Lace Knitting

Okay, so I've decided to try my hand at lace knitting. It certainly looks a great deal more challenging than mere shaping, and for larger objects such as shawls and stoles, you have the issue of BLOCKING. Hooray! Well, it is not as if I have never attempted lace knitting per se; I suppose it should be: I have never attempted lace knitting on such a large scale with such fine yarn. With the arrival of 3 skeins of green laceweight from England and other such goodies (not to mention the Rowan tweedy yarn in a brown colourway and the forest green!), I can hardly wait! Back to blocking: After reading 3 articles regarding blocking, I am reminded again that my little world of knitting is but the tip of the iceberg. What I know about knitting toys, bags, dabbling (a little!) in design...what information I have gained in this one year of intense knitting learning, whether it is from the internet or my small collection of books.

Here are the links to the (very useful) articles:

http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2005/08/23/walk_around_the_block.html

http://www.eunnyjang.com/knit/2006/12/how_to_be_happy.html

http://www.eunnyjang.com/knit/2006/05/block_me_amadeus_1.html

Not to mention the sheer size of the project itself (although it is true that one does not require a lot of yarn). My head is swimming with the mere thought of lace knitting! Small items, such as lace panels on bags, or little knitted angels (by Gerdine Strong) are not so bad, at their very largest, they are 20+ rows and voila, you're done!

Another thing: CHARTS. I admit I am not a very good chart reader. I will probably forget what half the symbols mean. On top of that I WILL not remember to read odd rows from right to left and even from left to right...or however it is, I'm sure you know what I means when it comes to reading charts. *sigh* HOWEVER! There is yarn begging to be knitted! And all the other more adventurous projects for a knitter who prefers smaller items, even toys and the like, that can be knitted up in a few evenings, with small amounts of yarn. (Obviously I can't afford a lot of yarn, so 2-3 50g skeins is already plenty!)

Well, all in good time. To be honest, all I need right now is to not get so excited about yarn, get some work done, go home, and sleep. Then I suppose my brain will be better suited to dream of knitting nirvana...

On the needle, off the needle

On:

-Violet's Sunflower Dress
-Simplified Kusha Kusha Scarf

Off:

-Candy
-Hallie's Rainbow Shoes

Itching:

-Entangled
-Rasta Hat
-Swallowtail
-Tai Shan Hoodie

I AM FED UP

I don't like this stupid feeling I get when I look at other people's craft blogs: inadequacy, envy, and the feeling that I can't really afford something like that, in terms of time AND money.

WHICH. MEANS. I am being really silly because I know I'm worth my salt. I'm just too busy to maintain a blog right now PLUS I need to fix my consarned CD drive so I can download my photos PLUS I need to move my old files from my old com AND DO A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF OMG I AM ANN IDIOT.

Ok back to knitting. And hopefully getting my life in order and my head so I can stop the green eyes from growing.

SO. I too will do interesting stuff! I need to break out of this stupid shell, really...

Knitlist 2/08/08

1. Secret Crochet Project
2. Scarf for Charmaine H in Shetland Shells design
3. Candy bag

The Secret Crochet Project

YES! I have been away from this blog for too long. Started with the intention of sharing my own designs (because I get bored very often) I think it'd be a good place to update my adoring public (*cricket noises*) about my knitting endeavours. I think that can now be extended to include crochet, so that should be: CRAFTY endeavours. (: Now, on to the Secret Crochet Project.

I have discovered a new kind of LYS (well, non-conventional anyway, which is a HUGE hint!) which is very exciting to me, though I expect it is possible that others have done the same thing as well...In any case, I am trying out a very basic pattern with crochet, it is nothing special really. What is so special about the project is the yarn used and the whole concept about it, and I am getting more and more excited and pleased with myself at the thought of it! ;p Well, since I am so lazy to update things (except Ravelry) it will take some time for photos and such to find their way here. But that is all I have to say about this project now. I am so happy to have learned a new skill! (:

Other updates: Still working on quite a few things WIP-wise, which are all in my Ravelry projects. Umm. And hoping to improve the layout of this blog to be more interesting and original at least! Yes, definitely. And splurging on yarn. Yarn sales...ooh my head is exploding with all the prospects!

Many apologies to the hobbies that have taken a back seat due to this explosive one which is busy consuming my mind...A nod to: photography (always my baby, don't worry!), writing (ah, expression!) and reading (the Internet will NEVER take your place!), mostly. To be honest I only have time for one hobby right now...I would LOVE to go on photowalks, to spend my days trying to be intellectual and interesting (oh but I don't want to worry about that too much), but reality, life, moods, emotions, work...it all gets in the way, as usual. Darn! Seriously. A girl can never have too much yarn or time. (Or a source of funding for yarn. :D)

Anywho, here's hoping things will get better! And maybe there will be an adoring public one day. ;)

Matcha/ Ichigo

An ideal project for using up leftover yarn and toy stuffing, this will make a good toy for babies and small children as there are no small parts.

You will need:
Any soft DK/ worsted/ baby weight yarn (I used Patons FeatherSoft 4 ply)
4 mm needles (or if you wish to use a different yarn, any appropriate size to suit)
Row counter
Stitch markers
Remnant of black yarn for facial features
Darning needle
Washable toy stuffing material (a large handful will do)

Gauge is not too important here, but if you want the specifics, the approximate gauge I used was 2x2 cm = 4 st x 6 rows.

1. CO 20 st
2. Beginning with a K row, st st 9 rows. At the end of the 9th row, CO 5 st with the cable cast-on method.
3. Knit the next row (10th row). At the end of this row, CO 5 st as you did on the 9th row.
4. You should have 30 st now. St st for 24 rows. Cast off 5 st on both sides of the last row, leaving 20 st in the middle.
5. St st 10 rows. Place stitch markers on both ends of the last row (this marks where you sew the side flaps up to).
6. Continue to st st 24 more rows and then cast off.
7. Sew up all seams, leaving a gap through which to stuff the toy.
8. Stuff as desired, and close the seam.
9. Pinch the top left and top right corners into triangles as shown, and sew to form little ears.
10. Using black yarn, embroider the facial features any way you like.

Remember, if you are giving this to a child, secure facial features so they cannot be picked out easily.