Craft Lover


my socks knitting

Finally, I started to knit socks again.


I gave up a year ago, because I chose the wrong color for my sock (i chose hot pink, which is not so good on my leg). And I was using double pointed needles at that time, I found myself very clumsy to use them, so, I gave up.

But, I found that the sock yarns are just so yummy that i couldn’t resist to knit socks again.
This time, I used the 2 circular needles method, and it works for me, it’s easier and faster.
I think I fall in love with this method, and I love socks knitting now.

The pattern that I am using is from my library:

Embossed Leaves by Mona Schmidt from Favorite Socks
I am now working on the leg part, it’s fun, and it’s easy to knit too.

The yarn that I am using is the Indigo moon, I was planning to use it for the Pomatomus sock pattern, however, I changed my mind and switched to this one.
I think, I better use a solid color for the pomatomus , otherwise the lace pattern plus the multi color will look too busy.
Yesterday, I spent a morning with my mom and Erika to visit two yarn stores.
the first stop is the Knitmatic, I wanted to search for some nice sock yarn, and I was looking for the Koigu sock yarns, however, when I arrived the store, they didn’t have my colors, and seems like they had less Koigu now.
Then, just few mintues away from this store, I arrived Loop cafe, it’s a new yarn store for ME.
I love this store, when I stepped into the store, you can smell the yummy baking food and the coffee.
It’s a very spacious store for eating, relaxing, knitting and chatting.

I met the store lady there and she was very nice to me and spent some time to show me the yarn and the patterns. I love this place.
The left side is the cafe section, and the right side is one of the yarn sections, you can find some nice sock yarns there…
I bought two skeins of sock yarn there:
1) Ancient Threads, It’s called “tri”, 100% merino wool superwash.
weight: fingering weight, amount: 481 yards/ 100 gram,
one skein is already enough for a pair of socks!
It’s very special the dyeing of this yarn, because this lady used natural food dye , she even wrote down what ‘food’ she used:
for this yarn, she wrote:
“Iac, Cocerineal, mackler, chestnut, black walnut, logwood grey, logwood purple, tumeric, fustic, quebracho red, quebracho green”
I love this color way! (how much? around $25.50)
You can also find this yarn in her esty store .
Another cheaper one is called Elitespun , it’s made in Canada!
100% merino wool, 115 g, 398 m / 435 yards
machine washable.
you can also check out the website for this  brand: www.elitespun.com
I chose a light olive green/yellow one. :)
(sorry, not a good picture, I just my small camera to take this shot, so, it’s not so good.)


BUSY life…
November 4, 2007, 10:43 pm
Filed under: Knitting Books, Ravelry, Shawl, knitting | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Wow, the past week was extremely busy…

for what?
many things: taking of Erika, teaching piano, housework, knitting, listing my stuffs for ebay selling…

Actually, time flies so fast when you are working with your internet, especially checking email, updating your pictures, blog, ebay listing, checking out new items, new patterns, new yarn… etc.

SO MANY THINGS TO DO!!

Because there are so many things to do for a day, my knitting progress is SLOW…..

But still able to post some of my WIP…

The first one that I newly started: the Shetland Triangle in Wrap Style book.

I bought this book long time ago, however, didn’t start a single project till now.

I love this shawl, I thought it is difficult to knit, oh, once I started to read the pattern, then I found that it isn’t that hard at all.
I am already on the 4th ‘body section’. It’s lovely, I love it.

The yarn that I am using for this shawl is from Japan: Olympus Merino 100S, a 4-ply fine yarn.

It’s easy to knit because of its elasticity and softness.

I hope I can finish this off in November!

The second project that I am also working on is another shawl named Clementine Shawlette from Interweave knitting magazine. This shawl is made for my friend in Hong Kong, I already missed her birthday because I was thinking to knit her a felted bag, however, failed (because there were too much work…). So, I changed my mind and started this shawl for her. I love this color, although it’s not so bright, but it’s easy to match clothes with darker colors.

Again, I hope I can finish this off soon so that I can mail to her by Christmas!

Yarn for this shawl: Blue Sky Alpaca and silk, traded with one of my Ravelry’s friends … nice color, touch and quality!

The next shawl … shawl again? yeah, I love shawls, and I love Clapotis.


This will be my second Clapotis project (the last one was knitted with beaded silk, not very suitable for winter because the beads are cold….!!)

The yarn that I am using is from Lorna’s Lace Shepherd sock multicolor , black purl.
It’s great to work with, although the yarn is much too fine, and need more time to knit. but I love this colorway, it’s perfect for winter!

This will be another Clapotis for myself. :)

Any project for Erika? Oh well, I still have the purple dress (using Sirdar Bamboo yarn) on the needles, however, doesn’t have the mood to work on it now, because the size that I am making is for 6-9 months, I think I still have few months to work on it. :P

How’s Erika doing?
Oh, she is cute , she loves to smile!
She also started to play with the stuffed toys, and recognizing people’s faces too.

I am still full time breastfeeding her now (she is 4 months old now) , I hope I can continue to feed her this way till the 6th month. The ped said that she can start solid food after 6th month. :)
I can’t wait for that.

Here the the picture of my 4 months old Erika:

Playing piano with me…



Essential Tank Top
June 7, 2007, 3:27 pm
Filed under: Knitting Books, Top, knitting, yarn stash | Tags: , , , ,

I started this tank top many days ago, however, my pace is very very slow.

 

It is because I am stepping into the last stage of pregnancy, and need so much rest and sleep recently.

 

I hope I can finish this and the Rowan’s Damask top before delivery.

 

I didn’t buy the yarn that was suggested in the book (Alpaca with a Twist Fino) , I used Misti Alpaca Lace yarn instead. It suggested to work with two strands of yarn held together, so, I used two different colors for the double.

 

The lace pattern is kind of easy to knit, (but, when you knit to the armhole area, there will be some tricky decreasing work there!) and I love the lace effect, it’s very elegant with this color combination.

 

Pattern: The Essential Tank Top, from Lace Style, by Pam Allen and Ann Budd, p. 50-55.

 

Yarn: Misti Alpaca Lace , # 0524 Baby pink & #CD 43 Coral Melange

 

Needle : I used 4.5mm, (In the book, is suggested 4mm)