acrylic, and considering the tropical weather we have here, I better make something that easy to put on the baby. And these cape and hat are rare items you find here in Jakarta.

Other reason was I like to make something that last quite long too, at least for few years ahead.. he.. he..

Last not least my consideration to make this, I was using yarn from my stash. Total it need about 3 1/2 skeins, around 175 grams. The yarns was Kinlon - Dahlia, the one that my colleaque gave me few months ago. The pink also suit for cute little baby girl. So it's perfect :)

Pattern taken from Japanese Crochet Books for Baby that I bought at Kinokuniya book store.. I will update the ISBN for your reference (another promise :p -- ok.. here we go ISBN: 4-529-02373-7, latest published dated 21st May 2005 ..... updated 24th Nov 2006)

Love this cutey balls - made from a small notions that I bought in puppy yarn store when I was went to Japan last year.

Since I did not know whether the size will fit the baby or not since I haven't met with my colleague yet because she was on 3 months maternity leave, I tried on my Winnie The Pooh, that size close to 1-2 years old toodler. Talking about long term usage, it sure will fit the baby..;)

Pattern : Japanese Pattern Books (ISBN : 4-529-02373-7 - this is 2nd time publishing, dated 21st May 2005)

Needles : Tulip Steel Crochet No. 3/0

Yarn : Kinlon - Dahlia (acrylic 100%)

I visited her (she was back to his mother house at central java for delivery the baby), the baby already about 2 months old. Cute and seems she will be has slim and tall girl just like her dad :)

Finished Pricilla's Square

2006-10-20T10:20:00.000+07:00

Sorry for this very very late update.. Lots of happen.

This is more than afghan, this is more like blanket!! :)

The squares are from Pricilla's pattern "Carousel"

More detail will write later... At this moment .. enjoy :)

Taken from 2nd floor ... if not I cant take the whole afghan's pictures! :)

Can you count how many squares on this afghan?

Details :

The popped up squares was crocheted with bigger needles howeve I was too lazy to ripped it and started over... ;p
More details :

Hanging down under the sun took only 1 hour to get it dry! :)

I saw a chamellon when I was drying the afghan.. It was on the progress on changing its color. It also ran out very quickly right after I took the picture. So this was the only pictures I had.

I had finished the brown shirt from Spring 2006 Keitodama Let's Knit Series. I had sewn all up and wore it to my cousin's wedding matrimony at the Buddhist Temple. Too bad I had not chance to take any pictures from the occasion.

The Closing of Project Spectrum - Doily and Squares

2006-10-03T13:26:00.001+07:00

Project Spectrum had finished 2 months ago, as for the latest months I had worked on the squares for neutral color, not only black and white but also brown -light, medium and dark brown.

I had crocheted the doily too called Flowering Pineapple Doily, however I am having problem on the round 22. The patterns was free, taken from freepaterns.com. You guys can check that website, they have lots of things, knit, crochet, sewing, plastic-canvas, cross-stitch.

Till I can resolved the mystery on round 22 instruction, this doily will remain in my plastic bag (yah I put it there, to reduce dust and missing thread balls..)

And these are the squares after I finished crocheted for 4 months.... can you count the total squares?

I had finished sewn up or assemblied all together using slip stich and put 8 rows of borders all around, started from the inside to outer border, 2 rows from each color - white, cream, dark brown and black, alternating single crochet and half double for each rows or double crochet for both rows depends on the yarn. I had washed and now already put that on our 3 seaters sofa. Would come back with the final result pictures :)

S.E.X in Hot July!

2006-09-25T14:10:00.000+07:00

aka stash enrichment xperience.. specially for free!! Who would not like it? I meant if we -knitter/crocheter- been questioned, whether we would like to have it? 99.99% among us would be said "Yes! Sure!! Are you out of your mind to ask such question??! .. he.. he..

That's happened to me.. he.. he..it's appeared that one of my coworker has to stash this in his house after her mom change her heart to origami. He asked me that after he knew that seen me shopped some yarns more often than he saw me shopped for clothes..:)

So, after a week or so, in july (yes in july, I knew I am keeping this too long..sorry..;p) he brought 1 big plastic bag, 10 kilograms size.. contained all the yarns.. the plastic bag was covered with dust and looked greyish and the rubber band also already dried.. he.. he.
I found it in the morning, he put it under my desk, so it's like very "big" suprise.. which was meaning literally big too .. ;) Thanks buddy!!

Most of the yarns are acrylic and all already discontinued, at least in area where I live now. One of the brand, kinlon just discontinued few months ago. All these yarns were imported, either from Singapore or Taiwan. And the reason it's been discontinued because the importer was bankrupt.. very sad to hear that.

This one called acrylic, but very soft more like cotton thread for me

Guess what, I also received these two.. scarry for me... 2 heads, without body, only have some parts of legs and arms... remind me of chucky...

Other than the yarns I also received some un-finished projects, too bad without any patterns I cant continued some of lovely works... Like this one:

As for these, I probably will ripped off and thinking make something else..

What i am going to do with these all stuffs? how about afghan? how about poncho for baby? or pillow? baby blanket? doily? or log cabin rug? or tea pot cover? some are made from good acrylic that not feel too plastic, some are quite harsh to use it as wearable stuffs that directly contact with the skin. I love the idea of gingham motif blanket, or chevron or granny square, could be knit could crochet..would be lovely..however would like to make something fast too.. he.. he.. any ideas.. please share :)

Yippe!! Long weekend!! (updated -- with picts)

2006-08-22T13:38:00.000+07:00

HAPPY 61st INDEPENDENCE DAY INDONESIA!!!

August 17th, 2006

August 17th was 61st of Indonesia Independence Day and then on 21st is another holiday (enlightment day of Prophet Muhammad), that means, I had 2 days extra to picked up my projects!!!

I have finished my squares for the colorful afghan, and following the project spectrum for august is neutral (incl. black and white), i worked on black, white and cream/off white yarn. I also added the brown colors range. From Dark brown, light brown and dark cream.

(done: squares pict added on 28/8/06 ~~ -- soon : this space allocated for square pictures!! )

While working with the squares I was also picked my kiri shawl, and finished it on August 16th Midnight!!
Got to tidy the yarns and also had done some blocking, however even I already pinned for 2 days, it still not really stretch flat. My Kiri still have the bumpy part on the back.
But I love this.. ;)

(promise is fullfilled at 28/6/0 ~~~ another promise : this space allocated for my kiri shawl)

Possibly it caused the cotton yarn I am using. But usually it will stretched flat after blocking., like the rose shawl that I crocheted last year (**gasp!! it's last year already?? time really flying fast!!)

Next lace project, I like to start with the Mystery Shawl KAL2 that already finished by some members of the groups... This is a lovely shawl to knit on, however with good experience learnt from Kiri Shawl, I probably got to re-think about using cotton yarn (I am thinking DMC thread... Ummm... a good reason to add some yarn in my stash...? :)

latest update: Can you guess the mystery shawl called?

my new stash :)

2006-08-07T12:41:00.000+07:00

what a long pause that I took from my last post till today. Got to admitted that I was too lazy or too hot (yes it also hot in here too.. most of days in weeks the sun shining very diligently and very bright!!).
Most of my projects are on the needles at this moment and most of the time I much more into the knitting patterns books.
Talking about books, in my country, most of the books crochet/knit patterns are imported, either from Japan, China, Australia or US. With internet, we are much blessed with hundreds of sites that provide free patterns.
However, sometimes when reading other fellows' blog about their excitement with the new knit magazine or books, we would like too. So, here I was went visit to Interweave, Amazon and Elann .
Few months ago I was went to amazon and got crazy he.. he... after about 3-4 weeks, finally I got my books...
1. Yarn Harlot's At Knit's End - Meditation for Woman who Knit Too Much -> this is Stephanie's first book. It's good for pocket book and love it... funny and how true :)
2. Yarn Harlot's Knitting Rules - the 3rd Stephanie's book -> the secrets and all knitter's should learn before they start the project either socks, hats, jackets/sweater, shawl, mittens, etc.
3. The best of Knitter's Magazine Shawls and Scarfs -> very beautiful lace!!
4. Interweave Knitters Magz -> I got to wait like 3 months to get my summer issue, while I was still waiting for my spring 2006 issues (seems my spring issues taking longer trip than my summer's edition. Emailed the interweave and they said they have no stocks and will send me one once they re-print it again, i got it already though, my spring issue came 2 weeks ago, and they already start for Fall 2006!!).
5. Folk Shawl by Cheryl Oberle -> good patterns with history behind each one.
6. Heirlom Knitting by - S. Miller (i forgot her name..) -> this is abselutly amazing lace knitting book!! All serious lace knitter , you got to have this one!! All the theories, tip and tricks.. amazing!!
7. A Gathering of Lace -> Meg Swansen -> Finally I bought this one too and I will regret if I am not buy one!! Love all the paterns inside. It's all about lace for your socks, mittens, babies, sweaters, tablecloths which can turn as a big shawl, scarfs, shawls..:)
8. Mason-Dixon Knitting -> I asked my sis to bought it for me while she was flew to SF...It was out of stock (no need to ask why..;p) but 2 months later she finally can found it 1 for me!!

