Final piece before I fly

I completed this garment as scheduled. But too bad, Nina is busy and she can't model this tank. So I will bring this tank with me back to Malaysia and make my best friend Samantha to model it. haha~ Can't wait to see how it shows on my new model. I picked up the armhole stitch knit a round and bind off. I did the same thing at the neck band edge as well. I spent time to complete the finishing slowly and patiently this time.

I think one of the main challenges in knitting is the finishing and seaming. I always wish to improve in the sleeves n shoulder seaming. There is this book, Finish Techniques for Hand Knitters by Sharon Brant. I am thinking of getting it, but the review for this book in amazon is limited though.

24hrs later, I will be in the flight heading EAST back to Malaysia and... I havent started packing yet! yeahh~ I am a very last minute bug. But there are not much things to take home. Just clothes, some knitting books, yarns, shoes... wow! seems like the list could go on and on!!! I will do that LATER! Still need to go to the store and get some lotion for my mummy.

This is a 1-month trip. Main purpose is to see my family and friends (eventhough I only left them for 4 months ) and I need to plan for my wedding at the end of this year. John and I registered in Tx at Dec, 2005 but we don't have the wedding banquet yet. In this trip, I will have to look for the church, banquet venue, photographer... And budget!!! Need to work on this definitely. What a hectic huge project! Luckily Samantha and Daph are there for me. They have already gathered some nice info. Still, the very first thing, is to get my mom to choose a GOOD DAY from the lunar calender. I guess 17th of Nov is a good day because one of my primary schoolmates is having his wedding that day. Aaaarrrrhhh... too many things to do lah!!!

I will enjoy this trip, eat all my favorite foods there~ Sing karaoke till dawn with buddies! Shop for nice and cheap shoes... ANDDDD... shop for YARN as well!!! Ladies, bye for now and very SOON you will see my model in this high collar tank in next post! * sayorana *

Blocking Process

Three more days I will be leaving back to Malaysia for my vacation~ Woo hoo! And the high collar tank is in progress. I just blocked them an hour ago. So I can seam it up tomorrow and have the collar completed as well!

I always get so excited at the blocking stage for all my knitting projects. They will show you their " True Face " at this stage, after all the hardworks you have done and this make you feel that everything is worth it.

It says:" look at my waist, it is sexy!" haha~

I love the neck line details, and can't wait to make the collar! I think I made good decrease stitches in this lace pattern! Seems like the lace pattern merges well with the ribbing stitches.

In this coming trip, I will bring some cotton yarn home with me. I really have to start knitting a top for my dearest mummy. She wants something long sleeves, slightly waist -shaped top! Hmmm... Will let her choose a lace pattern first, then I will work out the whole pattern for her.

I wanna cast on something new!!! And hopefully I can knit it in the plane way home! But I was not allowed to have my needles up the plane last time. Mean people! Some ladies said bamboo needles are alright and I have to try my luck this time. Its a long long trip back to Malaysia. I will transit at Korea after 13 hrs flight from Dallas Fort worth. And it takes another 7 hrs from Korea to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. hmmm... Because of love, I come to another side of earth to be with this man! Because of love...

High collar tank

I am knitting a sleeveless high colar tank top with the knitpicks merino style yarn in Vanilla colors. I finished the back piece this afternoon. I wish I could complete the whole tank before I fly back to Malaysia. This pattern is inspired by the collared tank in knitsimple. I love the collar very much. Instead of knitting plain stockinette st., I knit it in a beautiful lace pattern. You can tell how much I love lace pattern. I think I knit faster with lace pattern.

The Merino Style from knitpicks is very soft. I like the yarn quite much. Definitely will order more in different color. I have fun playing with the increase and decrease stitch with this project and it shows a great shapely waist. I knit this in S, M size. Hmmm... I need to turn on my turbo mode to finish the front piece as soon as possible.

My friend ordered the Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel and I will bring this book back to Malaysia for her. So I am lucky enough to have the chance to look at the book. I personally think its a very good pattern book and I want to get a copy for myself. But, there are few real bad reviews for this book in Amazon though. I personally think those reviews are rediculous. They bitch about the cheap yarn Stefanie used in the book and at the same time showing off how many expensive yarn they USED to knit with. There are few patterns in that book are real pretty and interesting. I really think so~

I read a comment left by Laura.y and she thought the girl who modelled here is ME. *Ahem.. ahem...* Laura, I hope to have THAT body but too bad, thats not me! haha~ She is Johns second daugther. =) She does a real good job in modelling all those garments for me.

