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Who Knew…

Who knew how difficult it is to write out a pattern??? Well, I did, which is why I haven’t had the guts to try it.

So I’m faced with a dilema: either write the pattern and publicize the really pretty bag I’ve knit. Or, just keep quiet and knit, and say “sure, I’m just writing it down!” whenever someone asks you for the pattern.

To be honest, I’ve been following option 2 for a bit too long. But now I really want this pattern out. It’s going to be my very first downloadable pattern after all!

There are so many thought processes involved. First and foremost is the patience to figure out the fonts (in case of written to chart) or try to explain the rows (in case of chart to written). Then this has to be put together cohesively so that the end-user manages to get a proper knit item at the end of the process.

And then, finally, glamorize the whole document! I need to give an introduction about why this design, why this name blah blah. The design itself should look good, and neat and crisp. Not to mention better photographs with my non-existant photography skills.

But how to write? My biggest issue is whether I should go in for written instructions or charted ones.  I’ve tried making the chart, but I’m just so confused! I did manage to (finally) install a set of knitting fonts on my system. But the main design looks.. well, not good. It looks great when knit. But I just have to figure a way of making the chart look good too!

Now finally I came to the conclusion that I’ll have to give both knitting and chart instructions. That’s going to be some work!

I hope to complete it by next week. At the same time, I’ll probably try to get all the other pending designs written out. So when they come for submission, they aren’t waiting for me to start writing again! 🙂

Oh, did I mention that I’m already buried under loads of other knitting deadline to be completed in August?!

 

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Yet Another Attempt!

My goal of having a nicely done cover for my Kobo Touch still seems far away!

This is my latest attempt at making a cover. Though I must say, the cover is definitely better than my last one, not to mention the amount of folds of fabric have made it pretty sturdy! 🙂

While I may have not reached an expert level, I did find that my sewing skills have improved, as has my planning-for-sewing skills. Early on, I used to wing it in terms of size approximations and kind of stitch required. Now I found that measuring and noting down everything has given me a better perspective!

The inside face
The inside face
how the fold looks
how the fold looks
The reverse: my not-so-nice attempt at free-motion quilting
The reverse: my not-so-nice attempt at free-motion quilting

 

The folded up cover: not sure how to jazz up the front...
The folded up cover: not sure how to jazz up the front…

 

 

 

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Quadrant : New Craft, New Project

One of my crafty resolutions this year has been to learn crochet. But somehow, I have been delaying this, on grounds that I’m just too busy with knitting.

In one of my Ravelry groups, a new C/KAL has been started: Motifated. This one looks are any item (garments, accessory,home needs) that can be made with motifs. Of course, there are a lot of motifs and large stuff made with knitting. But then again, crochet is on my to-do list.

Then came in the question of what to make. The motifs were very pretty, and plain gibberish to my knitting mind. For the life of me I couldn’t keep them straight in my mind. Then came in the Quadrant Blanket pattern. It was being made by another crafter. Having seen it, I figured there was only 1 stitch being repeated over and over and over again. the remaining are basic and design elements. But the stitch stayed the same. I’ve found my dream starter crochet project! 😀

Done with the first block 🙂

my basic motif
my basic motif
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“Slouchy” Hat

I started this project as part of Project-a-Month KAL’s monthly donation project. That basically means that a designer would share one of their paid patterns with the group members. Once signed-up, one has to complete the given project, or risk being de-barred.

This model actually works 2 ways: a particular project by the designer gets noticed, and secondly, for the group, you score a free design! And the incentive to complete it right away too. 🙂 Further, one can get exposed to various knitting techniques. This time around, I learnt Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-off, that was part of Knitty‘s 2009 Fall issue. I had made the Aviatrix Clutch in a similar KAL with the same group. Good fun for sure!

So this months project was Hundres of Hats. The hat designs are simple, with a whole lot of options to chose from. The permutaitons and combinations of each of the choices, i guess, prompted the name! This was definitely a very quick knit. So here’s my project:

my mixed color hat!
my mixed color hat!

 

A "top" view!
A “top” view!

However, this wasn’t without mistakes. 🙁 I was engrossed in a movie and lost track of the increases. Or rather, I was supposed to make it 18sts between markers, and I made it 22! Since i HATE ripping, I simply reduced the stitches while on the “straight” section. That has
given it a slightly slouchy look, but actually works to keeping my ear warn even when my hair’s done in a bun! 😀

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Completed: Twist-er!

This shawl was a pretty interesting design. I’ve been wanted to do a cables shawl for some time. Yes, I do have one in my Ravelry library, but i wanted something else. Am I hard to please or what?!

Anyway, I came across this test knit for a cables shawl and decided to take it up. Like I had any less work with the In-laws and nephew around for a holiday. But yes, I did take it up.  The shawl is called Twist and has been designed by Siew Clark. It is a top-down cabled shawl. The edges are what actually caught my attention. It has a lovely twist made with cables!