And these 2 are Knitting Magazine from Japan - Spring 2006 Let's Knit Series and Spring 2006 from Keitodama. I am blind about japanese language but all the patterns are written in charts and this is the methode that we familiar with.

I like this shrug... simple and eye catching... :)

These 2 are from China (Taiwan published)... Like japanese books these also using lots of charts and images showing step by step instructions. The right side is How To Finger's Knit Book... Something nice to try and can be a good activity during plane trip while needle and hook are not allow to bring in the cabin.

Amigurumi from Finger's Knitting book, they are cute pandas!!

Bought at Kinokuniya bookstore here at Plaza Senayan. Compilation of good selections of lace. All are crocheted, and I like it all :) he.. he..

Last but not least, Encyclopedia of the Dog!! Good book to know all dogs type. My sis gave it to me. She bought this on sale while she was in US if I am not mistaken, and the price only like US$ 10 (will check it out again..;)

So, other than pick up my needles or hooks, I have huge piles of books to cover them in plastic cover. I already bought 2 rolls and sadly the needles and yarns are calling me louder than the books..:p Bad I knew but cant help.. :-)

Mystery Stole KAL 2

2006-07-06T16:16:00.000+07:00

I think starting by summer, lace would be the hit!!

You can see everywhere, Interweave Knit Summer 2006, The Amazing Lace, and some others.
I always like lace.. Had knitted 1 lace cardigan from the japanese prince's book.. and since I little bit late knew about The Amazing Lace, when I saw this KAL on lacegroup in yahoo, without further much thinking I joining :p

The pattern will be distribute on July 7, and the KAL organizer is Melanie.
At this moment we already have the pdf file yarn type and pattern to make the swatch.

I am still not determine what yarn I will use for this, since here in Indonesia we have very limited lace-weight yarn. I am thinking to use the cotton thread from DMC Perle Cotton...Umm..

If you want to join, just go to Melanie site or straight away go to Mystery_Stole_2 at yahoo...
We will have fun!!

goodbye blue welcome violet :-)

2006-07-04T20:58:00.000+07:00

some more blues had finished. I made more indigo blue squares so totally the indigo (dark) blue squares are now like 8-9of them.
then i bought 1 more blue (it'sdarker then the medium blue shown here) but lighter than indigo. It's like good nice blue jeans. I havent put this blue in this pictures.. he.. he.. lazy me..

Actually last month (*gasp*.. time flies isn't it), i played around with the cotton thread and did some dyed.
I was planned to dyed using turquise blue, orange and olive green on these cotton thread.

There were 6 skeins, so 2 blues, 2 olive greens, 1 orange and 1mixed blue-orange.
and here were the result:

closer look:

and i think it's quite bulky since I could use the 6mm knit needle to make stockinate stitch. Got to make some improvement on the st st...

As for the olive-green, thre resulted was very suprised me that it looked like old grey instead of olive green. Check this out:

the palest green was dyed on acrylic yarn, same type like the real olive green in the middle. But turned out greyish when I was using the cotton thread.

Wonder it can be that way, since i put enaugh dye powder, same tap water, same boiling pot and same period of boiling time...anybody can help? I understand that for cotton, the result could turned out more pale but not like this...another closer look:

So, finished with blue, welcome JULY, welcome VIOLET.
I feel violet is more romantic word than purple.. ;)

As for the squares, from this VIOLET theme too bad I can only found 2 colors...THIS and THAT
I am very suprising when working with THAT skein coz it feels very smooth and soft, unlike with THIS skein it's very acrilicky
and quite rough.

With only 2 colors for my squares, that means I can continue my kiri shawl which is using the japan yarn, the color is like LAVENDER, that suit with project spectrum theme this month.

I am thinking to knit a tank top too, still have few skeins from my lavender cardigan that I finished couple months ago. The yarn is Schachenmayr Princess... He.. he.. so much things on my list and so little time to do...

As for all AMERICAN,

HAPPY 4th of JULY!!

a different kind of stitch

2006-06-23T10:10:00.000+07:00

i am feeling lately knitting needles much more on the stash bag.. maybe since it now summer and people love to get out and feel fresh air and warming their body under the sun.

the trend in needle craft starting moving to other kinds like cross stitch and patchwork (quilt) or a bit of sewing..;)

as for me, when i was in school (elementry and high school), we still have craft teacher (do they still have now?) . the craft class was separate between girls and boys. boys having typing class (using old manual type machine.. a good work-out for our fingers, compare typing on our light keyboard now). the girls, we had cooking, sewing, cross stitching, embroidery ( a bit of hardanger style too).

sewing class was not too bad, it's fun too, when we practiced the skirt pattern (A line model), my mom forget to bought the fabrics, then she offered the fabric stash she had. at a glance, it looks big enaugh for my body size.

guess what, when i copy the pattern to the fabric, i found that it was not enaugh!! the pattern consist of 4 parts, 2 parts of fronts and 2 parts of backs. my fabric only can fit fo 3 parts plus the waist band.. he.. he.. at other time, we made a shirt too, and i brought enaugh fabrics this time..;p i still passed the class though, coz i was made good calculation on my own pattern size, the cutting and sewing technique were ok though..;-) thanks to my mom, she gave me extra sewing class at home...;)

few weeks ago i received my books from amazon.com (after 3 weeks journey from US to Indonesia, those were shawl and scarves - the best of knitter's magazine, the amazing lace, folk shawl, heirloom's knitting) . knitted lace is on hot spot now.. too bad i was a little bit late with the KAL amazing lace.. Good luck to you who joined! :)

i asked my sis to bough me mason-dixon books too!! and i got hooked with the colorful cabin log and blanket. good job ann and kay! :-)
some pictures will upload soon and share with you ;)

as now i am on knitting world, when making cardigan or sweater, it will be nice to have a fitting model... a good one i spotted in lincraft store while i was in perth few years ago, the fitting model can be adjust from small to extra large body size. if price was not a concern, i already bought that one!! he.. he... that stuff is very cool...like having a robot in our craft room!! ;)

but our body sometimes have an extra here and there , however if we want to have a fitting model that close enaugh with our body shape, maybe we can make this, make a clone of ourself,
to you who already kids, this is another nice activity playing with duct tapes!!

i put this activity in my list, summer now is too hot he.. he.. and better i get back to my squares and kiri's shawl!!

the color of life

2006-06-01T20:51:00.000+07:00

been in very lazy period to update my blog.. i have some pictures now!! all this time I was diligently crochet the squares following the colors theme from Project Spectrum.
few months ago, i think started in march, i bought all colors range, each 1 skeins (except indigo, white, blacks, beiges and grey) to crochet squares from Patricia Hewitt's patterns.

Since all the skeins come up with color number instead of name, i named it by myself ( i got to dig the left over from each skeins and checked for the labels).

Now.. here it is my squares from March Project Spectrum, which was RED and PINK.. so I have pale pink, pink, hot pink, magenta, chili red, red wine and red...he.. he..

And these are from April - ORANGE and YELLOW:

And these the latest months, May - GREEN... watch out for the spotlight colors ... those greens almost blinded my eyes while i crocheted it.. ;p

totally i think i had crocheted like 70's of them, since i had grey and indigo blue before this project spectrum began, my estimatition i need to make like 30 more squares...

last week when I went to LYS (not really Local.. since it located in south part of jakarta and my house in north part.. he.. he..)i have eyes with this yarn... it's japanese yarn, mercerized cotton with sparkle thread plying together. Using yarn harlot terms, this yarn talked to me.. turn me to a shawl.. and deep in my mind, i already plan to make a kiri (from Tangle Up)so...here, i bought 1 package (10 skeins, each skeins has 56 metres.. short i know, that's why I bought 10!!) .

i like knitting this kiri.. simple chart and easy to memorize after the 2nd repeat for chart 2..i already on my 6th skein now and perhaps i will do like 14-15 repeats of chart 2 to get bigger size.. this what kiri wrong side look like when i am knitting it:

if other color may added in this project spectrum , it would be black.

I would like to thanks for all my friends that had checked me out regarding the earthquake happened last week in central java. thank you cynthia that already emailed me, once she heard about it... sorry for the late reply cyns. i am fine but people who living in south of central java had got this terrible disaster. more than 4000 people died. Thanks God that support and help both in material and medical already started, from some countries too, like Malaysia, Singapore, US, China, Japan and United Nations. Thank you to you all. God is not in good mood lately.

i am here...

2006-05-20T19:05:00.000+07:00

i am still alive and apologize for all of you that already dropped in this page and still seen the green bird for few weeks!!

up till yesterday, i had finished like 50 square (carousel) for our sofa at the living room... still 50 more to go.
i plan to take the pictures of it and shared with you tomorrow.

2 days i started another project, a kiri shawl from All Tangled Up , using cotton yarn, and it's .. ehm.. a new stash... *hik* since it's color baby purple-bluish.. it can consider a too early project for project spectrum..;p

so... see you tomorrow people..;)

welcome spring ... welcome green...

