YoP1213: It's been a longtime

Yep, a longtime without blogging, not really without knitting. Since the last post, I have finished 2 projects, one from the list, one to use some left over. I have made really a good progress ont the big one and started one that could be my masterpiece in the futur...

But now, some photo to illustrate that.

I finished a pair of sock. I wanted to finish them for the month of October, I finished them last week, 7 days late, it's okay, they are for me and with the summer here, I will surely not wear them. It is a pattern from the book Sweet Tomatoe Heel by Cat Brodhi (again!): The Birdcage socks. I knitted them with a yarn from hazelknit, with merino coton and nylon, a dream... And the color is fabulous, it will enlighten my day when the weather will be cold and grey.

Did you see the irregularity, I think I have done my two heels quite a bit different, not on the same number of stitches, but both time with 3 and 1/2 wedges. It's fitting really well my heels there are really curvy. I am definitely in love with this way of doing the heel. I have already started a new pair with it... Oups forget to take a picture. I do it in a KAL with a friend who wanted to try this new style of heel.

Now, the work in progress. My Cocoon cardigan is finally completely knitted, one year after I started it. Wouah, that is a long time ago. And now I try to motivate me for the finition, like that, it will not take another year! Because it could. I started the sewing and I discover that it was two tight at the armhole...no!!! I directly had the idea to do a patch, but between having the idea and realise it, I am always slow to go and yesterday I finally manage to convince myself to try and it is not pretty, but it is mot really noticeable.

So now, I knit and join directly on the garment, maybe, it would have been nicer if I have knitted the patch and sew it, but I am happy with the result.

Still not completely sewn but I feel the goal line is nearer. Now, I will try to weave all the ends, because, I have really two much of them and I will not need them for the sewing.

And now, the only work in progress where I am knitting, the Sakura, from the pattern Hanami. I love it, I had to to frog already one time due to a tiny mistake, but I have a good start on it. Only problem, I want to use some safeline and no way to find my left over of lace yarn... grrr..

I have six more repeat of this basketwave to do and after I start the falling petals... Lot of time to knit in perspective, but I think it is the last project, that is not a sock on my list, so I will enjoy it!

aSitF: Fiji's memory

Yes, it's done. 20:00, the last bag is over. The challenge of September, three bags, is a success! And here the last one, the tote:

That, for a beginner like me, was not an easy one. I followed the tutorial from Sew like mom, the Gym Bag. I did not do the exterior pocket, but I made a bottom to preserve my white fabric. I am particularly fond of this fabric, because I bought it in Fiji and it is a memory of those formidable holidays. I made all the interior as described: the five pockets on one side and the zippered pocket on the other.

I do not know if it fulfill the requirement of being able to contain three skeins of Red Heart Super Saver, never seen one, but it can contain all my stash... and yes I have a small stash, but it still has to be over in 9 months...

Still unperfect, but for my third project and so big, I am totally happy, even proud... But honnestly, now I think, I will let rest the sewing machin for a while and concentrate on my knitting... Two objectifs for this month, finish the cardigan and finish the socks...

aSitF: Fish and Doll

I was planning to do this pouch for more than one year now. I bought the outside fabric at the craft show 2011, It was the stand of a nice Japanese gentleman. I have liked this fabric since I have seen it and knowing that every kanjis was the name of a fish make me laugh. I did not find the same day a fabric to use for the inside so the pouch has waited to be done.

Two months later I found a fabric, could have been better, but it was the best I have seen until there, so I bought it, but at this time I did not have anymore access to a sewing machine.

Two months ago, one friend lend me her sewing machine, it was one of the reason why I was motivated by the challenge: Using it.

And now, my little pouch is done. I needed all the afternoon to do it, it's far from perfect but I have learned a lot. First, it is important to cut your fabric right. Next time, I will do a rectangle with paper and draw it on the fabric. Second, the other foot for the sewing machine is not a zipper foot. I have to ask my friend if she has one somewhere or if I will buy one and offer to her machine. Third and final, the fusible lining I used was crap. He get out all the time.

But the pouch is finished and the most important: I like it!

I used this tutorial and I found it really clear. Some little things, it is really important to let 1/2" for the step 2, do not do less, I have done 1 cm and it was difficult. For the step 16, 1&1/4 inch for the length and approximatively 2.5 for the base, important too, it is what make it a regular rectangle and not biais like mine. Next time I will draw one and us it...

