Lace Lace and Lace

I'm speechless, I'm just glad that it's there and it's faultless

Fascinating Trend

Have you ever clicked on Google Trend? I just found out that it's fun. What else can I compare?

All In A Day's Work

I refuse to give up on Trellis Scarf, I re-casted this morning. Tonight, I'm few rows short for the first trellis repeat. Everything went well all day during the border pattern and first rows for trellis pattern. Then... tonight when I picked it up again after dinner, I lost one stitch! Where is it? I'm just too tired to try and find it. Lace knitting is quite stressing on the eye, on the mind too for that matter.

I did find that using Inox needles is much more helpful than Addis Turbos, they have more grip on the yarn, just like Master Eunny said on her Majoring in Lace article. I also read somewhere on someone's blog that she used a ton on stitch markers to mark every pattern repeat. Those two tips works great. I must confess that I toke off my markers in the end, that's why I lost one stitch.

I will devote myself to Trellis Scarf again on Monday. No knitting activity this weekend. Tomorrow, I'm visiting J. Crew and for Sunday there's a baby shower. I'm not giving away the 1824 Cotton baby cardigan at this shower. It will be saved for another friend.

Slumping

Is slumping the correct word for no knitting activity since last week? I've completely frogged the Trellis Scarf-to-be. Apparently there's more than one or two mistakes and you can see it clearly, especially after the trellis lace began. Maybe I should try an easier pattern to start my lace experience. How about Kiri?

The 1824 Cotton that I got from Jackie is already knitted into baby cardigan for a friend. Only one more sleeve to knit. It's a wonderful yarn. Working with it reminds me of popcorn somehow. I still have to find the perfect button for it.

Yesterday I went on a day trip, which meant I drove 20 minutes to Dublin and go to all the places where I want to spend my money on. I was hoping to get a top and a pair of shoes. Alas, nothing was good enough to tempt me. The only thing that I bought yesterday is a headband from Banana Republic that looked similar like this except it's from white eyelet fabric. That got me to think that J. Crew had a lot of headbands in tie fabrics. Those are perfect to tame my unruly bangs. Then I browse around their website and decided that I want to be preppy a la J. Crew! I don't want to be hippie or nautical, just preppy with polo shirts and chinos and pleated skirts. I'm even thinking to knit an argyle top. Isn't that just the most wonderful colour combination ever! I'm still excited with the whole preppy thing, I may sound a little ambitious.
I'll get that J. Crew headband first and we'll see what happens when I really see all of their clothes in person.

Enough preppiness, back to the lack of money spending yesterday. I did spent some money on Target. I got Mrs. Meyer's and Method hand soaps. They smelled so divine! Makes me want to wash my hands all the time. I've tried Method dish soap before in pink grapefruit. Oh, you'll positively smile when you wash your dishes.

Combining the lack of knitting and money spending, I resisted the temptation to go to the yarn shop! It's my punishment for not touching any of my projects. Don't worry, I'm only grounding myself until this weekend. Besides, I got Rebecca 27 from Lori's destashing to dream on for the rest of the week. They have an argyle top in orange and fuchsia, and also the famous Apricot Jacket.

Other non-knitterly things, we received a pair of free ticket to the Columbus Zoo and another pair for CAPA Summer Movies. They're acting as an apology from the cable company because we have a few wrong charges last month. I have a suspicion that everybody's receiving it regardless of wrong charges or not. It doesn't really matter anyway, we have free tickets! My candidates are are Brigadoon, Casablanca, Giant, and The Man that Knew Too Much.

Hope my post entertains you, even though there's no pictures. I'm ashamed to show my lack of knittingness. Well, I'm off to yoga class now.

Ta daaa...

Ooh, what a big box from my angel!

I just got my package this morning. My heart is still fluttering because I'm just too happy. I'm in love all over again with this Secret Pal exchange. Maybe I'll sign up again for SP9. Oh, I almost forgot, my wonderful angel is Jackie. Please check out her blog. Words can't express my gratitude for you, Jackie! Here's all the lovely stuff that she sent me.

