Archives for the month of: January, 2008
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Provisional Cast On

January 9, 2008 //
3

… Kicked my butt!

I’ve never done it before and I heard about it all the time – what magic it would do with the toe for a sock or just want to have live stitches to knit the other half of the stole, etc.

Well, Moondance required a provisional cast on, so I decided to give it a try tonight. But it just wasn’t working! It turns out that I was using the wrong yarn to start – I had this lace weight yarn Archiknist gave me to try so I was using that for the crochet chain. Instead, Archiknist suggested to use a thick yarn and Judy gave me some for use. An hour later after I started, I have this:

It’s not much (only the cast on row and the first row) but I am feeling quite tired after squinting and finding the loops for cast on for an whole hour. I’m thinking I might have to break my own rules and cast on another project for mindless knitting… Just a thought.

Oh, and I think I want to learn Tatting. (Among spinning and dying and all the other fiber-y things I want to do).

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Categories wedding

Irish Hiking Scarf

January 8, 2008 //
3

Pattern – Irish Hiking Scarf by hello yarn
Yarn Used – 2 skeins of Misti Alpaca Chunky in #3317 and 2 skeins of Indiecita (Plymouth) Baby Alpaca Grande Paint in 638
Needles – Denise size 9
Gauge – N/A
Knit – September, 2006 to January 08, 2008
Modifications – None.

I used chunky weight instead of worsted weight suggested because I really wanted something big and fluffy. As many of you already know, it took so long to make this simple scarf because I ran out of the Misti Alpaca! But it wasn’t long enough! So I decided instead of getting something close enough, I’ll make it completely different. A year and some months later, this is finally off my needles, AND just in time for the winter!

Lucky for me, I joined the “Stash Knit Down 2008” in Ravelry. And the two skeins of Plymouth count towards my January Challenge! When I have some time, I’ll work on a progress meter on the side bar to keep track the progress.

On the other note, the crystals I ordered for my wedding stole had arrived:

See why I like to order from Artbeads.com? They come in this beautifully packaged tissue and they only took 3 days! Free shipping! Not bad, huh?

I ordered Crystal Moonlight and Crystal AB. Both are pretty. I can’t decide what to use. I think I will alternate them since they are the same, but with different effects. I like the ranbow effect of AB, but it might be too much for the entire stole – plus I still yet need to figure out the placement of the crystals.

I think I’m gonna go sleep on it…
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Categories Baby Makes 3

Hot Cocoa Scavenger Hunt & Contest

January 7, 2008 //
1

So I got a partner now :) So exciting! I can’t wait to get started. And to start this cool swap, here is a scavenger hunt and getting to know the participants:

1. Who’s favorite animal is an Otter? Anne K.
2. Name someone who prefers whipped cream with their hot cocoa. Devin H.
3. Find 3 people who live outside of the United States. Maria M. in Japan, Alex E. in Germany, Geraldine P. in Ireland
4. Name a fan of Harry Potter. Angela A-H. A Ravenclaw!
5. Name someone who crochets. Nicole D.
6. Name someone who DOES NOT have a healthy supply of notions. Emma G.
7. Name someone who has NOT put up their questionnaire yet (just put a date with your answer in case they put it up after seeing their name listed somewhere ;-) ). Ana Sofia F. Date: 01/07/08
8. Who likes to have Kahlua, Baileys, or Peppermint Schnapps in their cocoa? Paula B-E with Peppermint for Butterscotch Schnapps, or Godiva Liqueur.
9. Name someone who knits fingerless gloves as a ‘quick knit’. Sarah J. designed it herself too!
10.Name someone who’s looking forward to gardening this spring. Amanda R.
11.Who’s favorite way to drink cocoa is with a gorgeous Frenchman, while overlooking the eiffel tower from a French Cafe? (I’m right there with you… well at the table next to yours!) Kris L. Man that sounds awesome!
12.Name someone who’s favorite animal is NOT a dog or house cat. Amanda D.
13. Name someone who’s favorite treat is NOT chocolate. Nelda G. mmm Popcorn…
14. Who plays Candyland? Criquette, but she is burned out from playing too much.
15. Name someone who DOESN’T get the winter blahs. Katherine S. She only gets any day of the year blah sometimes

Now, do I win something to be the first one completing this? I mean I link it and everything!!!! :)

And, go check out Coconut Cupcakes‘s contest on Favorite Things! Let her know you went there because of me, please?

