Too many patterns, too little time...

Here are some of my favorites for this fall/winter. I got the yarns and the beads for this Cobweb shrug (Rowan 40), the charts look complicated, it's gonna be a challenge.



Then there is this yarn Tapestry, I really like this yarn, which one should I make?






This is a cute top too, but the flower part? A real big challenge!!


I just picked up the VK couple days ago, already found my new love. My list just getting longer and longer and longer....

Lacy Kerchief Scarf

Here is another UFO, Lacy Kerchief scarf from IK summer 05 issue.

This yarn is Endless Summer Luna from Elann.com, it's rayon and cotton blend, very soft and shinny. I used the Knitpick's Option needle #4, I should've use bamboo needle for this. The yarn is slippery (rayon, da), and a little spongy, I'm still trying to get use to the feeling and keep the tension even. I often go back to reginalolaca's blog to look at her finished Lacy Kerchief scarves, (yes, she made more than one, amazing, her FOs), hoping that will keep me motivated to finish this scarf.

I did a bad thing

I found these at Mitsuwa's bookstore (can't remember the name of the store), the bookstore was closing, so everything was 30% off. I like Japanese patterns, sizewise it would probably fit me better, I'm petite. Unfortunately I could not read Japanese, even though most of the instructions are in drawings and charts, I can only guess what I'm suppose to do. Another thing is the Yarns, I'm not good when it comes to substitute the yarns; on top of that, the patterns use "weight" (gms) instead of yards. That makes me wonder if I will ever make something out of these books?! But they are still very pretty to look at, great "tea" table books (since I don't drink coffee.... ).


The red cover is a Hairpin Lace pattern book, very interesting book.


This is from the Hairpin Lace book, cute eh?!


I don't like crochet, but look at that stole, I will definitely make that.


Look at this convertible shrug/sweater. Smart!


This one is from the Keito Dama winter issue, simply too cute.

Can't help it

I can't help it! I've been eyeing on the Swallow Tail Shawl for a while now. After seeing so many FOs on the Knittng Nature KAL, I can't resist it anymore!! I have the yarn and needle, Swallow Tail Shawl, here I come!!

This is what I did for this special cast on:


Use waste yarn and crochet hook, chain 4, fasten off.


with another yarn pick up and knit 1 st in each of the bumps at the back of the crochet chain,


knit 6 rows, so there are 3 garter ridges,


turn side way, then pick up and knit 1 st in each of the 3 garter ridges, (5 sts on the RH needle now),


unzip the waste yarn crochet chain and put the 2 exposed sts onto LH needle,


knit the 2 sts from LH needle, total 7 sts.

Of course, this is not the yarn for the shawl, I use thicker yarn, so I can see what I was doing. I tried it using Misti Alpaca Lace yarn, it was much harder, the yarn was much thinner, the garter ridges weren't that clear to see and I was using the Knitpicks' Option needle which is very slippery, it took me about 3 tries before I finally got it.


This is what it looks like after the Budding Lace 1 chart.


This is after 2 repeats of the Budding Lace 2 chart. It looks pretty good to me!! This is my first lace project, let's see if I can finish it before Christmas, it could be a present for someone!

Lotus Blossom Tank top

I started the Lotus Blossom Tank back in August, I just finished the top part last week. Yeah, I had to put it aside because the SKB KAL. I still need to block it so I can sew the front together and then still need to pickup stiches (not my favorite thing to do) around the armholes and the neck band. Well, since I can't wear it now (too cold), I guess it can wait just a little longer...

More pentagons!

This is pentagon #6.


This is a closeup of my pentagons!!


I tried indoor and outdoor, I just can't seem to get it right! Non of these pictures show the true color, it's the Berroco Pure Merino #8550 Grape Jelly. Actually I finished all 8 pentagons, I'll post a picture soon. I had 13 balls of this pure merino, I used up 7 balls for the body, I hope I will have enough to finish the sweater, keeping my fingers crossed!!

What I'm working on

I casted on the Bubble Pullover from Knitting Nature book. I'm using Berroco Pure Merino. It is so soft and smooth, very easy to work with and it's machine washable!!
This is the first pentagon, I actually finished 5 of these fun pentagons as of today, 3 more to go, then the sleeves then the bottom ribbing then the collar. Busy busy busy....I love this pattern!!

SKB Finished!

Cast on: 9/11/06
Cast off: 10/13/06
Pattern: Stitchdiva Simple Knitted Bodice by Stefanie Japel
Yarn: 9 balls Lang Yarn Musica #0034 (lot 332) from Elann.com
Needles: Denise #7 & Addi #3 32"& Clover #3 12"
Other: Sequins & beading thread (local bead store)

Finally, the SKB is finished! I decided not to use sequins on the sleeves and the neck band. I like the way this sweater turned out. I was going to try the Magic Loop method on the sleeves, but with the lace and small needle, maybe next time (with something a little simpler). I knitted additional 22 rows before the lace pattern, so the lace part will kind of line up with the waist lace pattern. And I didn't do as much increases after the lace, I didn't want a big bell sleeves. This picture here is pre-block, I just couldn't wait to put it on and take a picture.

My birthday present is here!

I love it!!! Thank you sis! My birthday was in August, but I didn't decide what I want till the day of my birthday. I told her I wanted the Pink Frosting from Interweave Crochet Spring 06 issue. We both bought the yarns to make it, but I really don't feel like crocheting, and I've always liked her FOs (she is a perfectionist to me). So that was a perfect chance for me to get a sweater from her! And here it is, my Pink Frosting.

My new row counter bracelet

I've seen my LYS sell those DIY kit for row counter bracelet, I like beading too, but I rather save the money for yarns, so I figure I'll just use my user friendly Clover clicker. Couple days ago, I saw the bracelet Turtlegirl made, it is just so adorable. So I dug out my beading stuff and made this using Katie's tutorial:

My 3 year old son likes it too, he said "Mommy, it's purty!", it is, isn't it?!

I also made a stitch marker couple months ago, it's a Hello Kitty!



Fortunately, I don't have a daughter, otherwise, my stitch marker may become a pair of earrings.

SKB WIP

This is what I started with:



Yarn: Lang Yarns Musica
Blue sequins and Beading thread


This is what the sequin looks like.



I strung the sequin onto the beading thread. Yeah!! I got a sequin carrying yarn!



I know I know this is not the best picture, I promise I'll post a better one as soon as I found my photographer...(Honey! Honey! Where are you?!)

I'm knitting the Small size, my stitch gauge is right on, but not my row gauge, mine is 7 rows to an inch v. pattern 6 rows to an inch. Good thing this is knitted top-down, so I can try it on and adjust to fit me. I didn't do the sequin for the bottom hem; one, it is too glitzy, might not be good for work; two, knitting with sequin and #3 needle wasn't as pleasant as I thought it would be, it was taking way tooooooooo long!! Now I'm working on the sleeve, I'm still deciding whether to add the sequin or not, it would be nice to match the waist lace pattern, but but but....glitzy? knitting like a snail??? I still got about an inch before I have to decide....sequin or no sequin?

I'm in the blog world!

I'm in the Blog World!! This is all new to me. I like to knit. This will be a journal for my knitting. This is my last FO Rusted Root. I love it. Pattern can be found here.

Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece 2.5 skeins
Color: Sedona Red
Needles: Denise #6 & Knitpicks Option #4
Modification: none