little stitches

Plan for summer

2008-06-10T21:44:00.003+09:00

It's time to think about next season's project but since I joined Ravelry, I encounter lots of cool pattern I didn't know almost everyday and this makes it difficult to go on.

Plan for this summer (June to September)
- Tulip from Rowan magazine.
I've finished back and started left front. This is the top priority.

- Linen towel
Using linen yarn from stash. It will be kitchen cloth for drying up wet dishes.
This looks like weaved fabric but it is crocheted. As this pattern is only consisted of a chain and a single crochet, it's very simple and hard to stop once you started. I first thought it should be take ages to finish for it is fine linen yarn and the height of one row is quite narrow, but I finished almost half within last weekend. Amazing.

- Spring Cable socks
I got beautiful hand-dyed yarn from Trico and find pretty pattern. As it's wool yarn and not the urgent project, I enjoy knitting this socks now and then between work (I'm working at home).

- Robot
I finished front.

- Casual scarf
I'm using Japanese crochet stitch pattern book for this scarf. The yarn is very fine organic cotton, pulling 16 threads together.

- Babette Blanket
It's getting bigger day by day.

I think some more small projects will be added.

Casted on Tulip

2008-05-15T17:21:00.001+09:00

I am knitting Tulip from Rowan 41 with Cotton Glace instead of Damask, as I want to knit it in solid color. I planned to knit Peace cardigan from Rowan 25 at first but changed my mind.

I bought this yarn for 10 balls-pack and it has been occupied my limited stash storage for long time. I have enjoyed picturing various project for these balls enough and now I want to destash them to make additional space for future projects. I always feel glad when I reached the end of ball cause it means that I get space for another ball."

So, i started knitting Tulip using same needle size. When I reached before armhole, I remembered someones comment about the length of Tulip that it looks longer in picture than actual design, and it really is. Small and short. So I frogged. I changed needle size and made some calculation to extend the length with waist shaping. And reached before armhole again. It looks alright so far. So glad!

And shell stitch bag, I almost finished. I have to get matching button and liner. The yarn I used for main color is 100% silk according to its label but I felt if i were knitting with jute - not smooth at all. I'll never use this yarn again.

Blue socks and flower bag

2008-05-03T22:01:00.002+09:00

I finished simple socks with short-row heel and short-row toe. The yarn is the Margo, hand dyed yarn by Trico. Really beautiful and soft yarn. I enjoyed from the first stitch to the last stitch.

And this crocheted flower bag. The yarn is Rowan 4ply cotton. Too cute for women in her mid-thirty? Don't worry. I just wanted to know the structure of this pattern. I will make another in more bulky yarn in more chic color so that I can bring out with me. It's so pretty.

Stash enhancement

2008-04-18T15:31:00.001+09:00

I went to Rowan store this morning and got some cotton yarn for next big project - Babette Blanket. I will use some from my stash for white, beige, navy, light blue colors. I was looking for dark brown color but it was not in 4ply cotton, so I selected Cotton Glace instead. But this idea was too optimistic. I tried with small motif using 4ply yarn plus Cotton Glace yarn and found the fact that thickness of each yarn were completely different. It doesn't affect on scale but the touch of the fabric is somewhat hard. So Cotton Glace will not work for this project. Anyway, this is not the project that have to be worked in hurry and I need some more color.

Cotton FBS finished

2008-04-16T16:17:00.002+09:00

My cotton FBS has just finished and blocked. I was not sure if this scarf has enough size for use at first as it shrinked a lot. It turned ok after blocking and I am very glad about the result! I like the touch of the scarf - it's like gauze, very soft. FBS is absolutely pretty pattern.

I like using triangle scarf like this way rather than spreading out to show its pattern.

Project paln for spring 08

2008-04-04T14:13:00.003+09:00

I've just joined Ravelry and it's really terrific and dangerous place. It evoked my passion for knitting.

- cotton shawl
I've already started since last month. It's a Flower Basket Shawl from IK, using organic cotton in pale green color doubled in size 3 needle. I only have 80 grams so I will use up all this yarn for this project.

- crochet bag
This bag was listed in my ToKnit list for spring of last year... I'll start when FBS is almost finished.

- Peace cardigan from Rowan magazine 25
I have purple Cotton Glace yarn in my stash. Will start soon.

- Anklet socks
Still looking some nice pattern and nice cotton sock yarn.