2006-05-02T22:30:00.000+07:00

welcome green!! after being spoilt for whole month with lovely pink and fiery red and cute orange and yellow..our eyes now being cooling down with this refreshing green.

for some of you who stayed in 4 seasons area, i am glad winter was over now, as for us who living in tropical island, well.. goodbye raining welcome hot hot hot sun shine!! :)

this is something green first for may :

so cute!!!!

red-pink project spectrum - part 1

2006-04-15T22:09:00.001+07:00

it supposed to be posted last month, since the pink-red theme from project spectrum was on march (always mistaken with feb. .. guess it becoz of pink thing....)
and these are my first attempt of making baby stuffs... i like to knitting all these cute things.. those planning to be my gift for my friend, whom pregnant her second kid and most likely would a girl.

i can say, for who you like to see quick result, making babies stuff is one of them.. i can finished these booties in about 2 hrs. not too bad...;)

Myers's book The Joy of Knitting is a good one.. I got it in the book store who have sale.. and this one was about 80% disc... go to have it!! :).. it's hardcover too.. but put aside the cover when i reading the book.

and this one was on my plan to crochet using hairpin lace.. but not so into it at this moment.. so perhaps...later...;)

got to have this !! :)

2006-03-22T21:57:00.000+07:00

i love cardi and already make 3 (none havent been showing off before in public) but i already want to make other new one.. i have the yarn..
but dont want the casual model.
when i wondering around the blogger and dropped by at savanahchick's and see this from garnstudio

lovely right?

it maybe not for beginner knitter but i think it's good challenge.
the good news, this is free !!!! the best thing, this pattern also have the chart!! 2 thumbs up!!

hurry!! and make one for you!! or 2 or 3.. ;)

lace like wave

2006-03-14T20:41:00.000+07:00

i was browsed around on bloggers' world and when i dropped by at eunny's .. i must gave my 2 thumbs up for her.

she really great knitter and generous to share her great knitting knowledge with us. she wrote about steeks, which is i am still not dare to try, first the real wool yarn is very expensive here and 2nd and the most important, i am not dare to reach my scicors and cutting the expensive yarn .. he.. he.. then i saw that she also share a great wave lace shawl. this is kind like shetland's lace that i always want to make. her pattern called "PRINT O'WAVE" shawl.
after downloaded the pattern (she already make the pattern in pdf file), i am back to my LYS (which not a really local since it about 20-30 kms from my house.. he.. he..) and checked for the suitable yarn.

so, the LYS have new yarn which just arrived and still in the FEDEX box... it's nylon and the owner already warned me that this yarn would be very very very easy to split out and dont even dare try to crochet this yarn (sorry crocheters...) but the colors are really lovely. for me i choose this : the champagne color. the yarn is KATIA sevilla. with good yardage (137 yards or 125 meters per 50 grs). using inox circular (got to buy new one 2 1/2 cms with 40 cms length).

while i do provisional cast on the yarn already split up and easily dropped (umm...not sure what is the word in english) but it fell all over from the cones...*sigh*

but i keep casted on (i am using the acrylic thread, the one that i dyed using dylon coloring powder)... and without much longer i already finished the 1st repeat (each repeat is 12 rows).

but on the row 20, i made mistake and got to frogged... and guess what.... it's splitted very badly that i really want to cry... but on the other hand.. i really like the color.. so i decided... i should keep going.. so... i have finished the 3rd repeat.

i already put the sleeves for my pink sweater too and now working on the neck... at this moment no pict yet... i want to frogged the sleeves (for 3rd times) since i found it not too fit with the armholes... ummmm... if i can finish this, could this become my finished project for march project spectrum ? :p

btw, if you want to join project spectrum, please check lolly's blog for better explanation. the point is you can do anything craft work you like (knit, crochet, sew, dye, weave, spin, cross-stitch, even painting - though i wonder what kind of painting that consist only max 2 colors.. he.. he.. ). the best thing that this project is no pressure.. no deadline projects..so... come one drop by and join :)

playing with the color

2006-03-03T21:59:00.000+07:00

i love yarn
i love colors
i love knit
i love crochet
i have too much stash at this moment
i wish i can combined all those!!

after read Siow Chin's blog, i hurryly dropped at Lolly's blog and ta da....

i join this knit along

and this is the button for this month, starting from march which is red and pink

i have some on designs in mind, but got to work on some sketch and check out again my stash. i plan to use the acrylic yarn that i dyed last year (*sigh....* so long ago....). i have blue, aqua, pink, marron, orange, green, yellow, gold, and for sure black and white. i may need to dye some other colors like violet or purple...ups... i think i have purple using kitchen cotton thread...hik..hik.. that one i got from my bro, who had experimented with dye process like 3 years ago.

the color for each project would be:

march RED and PINK
april ORANGE and YELLOW
may GREEN
june BLUE
july VIOLET/PURPLE
august NEUTRAL/Black and WHITE

i wish i could spend more time with KAL... and preferably working with crochet... faster...faster.. :)

yuummmm...yuummm.. want some dessert? :)

2006-02-23T16:14:00.000+07:00

I have to confess, I like watching people making dessert or snacks also like watching those on shelves in bakery stores, but thanks's God not really like to eat it.. he.. he.. I also love the idea of sewing. Before I knew about knitting, I like to collecting sewing patterns, mostly are clothes (I made some for craft classes back to school time, it's like a home-economic class)

If you have 2 hobbies like that, perhaps this can be a good inspirations. This calorie-free and no expired date.. ;)

I got these pictures from work-mate, no info about where it came from, but my guess, it's from japan or taiwan. Those 2 places are well known to creating something like these.. ummm... so how about having nice tea time tomorrow afternoon? (bring your yarn and needles and hooks too! ) :)

sneak peak from my 2005 trip (more yarns!!) - part 2

2006-02-15T20:26:00.000+07:00

some pictures from my trips to japan and singapore end of year 2005. if you are knitter that have seen knitting bok from japan, you probably familiar with puppy yarn. while i was there, this store was one of the "must visit" yarn store.
the store is very nice, large collection, from cheap to novelty yarn, but other than the yarn i like their logo too...the puppy playing with skein (that's why they called their store puppyyarn..i think... :p)

the closer look of the cute puppy!!

and here are the result from my Japan S.E.X (Stash Enrichment Xperience) trips :

the green one i got from a supermarket near Fukiage (i think it's called itoya), the small city about 1 hour 30 min by train from Shinkoiwa-Tokyo. My friend (I called her Auntie Kim Soan since she much older than me but younger than my mom) brought me there since she knew that this trip theme was "hunting the yarn store". So, when i was there, the have the fukubukuro, it's like boxing-day sale. She the one who seen this yarn first on the shelves. Can you guess the price? It's 1000 Yen (one thousand yen for 10 skeins for 1 package)!!!! Each skein is about 84m, suggested needle 6-8 (japan size, or about 3.25 - 4.5 mm). But should buy 1 package, there's only left 3 colors green, blue and pink. i choose the green (look like sage green for me). Materials is 70% wool and 30% acrylic.

the white - boboli yarn were from puppy yarn also the purple mohair from filature di crosa. for the boboli yarn, the store owner gave me free shawl pattern!! yippe!!

and these are from Golden Dragon Singapore on my 2nd visit from 4 days I stayed. The white skein and red-black yarn are brand from Greece, which hard to speeling. But based on my new-friend, Wendy from singapore-knitters, those yarn are one of her fave too because it's nice to knit, not piling and have great length and economic price. The Breeze Sirdar are also her fave too :) Same here Wendy!! :)

dont asked me the damage cost from this yarn trip..it's a lot but i love it!! :-)

here are the cushion cover i made before i went to japan. made from kitchen cotton thread and i dyed it myself for the blue color using dylon. it turn out like baby blue when i use cotton, but it would turn brighter when i use acrylic.

this was also my first attempt working on granny squares (yes people it's crocheted..) and using crochet needle to assembly the square... not too bad.

and now I am working on this. Using Schachenmayr Catania 100% cotton, dark brown, on 3.25 mm inox circular. The pattern is from Let's Knit Series - Spring Summer 2005.

