Tuesday, February 27, 2007

oh... tres bien.

You Should Learn French

C'est super! You appreciate the finer things in life... wine, art, cheese, love affairs.
You are definitely a Parisian at heart. You just need your tongue to catch up...


so i already know french. what's next?
(luckily the result didn't turn out to be german... ich habe alles vergesen

Friday, February 23, 2007

10 repeats on Andean Shawl

Nothing much has been happening on the WIPs these days. Mainly because exams are in the way. But this morning i realized I was at the 9th repeat of the Andean Shawl, and seeing that I didn't have much time to do much else, I decided to finish up until it's row 40. :)

Here's the shawl at ten repeats.

10 repeats on andean

So far, it doesn't look too bad. the photo above doesn't really capture the color correctly though. This one is closer to the actual color.

purple and gray

And an artistic look, and my photo of the day for the main.

let your fingers dance

Ok. now back to the books.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Je voudrais ...

ceci:

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Hehehe... more more more!!!

Friday, February 16, 2007

Mang's Emergency Pawtten

Mang hurt a claw on Valentine's day and I had to think of how I could keep a little piece of bandage on 
her.
Some asked me to wrap up her paw, or put it in a sock and so on, but I had to think about how she might slip without friction from her pawpads. Plus, even baby socks are too big for her little hands so i had no choice but to think up something for her. I could also leave it alone, but the nail was hanging a little and i was afraid it would become worse if she jumps around or piles the kitty litter.

Behold the emergency Pawtten Kitten Mitten Ver. 1

pawtten ver. 1

This actually works. It has a little ribbed pattern at the top and a 
'cover' for the top of her paw.
It also has little eyelets to thread through a little ribbon at the end. but it was a little too tight, because her nail was hurting. So we didn't put it on and had to go to a simpler Plan B.


So.
Pawtten Kitten Mitten Ver. 2

pawtten ver. 2

I'll type out the pattern a little later. but basically, I casted on 40 stitches, ribbed 2x2 for 4 rows and then worked in garter stitch for the required length. I ended off with 3 rows of ribbed 2x2 and bind off. 
I made 2 eyelets in the middle of the mitt, so i could have the option of putting on a ribbon. 
It could also help tighten the mitt if required.

Here's Mang2 with her mitt

mang with pawtten v.2 I

take 2

mang with pawtten v.2 II

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Phildar on Vday!

So the postman rang the doorbell and the much awaited package arrived from Lyon!
:D valentine's surprise
 
Even Millie was intrigued
millie checks out mail II

So here's a preview of what was in there
samples from the package

cool in the background

Of course being excited about everything, I had to flip (with the trembling hands) through the book.
There are two things in there that i'd love to make and another which... if i EVER finish that sweater (yes i would i would) I'd like that for myself too.

These I'd like to make
shortlisted 1

shortlisted 2

and this i would like too...if i finish the sweater!... It's so cool!
i'd buy this

Here's a look at all the yarn - Phildar's Cotton Microfibre

yarn sculpture

great balls of yarn

I haven't thought of what to do with them yet... perhaps later... 



Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Yesterday the sweater hit the 101 row count~
101 rows!

I don't know why i even bother to count the rows but I guess it might be fun to know how many rows (and thus stitches) it takes to make that BACK of the sweater. Still it's only 2/3rds done...

only 2 thirds done 

Wuv You Kitty's head and body are completed... now's the limbs... I think i'll try to knit both legs together so that I won't end up with different lengths (for some strange reason) like Oliver.

On another note i've decided to make a 'rainbow' set for my flickr and what else could i do to boost it besides having yarn featured as well.

Monday, February 12, 2007

SP10 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
So far I love wool best, but the weather here is unforgiving, so I tend to get cotton mixes. I'd love to try silk soon though. I don't particularly like knitting with Acrylic yarn, even though I make toys and Acrylic is supposed to produce more hardy toys.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
My needles are currently in seperate little ziplock bags, and they are all arranged in order, in a box. I'm looking forward to making my own needle case though. My hooks are in a little 'Gloomy Bear' pencil case, which was a gift from a friend.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I picked up knitting from a friend and via resources the Internet. I also went to borrow books from the library. This was almost three years ago, but I've only recently been knitting a little more seriously in the past one and a half year. Hmm... I should think my skill level's around advanced beginner.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yup, the link is available at my sidebar.