Categories Contest, exchange

Dinner and Knitting

January 6, 2008 //
6

David left today for a week long trip of skiing with UMass Lowell Ski Team. This marks the beginning of the ski season for this family.

Because of his absent, my brother and I decided to try the Black Pepper Steak Sauce from this sauce book my parents bought us awhile ago. In Taiwan, when you have steaks, they are always served in hot plates (like the ones the fajitas came with) and has sauce on it. Black Pepper sauce is always my favorite. When I first moved to the US, I hated eating steaks here because it is always so blah! Who eats steaks with NO flavors? Slowly, I adjusted and figured out for myself what to do and how to marinade the steaks so they do have flavors. But I always missed the black pepper sauce. Well, I don’t have to miss it anymore because I can make it myself now!

Look at that! And it taste even better! I LOVE IT! And the best thing – it is super easy to make!

One of my 2008 resolutions was to finish Irish Hiking Scarf that I started back in September of 2006. I wound the yarn for it this morning and am already done with one skein. Only one more left to go and I’ll be done! Can’t wait to check that off the list!

As you can see, the color is different from when I first started making it. Actually, that was the reason I stop making it – I ran out of yarn! I thought two hanks were enough – they were huge! But I forgot to figure the fact that they are also bulky yarn, meaning they take up a lot of space! By the time I realized I don’t have enough, I didn’t think I was going to find the same dye lot for the yarn, so instead of making it “close enough”, I mad them completely different color! I wasn’t sure at first on my choice, but now it’s bigger, I really like it.

Hopefully, I’ll have a FO to show by tomorrow night! :)

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Categories Food

Honeycomb – Completed

January 5, 2008 //
5

Pattern – Honeycomb Socks by Chris Carroll for Schaefer Yarn
Yarn Used – 0.5 skeins of Schaefer Anne in Purple and Green
Needles – Option size 1
Gauge – 9 sts per inch
Knit – December 24, 2007 to January 05, 2008
Modifications – Lots. But I’m writing the directions and sending them Schaefer Yarn so they can update the pattern to the way I did it.

Overall this pattern isn’t too hard. Once you figure out the special stitch, it’s a piece of cake, plus it’s easy to memorize where you are once you get a hang of it. The special stitch is always done on the purl stitch.

I was rather frustrated at first when I started because I had to rip back so many times. But once I realized that it wasn’t me, I paid a lot more attention to the pattern and making notes on what I would do differently. Laura from Schaefer was happy with what I did and had asked me to write out the modification I did so she can implement to the pattern. I’m glad my hard work is being recognized.

By doing this pattern, I learned that a knitted in the round gauge and a flat gauge can be very different. I’ll be doing all my gauges differently now for knit in the round projects. I also learned the Kitchener Stitch. Click to go to the Knitty tutorial. I really like the pictorial Knitty provided. I had heard horror stories about Kitchener stitch, but it was so easy! It’s not easy to memorize but it’s not very complicated. So glad I had the opportunity to try it.

And no, I didn’t line up the colors intentionally. It just happened. I probably couldn’t even plan it to make it happen!

On a completely different topic, you probably noticed my side bar looked a little different. I reorganized the order and I added a Work in Progress bar, courtesy of Ravelry!!! If you have Ravelry and you would like the status bar, just click here and ask for it. Speaking of Ravelry, I figured out how to add tab and reorganize my forum page. It’s pretty nifty. Oh, and I also added my Finished Object Gallery – it’s a slideshow from one of the widget. I had an album in Picasa Web called FO and just linked it and it works! missburrows had suggested me to use treasurelicious, which I had considered, but when I saw the slideshow widget, it was just easier.

Tomorrow, I’ll probably get back and work on the much deserved Irish Hiking Scarf… It’s only been on the shelf for only a year…

Oh, and did I tell you that my puppies are pushy and likes the bed more than I do?