What a coincidence, I secretly want to try some 1824 Cotton

I almost scream with happiness when I saw the scrapbook kit

Save the best for last, One Skein!

Once again, I say thank you! I love everything. I'm considering to bring everything to bed with me tonight hehe...

On the sidelines, I've cast on for Trellis Scarf from IK Spring '06. The beginning border is just done, with a mistake or two. I already frogged a few rows and decided that I'm not going to frog it again since I can't find those mistakes unless I observe stitch by stitch carefully. I promise myself I won't try to look for mistakes as long as the stitch count is correct and every yarnovers are there. Anyway, here's a lovely example of the finished piece. I added three more pattern repeat, so it will be a little bit wider.

Confusion

I want to make a smock for Tie One On from a Japanese sewing book. I already cut the fabric, do pintucks for the front side, and join the shoulder. Now I'm stuck, I don't understand how I'm supposed to do to hem.

Tonight, my husband's coworker had dinner at my place. She's a certified Japanese translater and even she didn't understand. She doesn't sew though, so she called her mom in Japan rightaway. The mom didn't understand either. I'll just have to do what I think is right, perhaps a bias tape or something.

The translater friend wants a felted bowl too. Maybe I'll go to the yarn shop on Monday or Tuesday. Final thing, my angel sent email that my package is coming soon. Yay!

Quickie Project

This is sheepy inside the bowl-to-be, next to two cherry tomatoes-to-be

I knitted this bowl from One Skein just in a few hours, felt it in the washing machine, and it's done. Really fast! Now I need one in another colour. I'm thinking Lamb's Pride Bulky in purple or orange.

Sheepy is happy to sit inside the bowl

I also sewed two pillowcases for our futon in black and white toile. No pictures because I'm not completely satisfied with the result.

For My Secret Pal Angel

Here's my new and improved questionnaire.

Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? High quality is not a must, but natural is.

Do you spin? Crochet? I can crochet.

What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I made my own needle cover but it didn't really work because I just threw everything in my basket.

How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I've been knitting quite constantly for about a year, more or less. But I learned knitting around five years ago. I consider myself adventurous intermediate.

Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yes, it's here (on my husband's name).

What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) Right now I'm in love with baby scents (but no too powdery) and grapefruit.

Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? No chocolate for me. The only sweet stuff for me is Japanese cookies and snacks. Yan Yan, Collon, Pocky, Genji Pie, Caramel corn, or Xylitol.

What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? I do scrapbooking and just started sewing.

What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Right now I'm into Diana Krall and Michael Buble, but I'd love to try some new age or easy jazz, or something like that. Yes, my computer does play MP3s.

What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? I'm in a stashing mood so anything will do, except for bright primary colours.

What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I've been married since 2004. No pets.

Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I wore hats and gloves the most. No scarves unless it's very windy and no ponchos at all.

What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? Don't have any yet.

What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? Acrylics!!!

What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? Baby stuff for a friend.

What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Sweaters, although I hate the finishing process.

What are you knitting right now? Prairie Tunic from IK Spring 2006.

Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes.

Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Circulars.

Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? No preference.

Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? No, I don't think I need one. I like the process of winding the hank into a ball by hand.

How did you learn to knit? From my mom. She'd been knitting for forever and finally I took some interest and I asked her to teach me.

How old is your oldest UFO? Two or three weeks, the Somewhat Cowl.

What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird? Sanrio characters, Hello Kitty, Chococat, Badtz Maru, I don't remember what else.

What is your favorite holiday? My birthday and Christmas.

Is there anything that you collect? Paper stuff, crafting supplies, cute Japanese stuff.

What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? None, I just bought them if I found some interesting pattern.

Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? One Skein and Rowan Kid Silk Haze to make armwarmers from the book.

Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Someday, I want to learn to knit socks. For now, I'm quite happy.

Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Not yet. I'm size 5.5 about 8.5 inches.

When is your birthday? August 17.