This also my first attempt working circular. I am starting from half way up. and now reach the row to shape the armhole. I put on hold for awhile since I need to make some calculations since the gauge is different between the real pattern and yarn I am using and feel too lazy to do the maths.. :-p

something from chinese new year

2006-02-14T20:58:00.000+07:00

finally we closed the chinese new year season for this year!! the festival was celebrated for 2 weeks, the final closing is the Cap Go Meh Festival (Cap Go means 15 in Hokkian, one of the most common chinese dialect using for chinese overseas).

i was bought this when i was in japan. this is a green tea with gold dust..seems it's a good idea.. and a little present for my parents too.. so do you see the small gold envelope ?
that is contained this one:

that is the gold dust.. don't asked me about the carat.. he. he.i think it's like 22 carat.. but mom said it may be about 24 carats.

the tea itself is green tea, just normal one, with the leaves. so i put it a tea spoon full of tea leaves and put the boiling water and wait for a sec, then put the gold a bit.

and if you wondered about the taste.. it taste like .. green tea.. hot green tea.. he.. he.. he.. since the gold dust is tasteless. btw, this was the tea that my mom really care with the rest of the tea leaves. she did not want any gold dust left in the pot!! he.. he.. *kidding*...

and on the day 8, we were having another prayer for chinese new year. it is held by chinese who came from Hokian etnic.

during this prayer, we should have a pair of sugar cane, fresh from the soil. the story behind this prayer (as far as i remembered- sorry if it's not exactly like the right story), long time ago, during hard time in mainland china, there was war in a village. near to end of year, the enemy was attacked the village and all people was ran away with their families and left everything on their home. they were finally arrived near big empty land, without a place to hide themselves from the attackers. so they prayed to God and then suddenly there were thousand sugar cane trees erected from the soil, for they place to hide.

so they hide there, and after few days they came out and when they back to their village (off course they made sure there was no attackers left.. he.. he..) they realized they already missed the new year's eve for about a week. but they still managed the new year's eve prayer but now they add the sugar cane tree as symbol the kind and love from God that already saved their life.

as for chinese, lots of symbol also using too.. btw, on this prayer all are vegies or fruit, no animal contained. the fruits are banana, apple, oranges, chinese pear (Xiang Li), then white bread and sticky rice pastries (nian gao) plus the flowers and for sure a pairs fo sugar canes!!

the white bread are shaped in peach or called shian tao (God's fruit) filled with sweet black bean paste. the next one is made from sticky rice with brown sugar. the white bread symbol of "HUAT" means growing bigger.

and the brown one means harmony..coz it sticky.. it bring the family closer and make a good bonding..;)

we waited until about 2 am or around that then went to sleep..

btw.. i will find out more about the exact story and mean while i am apologize if the story i have here not exactly match with you.

sneak peak from my 2005 trip - part 1

2006-01-31T21:17:00.000+07:00

here are the sneak peaks like i promised... :)
first is needles :
* this one is from puppyyarn (yes, the original puppy yarns store!!)

from okadaya :

i had tried the bamboo noodles and it's slided smoothly on mohair yarn. very light too!! :)

and this is from Golden Dragon Singapore - the brand is Panda. It came up with 1 set contained 4 mm, 4.5mm, 5 mm and 5.5 mm. it's very light. i think it's made from China. price .. about Sin$ 2-3.

these are the "hardware" from Golden Dragon, Singapore.

From left to right :

1. Panda Crochet Set (4 mm, 4.5 mm, 5 mm and 5.5 mm)

2. Clovers Crochets (7/0 - 8/0 2 sets - 1 for me, 1 for my bro)

3. Oreo Crochets (2 mm)

4. Measurements Sheets from Clover. If you are familiar with the japanese book, they use this when make project using irish crochet or freeform crochet.

5. Tunisian Crochet Needle from Clover (3 mm, 3.5 mm, 4.5 mm, 6 mm and 6.5 mm)

and yarns from japan....:

1. cortuna

2. mario
3. mohair

I have some more yarns to show off, but seems have problem with time to do all my knitting and blogging (i want to do both), i took an opporturnity at this office to show this first part first while my boss on meeting .. he.. he..he...

Me and my scarf - Asakusa Temple

2006-01-24T16:15:00.000+07:00

Here, another picture of me and my scarf in Asakusa Temple, Tokyo, Japan. I visited this place with my friend and he took a pict for me. This scarf was done after 2 days work, worked with 120 wood dpn needles and the yarn was a gift from my sis while she flew to germany. the huge skein was weight about 100 grams and i was working ribbing 2x2. the final result reached about 150 cms, so I can wrapped around my neck with very short on both ends. it's very nice, warming my tropical body (specially my neck) and covered a bit of my nose and lips... ;-)

the temple was very crowded, we walked from the gateway to the main hall, with hundreds maybe thousands of other people. my friend, jonokun, told me that we should throw coin 5 yen before we prayed, i need to check with him once again, what it's 5 yen means.

I had took pict of my stash very nice-unforgettable -enrichment experience, but dont have chance to modified (reduced the file size). But I will upload and make other people's drolling..;)

I am Back... :)

2006-01-16T20:28:00.000+07:00

It's nice to get back home!!! :-) and happy belated New Years to Everyone!!! I miss you all and missing my blog, missed my needles and yarns, and books.

I finally succeed add some stash from my trip, both in Singapore and Japan. I visited Puppy Yarn and Okadaya. Thanks to Pinku's blog, i was planned to visit most of the yarn stores in Tokyo and around, but with the schedule I can only manage 2 from her list. Those 2 places are heaven for craft lovers, specially okadaya, their Shinjuku's store is 6 storeys building plus 2 storey's on the opposite front. I can spend hours and hours just in that one store alone!! :p

But when I was in Fukiage, Saitama-prefecture, my friend who live there brought me to the Craft Store there too. I am not remember the store name (will have to dig out all the reciept if I can find it.. :p) and those places are heaven too!!

And while I was in Singapore, I found this quiz on old Cosmopolitan Magazine

Other than to be a doctor, my other dream when I was little was to create something, I tried cooking, sewing, cross-stitched, embroiderry, and now, after i knew about knitting and crochet, it's like a dream come true (at least now I have more excuses for the increasing yarn stash I have..;p)

Btw, Congratulation for my Chinese Malay Friend, Cynthia, she finally launched her own blog!! :)

I would post more picture soon.. to give you all nice peek from my yarn store hunting.
After this trip, got to do big saving before next one..:-)

holiday!!

2005-12-26T21:11:00.000+07:00

HAPPY HOLIDAY to you all ..

I am going to Japan and Singapore, from Dec 27 - Jan 10.. will try to posting if possible..;)

Have great time, and I will trying to do some knitting too!! :)

carousel squares

2005-12-13T14:11:00.000+07:00

it's been a while.... the raining season already started, and with temperature become getting cooler, even it's not as low like 4-seasons country, it's quiet chilling for us here... and see the nice afghans.. make me want to make some granny square afghan, not really a granny square though. the patterns is from Pricillia Hewitt - Carousel Squares:

i already started with yarn from orion top - the acrylic yarn type - any knitter or crocheter from singapore or malaysia also familiar with this brand ..;) and for my square, the square would be solid color for each sq

the colors i choose are dark grey, indigo blue and dark red, have crocheted 6 squares of dark grey, 1 of indigo blue and would start with the dark red.
using #4 tulip steel crochet hook, each square is about 10 cm or about 4 inch.
i haven't decide how big the each small block, either 3x3 or 5x5... and still designing the color combination layout.

the other color combination are off-white, cream and dark brown color... but these would be for different square motif...perhaps the classice granny square or the fisherman's (still from pricillia hewitt's) like this :

(same reason - wait until the dial up speed back normal)

this orion yarn, even it's acrylic, it feels like wool, probably would not shrink, surely will bit melted if i put hot iron on it..he, expect the color would bleed for deep dark colors like indigo blue and dark red.

about the pink sweater, finally i frogging the sleeve, start with the right sleeve, making some adjustment on increasing and decreasing rows... i put this project down for a while, and prefer to work the carousel square.

ply or not plying? how to ?

2005-12-07T16:11:00.000+07:00

my stash is growing.
few months ago i made some purchase on ebay for " some" yarns, it takes couple weeks to reach to singapore, to my sis address, since i am not sure how long it will take and the whether it will safely arrive to me via our post office here.. not to be underestimate but i am not going to sacrifice my yarns...so it addressed to my sis address.

1. the chenille -> 2 cones (the one in the middle, each is around 2 lbs is i am not mistaken)

2. crochet thread -> 1 cones (1 lb, the most left)

3. the crochet metallic skein -> huge skein!!! (the one in front, the skein weight is around 2 lbs)

the chenille are ok, but quite dissapointed with the crochet thread and the ... (3) , sinc the crochet thread is not much different with thread that we usually using for sewing or machine embroidery!!!! and the (3), i have lots of questions:

1. how i winding this huuuggeee hanks into skeins/balls.... see.. you can see how big the skein is..