- cotton scarf
Not decided the pattern yet. Maybe Ribbon Lace scarf from latest Knitty or something like this or crochet. I'll start after FBS.

Actually, there are some more projects in my mind, but these are the one that I should start asap to finish before best-season-for-wearing ends.

Some pictures of FO of last season

2008-03-25T13:14:00.005+09:00

I always get lost what to knit between seasons. I know it's apparently better to knit cotton from now considering my slow hand but I've just had very beautiful lace weight yarn and can't put it into my stash box.
Anyway, before I talk about some plan for coming season, I think I have to put some picture of finished objects that I haven't uploaded yet.

Fingerless mitten for my son. I used the chart from here (http://www.supermitten.com/images/SkullCharts.gif) I followed the practice for intarsia knitting I read somewhere before but my hand didn't work right.

He showed around this pair and we-call-them-pirate hat to his friend's mom or stuff at pre-school. Most of them were non-knitter and returned reaction was "You made them? I never want to do like this. I hate needlework!" Even I got the praise from them, it felt totally different from words from knitters.

And this is crochet motif bag, from this book.

I used the odd balls in stash with no ravels. The bag is made of 63 large motifs and 48 small motifs and joining just like when you make blanket. Then crochet around them to gether side. I have to attach a liner inside, but not yet.

That all I finished for this winter. Let's talk about my plan for spring in next post!

A reason for no-updates

2008-02-26T14:34:00.000+09:00

Sorry if you have visited here just to see same post again and again. Well, I am now facing some serious concern about my son and it is really hard to enjoy something. It's about color vision - he often mistake darkgreen and dark brown. I brought him to eye doctor's and asked for test. And result was not happy one and really shocked me. What I see is NOT what he sees and there is no way to know how he sees. Sigh.

So I am reading some books to understand more about color vision. Cause that looks only the things I can do about it.

I feel very nervous about the color-matter now but I hope time will mitigate and get back to life with yarn and needles.

Bayerische sock

2008-01-22T11:49:00.000+09:00

I started this Bayerische sock in December. It was first time to knit a sock with the pattern chart all throughout the project. Very complicated and hard to remember for me who with a short memory. I used same yarn named in the pattern in different color, so I didn't worry about the yarn at first. When I turned heel and started foot part, I suddenly started worrying the amount of rest yarn and lost motivation to finish. I left it away for a while but I decided to trust the pattern and started again and managed to let it off the needle today. Left over yarn was only a couple of yards. You can guess how i relieved. I couldn't help smiling when I put the finished sock ;-)

The pattern looks better on my leg than itself as the ribbed pattern shrinks.
I think I can enjoy second sock cause I no longer have to worry for the shortage of the yarn.

Merry X'mas

2007-12-25T10:15:00.000+09:00

It's christmas day today and the stocking is filled with alot of sweets! Happy holidays!

Christmas stocking

2007-12-19T15:58:00.000+09:00

Isn't this looks like a sleeve or some parts of a garment? No. It's a Knitted Fisherman Stocking. I hadn't read carefully and thought it should be knitted in round with thick dpns, and this misunderstanding made me reluctant to start since last year. Knitting thick yarn with thick dpns in round is uneasy for me. When I noticed it could be knit with straight needle back and forth, I flew to the LYS to get materials. Only 10 days for Christmas eve. I'm knitting like crazy this socks tossing all other projects.
The picture on the pattern site is unclear, but the appeared texture is really pretty.

Red gloves

2007-12-17T15:35:00.000+09:00

I knitted this Ladies' Gloves with Scalloped Ribs on Two Needles from "Charm" Glove Book 12 c1950 in red Regia yarn. I was just curious about the way knitting in 2 needle. I like the way pattern continues from wrist to finger.

Finished scarves

2007-11-26T14:45:00.000+09:00

Chunky slub yarn scarves for me and my son. I used 5 balls for mine and 2 for son's. I've been knitting for many years but NEVER made a scarf in chunky slub yarn until now. I usually prefer lacy pattern in fine weight yarn but my taste is completely different recently.

And another finished one is Mermaid scarf from Knittingdaily site.
I made this crochet lace scarf to use for autumn. As it is very long, i can wrap around my neck twice. Lacy but warm enough for sunny day.

2007-11-14T16:29:00.001+09:00

Finished red rib scarf. Feel so glad to be set free from those boring ribbing pattern. I like the crocheted edging on both end. They are just one-row edging but the result looks totally different!

I won't knit any more scarf for this winter because i have already knitted 2 other new scarves which I haven't taken pictures yet (they will be here soon).

