Prettyknit

moving..

noreply@blogspirit.com (prettyknit) — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 12:45:00 +0800

First, I would like to thanks for all of your support, and I 'm so sorry I been neglected this blog for a while with less and less update. I have a lot of technical problem with this blog, and it really drive me crazy. I think is time for me to move to a new blog, I been spending most of my time for the last week trying to edit and move all my post over to my new blog.

At last, here is my new blog : http://windloop.wordpress.com/.

If you don't mind please update your link, thanks and see you over my new blog !!

Saving

noreply@blogspirit.com (prettyknit) — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 17:30:00 +0800

I been saving this yarn for quite awhile since I brought it from Hipknits, I love the colour and the yarn is so soft that I don't want to waste on a project that I don't got to wear in hot weather. When I saw Montego Bay Scarf from Interweave Summer 2007. I know it is the right one and I wanted make it slightly bigger like a stole so I could wear it over camisole.

However things didn't turn out as I planned...to start, I increase co sts, change the gauge and minus the fringe. Half way through I realized that I'll never make it to the require length, but it is so nice I don't have a heart to frog it. Than I tried to stretch it when block hoping I could archived the right length but no luck..still a bit short to wrap around like a stole. Is still look good as it is, just that I have to save it for my next trip to Europe.

Pattern: Montego Bay Scarf - Interweave Summer 2007
Yarn : Hipknits- aran silk
Yardage: 2 skein ( about 390 yards)
Needle : 6.5mm

Knitter's Virtual Vacation Swap Questionnaire

noreply@blogspirit.com (prettyknit) — Wed, 6 Jun 2007 23:07:39 +0800

1. If you could visit any state in the US, which would it be and why?
New York..I was there about 13 years ago and I fell in love with it, would like to go back there. I love the energy in New York, so much to do and see.

2. If you could visit any country in the world, other than your own, which would it be and why?
Currently on my top list is Lapland in Sweden, visit the Icehotel and see the northern light. It will be the trip of my life! The second one is winter in Hokkaido Japan, soak in the open hot springs bath with snow fall...

3. Have you ever driven across several states/providence/countries?
Yes, in America, England and of course my home country Malaysia.

4. Have you ever visited someplace you consider exotic? Where was it?
Yes, Bali Indonesia, I went with my good friend three year ago and I like it so much I went back with my husband again in the same year for his birthday..(unfortunately, we can't go out party at the third night cos there are few bomb just exploded, we have to stay in hotel.Is a shame that such beautiful Island always been targeted.)

5. What was your favorite "travel" vacation? Why?
My backpack experience in Europe 10 year ago, me and my good friend went around Europe for a month after graduated from college. Visited all the great museum, master art and sculpture that we used to studied in college.

6. Have you ever played tourist in your own home city/state (if international, country)? Explain.
Yes, when friends and families coming over to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia visit us, we will actually go around the city pretend we are the tourist.

7. Are you a museum visitor, beach comer or an amusement seeker?
Museum, beach, and like to visit locate area rather than tourist spot.

8. What's your favorite type of yarn?
Silk, cotton and bamboo.

9. What's your least favorite type of yarn?
Novelty yarn or anything look like fur.

10. What items do you like to knit/crochet?
Cardigan, shawl or anything that appear to me.

11. What do you pack, knit/crochet wise when you go on vacation?
Usually I would pack something simple and easy remember pattern so I don't have to go through the book every time.

12. What other crafts do you do/would like to do other than Knit/Crochet?
I like felting..would like to try spinning one day.

13. Are you allergic to anything? (Yarn wise or treat wise)
No

14. What is your favorite color? Least Favorite?
Brown, black, green, purple..mostly dark cool palette. Don't like pastel colour.

15. Sweet or Savory (Treat not personality)?
Dark chocolate and dried cranberries.

16. Anything else we are forgetting to ask that you think your partner desperately needs to know?
Nope, you welcome to ask me anything you want.

Belated Project Spectrum

noreply@blogspirit.com (prettyknit) — Mon, 4 Jun 2007 19:35:00 +0800

It took me over two month to complete my Clementine Shawlette from Interweave Knit Spring. The reason it slow me down is the shawl is knitted in two separate pieces. I always find that doing two identical piece is very boring..even for sleeve. After I finish the first piece, the second piece have been sitting in the drawer until last week. I don't have much problem with this pattern until I have to seam two individual panel together..which the nightmare begin.. I try to seam it as the way it suggested but it turn out quite horrible, you can see two purl row like it split open. So I trying to be clever using three needle bind-off which result with a very visible line at the back. At the end I decide to give it one more try on the seaming it suggest by taking off last purl row on the first panel and it turn out much better. The shawl is done exactly as the pattern except I have shorten it by doing less repeats by knowing the shawl will stretch to the right size after the block, but somehow it still came out too long. Before I took this picture, I did re-wash it without blocking..but is hardly can see the lace pattern.

Pattern: Clementine Shawlette - Interweave Spring 2007
Yarn : Rowan Yorkshire Tweed DK
Yardage: 2 skein ( about 430 yards)
Needle : 5.5mm

Thanks!!

noreply@blogspirit.com (prettyknit) — Sun, 3 Jun 2007 18:40:00 +0800

I have received a few package from my swap pal for the past few week, but I haven't take anytime for the picture and post...sorry pals. Here are some of the goodies I received from my Knitter's Coffee Swap pal Jessica. she send me some really nice coffee, a box of dark chocolate espresso bean which I finished within an hour..a knitter's journal, a lovely coffee mug..perfect for my new office and two lovely brown sheep cotton fleece which I wanted to try for long time..thanks Jessica. Oh..she is hosting a very interesting swap call Knitter's Virtual Vacation Swap, which a bit of knitting and culture swap..go sign up now if your are interested, they only accept limited participants.