NB: why Fish and doll as a title, as I have said, fishes are the kanji on the outside fabric and Doll is for the cute japanese doll on the inside fabric... again a really japanese bag for the challenge. The last one will be a fiji memory... two day to do it... and it will be the most complicated... not sure maybe it was this one...

aSitF: First Bag

Two monthes ago, I read this article and I decided to take up the challenge. Three bags during the month of September... easy. I am a total beginner with a sewing machine, I learned in primary school, just twenty years ago... easy and Oh Sure! I  will be ten days in holiday far from a sewing machine this month, but I took the challenge...

Today, the 28th of September I can show you my first entry, the easiest one, the drawstring bag with no linen, no interfacing, but maybe my more precious fabric. I bought it from KimoYES, it's a kimono fabric, I think for the belt and I really fall in love when I saw it.

Okay, I have now two days to do the two others... easy! cough cough...

Yop1213 Week 9: A little of sunshine in my knitting

Last week, I showed you my finished socks. As you can guess know with me, I have started another pair. Still from the same book, with the same kind of decoration, I can show you my victorian birdcage:

The color is very nice, it is a bright light orange, more near of the color of the mango than the orange and I love the pattern. I think I am quite addict to the smoked stitch. I make a size small adult woman, even if my feet are more near the large, but my gauge is of 30 instead of 32 and I like them tight.

A little question, do you stay my gauge is bigger or smaller, because for the same amount of stitch my square is bigger, but my number of stitch for 4'' is smaller?

I continue to work on my cardigan, slowly but surely as would have say LaFontaine. It will soon get faster, I will start the decrease on the neck side, one stitch decrease on every two rows.

But not during the next two weeks. I am going in holiday and as a treat fro my boyfriend, I will not take any knitting with me. So for the long hours of flight, waiting, I will read. I just hope, I will not finish it before the end of the holiday, only ten day in Fijis.

So no update for the next two sundays, anyway, it would have not a lot of progress.

YoP1213 Week 8: Bad pictures, but lot of finished projects

We have finally some shiny weather here in Australia, but sadly my house seems to be build to have no good spot for pictures. But at least I have a lot of finished projects to show, only one in the list, but I can spare my joy to show the other two.

First, the one on the list, the gift for my mother. I tried to find a way to show you the nice pattern. It was difficult and I am still not happy with the picture, a lot more with the socks!

And now the not in the list projects.

The first one is the little cardigan I showed you last week. It is over. I am not entirely sure of my choice, it has a girly design, boyish colors, but finally it does not make it unisex... I will send it to my cousin anyway, it still could be useful when everything else will be dirty.

And finally, another baby cardigan. I started it in february for a baby who was already born. I was planning to give it to the father when he get back to his homeland to visit wife and baby, but I was to slow and I let it down with the ends not weaved and the button not add. Last week a friend told me, she   needed a baby cardigan for a baby girl and she wanted to pay a knitter to do one, because she did not have the time. So, I told her, I can finish this one and give it to her. She was happy with it. But it seems my english is still terrible and did not understand the "give" and wanted to pay me. Finally I convinced her for a trade and she give me a skein of a yarn. I still feel like the big winner. I do not have this unfinished cardigan in my staff and I have a brand new and beautiful yarn.

Now the cardigan:

It is really a summer cardigan. I knitted it from a bamboo-cotton yarn that was splitting like hell, but when it was finished, it look good. I really like the little button with flower on it. I just hope that the baby can wear it. It is a newborn size, but it looks that the baby was not born with a newborn size.

YOP1213 Week 7, Some distractions

This week, I knitted less than the other weeks on my projects list. So, you will see little progress on them.

I have made over ten rows, but not much more. I still love the yarn and start to really looking orward to wear it.

It was nearly planned, that I did not many progresses on ths project. I wanted to focus on my socks, but by chance, I find one pattern that seems perfect for the left-over of my blanket and I was stick to it. So my second sock did not receive enough love to be finished, but at least, we have passed the heel and now we can see the end line...

So, now, even if it is not a project of the list, just a spinn-off, the little cardi, not yet finished, but not far. I just need to knit two sleeves and the collar. I already used nearly all the dark green, I think I will finish the white and the light green and finally have just the half of the left over of the yellow and the orange. Good project for stash down.

Now, I do not know if the baby will be a boy or a girl. I find it nice for both sex. The color makes the girly ruffle, less girly and the ruffle make all the color a little les boyish. I am definitely really happy with this project. And I think, I still have yarn to do a little hat before the end of August when I want to send the package for the mom-to-be...