So, what's next? Well, my son is requesting to knit a pair of fingerless gloves (not mitten) in black with a skull motif on back. It will be a challenging project for me ...

Progress on red scarf

2007-11-02T15:09:00.000+09:00

I've been working on red scarf very patiently without starting any other new knitting project. 3 balls projects looks quite big for sock knitter. I knitted up 2 balls so far and one more to go.

Lavender Lace Socks

2007-10-26T23:11:00.000+09:00

This is a Lavender Lace Socks from Vogue Knitting Socks, i wanted to knit for long time. I couldn't find yarn that would not get hard when knitted in the lace pattern until I used this yarn, hand-dyed by Trico. The name for the color is "Sakura (cherry blossom)" with pale pink, blue and purple. I never used such soft and beautiful wool yarn before. Really nice.

red rib scarf

2007-10-17T15:12:00.000+09:00

I started a red rib scarf for myself. Ann Budd's knitted Ribbed Scarf with Crochet Edging Pattern. I have tried this pattern with scrap yarn to see how the stitch pattern works last year and gave up for "mostly purl" pattern at that time. It looks like mistake rib and made of " p3 k1" pattern on both side. I think the result must be same if I knit in " k3 p1 " so I changed like this. It is supposed to be used in midwinter. Yarn is Zara of Filatura Di Crosa.

We call them pirates

2007-10-09T16:50:00.001+09:00

We call them pirates
http://www.helloyarn.com/wecallthempirates.htm

My 6-year old son has shown interest to fashion and care how he looks recently. His favorite color is now black and the preference seems to go on for coming winter season. As he used to prefer red or orange for long time, his winter items were all in those colors and has no black items yet other than a jumper. So, I got a reason to knit a hat for him and come up with this pattern right away.
The finished hat is just the right size. That means i will have another reason to knit a hat next year ;-)

Raised leaves pincushion

2007-09-21T16:45:00.001+09:00

I like this raised leaves pattern so much and wanted to make something small with it for long time. As I needed a pincushion for knitting needle, I thought it is a chance to try this pattern. First, I knitted 4 pieces of triangle shape and sewed them together making square fabric. I chose very fine cotton yarn for this but it wasn't pleasing result. The seam was not tidy. So I chose wool yarn for next try and arranged the pattern to knit in circular to knit in one piece instead. I put old swatches and some failed projects inside.

Even though I knew the pattern with knit and purl stitch combination would make raised effect, I really impressed how the leaves raised such fully. You might think the leaves are sewed on appliques!

Embroidered bag for bead necklace

2007-09-13T15:39:00.000+09:00

I made this beads necklace kit this summer and made a matching case. Stitching lace pattern was fun and finished before I know it, but it took about a month to finish. Because i didn't had a piece of fabric that goes with the surface, didn't had ribbon in same color, and felt hard to set up sewing machine.

There is one more bag for another beads necklace just like this waiting to be finished ...
Hope i can show it to you here before long.

Organic slub

2007-09-01T11:43:00.000+09:00

Since I saw a nice comfy blanket knitted in ecru slub chunky yarn in a magazine, i firmly decided to make one for myself. It was an end of winter or spring when i saw it, so i missed the chance to find such yarn. Last month, I visited LYS and found very soft slub yarn just perfect for my purpose. It's called "Sonomono" that means "just as is," not colored organic wool, from domestic brand Hamanaka.

I got 5 balls to make a ribbed scarf for me before blanket, cause i want to make sure that it doesn't produce lots of dust on clothes. That what i learned from Abfab throw. If it's all right, i will get some more to make a blanket and scarf for DS - if he agreed.

Crochet motifs

2007-08-16T19:48:00.000+09:00

After many tries, i figured out what i'm gonna do with organic cottons. No knitting, cause it tilt even after adding twist, wash and dry with weight. So, I started some crochet projects. Square motifs scarf and blanket or covering in 5 colors-motifs.

I chose one of the square pattern from the project on the front cover of this book.

The original one is made in more thick wool. I'm using very fine cotton yarn and i couldn't believe it is same motif as it looks very different.

Shrug Finished

2007-08-02T11:10:00.000+09:00

I've been working on many small things since last post but all these were not worth taking photo. Sorry for kept this blog un-updated for such long time.

Here is the finished the shrug. It's very light - only 100 g and a little more. I arranged for rib part with additional length and frill-like cast off.

