Month: March 2006

Inspiration

Placemat

Little purses

While browsing various crafty blogs this morning, I stumbled on the Cotton Paint magazine at Kitty-Craft (via mollychicken). It’s one of those cute Japanese craft mags, and I’m just awe-struck by the so many cute things in it!

Now I don’t sew very much, I only take out the sewing machine when I need to do things like shortening trousers (something I always have to do when I buy new trousers, since I am short). But lately I have been thinking of doing some crafty sewing (thinking of making a rag doll for Annette or something). I think looking at the pics from this mag (the two above are just examples) is just the inspiration that I needed to start.

I can’t read (nor speak) Japanese, but I think the first pic at the top is a placemat and a coaster. I’m thinking of making a bag and a little purse for Annette, in the shape of a house like the placemat, only using the roof part as the flap. What do you think? Would it work?? I still need to work out the details. I’ll keep you posted!

28 March 2006

One piece down

Back piece done, starting front left

Here we have the back piece of Sesame done, and now starting the left front.

28 March 2006

Starting Sesame

Apart from the scarves, I also have another new project on the needles. It’s the Sesame cardigan from MagKnits, which I have been planning to make for a long time.

Starting Sesame

This would be my first adult-sized cardigan ever. Hope I can persevere through it! I like the look of the cardigan, and it looks like something I can wear every day (in cold weather of course), so I really want to see the final product.

The original pattern is striped, but I’m doing mine in solid colour, using Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed in ‘Spring’. Or, rather, I was going to do it all in solid colour, and then I thought about making it a bit more interesting, so I added some fair-isle. The fair-isle pattern is not my design, it’s actually part of this Onslow Vest pattern. I’ve always wanted to knit something with fair-isle, and this one looks really nice to me. (I have tried the fair-isle technique before, when I made this hooded poncho for Annette. But I wanted to try something that looks more ‘traditional’, like those Scandinavian fair-isle garments. Maybe I’ll even try steeking one day 🙂 )

Sesame fair-isle band

21 March 2006

I’m seeing scarves.

I think I’m down with another case of Startitis. Already I have casted on two of the scarves from Scarf Style. One is the Backyard Leaves Scarf by Annie Modesitt, using Cleckheaton Country 8-ply yarn in a green shade. I’ve seen many many beautiful Backyard Leaves scarf out there on the blogosphere, they make me swoon by their drapey sophisticatedness.

After seeing the pattern and working on a couple of repeats, I realise that Annie Modesitt is a genius. I could never come up with anything like this myself in a million years. Take the slip stitch edge. After seeing it in action I was filled with awe at how amazing the edging looks. It’s smooth, it doesn’t curl, and it gives a nice rounded edge. And she has stitches that I’d never thought of making (like the knit and purl on the same stitch).

Progress has been rather slow on this scarf, as I still need to look at the chart every row. Although I do feel I’m getting faster. Some parts of the chart are quite easy to memorise (such as the edging).

Starting Backyard Leaves

(Pardon the dark pictures, I just happen to be taking these pics on a rainy day…)

Scarf number two is the Midwest Moonlight by Ivy Bigelow, using Filatura Di Crosa “Zara” yarn in light baby blue. I’m not sure if ‘Midwest Moonlight’ is a good description of the scarf (I don’t know, I’ve never been to the Midwest nor see its moonlight), but it sure is a pretty scarf.

Halfway through Midwest Moonlight

The pattern for this scarf is a lot easier to memorise, and so as you can see, progress has been much faster. I’m already halfway through the second ball (out of the planned three balls).

What I like about this scarf is that, the stitches in each row are very simple, yet the mere placement of the stitches on top of each other makes a stunning and unique effect.

Close up

16 March 2006

Books Books Books

Back in January, I ordered some books from Amazon. A couple of weeks ago they’re finally all here. Look at this!

Books

I love, love, loooove these books. Lately I’ve been more into techniques than just patterns. Which is why I got these books. Just in case the picture is not very clear, the books are:

I’ve only flipped through them briefly, but here are my initial thoughts:

  • Knitter’s Handbook — Looks like a handy reference book to have around. I’ve already found myself reaching for it from time to time to look something up. The chapter on Cast Ons and Bind Offs are comprehensive!

  • Knitter’s Handy Book of Sweater Patterns — I’m glad I got this book before starting my first cardigan. It has lots of helpful instructions and tips about making a sweater/jumper/cardigan, and you can choose your own yarn/gauge, edging, sleeve construction, neck shape, waist shaping, etc. It reminds me of that Perfect Sweater Search that’s happening at Mason-Dixon Knitting!

  • Knitting Vintage Socks — Who knew that there are so many different ways to construct a sock! I sure didn’t. Looking through this book makes me want to knit socks that I probably wouldn’t wear, just to learn and get the feel of how it’s constructed. All of the socks in this book are cuff-down socks. Hmm, is the toe-up sock a new invention?

  • Knitter’s Book of Finishing Techniques — Lots of helpful explanations of various techniques in this book, probably all you need to know to complete a garment (button holes, zipper, edgings, etc). I love how it tells you the benefits and drawbacks of each techniques, so that you can select a technique that’s most suitable to your project.

  • Scarf Style — Last year I was following the Stitch Ya Neck Out swap/knitalong with great interest, all the while kicking myself for not having the book. Now that I have this book, I can see why this book was so popular. Scarves used to be thought of as just simple things for beginners to learn to knit. But the scarves in this book are anything but boring! Not only do they look great, they show that simple techniques can produce brilliant results. And there are plenty of more challenging techniques too for the more adventurous. There are so many scarves in this book that I’m planning to make already!

  • Yarn Harlot: Secret Life of a Knitter — What can I say… It’s the Yarn Harlot! Reading this book is like reading her delightful blog. And just like her first book, reading this book is like ‘home’ to me, knowing that there are others like her who understand my knitting obsession. I chuckle everytime she writes about “brothers and sisters in yarn” in the book.

14 March 2006