YoP1213 Week6, some monogamie

Since the last week, I think I have worked on my socks only one time, I knitted all the time my cardigan. The result: the left front is nearly finished and this time I took a lot of notes!

Until the pattern, it was quite easy. Now with the cocoon stitch to adjust with the neck-decrease, I have charted my knitting. It is helping, even if I still have to frog again because if you make a p5tog and just "make three", it is giving you a 2 decrease on your row, that I totally forget when I have done my chart! But I still enjoying to knit, I quit like to have to use my brain to finish it... and after that I have only one piece to do and the sewing, so nice. I really need some cardigan, Australia in winter is definitely colder than that I expected.

Yop1213 Week 5, a project finished... first of august...

It's Monday, a day late for the summary update, but I think I will continue like that. It is much easy for me to do it on Monday than on Sunday.

The work in progress:

At the left, you have the shy beginning of the first front of my cardigan. At the middle, it is my splendid sock, it goes slowly, even if I had plenty of time during the waiting for an appointment, but I forgot the pattern and I was not confortable to do it from the other sock more than what I have done now.

And yes it's right, only two projects in progress. Because the ripple blanket is over. I follow your advice, I finished with the dark green color. It was my first idea and the one wo let a comment about this question was both thinking the same.

Stand up on a chair I have made the picture of it:

And I really like it, I hope my cousin will do the same. I learned a lot about crochet with it, especially what is the first and the last stitch in a row. It seems stupid, but I think it was why I never realise before to have the right amount of stitch when I was trying to crochet.

So now, I choose this blanket to finish some left over of yarn, but I think I have even more now. What can I do with that!

A baby cardigan?

A hat?

Any idea?

YoP 1213 Week 4: First Finished object

Yep, it's a wrap. I finished the Pedestrian Crossing Cowl in time. Happily, for the KAL, you did not need the button on. I am still not decided about them.

Pattern: Pedestrian Crossing Cowl by Melissa Sibley
Yarn: 100% Alpaca DK yarn, from an Alpaca farm in Tasmania
Needles: 4.0mm


I knitted it with a DK yarn instead of a worsted and a smaller needle, 4.0mm instead of 5.5mm, and I do not know how, it seems I have the right length and width, with just 2 stitches more. I really enjoy the fabric of the yarn when it is knitted and the result is quite simple but I like it. Still on the hunt for the last button. I thought I had found the fifth but I am not really happy with the combination with the other four.

On the needle, I still have my blanket that is growing quite regularly, just need three more rows of color and it will be finished. I am pretty confident I can finished it before September. At the beginning, I thought about adding a border, but I think finally I will let it like this. The question is more do i finishe with a yellow, a white after yellow, a dark green (my first idea) or a white after dark green, what do you think?

And finally, the pair of socks that are half finished, since the first one dropped of the needle this morning.

Still enjoying a lot this yarn. I am not totally happy with the finishing. I think it would have been better to do some ribbing, but I could not have it right with the portion I have. It something I must to look for for the next model of Cat Bordhi I want to knit.

So, in conclusion, it was a good week of knitting and I am so happy to see one of this project finished. I still have enough yarn to do a second one or maybe a pair of mitts, will see.

Yop1213 Week 3: In which we talk about bag

I have been a lazy knitter this week and a busy one, but not with knitting. So no real progress.

I did not work at all on my socks. Pity because it is really the nicest of this three projects. About the blanket, I had a lot of work on it but it does not show off, why? because I weaved all the ends, something not to do at the end. It was long, but it is done.

My cowl is the one who received most of the love this week. I still enjoy the yarn, the easy pattern, a little less to put out all the little piece of hay in it. I think I am nearly at the end of the second thrid and with a good knitting meeting session on it this Monday, I will maybe finish it in time... Yeah.

Most of my excitement this week end about knitting was the waiting for my bag. I wanted to say my brand new one, but it is a second hand one that I bought threw ravelry. One of the famous Jordana Paige's bag: The L.J. Kaelmer.

I love it, the color, the multiple pockets. I can even put one handle on each on my shoulder to ride my bike with it. I use it as an organizer. I always have my stuff in it. So when I need another, a tinier one, I took the things from this bag and put it back when I come home. I have a pocket for everything. My sock's and Cowl's projects fit easily in it. I could even add my cardigan's project. For the blanket, it is too small with the two others projects, but I use the packaging bag for it, it's perfect.