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Categories Blog, critters

Cocoa Swap Questionnaire

January 4, 2008 //
3

So if you know me in person, you know I got screwed by my pal at the Football KAL swap (No, I did MY swap partner right! and she is a new friend on my list!) and I made two overseas friends by joining the Christmas Swap. Now I’m in for another – the Hot Cocoa Swap!!! Here is the questionnaire -

Cocoa
1. What is your favorite way to drink cocoa? Prepared with milk? Water? from home made recipe or store bought?, In a tea cup, or big mug? I drink my cocoa first thing in the morning. Everyone who knows me remotely, well, anyone who has to interact with me in the early morning, know that I have to have my hot cocoa before they may talk to me. Because it is at work, I usually make the store bought packets with water. If I’m at home, I make it with milk if milk is available, if not, just hot water. I don’t actually like the “melt the chocolate” type hot chocolate – too bitter to enjoy. And I drink it from my collection of travel mugs – everywhere I go, or anywhere David visits, we get a mug for each other and now we have many and still growing!
2. Marshmallows or whipped cream? Marshmallows! Whipped cream makes me sick.

Yarn/Knitting/Crochet
1. What is your favorite type of yarn? In what colors? hmmm… this is a hard one. Anything soft, really. Currently my favorites are merino, baby alpaca, camal, silk and qiviut – even though I’ve never used that one before, but I always wanted to try… too expensive. I love all sorts of color, but currently my favorites are the autumn hues.
2. Do you knit or crochet (or both)? Mostly knit. Crochet as necessary.
3. What are your favorite type of needles, would you like to try something new? Circulars! I tried straights – hated it. I like DPN alright, and I loooove circulars. And I love my Harmony set.
4. Do you have a healthy supply of notions? I think so.
5. What one thing do you keep thinking you need to buy for your knitting habit (outside of yarn)? Cute stitch markers that fits. I made some before but they were only to size 4 needles. I only have the plain boring kind.
6. What is your favorite ‘quick knit/crochet’ pattern (quick gratification) Hmmm… I would say Fetching, Baby Cable Rib Headband/Neckwarmer and Knitted Christmas Ornaments.

Miscellaneous
1. What is your favorite thing to do in the Winter? Sit by the fire and knit.
2. What is your favorite animal? Dogs! I have three! Bruno, Mick and Vanilla!
3. Do you get the ‘winter blahs’? A little.
4. What is your favorite way to beat the blahs? I go to my local SnB, sit around and knit with them. They always make me laugh.
5. What is the thing you are most looking forward to this spring? To be able to just wear the sweater without a coat to show off my creations! Also it will be closer to my wedding and I just can’t wait!
6. What are your favorite treats? Milk chocolate, Honey sticks, Werther Originals
7. What is your favorite board game? Apples to Apples, Taboo, Pictionary
8. Do you have any children (furry or human)? See favorite animal.
9. Do you have any allergies or special considerations you partner should know about? Nope, unless you consider sending me shrimp, crabs or lobster. Otherwise, you are ok.

Categories Baby Makes 3

"Merry, Happy Birthday, Year."

January 1, 2008 //
6

“I think I covered it all!” Said David as he slowly walk down the hallway at midnight to go to bed – as he put it – “Way passed my bed time!”

The dinner was fantastic last night and we didn’t wait too long, which was good. I had the Victoria Crown Fillet with the horseradish crust and baked sweet potato was my side. I also tired their Sangria and it was delicious! :) We went home and watched some HGTV until 11:30 and then watched the Dick Clark’s Rocking 2008 show. I was glad to see him back, not to say that I’m a personal fan or anything, but just to see him healthy enough to host another year of the ball drop show in NYC is a very nice start of the new year.

On the way home from dinner last night, we stopped by to see the Fantasy of Lights. It was their last night of showing. Here are some of the displays:


The welcome tunnel


The lighthouse


The carousel


The deer crossing us overhead


Little village


Giant wreath

This morning I woke up and made pancakes, and worked some more on the Honeycomb. Here is the progress:

And since I was taking pictures, I took one with the new organization in the cubby hole:

So inspired by my fellow knitter friends, here is a summary of what I’ve done in the knitting world in 2007:

Falling Leaves – my Summer of Socks 2007 KAL, first sock KAL, first pair of socks using magic cast on toe up technique, first pair of toe up socks and first 2 socks in 2 circulars needles. For those folks who don’t know what that means, it just means I made two socks at the same times using two needles.

Swan Lake (MS3) – my first lace project, ever! my first stole, first beaded knitwear, first mystery knit along.