2. since it so much like a thread when you touch the ply, i am thinking to ply this, but how? is it necessary? i really appreaciated if you can tell me what i should do with these crochet thread and (3), but return to the seller would be not an option considering the shipping cost.

then my sis went to HK for holiday with her hubby, and without doubt, she knew that the souvenir for me (we called here... oleh-oleh)... would be yarn, and this was what they picked for me.

she bought at one of night market (she didn't remember the name) , there's no label or any info for this yarn, for you, who read my blog, if you familiar with this yarn, could you tell me any info like the materials (it's like acrylic-woll when i touched)

i love the textures, it's pale pink, and i have 5 balls... each about 500 grams/1 kilo and do not have any idea at this moment, should it be sweater, vest, afghan, shawl or ... any suggestion please?

experiments on granny squares

2005-11-28T21:05:00.000+07:00

with lots of things in my plan to do list, i choose to picked up the pink sweater... and knitted slowly, finished the sleeves and put it all together...

but i still have things on my minds...guess my hands used to be in crocheting like crazy for few days and it still on my brain or is it a post crochet syndrome ? :p so, i kept thinking about crocheting... but i dont want to picked up my 3 color cardigan.. i want something else.. greedy...:p

finally i found something i can make an excuse for crochet new stuff... the couch imitation leather starting to dried out and cracking..it's uncomfortable on skin, and those are appearing on fave spot...so i am thinking a cover, on granny square... using a cotton twine, the color would be something white and something colorful.. and i decided something blue.... so i dyed some yarn on this cotton twine.

see, the dyed turned out quite different between acrylic and cotton.. it's resulted as lovely soft blue color with hint of white on cotton, and see how bright the color on acrylic thread. i dyed 4 balls .. guess it would be enaugh.

the cotton twine is quite thick, see how the ball still standing up even i almost finish with this one.....

and the assembly methode i will use would the whipstitch, the one that use needle instead of single crochet.

i also made another motif of granny square, and thinking to make an afghan from it.. color is dark grey, indigo blue and dark red (almost marron), all yarn is acrylic, a bit fuzy... ;)

i am not too satisfied with the pink sweater sleeves .. and i hear frog ...frog...but not so sure... i want to work this granny square first, so i can sit or lay down while watching tv comfortably again soon!! :)

going 1..2...3....

2005-11-14T20:50:00.000+07:00

finally!!! i blocked this crocheted 1 rose shawl yesterday.
after i soaked on the bucket, put light liquid soap, and wash it, hang it almost dry, then pinned on my bed (since i dont have the block board), here it is:

dont know coz the classic feeling but i found that this looked lovelier, since it white. previous i worked in sky blue and black yarn.

and here is the detail of border :

project: 1 roses triangle crochet shawl
yarn: grace from orion top (100% acrylic, 106 grams - 460 metres per cones, white)
crochet hook: tulip, no. 1 ( i always assume the number refer to centimetres)
working time: started nov 3 - finished 14 november (from 3-8 was full time .9-5 .:p)

i need to make other sample for the shawl for made to order project, doesnt mean i dont like this project, this is one of my fave, however i need to make something else, since there so many possibilities that we can create from simple stitches... i am thinking of motifs combined together, i am thinking rose (like irish crochet type), i am thinking granny square, i am thinking hair pin lace, i am thinking aran, bobbles ... but definetly i need to make new shawl sample.. :)

so, i can say my stash is not just a stash, that growing taller and taller on the corner but it's an investment!!

lurking, crocheting, visiting

2005-11-09T14:26:00.000+07:00

it's long holiday here in indonesia, after the moeslem fasting month, there were 2 days idul fitri holiday, but since the bali bombing 2 years ago, to increase the tourism business, government was decided to extended the some holiday.. so this year, the extended days was 3 days, our holiday total was from Nov 2 - 8!!!

before i wasnt planning or perhaps too many activities on to-do-during-long-holiday list, so many that i couldn't decide what i would going to do, some were:
1. cleaning, re-arranging book shelves that i used to stored the mags, books, knit tools, some others little things that i think i wouldnt notice if my mom throw it away

2. taking picture of my stash and make inventory from it ( i still have thousands of books that need to take care of like put some plastic cover and put some label)

3. do some note of my knitting expenses ( i would cry on this for sure...*sigh)

4. stashbuster for the sirdar cotton breeze... i still have the baby pink (900 grs!!!) and the baby yellow (1000 grs!!) and baby blue snuggly DK - 4 ply (1000 grs)!!! i am thinking crocheted/knitted afghan for the baby pink. and lacey motif jacket for the baby yellow and havent got any clue what to do with the snuggly..

5. continue the WIP - 3 colors cardigan, the pink sweater

6. playing with puppies -> bobo and snowy were delivered cute puppies over a month ago, bobo have 3 - all boys, and snowy have 2 - 1 male, 1 female. my dogs are mongrel, but puppies always cute!!! i need to take some pictures of them too!!

7. try the waffel recipe

8. watching korean movie series...

9. checked on some travelling either malaysia, singapore, bangkok, hongkong or bali... but since the crazy price on tickets and thinking we would be jam together with millions people, this very excited idea easily gave up...

then on the last day before holiday, one of my work team, told me that he would like to order the rose crocheted shawl, the one that i made 2 version before 5 roses (the full version) and 1 rose (well.. only 1 rose with fringe). he would like to have it on white and withou fringe... voila!!!

so i guess without i need to telling you reader already knew what i put on my first priorities...the order for crocheted shawl!!! *wink...*wink....*

so i did lots of crocheted, thanks God it's crocheting since the sun shining like crazy here, like we have 4 suns all over the sky!! even i was quietly sitting down just do crocheting i was in sweat in very short time!!! and got to back and forth to the sink to wash my hands coz it sweat too!!!

when i was bored with the crochet, i went to the hospital with mom and bro visited my uncle. he back from his few days comma, and already realized the people who visited him. he is still in ICU.
he looked much better, no more yellowish shadowing his face and legs, but with the respiration tools on throat, he cant talk, only from his eyes he let us knew that he glad we came visited him.

yesterday, we got news that he getting much better, the doctor already positioning his reclining bed to sitting position, but all the supporting tools still attaching onto his body. sometimes he got very angry and upset and tired with the IV on his arm. we are so glad!! and for you the readers who may pray for him too, i would like to say many many thanks !!!

i didn't have any chance taking pict on my projects yet, will come soon!! :-)

last but not least, alex has launched her new blog called knittyguru, so check it out !!

almost hibernating?

2005-10-30T18:47:00.000+07:00

it's been 2 weeks... last time i visited here, on 17th added the flicker badge..do you like it?
should put some more picture of my finished project, another promise i know......

lately, been busy with work, the pink tshirt project, and sick. yeah.. got weak tummy and after the doc precribtion's working its miracle, got another one.. the headache..real headache..so bad that it's like poking my eye balls from inside my head...*tuck..tuck...tuck...* like woody woodpecker...

then, my uncle from my mom side, after few in hospital, he was drop so bad, and in within 2 days, the doctor said, his liver, his kidneys and his lungs are went so bad... almost stop functioning.
the doctor said the chance are very very little... only 10 percents left.
now he is in ICU...and.. i may he is one of the person in family that i really admire for his hard working.
from nobody to be somebody, from selling mango fruit on the street and through hard working he has a small shoes manufacturing. too bad he stop the woman's line and now only play in man's footwear.
i really praying for him, all the best for him .. hopefully Buddha will blessing him, and help him, all the good karma that he done would help him through all this pain.

with so many things happened lately i finished the back part of pink tshirt

and working on the front part, just started the armhole shaping....

and here are the details....

sorry for the color may not turn out well.. but it's pink... not dusty pink...bolder than baby pink and lighter than shocking pink...;)

havent touch the other project yet.. the tricolor cardi....

btw, i gave the cozy shawl alreadyto my sis, i told her top open it later..then she sent me the message that she almost cried when she read my notes on the gift pack and she really..really like it ;)
want to know what i wrote to her? secret...:-)

where do i belong?

2005-10-03T13:39:00.000+07:00

those words are familiar from some movie, and lately i saw this flying around bloggers....

and curious to know where do i belong, i went to the quiz... and the result is

You Belong in Rome

You're a big city girl with a small town heart

Which is why you're attracted to the romance of Rome

Strolling down picture perfect streets, cappuccino in hand

And gorgeous Italian men - could life get any better?

What City Do You Belong in? Take This Quiz :-)

Find the Love of Your Life
(and More Love Quizzes) at Your New Romance.

was it true? well.. i love pasta and pizza... and capucinno and latte...and.. old buildings... wine...

how about you? where you belong? ;)

lovely..lovely...

