Craft Lover

WOW, I am sooo happy to see this package from my “Knitter’s treasure swap”.

This is the best one I received since I joined the swaps.

You know, it’s hard to find gifts for your friends, and I think it’s even harder to find something for someone you don’t know, and just from what’s described in the questionnaire!
but, Cindy, you’ve got what’s in my mind!
I really love them all.

Here is the package

:

You are so thoughtful and cute, because you used ribbons to wrap everything neatly and also left a tag with your lovely notes there! It’s wonderful!

Thanks for the magazine that you sent me, I love this magazine and the ‘recycle bag’ that you tagged. it’s really cute!

The yarn is yummy!
the color is my favorite PINK!

I will definitely use those yarn with the patterns that you gave me. You just gave me lots of inspirations and ideas to knit with this beautiful, fantastic yarn!

i-cord maker, I have never try this, but I think it’s faster to make an i-cord with this if compare with using two dpn needles. RIGHT?

A very fun pen, great for me as I love to write sometimes.

Also thanks for the patterns that you printed out from your ‘library’.  I love all the patterns you shared!

Cindy, you are the best swap partner!!
Thanks for everything!!

On the other hand, I also received a gift from another “Ravelry member” - Annette.  She sent me some linen yarn and also gave me some surprise too : post cards of San Diego, Dried Cranberries…. etc.. !

Thanks  I love them all.

Last but not least,
I also received another package from my Taiwan friend, She helped me to order some ‘on sale’ japanese yarn (silk)…they are just beautiful and elegant!

and this:

Finally, I’ve got this cardigan done yesterday!

I am so happy about it, first of all, I can finish a cardigan around 10 days! And it’s no longer a cardigan for my baby, but for myself!

The yarn that I used is Rowan Soft Lux, I used that before (for my cabled scarf).
I love this yarn, it’s very soft and light in weight.
I had 10 balls in my stash, and I only needed 5 balls for this cardigan.

Sounds great huh!

I love the diamond lace part, especially the back and the sleeves.

I also love the little pockets, although I think they aren’t that functional (if I put something inside the pocket, it will weigh down the garment, so, I am not going to …) , but, it looks cuter with them at the front of the cardigan.

Lastly, I actually love the ruffle section at the back, but not for the sleeves.
since I usually wear jacket when I go out,  if I have a ‘bulky’ sleeves, it will be very hard to fit my jacket.

Here is the close up of the buttons that  I used. In the pattern, it suggests to use 3 pairs of buttons, but I just used two.

Here is the back of the cardigan.

I shall wear this and take a picture of it, but need to wait for my husband to give me a hand.

Will post the picture of myself with this cardigan later.

I finished this beret in a day!

It’s super easy and super fast.
In the pattern, it didn’t ask you to knit in round, and I did follow this way, however, I think next time, I can knit it in round, because my sewing is not that good (you need to sew the edge at the end of the work.) ….

If you knit it in round, it will be well balanced.

Anyway, I still love this beret, however, seems a bit small for me, I think I will give it away to someone else.
May be my friend’s daughter.

I need to make a pompom for this beret too, it will look much cuter with it on a little girl.

It’s fun to work a fast easy project sometimes, and great that I used two balls from my stash!

Pattern: Seed stitch beret, from Debbie Bliss “Family Knits”.
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk Aran, pink, 2 balls
needles: 4.5mm and 5mm
Size: for average Child’s size.

Lace = elegant.

I saw this oak leaf when browsing the net, then, I found the pattern for this lacy oak leaf.

I love it, the pattern is in chart form, which is quite easy to read.

I think this bookmark is  a perfect gift for friends.

yarn:  King Cable Due, pink (139)

Pattern: Lace Oak Leaf (available here: http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/othergoodies.shtm )

needle size I used here: 3mm

another small top that I made for Erika, and also the time to wear out!

Check my previous article for more detail of this top!