Cabled Pullover – my first sweater that required seaming. All pieces have cables all the way through and I learned how to cable without the cable needles. Best trick ever!

Petrol and Petrol Modfied – Vests for my dad. These didn’t really take that long, but they sure did feel like they took forever because of the forever stockinette stitches. They did however earned me Harmony :) .

Hemlock Ring Blanket – It is a gorgeous blanket, despite the fact I had a lot of problem with the yarn, but I got my money back, so no complaints. My mom absolutely loved it. She took it home the day after it was completed.

Petal Dishcloth – my first dishcloth ever. It is a cute and super fast pattern. Made it with wool and my Christmas Swap partner is using it as a doily for her candle that I got her.

Diamond Spires Shawl – Second shawl, but using a DK weight yarn. This was a model knit for Schaefer Yarn. Loooove the yarn. First model knit for Schaefer Yarn.

Baby Cable Rib Neckwarmer/Headband – I knitted this in under TWO hours! Fastest knit ever! I made this for my new German friend who I got to know through the Christmas Swap. She had sent me a beautiful package for Christmas and I in term returned the favor.

Christmas Ornaments – I made a grand total of 18 of them!!! And I got Anphoe, JennM and Knelley all hooked on making them!

Vine – It was a super fast knit and my second pair of mitts. They were a very fast knit and was for my future SIL.

Knitted Tees – I knitted three of those for Farmhouse Yarns. It was the first model knitting I’ve done and first top down knitted shirt I’ve made. Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures of them, nor blog about them for some reason. Oh well. Carol said she’ll get them back before June so maybe I’ll get some pictures then and I can put it on my Ravelry.

Phew~ there you have it. My knitted items for 2007. My other knitting accomplishments in 2007 includes:

  1. I joined Ravelry.
  2. I started going to Thursday SnB, which I wish I’ve done earlier. The ladies I sit and knit with are amazing. I’m grateful for having them as my friends. My Wednesday buddies, don’t worry, you are still my friends – without you guys, I would have just rot in my own apartment! ;) (According to the Yale’s Daily, I started going to SnB because I had no friends…)
  3. I got a Yarn Wall!
  4. I joined my first ever swap, got burned, but my second swap was wonderful. Through the swap, I have now three new friends – Irene, Andrea and Robin.
  5. I had multiple projects on WIP at the same time!!!!
  6. I started a KAL (Knit Along). Although I haven’t yet started the project yet…
  7. I organized my knitting pattern into sleeves and put them all in a binder.
  8. I received a swift as birthday present so I never had to ask David to help again… hmmm… I think I just figure out why he got me a swift…

I’m sure I forgot some but that’s all I can think of now. Besides the above, I also started following some food blogs, mainly on gluten free recipes and am very inspired by it. I also made a wedding webpage and planned most of the wedding, pick out the bridesmaid dress, sent out the save the date, and started a registry.

For 2008, here are some of the things I would like to accomplish:

  1. Finish all the wedding knitting on time.
  2. Reduce 20% of my stash by making more projects.
  3. Finish Irish Hiking Scarf.
  4. Finish Secret of the Stole I.
  5. Finish Aspen Top Down Sweater.
  6. Continue to model knit with Schaefer – although I really need to manage it so I don’t overwhelm myself.
  7. Start Autumn Rose Pullover – Fair Isle here I come!
  8. Felt something. May it be clogs or bags.
  9. Learn to spin if we move and have more room.
  10. Learn to dye if we move and have more room.

Well I think that’s a lot to do already! I better get cracking!!! Besides the knitting goals, here are some of my other goals for 2008:

  1. Be nice. Not to say I’m not nice, but sometimes I’m not, especially when I am losing my patience, which leads to no. 2
  2. Be patient.
  3. Complete all wedding details by mid-August. We’ll see how this one goes…
  4. Experiment with gluten free cakes – maybe I can make the wedding cupcakes?? Or at least have the recipes to do it? We tired Baby Cakes at NYC, they were good, but we weren’t completely thrilled with them.
  5. Spend more time on my business. I know I can do it, but it’s the motivation part of it… Knitting? Work? hmmm which one to pick?

I’m sure I have more, but this is what I got so far. If i remember more, I’ll sure to add them into the list.

Have a Happy, Healthy, Safe and Superb New Year.

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Categories Holiday
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