Craft Lover

A Marriage of Silk and Wool…they are perfect match!

I think I fall in love with this combination…
No matter the Lorna’s Lace Lion and Lamb or the Silk blend from Manos, or the Grace (silk and wool blend) by Louisa Harding, they are all great in touch, texture and weight.

Because of the silk, it’s so soft to touch, and the fiber of silk has a sheen on it.
Because of the wool, it gives you the warmth and add the weight for your garment.

I am working on few projects with SILK…

the Sea silk shawl for my friend, Angel; the Lorna’s Laces Lion and Lamb Argosy for myself, and the Cameo Shawl for my sister. They are all silky and luxury.

Here is the picture of the Cameo Shawl, I just started it few days ago:

I got the yarn from ebay (most of them) and online store.

They are luxury , but worth to get some for yourself and your friends and family.

I think , it’s the best gift for the people you love.

Yarn:

Louisa Harding Grace

Louisa Harding Sari Ribbon

& Louisa Harding Glisten

I found myself as a person who can’t work one project at a time.
I love switching projects , and now, I have 8 WIPs….

I really want to cut it down and finish few ones before I start a new project.
HOWEVER, the temptation on trying new patterns and yarns is just hard to resist!

Do you have the same problem as mine?

I am working on :

1) the Noro scarf

2) the shetland triangle for my friend, Angel

3) the pink felted bag (just need to felt it)

4) another stole: Japanese feather stole (want to try out the yarn in my stash: Rowan Rowanspun 4ply.)

5) The purple bamboo dress for my daughter (Still have the front section)

6) clapotis (using Lorna’s lace sock yarn)

7) Clementine Shawlette for my friend, Ziemon

Drop stitch lace tank top

And I also have many great projects on queue…….

Give me more time, Please…!!

I am falling in love again, yes, with the sea silk…

After I finished the Shetland Triangle with the Merino yarn, I started another one with handmaiden Sea silk.
IT’s sooooo beautiful.

Touch: soft, silky….

result: looks extremely shiny, elegant, luxury with lace pattern. Unlike the merino wool, the yarn is very strong and won’t ‘curl up’ on the edge of the shawl. It’s firm and inelastic, I like the result of that, it looks great!

This yarn is beautiful, with its brilliant shimmer, and relaxed drape, I am sure it will look great for this shawl pattern!
I made this for my best friend, Angel. I wish she will love it!

Handmaiden Sea silk: bought this from our local store, Romni Wool Ltd.

Colorway: Bronze.

I am so happy that I get the shawl done!

I blocked it nicely this time, and hopefully it will look good after air drying.

I used the method from “See Eunny Knit!” , it’s very detailed.
Actually, I didn’t use the ruler for measurement, I just use my ‘eyes’.

Before blocking

before blocking, edge of the shawl

I found that the hardest part is to bind it off loosely. My hands are tight, and kind of hard to do it.
Thanks Angel for telling me that we can actually use the crochet hook ( bigger size) for binding off. I will definitely give a try next time, Angel. This time, I used my old way.

Blocking process:

1) Soaking the shawl into lukewarm water with some soap (I used my baby’s bathing gel), then rinse it.

2) squeeze the excess water with a towel

3) place the shawl on the blocking area and pin it.

Pattern: Shetland Triangle by Evelyn A. Clark, from Wrap Style book.

Yarn: Japanese Olympus Merino, fine, 4 ply. pink , only 2 balls (about 320 m )

Needles: 4mm

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.

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…