Organic Cotton Shrug

2007-06-22T16:22:00.000+09:00

This is a shrug i mentioned in last post. It's about 60 cm now. The pattern is arranged from Flower Power Shrug ( Interweave knits summer 2005). As i always felt the need for such shrug to cover shoulders and arms at air-conditioned subway, shops or restaurant, It'll be my best companion for going out this summer.

I also made a pretty crocheted flower on the shrug from the pattern i found by fortune, i think it is very easy yet cute. I've already made 3 roses in different yarns although i have no purpose for use. Maybe i'll give them away. It made as a long tape and then rolled. This rolling process is really fun. I always try at least several times for best shape. Here is the link (http://megan.kiwi.gen.nz/StripMethodRose/).

Boiling yarn

2007-06-14T10:07:00.001+09:00

Here is another collection of organic cotton yarn. They came from US. Very fine and tightly twisted. The most interesting thing about these yarn is that their color change after wash. As they are grown in the color, the color will not fade after wash but will get more DARK and rich. The note came with yarn says "It will continue to deepen and darken for up to 10 washings.... For the deepest color and color setting, boil the yarn for 20-40 minutes." Wow, boiling the yarn? I made small skeins of each color and boiled for 20 minutes and colors really changed. Amazing.
The boiled yarn is shown on top of its original cone in the above picture. Especially, green one got very deep.

As they are not soft enough for wearing, i will make some lacy edging to add on towel or crochet motif project with the other organic cotton i showed last post, which was very soft and in ecru color.
My needlework theme for coming season will be "Organic cotton yarn."
I have started knitting a shrug with the ecru yarn. I'll show her in next post.

organic cotton

2007-06-08T17:42:00.000+09:00

I got some fine organic cotton yarn last week, and very busy with plying them into useful weight. I have to gather at least 8 string to knit with the needle i usually use, around 2 or 3 mm. As it is fine as sewing thread and always twist when it sag, plying all 8 at once is too hard to handle. So i made two 4 ply 25g balls then winded them together into 8ply 50g ball and added twist with drop spindle. I hesitated to use drop spindle as such manual process takes a lot time for me, but i have no way other than it. I first tried knitting with just plied yarn without twist but the knitted fabric was not square at all, tilt 45 degree. I checked if this tilt occurs in other stitch pattern. Garter and rib and moss was OK but i don't like to knit in pattern with those stitch only. So i have to use drop spindle to enjoy stockinette stitches. Of course i tried iron steam but nothing changed.

Although I have normal size spindle, i prefer small one i made before to spin fine thread, and used it for first ball. The thin stick was too hard for my fingers to work with and i looked around for something more thick and smooth surface and find this works quite nicely! This is a needle that was provided at knit out event held in tokyo last autumn. I will make some more balls enough for knitting or crochet or dyeing. Although I like natural ecru color, it must be fun to knit in color, too.

You see the tilt in even small swatch.

The flower behind in first picture is geranium. My son played around our flat with his new bike after we got home, and he came back with it saying "I found this flower fallen on the ground. Put her in a vase." It must fallen for its own weight as it has so many petal for a stem. He has a funny talent - he often finds fallen off flowers on the ground, that is still in bloom. He has found cherry blossom twig with some flower on it after windy day, and also found pretty yellow carnation left on street that seemed someone bought a lot bunch of flower at flower shop but one of them fell out. It might be happen when using bicycle or motorbike.

Summer bag

2007-06-03T12:08:00.000+09:00

This is the bag just finished. As the yarn was very thick and hard, it stands by itself on the floor! I had to hold the hook like when you do with a rod to keep tension.

I finished all project in "Andalia" series and i think i enjoyed enough. Above all i proud myself on that i used up all the balls i bought and made what i meant. That's rarely happens. Now I feel i want to back to normal yarn.

Crochet hat and quaker things

2007-05-30T10:52:00.000+09:00

Sorry for being lazy at updating this blog.

I've been working pretty hard and progress on needlework is terribly slow. I have many idea to try but i never catch up within my free time. There are some skew in what i wanna do and reality.
During past weeks, i finished a couple of projects in "Andalia" yarn. A hat with flower corsage and a bag with flower corsage. Due to hard yarn, it was difficult to keep the tension. I hoped iron steam will make the surface neat but it worked just a little. I tried the soft wire first time for this hat on last 2 round of brim to keep its shape. I haven't steamed the bag yet so the picture will be in next post.
I got those quaker items recently, Quaker Post pattern and Quaker pinballs booklet. I found both at a online cross stitching shop and i thought both for stitching. But the booklet isn't. It is a pattern for knitting pinballs and applicable for embroidery. You'll knit in 0.8 or 1.0 mm needle with fine thread to make them. I have both and more fine needles but i will use more large one for exercise first.I really like quaker style pattern in cross stitch. Hard to resist...