2005-10-02T22:25:00.000+07:00

when you feeling cozy, do you want to end it soon?
as for me, i should, since i already use all the 4 3/4 balls of Gedifra Wellness to create this.
and guess i will have hard time to say goodbye with this, but i have too, it will goes to my sis.
off the needle (by 2 october 2005), it was about 106 cms...then i washed it... and since it cotton, i didn't expected it will changing a lot, well.. when i hanging on the backyard to let it sun-dry, it turned to 146 cms!!!
but the width not much changing!!

then when i picked up, after few hours outside, the length got a bit shotter... now it about 126 cms..and i pinned it on my bed now (thanks for the queen size bed!!).. he.. he.. he...

i will let it overnight, and see whether it can be blocked for good or not.
btw, if you have any experience blocking cotton yarn, kindly drop me line or two... is it going back to normal size later in future if we wash it again and leave it dry without being blocked?

btw, i hand-washed it ... it's machine washable.. but so far no knitting projects were went to washing machine.

will load the pictures soon... promise..promise.... (:p)

note: all pictures here are added by oct 16, 2005

--sad news---
hate the bomb in bali island!! it's very terible, as if my country has not enaugh troubles... *sigh.....*
all my prayers for the victims.

just being cozy

2005-09-24T21:28:00.000+07:00

working with lace pattern would make you tired sometimes.
1st, got to counting for every row where the stitch have inc, dec, yo, and k1.
2nd, when you think you are doing ok, and felt confident that there isn't stitch left out or too many dec, less yo... then.. ta da...... the sts were less or too much ...
3rd, cant avoid frogging the row

that's why i keep counting every row where all the dec, yo sts are do. even sometimes i can missed some stitch on the purl side coz i dropped the yo loop.

on the other hand, it's worth it. when it's reached certain length when you can admiring the motif, even it's simple motif.

so... here are my cozy progress... the real pattern was using Reynolds Mandalay (100% silk, 98ysd/88 m per 50 gr skein), color oatfield and required 8 skeins to finish it.

as for my cozy (during the knitting, since this would be my gift to my sis), it knitted with Gedifra Wellness (60% cotton, 40% acrylic, and it's still produce a bit of fuzy balls, 110 m per 50 g ball), so i am thinking it wold be using less balls but may reach almost same length with the original knitting.

since 88 m * 8 => 704 m, and using 5 mm, the length is 67.5 inch and width : 18.75 inch

and for my project:
110 m * 4 3/4 (3/4 was from the vest project) -> 525.5 m, and using 4.5 mm, the width is 15 inch.
perfect.. since it wouldnt be too bulky and too long for her..;)

a peek from my cozy.... (will be update asap *sigh* since the internet connection acting lazy tonight)

note: finally...pict can be upload now..by oct 15..2005

browsing around....

2005-09-20T09:43:00.000+07:00

other than WIP, searching patterns, tips and tricks, checking online yarn stores, also to read the knitters blogs.
reading the progress of their WIP, the experience using certain yarn to create beautiful projects. i haven't find people to work on weird-bizzare-scarry project though. is it because the effort that we already spent on the project, the lovely yarn, and the proud to be admire (including me..:p) are factors for us, knitters, to create something beautiful and lovely.

so, i added some more blog link on my blog site some ... check on the men who knit , it's an eye opener, make knitting become balance, not more to feminin-girly type activity anymore.

a lot of men who knit, sometimes they are shy to show it in public. i knew this coz my brother also knit/crochet. he said that people still have a stereotype that crochet/knit are more to women thing, not manly enaugh to do by men. on the other side, who never heard about great mens on fashion industry, great chef... they are men who working in "woman" area...

well.. it could become long discussion on this topic, and i love knitting too much and dont want this be spoil by men-women things argues.

so, just enjoy reading and have a good time browsing around..;)

knitty cozy shawl.....another wip.. hik...

2005-09-19T12:14:00.000+07:00

as if the WIP are not enaugh (the pink sweater, the tri color crochet cardi, and i just remembered now that actualy i have a very long chain-about 300 something- crocheted already for a shawl, from solutia -> shut down by sept 1 .. too bad..), on weekend, i already started to cast on another project, this time "cozy" shawl from knitty . this project actually already on my list since the first time i seen this, but not like love in the first sight..i keep it in my list, like making a good wine... make it mature enaugh..then:

1. i remembered my sis birthday will come on next month, with about 2 weeks ahead (about only 4 days actually since i can only really work on this project full time on weekend),

2. then i saw my stash, Gedifra yarn, i still have 5 balls, and the color pretyy much close to the original pattern.

3. then i thinking it will suitable with my sis.

and i picked up the needles, and casted on.

for this project, i am using 4.5 mm needles, 2 type of needles, bamboo and nickel-plated-inox type needle (since i am forget the brand, i bought this during my trip to perth last year).

on yarn label said it suitable for 3-4 mm needles, but it's going ok with 4.5 mm.

cozy pattern asking for 5 mm, mine would be shorter, but still acceptable...;)

so, i am knit for 20-something rows.. it's fun project.

love the lace and the seems this gedifra yarn really working well with this pattern... *soul-mate*

pict of progress will be posted a little bit late...;)

green cardi buttoned up

2005-09-11T21:40:00.000+07:00

today was so hot, even at this moment, at the evening after bit raining..so humid!!!
i did the stock st my pink sweater (i wil called it sweater now, since it has kinda turtle-neck shaped, it couldn't be call turtle neck t-shirt ;p) but not sure what keep my finger feeling clumsy or what, coz it keeping not turned good.

i am better with lace and cabled..that can hide ugly stockinette st, so i took a break again, and did a bit sew, put some wooden button on the green cabled cardigan.

as if i am not hot enaugh, i put the cardi on, and here the front and the back look . the cables on the sleeve are straight, but i was too hot when wear this.. and it is very good thing to have a self timer camera :) tell what do you think...:)

i give my self some excuse for a little errors or impefectness this is my first cabled cardi and since i found it after i sewn all parts...so my dear reader..if you notice the imperfect *hole* (hint..hint)....sorry....

going 1..going 2..going 3.....

2005-09-08T21:03:00.000+07:00

taaadaaaa!!!

here are the 16 rows from my triple crochet cardi... i named it my project by myself, coz i dont know what it's name since i cant read japanese.
i feel that the contrast between black to bluish grey- white are ok..a bit too strong.. but it will match with the light blue, or white or grey or black tank top if i wear this later.
another concern is since the row are horizontal, it may give illusion of wider body shape, so i am thinking to make the sleeve and the collar with all black to balance it. gosh... working with black yarn such a misery, but we all love a little black here and there..:-)

back to my pink t-shirt (or should i called it sweater?), after reached about 20 cms height, i took a look and i quite shame with my stockinette stitch...the tension was not consistent, i am wondering, is it coz by the needle?
i am using inox circular 3.5mm for this miami yarn, and the based on the label it said that the yarn can be work with 3-4 mm of yarn.
for the ribbing 2x2, i was using the 4 mm and it turned ok.
so i feel uncomfortable, thought that wheter i should frog it (AGAIN!!!!) or not?
frog?
no? (i already did that before and my yarn now suffer with the splitting symptom...*sigh*)
frog! (the stock st so terrible.. i couldn't show this off if the quality is like this!!)
no!!!! (just thinking the re-knit it again already make me feel so tired!!, how bout the time you already spent?????)
frog!
no!
frog!?
no!?

i left it for a while, and when i got back, i made up my mind.
i frog it.
no choice. i want to love my work and it's good yarn, and i can imagine it will turn out great once it finish. and i kinda a perfectionist on this thing.
so i left it on the bin for a day, not touching .. then tonight i back to knit it again.....
(i am tempting to switch to 3.25 mm needle.. but no..no... got to focus... the 3.5mm is great just i have to more pay attention on tension!!)

triple color crocheted cardi

2005-09-03T21:34:00.000+07:00

Dont know what's wrong with me or my finger, when i did the re-knit, the 2x2 ribbing were no problem, but when i do the stitch for sweet pink tshirt, keep finding the error, the stitch too loose, no consistency between rows (some are too tight, too loose), the i found in few rows under, the yarn wasnt went into the right direction. it suppose the purl stitch, but somehow i was did the knit st... oh ... *sigh*....

so i stop for a while and cheered myself up with the spring & summer 2005 Let's Knit Series,and guess it's now the time to start a cast on with this project.

i love the pattern, i love cardi, and it's crochet, so perhaps would finish faster than the knit project. for this, i am using Katia Creppi, since i cant found the blue color in range like the one in pattern, so for me the color are black, light bluish gray and super shine white. using the 3 mm steel crochet hook (tulip -> it's the best crochet hook in indonesia and some south east asia and china i think). yarn gauge is : 22stsx32 rows/10 cm using 3.6 mm knitting needles.
as for the pattern, it asked : 25 stsx10 rows/10 cm using the 3.25 mm
so, when i made the gauge, it's took about almost same length, but for the rows, i should make abut 6 rows extra to meet the pattern measturement.

as for my color, i started with black 2 rows, then 1 rowbluish grey or i think it greyish blue, then 1 row white.

it's quite funny working 3 yarn color at the same time and luckily i wasn't jump to the project and skipped the motif details.

each time the color changing, the yarn was carry on from the previous of each color below. .. sorry if i lost you people here..

i already have about 16 rows and too tired and too hot taking other pictures..

inspirations...frogging...

