sweety pinky cape :)

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

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

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!

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)

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 :)

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

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 :-)

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!!