The other goodies that I received is from my Secret Pal 10, Vivien from Australia. The first package(picture on the left) she have send me a felting book which have some very interesting article about hand felt, a lovely fiber for me to try out and two skein of handspun from her local store. The second package (on the right) which is the final package, she send me three skein of lovely purple yarn which handspun by herself, a self make card kit , a souvenir tea towel, an Australia publish knitting magazine and book on beading..which I think she forgot I don't do beading.

Thanks Vivien.

Blueberry Cropped Cardigan

noreply@blogspirit.com (prettyknit) — Fri, 25 May 2007 12:45:00 +0800

Yes, I know..it look like the Blue Sky Cropped Cardigan. It happen when I came across Green Apple , she have the Blue Sky Cropped Cardigan done few month ago and I love it. However, the actual pattern is knit with bulky yarn, which I can't wear it in tropical weather. I figure I could do a similar cardigan with different yarn, so I start off with a simple top down raglan increase and change to 1 x 1 rib when it reach the shaping. Basically, I work the entire piece by guess my way out, I don't even have to do any waist shaping at all, 1 x 1 ribbing do the magic. I used discontinue Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran for this cropped cardigan, it is a nice yarn to work on, but is a bit scratchy on skin before it block. I like the way it give a bit of weight but not too bulky, is just nice for the air-condition room. I glad it turn out exactly what I want, except the sleeve..I think it should be slightly longer.

Yarn : Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran
Yardage: 2 skein ( about 438 yards)
Needle : 6 mm

Excuse

noreply@blogspirit.com (prettyknit) — Mon, 14 May 2007 16:40:00 +0800

Last week, I came across Knitting Lingerie Style while I was shopping for my secret pal. I basically browse around the bookshop for an hour just to decide whether should I get the book or not...and I did.. I sort of convince myself that I deserve a birthday present from myself... I just can't resist the temptation, the book are full of beautiful and sexy knitwear..

The book are divided into 6 section, the bra, the slip, the corset, the camisole, the stocking and lounge/night wear , the most interesting part is on most pattern there is a brief history of particular style. I'm not sure I would knit any of the bra top, but definitely there are a few top I'm interested.

Here are some of the beautiful item that goes into my must knit list.. Talking about must knit list, is been awhile I update on any of my WIP and knitlist..which I believe I have two reason.

First, is the limited capacity of this weblog, I can't load too many of picture, unless I subscribe to the pay service.

Second, busy....(actually I'm too lazy and lazy..)

so here are my long wait list...

WIP
1. Clemetine Shawlette
2. Clapotis
3. more teddy bear
4. Tweed Cardigan - blocking

Must knit list
1. Apocalypse Hoodie 2
2. Noro stripy scarf
3. Rowan Biggy Print Shrug
4. Butterfly Shawl
5. Lady Eleanor 2 - scafstyle
6. 3/4 sleeve cardigan
7. Bell sleeve top
8. Bed Shrug
9. Lace Nightie
10. Fitted shrug
11. My so called scarf
12. Estole
13. Icarus shawl
14. Lace Hoodie
15. Fad- classic
16. Swing cardigan
17. Ogee lace skirt
18. 60's lace top
19. leaf
20. and many more....
yes, I know I'm greedy.

Lelah on vacation

noreply@blogspirit.com (prettyknit) — Wed, 9 May 2007 17:40:00 +0800

Last weekend my company have organized a short trip to one of the Island - Redang Island, is actually is my 4th time there. The Island are really pretty and the water are crystal clear but the coral and fish are getting less compare to my first visit which is about 8 year ago, and Island is pretty unknown to the public. Now, the Island have become a famous holiday hot spot, and most of the coast line coral have been damage, is such a shame.

I finished my long due project - Lelah, before I went for the trip and.. of course, I bring along the top to the Island for a little show off... It is quite a straight forward pattern and knit up quick. I used about 5 skein of Rowan All Season Cotton, it turn out pretty good but if I have to do it again I'll choose yarn in much lighter weight so that the flare will look lighter. The only change that I make on this top is to extended the length..(I'm a bit concern about my tummy)...

Pattern : Lelah
Yarn : Rowan all season cotton
Yardage: 5 balls
Needle : 5mm

Kev, the teddy bear

noreply@blogspirit.com (prettyknit) — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:55:00 +0800

Yes, I 'm kind of addicted on knitting teddy bear..I have so much fun knitting Bubby. When my nephew arrived last week, I decided to knit another teddy bear for the new born. This time I knit it as I go along without follow any pattern, I fatten the tummy and shorten the leg and I notice it....look like my husband, really chubby bear, so I name him after my husband, Kev. All the kids in my family love it when I brought over for the baby, now I have to make a few more just to be fair to them..anyway, it is a good way to destash as well.

Play dress

noreply@blogspirit.com (prettyknit) — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 16:55:00 +0800

My best friend in Canada having a baby girl few month ago, I wanted to knit her a baby dress, but I have no ideas about her size. After looking all over the web, I guess the best choice is Anouk from Knitty.com. It is kind of a play dress..I guess..but with this pattern I don't have to worry about the size, the side is open and it could be adjust on the chest area. I used Rowan all season cotton in dark brown with a dash of pink for the dress, the reason why is.. I hate pastel colour and I don't want it look too princess like. The only adjustment I made on this dress are the pockets, I swap it for a simple heart shape pocket and I think one is cute enough..

With the leftover yarn, I also throw in a Bubby from Knitty.com, it is a very fast knit and is cute... hope she like it.

Bear
Pattern : Bubby
Yarn : Rowan all season cotton
Yardage: 1 balls

Dress
Pattern : Anouk
Yarn : Rowan all season cotton
Yardage: 3 balls