Blood vomit...

Very frustrated, upset and blood-vomitting!!! Something terrible happened. Guess what, the Siena Petunia I ordered online arrived finally. And... well, look at the pictures and let them speak to you.

Do you see what I see gals?

Yes, there is difference in the colors dear. This Siena Petunia is a discontinued yarn. I just couldnt get the same dye lot anywhere. So I tried my luck and... disapointingly, the color tone is so much different. Its no way I can blend in these 2 balls to complete a blouse. So, what can I do? I just have to frog what I have knitted before. Probably I will make 2 tanks using these 8 balls of Petunia. Too sad! Can't make anything for myself.

Anyway, Ta Dah~~~ Its time to reveal my cable garment! I named it Classic Cable Tube so now you have an idea how it would look like. haha~ What do you think about it? Do you like it? =)

As you can see, this tube can be worn 2ways. You can upside down it. I made a eyelet twisted ribbing at the edge and I am quite pleased with it. Hmm... overall its a sweet tube. I love the yarn and pattern. I dint make any decrease at waist but the blocking did a pretty good job in shaping up the waist. Also, I completed another tank. I named it Greece Fairy Tank. A simple design by me. Its in a eyelet lace pattern and it comes with crocheted straps. I used acrylic/polyamide yarn for this project and I iron-steamed it at the final stage. The tank turned out very soft. Its too bad that I dont know how to write a PDF file yet, or else I could share this pattern with those are interested. I really should learn writting out the pattern.

I made some BUTTONS !

I try something new today. I was so in the mood to make some buttons for SP10 and I made three of them. I uploaded them at the right sidebar. Can you see them? =) What do you think? I personally like the first and third better though.

I am knitting the same tank still. Been knitting bit slower these days. I got the spring/summer Knitsimple and Knit.1 today. Just flipped through real fast in the car at the way home. Will really look at them later. I cant wait, just can't wait for the Spring/summer Vogue knitting. Looks very very GOOD! They have some lace projects in white!!! 27th of March. Can't wait!

Damn, its so irresistable!!! Drooling here~

Candy Sock

The Cable ??? is done! But I will only reveal it when Nina models it this weekend. Please be patient ya, very soon you will see it! It is gorgeous. So, what is on my needle now? I am knitting another tank and I have a brief idea for the pattern. Guess what, I am knitting sock again! Hmmm, yes, I should have completed the pomatomas and monkey before I started this new one. But but... I just cant resist to try out this sweet sock yarn. I bought this sock yarn from ebay with reasonable price. I called this Candy sock as its so colorful. Its just a simple stockinette sticth pattern.

Do you think this pattern looks like waffle?

My candy sock in progress... faster faster...

I am still at Plano, the trip to Scottsdale is postphoned to next week (most probably). I am quite excited about this long-drive trip. But the date is not confirmed yet due to the shipment of the computer BOX. blah~

Have I told you guys that I will fly home to Malaysia at the end of this month? I will go "home" for a month visit. My parents and my brother's birthday all fall on April so I will have some great time with them. I know Plano, TX should be called my HOME since I married here but deeply in myheart, Malaysia is always my beloved hometown. I miss Malaysia, I miss my family, I miss all my freinds... and I MISS THE FOOD!!!

And you know what, I bought myself a BEAN CURD dessert 豆腐花 last week when I went to the chinese market. It costs me 2usd and actually it quite tasty. But.. not as good as what I got from Cheras. I miss those days when I did my internship in hospital. Me and my colleagues used to go to this place to eat bean curd dessert at lunch time. It is soo smooth, hot and delicious!!! This dessert is made of soy bean. Very nutritious ingredient. We will add some syrup to eat with it. I believe the fact that you will have fair and smooth skin if you consume enough soybean. And if you drink soybean milk when you are pregnant, your baby will be like SNOW WHiTE, having very good skin. I really believe this, and I will definitely drink soybean milk when I get pregnant.

Smooth smooth delicious bean-curd dessert!

I bought two more wonderful knitting book this month. it is Favourite Socks 25 timeless designs from interweave and Knitting beyond the edge by Nicky Epstein. Those are great books. I strongly recommend them and I am thinking of getting Nicky Epstein's other book as well. You learn more in knitting over, on the edge. Many pretty patterns to play with. And need not to say much about the Favourite Socks, you definitely MUST own it if you love knitting socks. You will love it!!!

lavanda + cable

Nina was over here this afternoon and modelled the lavanda tank for me.