Bag finished

2007-05-10T17:39:00.000+09:00

I finished this small shell stitch bag last week. Crocheting with hard twisted yarn made my shoulders hard and my hands turned red, so I couldn't work long at a time. Very small but just enought to bring wallet, mobile phone, hanky and tissue.

I'm gonna make another works with another types of same yarn, one is doubled yarn and the other is plain one. They are a hat and bag i showed in previous post. I think i should make a hat first.

Martha finished

2007-04-23T09:31:00.000+09:00

Pattern: Martha from Rowan Magazine 37
Yarn: Rowan 4ply cotton black
Size : S

Since last post, I spent all my available free time for knitting Martha. I never thought i could finish such soon. Although It looked small while knitting because of its pattern, it fits nicely and i'm so happy!
I think this pattern also works in different pattern stitch. I'll try after i wear out Martha.

Happy weekend

2007-04-09T11:27:00.000+09:00

I had very happy weekend. DS offered me "You may go Okadaya, Mitsubaya, or Yuzawaya or anywhere you want. I will prepare supper," I don't think i need such approval to go those craft store really, but how can i miss such opportunity? I went off in a rush, jumped on a subway and went Yuzawaya. As I really want to finish Martha first and not in the mood to get ready for any other project, I just looked around to see something new and get an idea and inspiration for future projects. And I found something new for me. It's rayon 100% yarn from Hamanaka for bag and hat.

I have known this yarn (or should I say cord?) for long time but the sample project made with them displayed at store were always looked uncool and i thought i will never try it until i met very cute sample at store, whose pattern found in this just published book.

I liked those two especially.

It has many cool pattern not only for bags but also hats. I gathered all material i need for this bag and some other balls. As the yarn looks like cord, the finished bag must be hard enough to use daily. This is very important for me as i always bring many thing in my bag. Knitted or crochet bag in usual cotton or wool yarn loose its original shape and handle stretches even when i put only a purse. So i will try with these rayon yarn this summer.
While checking out new books, i noticed how I love the shell stitch. The brown yarn will be a small bag in shell stitch.

What I really hope is that i have more time for enjoying materials i got. I often show you what i bought but i rarely show you what i made. I may have to make another category "shopping." Although i know it can't be helped as long as i am a working mother, i feel strongly stressed after shopping. Hope DH will make another offer for free time next or future weekend.

Oh, FYI, the reason DH released me is curry. He likes to cook curry in his way. He make curry from scratch occupying kitchen more than a few hours!

Books and covers

2007-04-06T16:21:00.000+09:00

I got them from amazon yesterday. A friend borrowed me the first series of the novel and i was totally hooked. The pace i read was very slow at first, I say a chapter a week, but i read a chapter and more a day at last. I only used the dictionary a few times, that means the story was too interesting and couldn't help keep on reading. Not because i understood every word. So I bought it myself for reading it again later.

For them, I started making a book cover with liberty fabric in pink tone. I started it 2 or 3 weeks ago as soon as i came up the idea but i haven't made any progress since then. My mood always changes so quickly. Hope i can finish them while reading second series.

On knitting side, i am knitting Martha very patiently. Cause i want to wear in this spring, i have to concentrate on it.

2 socks finished

2007-04-03T17:08:00.000+09:00

It took whole week for DS to get well and i took my work off at last. During the off, i knitted socks like crazy to make another ones to make them pair. I like loose fit for leg and tight for foot. To get such result, i tried 3 times for adjusting the length of foot for the first stripe sock. After finished them, my socks fever seems cooled down. I have no plan for another socks at the moment.

So, what's next? Martha. I also knitted her during off, but after i found that i couldn't knit front any more unless finishing back of cardigan first, i lost all motivation. I started Martha from sleeves and then front with my freakish idea, but i gave myself up when i read the instruction " knit less than 10 rows than back." I did knew some reasonable reason for knitting back first but i learned another deciding reason this time. The idea of knitting sleeve first is OK, but you MUST knit back first than front.

