December 29, 2004
New year resolution....
2004 was a big year for me.
1)I moved out in February from the place where I have lived eight years
2)I had a second son in May
3)I has been away some time from knitting and fully came back
4)I stopped my knitting blog and restarted in two language
Next year I will come back to my job from maternity leave, and crazy life is awaiting for me... but I do continue to knit to keep my sanity, or rather my craziness about yarn?? Oh, I have just ordered a mouse pad of "yarnaholics" for my office use...
Now I am going into a new year with WIPs full of my both hands. I know I have to complete them first, But anyway I make my kniting related resolution:
Try knitting fair-isle stuff minimum one
Reduce the number of parallel WIPs
Reduce stashing
Reduce the number of visiting eBay
Hey, I need reducing!! how about you??
Next time, I will show you Elise and some more WIP...
Posted by trico at 11:11 PM | ???? (2)
December 28, 2004
A sock completed
Today I finished a sock, which I have casted on in November and left aside.
The yarn is Crown Print, Diana Collection. It is Italian sock yarn that we can find here in Japan. I like very much this warm colorway.
I have to make one more, which I have casted on today. I am in a hurry now to complete it, to start Elise, a cardi from Rowan Vintage Style. I have already tried to knit a cuff, with frilling:
I enjoy this cuff's frilling. Actually now I cannot wait to start! But currently I have three main WIPs: AbFab, this sock, and a lighty scarf that I have not yet mentioned. I will next time....
Posted by trico at 12:12 AM | ???? (2)
December 25, 2004
Absolutely fabulous
Merry Christmas for all!
And update for AbFab. This is just the end of third part:
close up, I love this!!
Have to repeat two more times, and it will be completed. As I have knitted some small items for DS recently, I left it aside and not so much progressed. though I want to finish it soon....BECAUSE, this morning my Santa Claus left this for me:
Colinette yarns for my next AbFab!! Yup, this colorway doesn't exist as "AbFab", but I chose these yarns as my original shade. I have to name it ....and I will make the same one, scallop shawl. I picked up these yarns and ordered, but after that DH offered me to pay for this as christmas gift. Yey!
Posted by trico at 11:44 PM | ???? (0)
December 23, 2004
Just before christmas
Today I was out rushing everywhere to prepare holidays, so no time to knit, nor photos. BUT I sneaked a bit time to stop by our Rowan shop, between shopping. The chief lady of the shop kindly showed me a few pages of color copied photos, of next season's Rowan magazine. I've got an impression that, this time their collection is kind of different style than before. Here in Japan, Rowan stockist is a company named Puppy, a Japanese yarn maker & importer. And they pick up some patterns from the magazine and translate them into Japanese pattern, and put them togather into magazine for the Rowan Japanese membership subscribers. It is different from Rowan International member, so this subscriber cannot get free gift kit like International member, but you can get some of the patterns in Japanese version instead, for each magazine. The pattern decodeing is always the problem here, so they have started this service since last year. So far, now they are picking up patterns, and asked me which pattern is interesting. I picked up one, with blue Cotton Tape, lacey cardi. I don't know if they would really translate this one...
Tomorrow I will be busy for preparing christmas dinner and wrapping and hiding gifts, another no-time-to-knit day...how about you?
Posted by trico at 11:38 PM | ???? (2)
December 21, 2004
Five days in poncho
I hate eyelash yarn. I HATE it. It is the first time that I used such a long-hair eyelash yarn. I am talking about Zoom, Barroco's novelty yarn.
Don't take it wrong, this yarn is very beautiful, has silky touch and shine. I also admit the effect is superb. But it was so difficult to knit with. I could not see where I knit!!
I had to use it two strands togather, for the edge of my poncho.
This is the poncho I mentioned on December 16th entry, casted on at that day. and I finished it yesterday:
The body is knitted by Berroco Furz, and the fringe is Zoom. As a result, I love this look of edging, and I love sooo much Furz. It is nyron blend yarn, super soft and confortable, and very easy to knit, literally it flied off the needles. Plus as the explanation of this kit, it "only takes a few nights to knit", it was true. The pattern is very easy, would be good project for TV watching, though I did't watch TV while knitting...
Wearing it, is smooth, warm, and light. I think the length is just right for me, I am very happy about it! Now I am wondering if I would get some more Furz yarn to knit matching hat with this...
Posted by trico at 11:35 PM | ???? (0)
December 18, 2004
Ribbit ribbit
I decided to use Phildar "Mouflon" to make DS's next scarf.(why next? because he destroyed the first one at the first day!!)And at the same time I decided to give up a WIP scarf for myself. using the very yarn. I frogged it yesterday:
miserable WIP scarf
dead noodle
voila, yarn revival
It is a wool-acrylic blend, washable, unplied, fat, soft yarn. Perfect for kid's scarf. Actually, last autumn I made an outing blankie for my baby with this yarn, in another shade. It is practical and nice for daily use. Besides, I have tons of beautiful and delicate yarns, which is just appropriate for a scarf but not more than that, as the quantity. So I will cast on soon. It is also "Needed" project. Sigh....