Some pictures of the beauty:

Do I have to find it a name ?

YOP1213 Week 2: White is white, not always...

Not a lot of progress this week. I finished the heel of the first sock. I frogged completely my Peak Island Hoodie and started finally the Pedsetrian Crosing Cowl in a KAL with the group of Dramatic Knits. I am supposed to finish it for the 26, I will try but not hurry for it.

And finally, still working on my blanket that has a big stop when I finished my last ball of white. Yes, it's for that the title. I needed more white and dark green yarn. I took the dark green with me and not the white so sure, I will see the difference between the off-white and white... and of course I could not. So I went another time and change my three new balls. It was not a total lost, because I needed to go to another casher and I discover a big sale on button... My Pedestrian just found his buttons. I came back with just 9 sets of button, 2 for the Pedestrian, 4 of a reddish color (16 total), 1 metallic, will be perfect with a denim color and 2 of green emerald (16 too). I bought two in big quantity in the idea of a cardigan, but I do not know exactly how... but can we have too much buttons? and all for 9$, happy me.

I do not know if it was so wise to start this year of project, I never had so much wotk in progress since I have started it. I think the biggest goal will be at the end of this year of projects to have only one. So much easy for moving.

Attempt of organisation

Yesterday, I had another sad look on my craft stuff. It was disposed in a box and different shopping bags. One of the reason was because we had a housemate and we have to have everything in our room and the other reason is, I never took the time to organise it. Finally, yesterday I said Enough! The housemate is gone and we have a complete empty room.

As we will probably move again in one year, I did not want to invest too much and too I do not have so much to pack. I went to the shop and I went for the simplest one of this shelf for wardrobe. Fill it and it's not perfect but so much better than before.

I started with my precious sock yarn, half of my stash, followed by different weight of yarn. Some stuffing material, why do we have to buy 500g when you just want to stuff one toy! My spinning fiber, way too much to use in one year withut a spinning wheel. The sewing materials, more used by DBF than me and finally my cross-stitch projects that sleep since we arrived here, nearly, I finished some things but I need to sew them... not my strength.

And finally down the box where everything where stock before and now just have the yarn for my blue cardigan. I think I will put in my books and magazine, to have everything really at the same place.

YOP: Week 1, frustrations and Zombie

This week I worked on three of my projects, two are some gifts and one is for me... The frustration happily come from the one I do for me. I will start by this project. I wanted to knit something from the yarn I bought when I made a trip in Tasmania. It is a nice 100% Alpaca yarn, DK weight, 210g and of course I do not know the yardage. I thought it could be enough for a scarf. I am not sure anymore. I have started first with the pattern Peak Island Hood by Isolda. I am not in the middle of the length and I have already used half the yarn and the second part of the length request more yarn than the first due to the hood. Now the report is, I have knitted maybe 80 cm (maybe less) of a seed stitch scarf, with a width of 20cm, quite small for a scarf. If I continue I will have a 160cm length and 20 cm width scarf, that's too small. So it's seem I cannot do a scarf with this yarn... pity. Maybe a cowl and a hat? just a cowl?

Okay, now the other projects. The blanket goes quick and nice. I just need now to buy more white yarn. That is only my second crocheted project and definitely, it's using more yarn than a knitted one. I quite like the crochet, it's easy and during my knitting meeting on Monday night I follow better the discussions. It is already starting to be a bit heavy to move but it is okay.

And now, but not the least, my last project, the one I have started this week, even ordered the yarn this week, the 60th birthday gift for my mother. I know that a big project would be more appropriate, but I want something she will wear and socks are the only things she will. So, the project, it's Simply Splendid by Cat Bordhi, still from the ebook Sweet Tomato Heel socks. I just started the heel. The yarn is a little treat, 80% merino, 10% Cashmere and 10% Nylon. It is by Yarn vs Zombie and if you are in Australia, I can only advise you to go see her yarn, it is a temptation's island. I love the pattern too and I am sure, I will finish it before the birthday that is due in November.

I am really sorry for the quality of the picture, but it was late and the picture of the sock come from my camera phone...

Change of mind

Yeah, I know again, I am a blog trotter. Never happy with any platform, but tumblr is really too limited if you want to write and have some special pages. So I will continue the adventure of blog along here.

The link for the list is in the sidebar...