So, I was really satisfied with two socks and lost motivation for Martha, i knit little last week. As DS has just learned riding a bicycle, he asked me to pick him up from nursery school early to practice it. He also asked me to take him out to practice whipping a top. I was very busy last week to make time for these after work. So all i knitted last week was several rows of back of cardigan. That's all.
After a short leave from knitting, i am back again and realizing how knitting is fun!

liberty assorted bag

2007-03-20T18:14:00.000+09:00

I went shopping on last weekend and when i peeked in a craft store, i found this cute assorted fabrics in miniature tote. I was thinking to buy some springlike color yarn at first, but the yarn was already cleaned up. So i brought this small bag and a cut cloth instead. You can see how the bag is small from the size of pen beside it. The fabrics are Liberty, some of them are original. I LOVE Liberty. It's one of my dream to make my wear with Liberty fabric. As these piece of fabrics are quite small, I think I'll make something small patchwork thing with them. Inside the bag is look like this ...

I wanted start with them soon but my DS got influenza and keeping me busy. It's ok if it's only flu he got ... he also got inflammation of the middle ear, too. I worked some during day and left some to do after he goes to bed. Due to the pain in his ear, he cried and woke up often till late, i couldn't work enough at night and even my own time for knitting was not left. He lost appetite and got up in midnight and woke me saying "I'm hungry, I want something to eat." Thank god, tomorrow is holiday and i can catch up. Hope he got well soon.

Tatted small pincushion

2007-03-16T19:26:00.000+09:00

When i was stitching monograms on pillow cases, i thought i want a small pincushion as i needed only one needle to work with. Small lacy one. So i tried knitted lace pattern first, but it didn't worked. Maybe the yarn and needle size i chose were not right or my lace knitting skill is not enough for it. I also noticed even small lace pattern results in quite big size for my purpose. So i fished out my silver shuttle from my desk drawer. After long time, i thought i must have forgotten how to tat at first, but my hands remembered! I made two small medallion joining at outer edge with stuffed pillow between them. Although i made some mistake - knots on surface - it looks very cute. The idea would be applied to sachet too. I can't stop picturing many other adaptation like this and that. I will make another one later.

Pillow case finished

2007-03-14T13:47:00.000+09:00

These are finished linen pillowcase with initials cross-stitched. As the thickness of weaven threads are different between vertical and horizontal directions, I had to stitch over 2 by 3 to make the crossed stitch look same propotion for height and width. It was tricky. I planned to stitch the item number for that fabric so that i can purchase same one next time, and year and month too, but i didn't, as i wanted try them away. I can stitch any time later.

And this is first half of Regia tweed stripe socks. As I haven't knitted socks in plain stockinette stitch on size 2 needle for long time ( I usually use 0 or 1 ), i amazed that the sock gets bigger before i knew it. The color is maroon and dark grey. Very light and confortable. I put on my leg and showed my DH and DS how they think and answer was "Oh, your socks has many fuzz!" Of course not. I should not ask them. Another pattern socks are on the foot now.

This is a crochet edging i found on japanese craft book. After finished required length, some more ladder lace will be added along straight edge. I have no any specific idea for the lace, just enjoying the pattern.

2 different socks at at time ...

2007-03-07T16:37:00.000+09:00

I have little progress both on sewing and knitting this week. I finished my pillow case (no picture yet) and stitching for my husband's now that is almost finished and ready to be sewn sides (shown on picture below beneath socks) . I usually do most needlework at late night but I hesitate to bring out sewing machine at such late time. That's why my sewing projects go so slowly even it is an easy one. So i am thinking about finishing the pillow case by hand this time without using machine.

And finally i started knitting socks. I repeated opening and closing sock knitting books, magazines, web pattern countless times ... and decided two projects at last, both i eagerly wanted to knit. The stripe socks with Regia tweed yarn and shell lace pattern socks from Nancy Bush's "Knitting Vintage Socks." But why 2 different socks at a time? I don't know. Maybe I'm just in a CAN'T-STOP-CASTING-ON syndrome. I think every knitter will understand what i mean. Another reason is that wool season is ending soon and noticed i have many wool sock yarn left. If i finished them, there will be reasonable space for 4 more balls. Maybe some cotton sock yarn in bright color!