2005-09-02T22:28:00.000+07:00

i almost finished with the back part of my pink tshirt..only about 5-6 rows to go on the to shaping the neckline and shoulder. since i did some adjustments with the gauge..it turned out that i made it smaller...sigh...
the armhole were fine, but all the rows before shapping.. too little stitches left... ummm..uggghh...ugghh...

the original pattern's gauge is 25 sts-32 row using needle no. 3.75 mm and 32 sts-32row using 3.25 or 3.5 mm needle.
miami yarn that i use, the gauge is 20 sts-28 row.. so it's bigger then, after sketched and calculated, i knitted.
and during the almost finished back part, i put it on my back, took some metering.. and then.. sigh..it's too small...:-(
original pattern, the width is 46 cm.. and turned out my project only about 39 cm... perhaps my math not work too well during the calculating....

so, i got no choice...here come the frogs... ripped..ripped.... my mom helped me frogging....and i was back to square one, the 2x2 ribbing using 4 mm, and the body part using 3.5mm.

since i knew how to knit, i more noticing for the adv, when they have knitted items. perhaps it sound funny.. but i like it ..;)

so when took a break from re-knitting, i grabbed australian woman mag, april 2005... and seen some adverstisement from target and other store.. they have nice knitted wear... all machine for sure... i love the lace cardigan. it's beautiful..
but doing it with black yarn..can be lots of effort and energy...

but just as inspirations, maybe you like to make all of these nice clothes too?

sweet pink-shirt

2005-08-26T21:32:00.000+07:00

ah.. almost finished with the lavender cardigan, and for the next project would be this..

taken from Let's Knit Series Spring Summer 2004, this project already statyed in my project to do list for about a year!!! i was looked for the match yarn that i really want to use for this.

i was thinking about blue, white, dark blue, yellow, sage, light brown, cream.. even purple!! but my mind always come back to this pink and pink.. ;p

i like this, coz i can wear it under my work jacket suit... working in a company with conservative background is a big no no to wear something too sexy.. and i found this is easy to make....

so, i found this perfect yarn... using MIAMI yarn imported from Germany, made in bulgaria. it's mercerized cotton and i am using 4mm for the ribbing and then used 3.75 mm for the stockinette... but found out that would be too big...so i ripped of the body part and switched to 3.5 mm. it's knitted perfectly.. but since it is cotton, still got some fuzziness...but i love the color!!

hopefully i can finish this soon.. want to wear it to work.. umm.. thinking abut showing off.. that would be not too sinful eh? ;)

almost finished lavender cardi

2005-08-14T22:08:00.001+07:00

back to my lavender cardi project... i am afraid it may not fit with my mom size.. a little bit tight on her.. and knowing her, she may not too like fit clothes... but if she doesnt want to, i can always wear it.. :)

so here it is, after the finishing phases: sewing all parts, crocheted picot all around (found this is quite time consuming... same like put the tassels!!) ... here are some details i can share with you all....

the whole cardi after sewing all parts:

lav card01

close up motif:

lav card detail

the sleeve close up:

lav card detil sleeve

and the front and back parts... sorry for the hanging loose yarns...

lav cardi front

lav card back

as for the buttons... i am thinking to put the pearl beads ... make the cardi look little "classy" type..... or perhaps just the transparant bead..

beads

lav card detil btn

total would be take about 10 buttons... i bought this beads on area called Pasar Baru. A central shopping area for fabrics (mostly the stores are owned by India people) and material for weddings stuffs so thats includes tailored-handmade shoes/sandals, tiaras, beads but hardly yarn, central of beauty salon supplies too.. i can forgive havent find the yarns store here, since there are lots of yummy food...(cakes/pastries/snacks) chinese, india, indonesia, dutch yumm.....yummm......very womanly area.. he.. he.. ;)

back to the project, i will to sew some of the pearl to this cardi.. and see if that will fit with the button hole.

*ps: i will put some info on this project , suc as yarns info and project length...*

hei... you are 1 month old now!!!

2005-08-14T22:04:00.000+07:00

few weeks ago, was 1 month of baby HJ.. so.. we all the extended family were received this very nice and yummy 1 month baby box.

here in indonesia, the 1 month baby box can be either the cake (like b day cake with little tiny baby miniature statue on the top) or more traditional like this.

the lunch box contained: 1/2 bbq chicken with the sweet soy sauce, 2 redden boiled eggs, 1 portion yellowed rice with shreded coconut on the top, each 2 chinese pastries (the pink one from the cake name represented the stronger or blooming, and the red one represented long life -> symbol of turtle)..

want to try? ;)

baby 1 month box

baby afghan and the receiver :-)

2005-07-30T21:51:00.000+07:00

finally!!! after non stop working every day (on weekend) and every night (weekday) for 3 weeks.. i can finished the this baby afghan!!!
i made combined with 3 type of patterns, the fan looked alike, the bubbles and the crossed/diagonal.
it turned out about 150 cms in square.. i hope it really fit with the baby.. i know he is a premmie but still this is my first afghan!!!!

this project supposed to be working in 2 months.. but since the little baby HJ wanted to see the world so quickly, I got only 3 weeks to finished and during that 3 weeks, i havent seen him...hope he like this.

i got the feeling this soft baby green colored very suitable with him.. after i finished it , the afghan is very soft texture, very smooth.. i am definitely want to work with this sirdar breeze cotton dk next time.. and i will for sure, since i still have the stash from same brand for other colors... light yellow and the blue.... and also the pink... got lots of balls of each colors!! ummm... thinking what kind of project i would do on that yarn next..

greenbabyafghancroc

so here are the closer detail from baby afghan look like...

greenbabyafghancroc_clsup

and on Sunday of the 3rd week, me and mom paid visit to my cousin house... and here he is... he is very tiny baby... mind you, he only about 2.8 kilograms... and 7 month on his mom's belly... he.. he..
i wasnt dare to hold him or carry him on my arms... he looked very peaceful sleeping in his cute little box...
when he toook out for drinking time (breast feeding and baby milk), not long after that he was peed... he.. he.. from his crying, we can see this baby would be alright.. will grow up and healthy.
he is very strong too, when his grandma wrapped him with the batik to keep him arm, she put his tiny hands inside the wrap, few seconds later, he was struggling to free his hands...one by one...then do kinda like stretching, her grandma put his hand back to the wrap after few minutes let him feel the freedom.. he.. he...
so, while he is feeling warm and fulll, he took a chance to looking around and observing us with his tiny eyes and i was tooke chance to take a pict of him..;)

littlebabyHJ
welcome to the world HJ... grow up healthy and strong... *kiss on cheeks*

my first baby hat project

2005-07-21T20:35:00.000+07:00

is the baby's season? he..he.. i wondered bcoz since i was working with the baby blanket, lots of baby's topic came up from every corners...:-)

a consultant who working in my office for a project was approached me last wed during a lunch break, and asked me whether i agree if she want to order a baby hat as a gift for her friend who just gave a baby girl few days ago. it's very good surprise :)
she asked the color should pink (what else.. he.. he.. he..) and coz our shedule so busy, she said she will be agree with whatever the model of baby hat.
since i quite confused with her and not sure whether she was serious with her offer, then the next day i brought my green baby blanket to show her, that if she like, i will use the same yarn brand which will be sirdar breeze cotton rich dk.
so, after she take a look from it, she said she agree and still no design or instruction gave from her. on sat, i was tested my creativity after looking around the baby patterns that i have like from lion brand and some others, so here it is... i made kind like rib then following by bubbles and all the way up using double crochet.
i crocheted circle around, however when up to the next round, instead of having the right side facing, i turned the project and crocheted to the opposite way.
after few rounds, i did come decreased and finally got the top.
to make it more cheerful i added a marron ribbon.
so here it is... :-) i put it on my teddy's since i dont have any object that i can try whether the size fit the baby hat. my mom said this hat would fit for new born until 1 year old.
so here it is.. i am still doing my baby blanket .... about 30 rows to go... and got to finished by sat!! so.. crochet.. crochet..crochet....

baby_pink hat with ribbon

crochet's interruption

2005-07-10T20:51:00.000+07:00

i was finished with the 2nd front part of my lavender cardigan project, only leave the sleeve. however since i just exactmeaning from the let's knit series pattern, i think i better frog the back part..sigh..
with this frog things.. make me a bit lazy ... but my hands and my minds still want to do something with the hooks and needles.
i was emailed to siow chin few weeks ago about the stashbuster, even i haven't join with the group yet, i would like to reduce my stash.
looking at my stash i am still wondering what i am going with these self-dyed nylon (as an experiment, i made lots of these, about 30 skeins ..hik...hik...) there are blue, pink, peach, gold, olive green and marron. not mention the white (non-dyed).
so, i digged out my collection of granny square pattern (free from pricilia hewitt) and then i picked the peach and thinking about the sofa pillow cover... i may need to mixed with other color, like blue or pink...so here it is

peach_fisherman's ring

peach_fishermanrings01

and then i got itchy with the gold colored, so here it is

gold_pillowcvr

originally it was a coasterm, but with these size for just 1 piece, i only need about 8 for 1 sofa pillow cover...:p

then, few days ago, my cousin was gave birth, c-section. it was an emergency thing, since she got poisonnous from one of wedding banquet. got very bad diarhea like 4 days, and she was 7 months pregnant!!
so the doctor doesnt want to take any more risk, after few days in patient, finally the doctor ask her to do the c-section.
the baby is boy (now they have 3 boys!!!) and very tiny, only 2.9 kilograms. they put the baby now in NICU (ICU for baby..sigh).
with 2 months faster than expected, i got to hurry up with the baby afghan i want to give her as present. and i got this pattern as my inspiration , because i mixed with the pattern from marrymaxim (illusion crochet afghan)

inspiration pattern

so i dig out again my stash, and here i got the sirdar breeze 100g with baby green color.. very soft.

green_bubblebabyafghan02

this project become my highest priority now. hope the baby will be ok soon. i dont know how long he will be in NICU. we really pray for this baby, hoped you all who read this can pray for this little tiny baby and his mom.

my first catalog!!

