Gail number 2 is done and given away

I love this pattern – GAIL.

it’s just perfect if you love lace, and it doesn’t really take you too much time to finish one.

My second Gail was using Sundara Fingering Silk merino yarn, it’s just perfect for it.

I love the touch of the yarn, it’s so soft and warm to knit with it. (I knit with air conditioned area, so, it’s ok to knit warm yarn…)

It’s so much easier to knit if compare with the linen yarn that I used for the 1st Gail.  This time, I knit 6 repeats, it goes so well. And my friend Caron just loves this size, not too big and not too small.

Oh, forgot to  mention, I gave the 1st Gail to my best friend Angel. She came over to my house for visiting and when she tried that Gail , she loves it, and I found that it really suits her so well. So, I gave it to her.

Now, I dont’ have any Gail for myself. But I will definitely use one of my Seasilk to make one more Gail.  But, this will be after I arrive China.

Everyone, just six more days, and we will head to Hong Kong, and then ShenZhen ….

Please keep us in your prayers:

1) safe trip

2) away from Swine Flu…

3) jetlag

4) and the hot humid weather over there…..

Excited news:

We will go to St. Thomas to watch the “Day out with Thomas”… Yeah, all of us will take 2.5 hours driving to this little town to watch Thomas the Train. We can’t wait for it.  :)

Especially Erika, she loves (adores!) Thomas the train…. I can’t imagine how excited she will be tomorrow when she sees the actual size of Thomas. haha

Helena Cardigan

I finally finished the Helena Cardigan for Erika. 

I took me almost half a year to finish this. I put it aside for so long after knitting the 1st sleeve. I found it very boring to knit sleeves. 

 

BUt then, I Think, I shall finish more WIPs before I leave… So, I tried so HARD to finish it !

I didn’t follow the pattern for the neck and front edge, just because I  am lazy to do the pick ups… so, I just use the crochet hook and make one round with single crochet, and one more round with double crochet. That’s it. 

Add the buttons (Heart shape bone buttons) on the left front. 

I am not 100% satisfied with the final outcome, because it’s a bit BULKY on Erika. I think the bottom section is a bit too wide for her, and the neck is not well fitted neither. 

Anyway, it keeps her warm, that’s the most important part.

Oh well, the best part is : I love the color of this yarn (Jojoland Rhythm).

I used only 4.01 balls to make this cardigan, and I think Erika looks quite good in this .. RIGHT?

Pattern:  Helena (from Knitty.com)

Size: 18 months 

Needle sizes : 4.0 , 4.5mm needles

yarn: Jojoland Rhythm M23 x 4.01 balls

My Crush hat

I finished the crush hat for Erika. This pattern was chosen from the Luxury Yarn one-skein wonders : Ailish’s Alpaca-Merino Crush Hat. Originally, the designer added a visor for this hat (then, it will look like a cap), but I found that Erika looks good without it, so, I omitted that part. 

I didn’t block the hat yet, I am thinking: do I have to do it? I actually love the curled up bottom of the hat.

When I firstly put it on Erika’s hat, she refused it, I was afraid that she didn’t like the feeling of wearing hat. But then I told her,’you look pretty with this orange hat!’ . She smiled and didn’t take it away !  

So sweet!

 

She was very excited when I said that she looked pretty with the hat.

 

 

That’s why I could able to take some ‘happy’ pictures of her with the hat.

However, the pictures were taken last night, and it looks yellowish without natural light source. (ANd I don’t like using flash…sorry.) 

so, I will probably retake some better pictures in later days.

 

Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light 4226 ORANGE

 

 

The yarn is not very very soft, but still acceptable. 

I still have some yarn left, and dont’ know what to do with it. 

I am now knitting another cap - Norwegian sweet baby cap.

The yarn that I chose for this cap is the incredibly soft yarn by  Misti International Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Suri Silk. And the color is extremely beautiful. 

Will take picture of it when I have time ..

Purple black lacy cowl

I started sewing 2 weeks ago, and I knew that I was addicted to it! I didn’t pick up the needles for almost 2 weeks. Can’t believe it!

Oh well, after making few bags and pouches, I think I need a little rest from the sewing machine. I went back to the needles again (hooray!). 

And you know what, I didn’t continue old project but had the mood to create my own pattern.

I saw that many people like knitting a cowl for autumn and winter, I think it’s a good idea.

But, when I took a look of the Ravelry’s patterns, I didn’t find any thing I love. 

So, I made my own pattern.

I just did swatch tonight, and I think I am ready to start this cowl.  

The lace pattern that I am trying is from the book: Barbara G. Walker, A Fourth Treasury of Knitting patterns, p. 222 “Picture Lace”. 

I don’t know if this kind of lace pattern has copyright for it. Otherwise, I will put it up and share with everyone. Can any one tell me if it has copyright or not?

The yarn that I am using is from my stash, Art Yarns, silk Rhapsody, 50% & 50% Kid Mohair, extremely soft and beautiful yarn! (100g, 260 yards/238m)

I think one skein should be enough for a cowl. 

The picture was taken tonight in a very dim room, so, it’s hard to see the lace effect.

Seascape (middle stage)

 

it should look better after blocking...

I am trying my best to knit while Erika sleeps.

 

And I just finished the 3rd time of chart B….

 

Seascape - the lace

 

 

it’s almost half way of the pattern.

I really want to finish it off soon so that I can wear it out on my friend’s wedding….