I got this yarn from hobby-lobby. I was attracted by the color first, and also the price. So I gave it a try.

Ended out I bought 6 more skeins today, in lavanda and red.

The yarn brand is Sinfonia Omega. Made in Mexico. 100% mercerized cotton. This tank is simple yarn over and PSSO stitch pattern. It goes very good with the white tank underneath. I used 2 skein for this project. About 400m. If there was a sales going on at Hobby-lobby, I will grab more of this yarn maybe in other different color. I really think this yarn is not bad at all.

I was dying to knit a cable vest few days ago, remember? I started it and have it knitted up to 11" in round. But I kinda changed my mind this evening. I think I will make it into a tank tube instead. Hmmm... By now, you should have a brief idea how my knitting habit is when I have no pattern to follow. I just follow my heart. I think 2 more days or so, my cable ??? will be revealed~ haha!

I feel like knitting a cable vest. So... I start one!

John worked from home today and he took me to the LYS for a quick visit during his lunch time. The main purpose to go there was to get another 2 more balls of Jaeger Siena Petunia. As what I have already expected, I left the yarn shop with empty hands. The owner told me most probably Jaeger has discontinued this colour so the only option for me is to get them from internet. So I did. I ordered from ebay with reasonable price and of course they will be in different dye lot. Cross my finger the colour better be close to those I bought. or else...... Dont even want to think about that at all!

So you are surprised that I dint buy any yarn from LYS today? I really had behaved well. Actually... the fact is... haha~ I bought " some " last week. I bought 6 balls of Brown sheep nature spun in grey colour. They are 100% wool, sport weight. Very soft and nice color. And.. with unbeatable price!!! $3.50 per ball!!! 50gram- 184 yards. Suggested needle use is #5. 6 balls will be enough for me to make a nice top! And... I received 10 balls of Knitpicks Telemark 100% wool this afternoon. They are in cool black color. I ordered them like few days ago. Hmmm... not as soft as I thought and not as soft as the merino style though. I have no idea yet what I want to do with them.

My yummy yarn pyramid!!!

I was actually knitting a bag yesterday, planning to have it felted but I changed my mind after I knitted 10 rows. The yarn is too nice to use for felting project. It is so soft and I really think I should use it for something else. So I frogged it and decided to knit a cable lace pattern vest with it. Don't be shocked, the yarn that I mentioned is Patons classic merino. Cheap yarn but amazingly this one is very soft!!! It is creamy brown tweed yarn. This is the first time I knit with tweed yarn and also the first time I knit a cable garment!!! I knit it in round with 4.5mm circular needles. It will be a S, M size. Hopefully it will get in bigger size after stretching them abit in blocking process. I enjoy knitting this pattern very much so far! For the Jaeger petunia, I have worked the pattern to 13". 2 more inches to go then will work at the armhole part.

Very soft yarn and its kinda clumped together now and can't wait to block it!

John has to go to Scottsdale next week for work and I will go with him. We will drive up there. A long 18-hr drive. I probably will start knitting myself a pair of socks in the trip! Not a bad idea at all huh? hehe~

Secret Pal 10 Questionaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I love wool and cotton yarn. Dont like chunky, furry yarn. Not into synthetic yarn. I love to knit with yarn in DK weight.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have a big pouch to keep most of the needles. But honestly, my circular needles are not well kept. I just put them all in a bag.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I started to learn knitting when I was 20 at a LYS. (6 yrs ago) I knitted a sweater. Then I knitted few scarves after then. I picked up knitting again seriously about 2 years ago. I self teach myself most of the time from books and internet. I would consider my skill level is at intermediate.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

I have Amazon but no wish list there yet! ha~

5. What's your favorite scent?

I love rose, honeydew melon, vanilla... I think I like quite alot of scent! More to citrus or flora

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

I dont really have a sweet tooth. Among all the candies, I love MnM's with peanut the most.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I do some scrapbooking, crocheting. I don't spin at the moment. Would like to learn one day.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I like pop music, hip-hop, classicals. Ya, my computer plays mp3.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

My favorite colors are... pink, purple, black, green, navy blue, white! I try to knit with all kind of colors but not real bright color like orange, yellow or blue at the moment.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I am married to a Texan and we have a cute dog.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

I only wear scarf. Hmm.. sometimes hat.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

I love to knit short sleeves top, sweater, socks, shawl, bags. Those are what I always knit.