Oh, I haven't forgot Martha. I finished second sleeve and casted on right front. I realize how 4ply is fine when knitting wearable things, as it grows so slowly.

needle broken

2007-03-02T16:48:00.000+09:00

When I have almost finished first sock and tried it on, the circular needle suddenly broken. Accurately, I broke it by accident. I was sitting on the floor and the point of needles were facing down and it happend when i turned back to reach a mirror stretching my leg a little (i think). So sorry as it was my favorite needle. I've knitted many socks before but it's first time to broke needle.
What made me feel more worse was the fact that the sock was not comfortable AT ALL when i tried! Too tight around heel and the pattern of very narrow stripe looks very ugly where it needs strech. So i flogged it.

I really want to knit something small right now and seeking the stash and pattern, but haven't get any combination yet. I don't have suitable yarn for the design i want to knit and i don't have any idea for the yarn i want to knit. I don't think I can get out of this endless circle unitl buying the suitable yarn for what i want to knit. So I'm very busy for looking around online store for next shopping.

burn out

2007-02-27T16:11:00.000+09:00

After finished Electra, i get burn out. I always do so when i finish a big project. At least for me, even a vest is big enough.

Since last week, I started to take nose drops for allergy of this season, which makes me very sleepy and take away lots energy for both work and needlework.

The stripe sock is growing very slowly but it's okay for it. It's a project for when i have no time for big projects, and just want to knit something. So i don't have to hurry.
Now, my mood is set for cross stitching and sewing, the pillowcase.

I will back to Martha after it ...

Electra finished

2007-02-21T14:13:00.000+09:00

Pattern: Electra vest from Rowan knitting magazine 38
Size : S

It was fun to knit in my favorite color way. Usually, i can see where i'm in decreasing at both end, but i gave up this time and made a chart with Excel. Changing yarn so often makes the end of fabric very ugly and i couldn't stand with them. I weaved these end before i blocked because i didn't want the first and last stitches loosen and get bigger. Although finishing instruction says "press then weave in all ends," I am afraid these loose stitch would get more bigger when pinned.

After i knitted rib around arm and neck, i noticed many holes at decreasing area.I must take more care in decreasing. After all, it is beautiful when you see from a distance but it's rough when you look at closely.

Fitted sheet and solid shell stitch potholder

2007-02-16T17:37:00.000+09:00

I had little progress on knitting this week. I'm knitting front of Electra, left side of armhole-to-shoulder shape. Right side has finished. The rib for neck and sleeves are supposed to knit with Yorkshire tweed, but i have only small ball left. I might be have to blend some other similar to make sufficient length. Since i noticed this problem, i became to feel lazy to knit Electra. And stripe sock has much less progress.

I was busy sewing fitted sheet this week. I am very novice at sewing and have already made terrible mistake when i cut the fabric. "Haste is waste" is true. I take the width of the fabric wrong and that was the cause. I cut too much. I lost all my motivation for sewing fitted sheet when noticed the mistake, but can't throw this darling linen fabric away, because i decided to make my sheet as soon as i opened the grab back. So, i applied a patch at missing area. Actually, It wasn't worse than I expected, this patched is on the side of mattress and unremarkable. I followed the instruction found on the web, and finished up. As soon as i sewed the last end of elastic, i ran into bedroom and covered without taking off existing one, and what i found on the mattress was very loose covering opposite to what i expected. I lost motivation again. I left it alone for a while until my motivation backs enough, and finally i added extra elastic at both longer side, resulting much better fitted sheet! Yay! I am not sure why it couldn't be sharply fitted sheet, maybe inexperience and the narrow depth of mattress? I will add another extra elastic at short sides if i have a chance. After all those hard efforts, i get fabulous linen fitted sheet. Next will be pillow cases for me, DH, and DS.

Beside knitting and sewing, i crocheted this potholder with leftover cotton yarn. It took only 2 nights. The source for the pattern is Japanese book, and the author referred this pattern as "solid shell pattern".

As I obediently followed the weight of yarn and hook size, the resulted fabric is just as it supposed to be. It's very thin and the corners curls when i hang it on the hook, look very helpless itself. I tried it when i boiled water in a kettle, i confirmed there is no problem for potholder. The potholder was really in need at the moment, so i am very glad. I found many other cute patterns on the book, but i have to keep in mind that my DH also use them. I am not sure if DH will use this white one. I might have to make another simple unisex one soon.

Projects started

2007-02-12T11:14:00.000+09:00

Although i have listed a pair of glove for myself as a plan, i haven't decided exact pattern and yarn for the project ... might be because of the weather. It's very warm, just like spring. We haven't seen any snow around Tokyo yet.If the weather gets cold enough, i will get more motivation for it, so i leave the plan set aside till then.

