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April 30, 2006
Well, I am enjoying
the season, warm, confortable to walk. The greens are so fresh and brilliant, wind is not chilly, well well. I love this season, and of course I enjoy knitting too. I don't know how it is going in the other countries, but in Japan, when the spring is coming, suddently many "seasonal" knitters throw their needles out and won't take them again until mid autumn. Oh Friends, you can now find out who is a "pretend" and who is a "real" Knitter!(or, just a yarn-a-holic like me...)
The other day, when I went out with DS first to visit a LYS which starts their special sale, on the way home (oops, I had scored some linen yarns at that sale, but no photo, sorry!)when he wanted to play in a park, I could let him do with smile because I had my Jaywalker with me! While he was enjoying to cring to a play gym, I settled down at the bench and knitted it. How confortable it was! I love it...maybe I should shout loudly in public, "Take your needle with you and just knit at the bench! Believe me, that's good for you!" or something. I know no one who knits in warm seasons around me. How sad.
BTW, do you wanna see my DS's graffiti?
One day he game me this. He understands so well abour his mom.
And for Gwen, I am yet knitting the back...
The color looks very gray-sh, but it is pale turquoise blue. The more I knit, the more I love this color...I am planning now when I complete the back, I will start the right front instead of left front. Gwen's most complicated and interesting part is right front, I need to concentrate quite a lot for it, so it is very intriguing for now, in knitting this boring biggest part.(though, you can say Gwen's back is quite "tiny"!)
For Electra, I sewed the body and one sleeve. Yes, one more sleeve....I will soon.
Now there is some NEW project ideas floating in my head: a cotton tank for MIL, and another tank with rayon-silk blend for a friend. I need more time!!
Posted by trico at 11:22 PM | ???? (3)
April 24, 2006
Cast on
Yes, I did. I casted on Gwen yesterday. Awaiting to get a circular needle for the front band of Electra, I have though already made a swatch for Gwen to get gauge. It was exactly the same as required, so I decided to make the smallest. (I am normal Japanese woman size, which is generally the smallest size for knitting).
This is the first time for me to knit with Rowan Handknit cotton DK. Generally I like knitting with cotton yarn, but this time the yarn is quite heavy and stern, it makes my wrist and whole shoulders tired. I love though, that crispy and even looking of garment. From now on, every night knitting time I would start to knit it and when I am tired, I take my Electra.
Yes, I don't forget my Electra. I finished all the knitting part and am joining it in a relaxed mood.
I have just finished the right side seem joining. I try to keep it continue but without hurry. Now at the end of April, Tokyo is quite warm. People wear the cotton jacket to go out and put it off in daytime. Wooly garment is so far out of season here, already, even if it is light one like Electra(yes, it is quite soft and light cardigan). But I won't abandon my precious Electra in this status! I will anyway complete it and show you the FO soon. The other day I went to get the Rowan buttons for Electra at Rowan shop, but they have just moved the shop and haven't had the buttons I wanted in stock. I have to get them too to complete it....
Posted by trico at 10:42 PM | ???? (3)
April 17, 2006
I need needles
I am so sorry for not able to show you my Electra this time.... Actually, I have FINISHED my second sleeve, JOINED both shoulders, and now I met my problem: I need US#3 LONG circular needle for the front band, and I don't have it.
As Electra has required #7 needles for the entire body except ribbing(it was #6) I didn't imagine at all that I need another needles for the front band until I reached that part. So far getting that needle is my current top priority but I could not sneak time to go buy it over the last weekend. I will try it within this week and in the meantime, I picked up stitches with short circular needles and dpns, to be ready. And....I have not yet started sewing the sleeves...I , um, let me open the plastic bag of Handknit Cotton, and took a ball, and swatch it. Hey, that's all for now, really. As soon as I could join all the part of Electra though, I will cast on my Gwen before weaving in all ends of Electra. You know, it is quite a work for weaving in ALL the ends for an Fair-Isle style project!!
BTW, since I have changed my job, I've got a quite extraordinary condition for commuting. Now my working place is around 10 minutes from my home by walk. It is really exceptional if you are living and working in Tokyo and I can say it is confortable to walk in a crisp morning air alone to go to work. But that means I have lost my precious knitting time in the bus. As a result, my Jaywalker sock doesn't got much time to be knitted until now. Anyway I show you instead of Electra:
This is the first one. I do enjoy knitting this pattern, I love it, I am sorry for not having time for it now. (Oh, but I realized writing this, I do have time for it in waiting needles for Electra)
Did I already mention that this is my first sock which has flap heel? This is the proof:
A BIG hole at the joining point of instep and heel gusset...ugh. I will try to fix it afterward. It doesn't reduce my favor to Jaywalker, I love this pattern and the yarn. Even if it hasn't progressed much....
And I have to show you my recent stash enhancement:
Some weeks ago a US knitter was trying to get a certain Japanese yarn and we swaped yarns. I have no specific idea or project for this stunningly gorgeous Malabligo yarn for now..... I am just happy to touch and see it until next wooly season. I have plenty of time to dream a appropriate project. Any idea for 500g of green Malabrigo?
Posted by trico at 10:03 PM | ???? (2)
April 07, 2006
Sleeve and book
I have knitted up the first sleeve:
Looks long? Actually I made 5cm shorter than the pattern inquired, yet it is slightly longer for my arm. I checked many times and finally I decided to make it as it is, for I have some experiences that when I set it exactly accurate length matching my arm, once it became a bit shorter after washing. It is a kind of my fault too, because I have never blocked my garments. But anyway I want to avoid it and besides I like this cardi has a bit long sleeves as its style.
This design is short for body and long for sleeves. And please listen carefully those who are considering to knit Elecra cardi one day, that its sleeves are SO MUCH tight, fitty ones. Absolutely no room in it. You cast on the minimum and increase minimum....now I have casted on the second sleeve, we will see where it goes...
As a knitter who need so much time, say two or three full seasons to finish a sweater-size garment generally, I do want to mention that this speed is extraordinary for me. I mean a sleeve completed for a week. Maybe because I feel very itchy urge to start cotton projects?
Also, a full past week I have been staying at home for my DH second's sickness(don't worry please, now he is very fine)so I could grab my needles here and there in daytime...
Oh, but now I have a problem: I have got Stephanie's new book, I cannot stay away from it...that book is like a piece of good chocolate or a glass of very fine wine, I want it anytime and enjoy so much bit a bit at once, want to keep forever. She is my goddess and I really love her books. Now it snatch me anytime when I see it and interrrupt anything, it is quite difficult to balance the book and knitting time.....so far this book is very dangerous for you, knitters! Be careful!