2005-06-22T21:58:00.000+07:00

i know i should post this like on monday, but it's ok coz the happiness still linger in me .. :) that afternoon it's the most very good thing to cooling down my brain fer long tired meeting.. i just sat down like a minute, and ready to write down the minutes of meeting, and the office girl approached to my desk and gave me this very colorful kind like magazine.. a big grin on my face!! my first catalog!!! ;) i was expecting nothing when i just tried my luck to ask them their catalog.. but here it is... cool!! :) thanks patternworks .. the yarn are lovely. they also have koigu yarn, and their collection are great!! i love yarns! :) they have great selections for books and tools too.

i know this may sound very silly, that i am so happy just with catalog... perhaps if later i can get theyarn like this, ummm... perhaps i would got crazy from happy.. he.. he... so, till that time come, i will just enjoy the yarn pictures first ;)

i have finished the sleeve part today, this time i am following different order than i used do, which were back-right-left-sleeves. this time the orders are: back-left-sleeve.

i like this kind of order coz i can see how the project will look when it finished.

so, how about you all, do you follow the traditional order or do like me?

one of the knit teacher i met in a yarn store, told me that she sometimes do the sleeves first, coz she will feel that the project would be finished faster.. kind of good psychology you think? if you feel your project finished faster, you may not get bored and less of UFOs hidden down the yarn stash...

patternworks catalog summer 2005

lace cardigan from patternworks catalog

Koigu Merino Yarn @ patternworks Summer 2005 catalog

My Picture!!

2005-06-14T22:21:00.000+07:00

finally!! i can posted my picture here..it's nice to see my blog now have a something to see other than just letter :)
here are the crocheted yellow bag, pattern from coat and clark - i made this from a nylon string. hurted my fingers quite bad.. but the result ... i like this!!
i love this coz, this was my first stuffs that colored yellow!!

coat and clark - crocheted yellow bag

frogging and new looks

2005-06-13T13:15:00.000+07:00

weekend.. saturday afternoon, i was rushed to finished the motif of torso part from my lavender cardigan, and i already reached the shaping on the middle of torso part, which was on row 70- something, then, boom!! i seen something weird... and i stared to the pattern, and whatta!!! i skipped the shapping, which are supposed to do started on row 14!!!
with the so hot outside, this finding really turned down my enthusiasm.. *sigh* then i remembered i read marian's, her doing frogging with her fair-isle vests.. which was really turned down if that happened to me... imagine, frogging all the yarns!!! that's true that we are really should learn something from other people experience..
so, with new spirit, i was frogged once again to row 15, and worked with this project for couple hours and reached on row 40 something...*sigh*

back to office, i got nice email from cyn, showed her crocheted bolero or shrugs she made for her dd and dd's friends.. hard to choose which i like most, all of them are lovely!!

good news, i already got approval from asian knitters web, and could added the ring sign on my blog!! and then to added some colors, i decided to put the counter, i choose apple.. yumm..yum.... remind me to keep in shape and also my diet..;p

finished downloading hello program, but still got difficulty regarding the ftp or something to put my pictures on the site... got to learn about this more....

more of finished projects

2005-06-05T14:39:00.000+07:00

bright and hot at here today.. i bet outside is about 32 celcius degrees!! i got sweat even when i took the pictures of projects.
back to my projects, here are some more that i would like to share with you all, the yellow crochet from Coats and Clarks free pattern, the microshine schachenmayr microshane cardigan, the 2buttons gedifra vest, the glove. there are some un-finished/undecided projects like the red bag (from daphne's free red hot sling bag) and will-be-soon pillow cover.

all these projects was finished about 1-2 years ago. I havent got chance to wear the cardigan,only the vest. and you know what, when i wear it during the meeting, one of my colleague can tell that the vest in hand -knitted vest, and i got some questions from work mates too.. like how long i made this, is it warm enaugh to wear at the rainy season here in jakarta,

other things i also put my brothers crochet work.. the white shawl and the other one, he hasnt decided what it would become...perhaps you can help and give some sugestions? i told him to make a bedspread coz i think the detail would be great for bedspread...

there were also some cell phone pouches that i was made, after my experiment with thread dyed.. using dylon colloring. it turn out good shine and shading to the nylon thread rather than cotton thread. seems the cotton cant reflect the shine after coloring. or perhaps it could be if i am using mercerized cotton like dmc instead of this kitchen thread cotton...;)

another finished projects - hairpin lace and 1 roses shawl

2005-06-03T13:58:00.000+07:00

here are some other finished projects, using hairpin lace - crocheted shawl and the triangle 1 roses shawl.
the hairpin lace is very very light shawl, so it's more like a accessories rather than for warm up my neck.
the 1 roses shawl was from same pattern like the 5 roses shawl, but I added some fringes. Believe or not, I need 1 whole day to put on the fringes !!.

when I met Marian , I brought this shawl to show off.. :-)
for me, her visit to Jakarta was very suprising, too bad I cant take her to the yarn stores. Compared to Singapore or Hong Kong, I think our yarn stores here have more limited variance. Most of the stores are sell Japan and Europe yarn. one of franchise stores have more American brand stocks. (like Sirdar yarn).

oh ya, I forgot to tell, I was subscribed to some groups last month like luxury_crochet, crochet_bags, creativekorner, crazyladyhouseholdhints, aranknit (where Marian knew about me ;p) and yarnaholics_anynomous. Umm...hopefully I am not missed one group... there is also a group called rajutan (a term that can refer to knit and crochet), a local group, this group already mentioned in Indonesia Cosmopolitan Mag coz the editor -if I am not mistaken- are crazy to knit!! (free ad!!)

I can say, all the members from those groups are very welcoming and helpfull. I want to say thanks to you all, for your replies on my questions, sharing the jokes, sites/links with beautiful stuffs. Hi Debbie, Joann, Karen, Blondie, Marian and once again Cynthia ..thanks a lot ;-)

This weekend I plan to take some more pictures of my bag, the doily (pineapple peacock), vest and schachenmayr micro shine cardigan...(i love making cardigan) and for sure my stash..*blushing*

As always, dont forgot to drop by and put your comments.. :)

Pictures of Finished Projects

2005-06-02T11:49:00.000+07:00

Since I am still learning how to post pictures in blog site and with the encouragement of my friend Cyn (nice lady from luxury crochet), so here are some of finished projects, some are knitted, others are crocheted.

My fave is the 5 roses shawl.
This shawl, taken about 5 skeins of Orion Glace Yarn (each skein is 100 gr), crochet using 1 mm steel hook.
When I took this picture, I just realized the size of this shawl, it's can be a bed cover of queen size bed!! :-)
For sure this is one of my most fave finished projects.
Just click on the title to see the pictures to see the album
Hope you all enjoy..:-)

lavender cardigan and green tshirt

2005-05-26T20:47:00.000+07:00

currently i am working on cardigan and t-shirt. the cardigan is using yarn from schachenmayr Princess and the t-shirt is light green. usually i am doing monogamy project, but this time want to make these 2 in the same time.

i already finished the cardigan project, however when i am sewn it all together, it feels not right. so i am frogged (*rip it rip it) , find new model and start from all over again.

as for the green t-shirt, it using cotton yarn from japan, i bought it few years ago about 15 balls. already finished a cabled cardigan and still left me 5 balls.. so i want to make something to match the green cabled cardigan.

and guess what, i seen the shawl pattern from solutia that soon will closed their site (by september 15, 2005) which is very beautiful and unique... perhaps i will play triple this time.. :-)

learn to knit and crochet

2005-05-24T02:30:00.000+07:00

what to say, umm.. what to write...just started my blog dedicated to my new addict which related with crochet and knit. before i can do knit and crochet, back to my childhoold moments, sometimes I saw a bunch of mom who waiting for their kids in school do the crochet and knit...seeing how 2 needles or 1 hook playing in their hand, i was too shy to approached them and ask about it.

in my country, back 20-30 years ago, it is not common to have a knit or crochet class. it is something that you learn from your friends, so it's like an exclusive group.

thanks to the internet and my bro, he found about learn knit and crochet on the websites. With our limited english, we collected lots of info about knit and crochet, we should thanks to www.learntocrochet.com , www.learntoknit.com and www.stitchguide.com also yahoo and google, and all virtual teachers and buddies who very kind to share their knowledges.

my first needles was made from cheap bamboo satay sticks, actually this was my bro's idea. we put some paper wrapped in the one point and ta da... i have about 3 pairs needles that i think it close to 2 - 2.5 mm needles. then we using kitchen cotton thread, then learnt to cast on, knit, purl, bind off...later i found out that the methode we learnt was english.

to make stories short, in these 3 years, i already made some shawls, bags, hats, cardigan, vests both crochet and knit, and now trying to finish my first doily.

as for my bro, he prefered crochet than knit, since it quicker :-)

will take some pictures to share with you and feel free to drop comments :)