I received last ball at beginning of this week and finished this. Back of Electra. What i learned from this knitting is that bright colour is fun to knit! The ones I knitted recently were all in dark colourway. Dark grey, brown, peacock green, beige and so on. I felt dizzy at first when i saw so shocking pink colour of kidsilk haze, but i found that those bright color make me feel much better. Those pink and purple color is truly delights my eyes. Safety color is easy to use but it is sometimes boring to knit. I think there will be much more knitting projects with color in my future knitting plan.

And this is a Regia silk sock, striped with dark grey, brown, navy and light blue. They are all left over yarn except light blue. As there are more yarn left for brown than others, i chose brown for toe and heel colors. I'm knitting light blue continuously, and cut between color change for other 3 colors. Very busy for weaving ends.

shopping, shopping, and shopping!!

2007-02-03T17:34:00.000+09:00

I went shopping on the first day of sales at yarn store, and got these.

Regia sock yarn in different colours and Felted tweed. As I have many leftover sock yarn, i chose matching color for them to make striped socks. I am really in "stripe" mood recently.In same day,i ordered some other more yarns that i couldn't find at that store.
And they arrived yesterday - 3 balls of 100% silk yarn, Yorkshire tweed DK, and Rowanspun 4ply.

I have ordered one more ball and waiting for it now, and supposed to be in my post on next week.

And I went the sale again to got something i forgot to get last time. Some sock yarns, Rowanspun 4ply in blue, green, and light grey, and swifts.

This week is totally shopping week. I feel like i am a shopaholic (No, not really!). I have to switch my mood toward different one - material consuming mode!

My knitting plan for first quarter of 2007 goes like this.

Rowan 38 Electra vest

Stripe socks for myself

Spring crochet bag

Martha

Glove for myself

Aren't they quite reasonable? Maybe as for knitting. The problem is that i also have a plan for sewing too... To tell the truth, i got a grab bag of linen fabric in the end of last year and have 15 M of them - 5 types of linen fabric with 3 M each. The first project for them will be a fitted sheets for my bed.

Finished Raglan Leaf T-shirt

2007-01-29T11:21:00.000+09:00

In this January, i had unexpected free time and finished a couple of WIP.

This is a pari of socks for my sister. The pattern is from "Sensational Knitted Socks" and yarn is Regia silk in dark brown. For its mock cable pattern, it is such shrunken.

And i finished this Raglan Leaf T-shirt by knitting school dropout. The yarn is the domestic one i flogged from the Clapotis i made last spring but not satisfied with its result (i customized the size and substituted the yarn and it didn't work right). The surface of knitted fabric is not neat but it is very light and warm. I have already put it on several times.

The new project is Martha from Rowan 37. I'm knitting with 4ply cotton in color black (or very dark grey). This yarn is also frogged form unsuccessfully finished project. I usually start with back, front, and sleeves but this time, i wanted start from sleeves. I have knitted up one full ball and reached at armhole decrease.

In this winter, I knitted only this leaf t-shirt for large project, as my work was quite busy and no more plan for rest of this season. Most of my knitting projects are small one like socks or mittens. I am now readying for large spring project. Too early? No, not really casue i have many small projects in mind too.

On this weekend, i went a craft store to get some materials necessary for future projects. A pair of small leather handle for bag, tweed fabric, a pattern book for potholders, two balls of linen yarn called "whitelane." It is sales season. I am going at another yarn shop today, during lunch hour.

I'm back!!

2007-01-26T11:21:00.000+09:00

I once had a blog with same title "little stitches," but after a time my life got so busy and gave up updating. I'm still busy but situation has changed. I used to had many stressful factors like outdated digital camera, annoying spam comments, many steps to upload pics, etc ... but thank God, blog tools are pretty easy to use now and my new digital camera works just great. I think i can keep updating with less stress than before so I finally decided to come back here to restart blogging.

My interest has not changed at all. Knitting, crochet, tatting, cross stitching, sewing, patchwork ... all kind of needlework. The title of this blog derived from miniature knitting which was all my passion when i started original blog. I no longer knit in such small scale recently. Maybe my eyes are overtired after PC work. However, i still love working with heirloom fine yarn and I beleive smaller the stitch is, more beautiful the work to be.

To keep this blog last as long as it could be, i have to save myself not too much hooked on it and tired. But it seems quite difficult at this moment cause i'm so excited to back to this space.
I will post my wip and other later.