5. What's your favorite scent?
I would say Strawberry. I'm also ok with Mint, Lavendar and Vanilla. Basically anything that's not too strong or pungent.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
YES! I love cakes and ice-cream and candies... Favorite? Hmm... I suppose the fruit gummies from Haribo would fit the bill! :) And Candy Canes too!
I don't particularly like chocolates though and am picky about them - I do eat dark chocolate 
from time to time.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I used to cross-stitch and can do some origami. Currently, I'm more focused on knitting and amigurumi! I don't spin.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like rock! I have 2 shuffles and yes my computer can play MP3s as well.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I prefer colors that belong to the cool tones such as blues and greens, favorites are lilac and purple tones. Wine reds are good too. I'm usually ok with any color EXCEPT for Pinks and bright gaudy reds!

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Married with no kids; we have a cat, a dog and 5 hamsters.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Nope...

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I like to make bears and toys because the pieces are quick to finish. And the end products are cute!

13. What are you knitting right now?
Currently I have a shawl, a bear, a toy cat and a sweater (more details on the sweater at question 17).

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes of course!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I prefer circulars (I tried straight needles once and didn't finish that project. In the end it was unravelled) I like aluminium needles (my favorite brands are Clover and Addi) because I'm quite a tight knitter.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Not yet but I'm looking to get one in the next month.
I've got my winder! see here

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
My oldest UFO is more than a year old!! It's the Sweater I'm making and the recipient is getting a little impatient with it. But I've made more progress in the recent months than previously so I hope it won't be a UFO for much longer!

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas! (and perhaps National day!?) I love gingerbread and christmas trees and candy canes, and the joy of giving (and receiving lol!) Turkey and Ham and more Christmas cookies... mmm mmm!

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I like collecting stationery like notepads and stickers from Japan and X-men, Dilbert and Sherman's Lagoon comics. I also have a collection of Japanese Manga on my shelves.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
At the moment I'd like to expand my addi needles set. I currently only have one(!) 3.75mm circs and they aren't easy to get where I am unless I shop online.
I don't have any subscriptions but get my seasonal dose of Phildar from friends.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
In the next year or so, I'll want to learn working with lace firstly, then socks.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Not yet, but I hope to try in this year. I wear size Euro 38/US6.5 shoes.

23. When is your birthday?
7th January 81

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Momo's Day Out

 Yesterday Momo went out with Ayu to the Knit-Out... so of course there should be pictures taken of Momo and his/her/its nonchalent face.

Here's momo under the lamp:

momo under the lamp I

And a close-up heh:

momo under the lamp II

Momo decided to also sit on the sweater for a bit:

momo sits on sweater

Unfortunately Momo didn't want to get dirty at the restaurant where we had dinner so no pictures...

Anyways, more of the sweater is done and I've timed myself: 1 row takes 10 mins! (ok this is much better than when i first started out, and it was 1 row ... 45 (astounding!!) mins!)

More of the Andean Shawl is also done, but I think until after Thursday, there won't be much progress...

Good news~ I've been so intrigued by SP, and finally signed up for it minutes ago!

Friday, February 09, 2007

Andean Shawl beginnings


Andean Shawl beginnings I
Originally uploaded by st.jehanne.
Here's a better look at the entire piece.

The knitpicks feather and fan pattern is actually very easy to do and quick to make. It's also very easy to remember and I don't actually have to carry the pattern around... :) that's one good thing about these projects.

Meanwhile the Bartika tank is annoying me because the yarn's all bunched up (yes it was the apple ball yarn which i couldn't unwind properly)

Sirdar Pure Cotton and new markers


Andean Shawl beginnings II
Originally uploaded by st.jehanne.
Actually... i got the markers awhile back from the Simply Knitting Feb issue... hehe as usual... here's a sucker for freebies.

Anyways this is a close up, somewhat of the yarn I've got for the Andean Shawl I need to finish by July. Seems like a long time, but as most might know I'm slow and easily distracted... hehe