Posted by trico at 11:47 PM | ???? (4)
December 16, 2004
It is needed
Yesterday and today I knitted this:
Recently my DS tells me he feels a kind of pain on his knee. And I was a kid like him. Often I had felt a pain on knee. Always it was cured when it was warmed up. So I made this for his knee, with baby cashmerino. A leg warmer pattern in Debbie Bliss's recent book, Junior Knits helped me a lot for an immediate correct size and yarn for five years old. Tonight he sleeps wearing it, happily.
So far always some new sudden projects dip into my knitting schedule, especially in winter days. This year Tokyo is much warmer than usual, though my DS needs hat, gloves, scarves and he leaves them at school, or destoy(!), or lost. Or, the size is just wrong so it cannot be used. Sigh....For example, just some days ago I finished a hat by Regia 6ply, crazy colors:
BUT it didn't fit him....I thought as it was rib pattern, it should be OK but NOT. While he was wearing it, it naturally fell down. Besides, it was itchy for him. He has used a hat made by Kid Classic until last winter, and he insisted it was itchy too. Now I am searching an appropriate yarn for him. I would try Debbie Bliss Merino Aran. I think cashmerino has no itchy problem but too delicate to let it use to five-years-old boy as daily hat. Any suggestion?
Aside of that, though, I casted on today my black easy poncho kit. Yupee! Show you soon.
Posted by trico at 11:33 PM | ???? (0)
December 14, 2004
waiting projects
What do you think this assembly of yarn?
It is not stash enhansement. Three balls of Jaeger Matchmaker Aran, three different shade of Kid Classic, one ball each, and one I-DONT-KNOW-WHAT-IT-IS red yarn, plus some bit of apple green yarn, might be Kid Classic.
Yup, it is leftovers. Of course.
And Of course you have already checked knitty for winter. I like very much the idea of Alison's vest. So far this is mine. I will cast on within this year.
BUT I have another waiting project for myself. I want to make this:
This is from Joelle Hoverson's Last minute knitted gifts, and is made by Noro Cashiroha. I don't have that yarn, but I have this:
This is old Noro yarn, might be discontinued line, named "Byakuya". It is angora-silk brend and so soft. I made its swatch today, it is light and soft, but behave as angora yarn. I mean, it is quite fluffy.
So....I think the gage should be OK, I assume it would become a nice soft sweater, but now I have a baby at home and it's not confortable for him to be hugged by mum who wear a fluffy sweater...
Posted by trico at 11:38 PM | ???? (2)
December 13, 2004
yarn yarn yarn
For those who are interested in the five yarn of this page's top, it is that from left to right:
Maya, Debbie Bliss
Synchronicity, Alchemy yarn
Chrisalis, "Cezanne" colorway, Colinette
Baby Cashmerino, Debbie Bliss
Transisions, Noro
AND, yesterday I received this:
Alchemy's "Japanese Lantern"(San Fransisco Sky) and MORE "Synchronicity"(Hidden Place).....oh yes, my sanity was lost somewhere when I have ordered them.....BUT I wanted to try "Japanese Lantern", such a inviting name for me, and I couldn't stand not adding some more yarns for shipping once. I want to make scarves by them, will cast on immediately with Japanese Lantern. I am dreaming a long but light airy scarf, like the one Wendy made this summer for Knit Happens. I have already put it into center-pull ball. I cannot wait to cast on!!!
Posted by trico at 11:12 PM | ???? (0)
December 11, 2004
Transformation
Are you a member of Rowan International? Yes? Have you ever received its free welcome gift kit? Have you ever made this kit?
Do you remember what was it two years ago? It was "Alfie" bag, by three balls of All seasons cotton yarn. At the showing photo of the bag, it was made by contrasted colors of orange-red and lime yellow, it looked cute. The package I received had different shade, ice blue and sky blue. I just left it somewhere in my stash. Until this year.
At the beginning of this year, I was seven months pregnant and like mamy mum who is knitter and awaiting a coming baby, I wanted to prepare some knitted baby items. Before his arrival, I have finished a striped baby blankie(heavy used this summer!) and a tiny cotton hat(used only one time for the day coming back to home from the clinic, it was too small for him). After that, I decided to make a nice cotton cardi for him. I looked for a pattern, and found one in Pipsqueaks, Rowan pattern book for children. And the pattern called three balls of all seasons cotton for six months size.
Now you know what I am talking about. I made this:
It came out that my baby was very big, and this cardi served less than ten times due to matching the season and his size. Now he cannot put it on anymore, but I just keep it. It makes me smile when I look. In my case, that free gift was transformed like that.