13. What are you knitting right now?

I am knitting a short sleeves top, a bag now.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Nope, thanks.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I knit with circular needles most of the time. I prefer aluminium better. Would like to try out some addi turbo in coming days.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Nope. Neither one.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

3 months.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Chinese New Year and Christmas.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

I collect stickers, candles. Would like to start collecting some ribbon.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

There are no any particular books I want at the moment but I am dying to get more Jaeger Siena 4 ply cotton yarn. I am very in love with this yarn now. haha. And I would like to have some addi turbo circular needles. I subscripe Interweave Knit.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Want to learn fair isle kniting badly. I think I will be knitting one this year.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I am a sock knitter. My foot size is 8-8.5

23. When is your birthday?

3rd of Feb

Beautiful Sunday~

Its a beautiful sunday. Weather is warmer up and the sun is just amazingly adorable!

Winter is about to come to the end... Spring approaching! I love Spring.

John was taking care of the front yard in this lovely afternoon and I was enjoying my favourite starbuck drink and busy taking pictures.

Some pictures to share! I love weekends...

Dove mommy is nesting there~

yummy starbuck *

oo~ siena siena!

This is the first time I try Jaeger Siena 4 ply cotton yarn. I dont think I have the exact word to describe how much I LOVE this yarn. I bought these yarn at Dec when the sales on in my LYS. They only had 6 balls that time and I got them all. The recommended needle use are 2.75-3 mm. But I am using 3.5mm instead. Honestly, I dont have the exact pattern of what I am knitting now. I just chose a lace pattern, then started with a 2x2 ribbing. So far I am at 6" long. I changed needle to 3.25mm at the 5" onwards to get a slight shapely waist. Oh~ I really love this yarn! Its 423 Petunia. Very shine, bright plum pink purpleish colour. And the simple pattern I chose is great too. I love them I love them I love them!

But... 6 balls are definitely not enough to knit a short sleeves top FOR ME!!! So, I do hope my LYS still keep the same yarn with same dye lot. Probably need to get another 3 balls. Well, its expensive yarn but the quality is really there. I think spoiling myself with some fine yarn like this once a while is not too bad! Even John thinks they are great colour and great yarn!

I ordered some merino style 100% wool from knitpicks months ago. Wanted to knit a baby blanket for one of my high schoool friends. His first baby is due on May. But... I have changed my mind though, I am thinking of knitting a cable or maybe lace pattern shrug with it! I personally think this yarn is good! Very soft! Fun to knit with! I have 5 balls of it! Each one is 50g in 132 m? Still need to figure out what I want to knit.

I have completed one tank top actually. I blocked it and it is still lying elegantly on the carpet. I used a cotton yarn which I bought from hobby-lobby. 100g - 200m for $4.49. Good price and the quality is not bad too. And there are variety of colours as well. You might find the yarn is a bit hard when you are knitting, but it turns out softer after blocking. I will tell the name of the yarn when I post the tank, I am too lazy to go to my yarn stash and look at the name! Forgive me ! hehe!

By the way, have any one of you who participate in sp10 already got your matched pal? I signed in few weeks ago but I havent received any reply yet. I will have the questionaire up in next post.

I've been knitting... almost NON-STOP

oo... been absent from this blog for a while. Where have I been? I go no where but stay at sweet home and knit all the day. I have knitted many things. You know why? the reason is... I have set up my very own small shop online, selling those delicacy knitting stuff. Its actually a suggestion from my sister-in law. John is being very supportive in this. They both agree that I should do it since I love knitting that much and I spend most of the time now in knitting. So... I have been busy looking at patterns around, pick the right thing to knit. I have knitted some tops in small size, and get Nina to be my model! =) Its such a fun knitting small size garment, which I can complete it in shorter time and definitely lesser yarn is used.

I have completed the bandeau I mentioned before with some minor modification at the edge. I have knitted a halter with the left cotton yarn (3 balls) which I knitted my blue lacey top before. I also knitted and crocheted some accessories = ponytail holders... felted bags.... Many ideas in my mind, I will try to knit them OUT in coming times.

Its the time to share some pictures with you all. And pretty soon, I will start knitting something for myself and my mom! But i need to order some yarn online first!

Are you asking me how many thing I have sold so far? hehe~ I sold ONE thing. The pink shrug I made! It really feels great!!!

Crocheted Ponytail holders

Crocheted button Pouch

Polka-dot felted bag. Pink yarn dint really felt good!


Sweet Nina modeling the sweet cotton halter and bandeau