Posted by trico at 10:57 PM | ???? (4)
December 10, 2004
Only one or many
I have a friend, who is a knitter. She is a kind of professional, can get money for her skill, though she doesn't currently. Once we talked about the projects, that I have always too much WIPs to complete, and she said that she never has the parallel projects. Always she concentrates to one project, works diligently, completes, and tne next. It is her style. I think it is great. BUT not me. And you?
I am just so weak, I cannot resist only a second to the yummy, seductive yarns nor cool, seductive patterns. so I am dreaming today too, as usual, for my next projects....for example, this is a one of them:
The front one is Japanese yarn, "Silk Wool Lame" from Puppy, and the right center-pull yarn is a bronze-color fur yarn. I want to make a crochetted flower with these yarns. Bigger than that one at left back in this photo. Silk Wool Lame feels very good and beautiful yarn, but it is sport weight, so I make a small stuff first to try the yarn.
And today, I received these:
This is a yarn kit for a poncho. Yup, I will make the one for me....look, I cannot resist to make a poncho....
But yesterday and today, I have worked AbFab and some other WIPs. This is AbFab update:
Just finishing the second pattern set. I like to knit Skye, Wigwam but not so thrilled for Zanziba. Love to touch Fandango, but not to knit. I am not used to knit such a long-hair mohair, so I knit carefully. Anyway I love this knitting.
Posted by trico at 12:00 AM | ???? (2)
December 08, 2004
Scarf and scarf
Today my DS was sick and stayed at home, so I could not do much knitting. Some rows for Bobby Sweater. So I show you my recent finished scarf:
This pattern is from Joelle Hoverson's "Last Minute Knitting Gift". It is originally a children scarf and used Noro Creyon, but I made it with a darker shade and Silk Garden instead of Creyon. It is narrow and easy to keep around neck, perfect for daily use. First when I saw the photo of this pattern, I am really impressed and decided immediately that I have to make one for me. Now almost everyday I put it on when going out.
By the way I am wondering about holiday gifts....I have just given a pair of knitted socks to DH for his birthday, and, oh I show it to you:
It looks like grey, but it is faded denim blue color, plied with multicolor and a black.... and, now I am thinking to make a scarf, navy, matching color to his hat, with cashmere yarn. This autumn I've got some cashmere yarn of mill end, they were a real bargain. But it is very fine yarn like sock yarn. So I made some center pull balls from the corn, to use maybe three strands togather....BUT before it, I have to make a hat for my sick DS, and a vest or sweater or cardi for my baby. Winter is good season to knit, but how you can handle these urgent needs ??
Posted by trico at 12:06 AM | ???? (0)
December 07, 2004
Updating continue
To celebrate my blog's revival, as a decent yarn snob, I thought I should do stash enhancement. Yes, I ordered some Colinette yarns....beautiful dark shade of Skye, and some Zanziba. Will show you when it arrives. For next original colorway's AbFab, I am wondering to make it in darker shade, with jewel-like color hints. I need more Colinette yarns to complete.... I wish to Santa Claus to give me eBay gift certificate...
By the way, aside of my current AbFab, I heard a tiny voice of yarn calling out of me. That is it:
I have casted on at the beginning of autumn, and left it untouched. This is a baby sweater, "Bobby Sweater" from Rowan Tadpoles & Tiddlers. Today I knitted some rows, and maybe tomorrow.
Posted by trico at 12:19 AM | ???? (0)
December 06, 2004
Updating WIP
Currently I am knitting FAMOUS Colinette's AbFab. Mine is French Vanilla calorways.
I have just passed the first 56 rows, and this is sixth pattern, "Scallop's shawl". As it is a shawl, I can bring it out and it would be nice at office when I need something warm. I am REALLY enjoying this knitting. Using 8mm needles, it is knitted up very quickly, and changing friquently these gorgeous yarns is heavenly duty....I am now considering seriously to get more Colinette yarns by my choice, for another AbFab with original colorways.
Another WIP: sock for myself.
This yarn is Italian yarn, "Crown Print". This is one of few sockyarns that we can get here in Japan. But recently, I noticed that I can found some in LYS here and there. Might the sock-knitting wave be arriving here?? Anyway I just casted it on today.
Other than that, I have more WIPs aside, a sweater for my baby son, this year's first gloves with Indigo yarn, Elise from Rowan Vintage Style, Birch shawl from Rowan magazine, etc...will show you soon.
Posted by trico at 01:02 AM | ???? (0)
December 05, 2004
Hello again
Hi, I finally start again my knitting blog, but this time I changed from Bloggers to this Movable Type. My second son is now 7 months and I will be back to work in January, but in the meantime I have yet a little time to knit, peek eBay and get yarns. Besides, I cannot stand anymore being out of knitting blog world....so far I am now knitting aside of sleeping baby!