… And spent the last one week furiously knitting to make it to deadline! And its done, with 4 days to spare. Here are the pics!

The overall look
The overall look
the tip of the shawl with cables inter-twined
the tip of the shawl with cables inter-twined
The top of the shawl spine
The top of the shawl spine
The top edge, with the twisted sides
The top edge, with the twisted sides
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Hope this gets done… finally!

Cross-stitch is something that needs my complete concentration. Which is something I just can’t manage at this time! I’m too busy trying to complete my knitting deadline!

So recently in one of my Ravelry groups, a new craft-along started; embroidery-along. Since this is for 3 months, I’m hoping that this bit of work, that’s been long overdue, will finally get done!

Here are the pics till date:

One done, the other not yet!
One done, the other not yet!
The border
The border

 

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Longyan

I finished this particular shawl on 10th May, but just couldn’t get around to blocking it. And it’s finally done!!!

The design is a test knit for Joyce Lu (YuLian on Ravelry), and was knit top down. I had opted for a custom size, and its worked quite well for me. It did take longer than expected for me to actually  complete it, but then it’s finally done!

The shawl was made with 8 repeats of the lace pattern and its final dimensions are: 1.88mts in length and 86cms in width. It has been made with Vardhman acrylic light fingering yarn in hot pink. and definitely makes for a good-looking, distinctive and warm cover on a cool day! 🙂

 

tip of the shawl
tip of the shawl
DSCN5808
Lace edge of the shawl and side tip
DSCN5802
curve of the shawl at the top
DSCN5800
full shawl spread out

 

 

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Been a long time…

I’ve been away for a long time, and really missed blogging here! 🙁 But of course, being away from blogging doesn’t really convert to being away from knitting! So here are a few of the things I’ve been doing till now:

First I was working very hard on the Left Bank Cardigan. Unfortunately, I managed to lose (my one and only loss ever) my 3.75mm circular… and I don’t own a spare. sigh. Also the parents were at my place for health reasons, and I just couldn’t make time for shopping for more. Of course I could have shopped online, but it just didn’t make sense to pay Rs.50 delivery charge for a Rs. 45 item! So I decided to wait, esp since I’ve also got news that Pony is setting up shop over the last weekend of June. Well, the sweater will have to wait. But here are the pics of progress till now:

The button-band n sleeves to be done
The button-band n sleeves to be done

Also during this time, I changed the design on the scarves I was making for my father and father-in-law. I started with just one of them, and here’s my progress so far.

reversible scarf
reversible scarf

And as if I was without work, I also signed on for a test-knit for a Singapore based designer. Most of the design seems of stockinette and the remaining of cables. Another advantage is that its written. Dont have confidence in my chart-reading skills yet, so am just glad to have written ones instead.

Finally, 2 projects that have been long drawn out are a summer pullover in silk-cotton and a runner for my dining table.

So, cheers to a busy time ahead! 😀

 

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Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2013! ok, I’m a lil late, but so what? Happy New Year!!! 🙂

It’s that time of the year when we make resolutions and goals, in the fond hope that we’ll actually stick to them. 😉

Well, here’s my list for this year. Since last year didn’t have any resolutions, I decided to make some this year vis-a-vis my crafting life. So here follows my list:

Knitting:

Sewing:

  • Start! that is so important!!!

Crochet:

Learn a new craft:

  • Haven’t decided what.. but I want to learn something new and different; something not related to yarn!

Cross-stitch:

  • Complete my table-cloth, and design more bags.

What’s your resolution list?

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Crushed Turquoise

I’d actually started this KAL by called it Blue Crush. There were only 2 problems with that name though:

1) I was fed up with the number of “Blue”s on my project page

2) the design was called Crushed, not Crush.

That prompted the name change to the current one.

This has been my biggest challenge. Not just because of lace, but because of  lace on a triangle shawl. The very concept boggled the mind until recently. But now I can proudly say that I can definitely manage (somewhat) a good lace project! 🙂 Also I managed to master (somewhat) making nupps during the final phase of this project. So extra kudos to me!!

Unblocked Shawl
Unblocked Shawl
The design in detail
The design in detail
The final product! :D
The final product! 😀
And finally....
And finally….

 

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Adult Winifred – Test Knit

This is one of the 3 projects due this month. This sweater/tunic was given by 15th Sept. I thought I could manage to finish it within 1 month. But health, guests and travel managed to make this a rush finish job!

The sweater
The cable design

I learnt quite a few important things:

  • Knitting Top-down Raglan shaped sweater. It was a huge concern if I would be able to do it. Yes, I can!!! 😀
  • Shaping: waist decreases and increases.
  • Contrasting colors: It doesn’t hurt to try something new, even if the design doesn’t call for it.

I started with a grey Oswal yarn which was originally earmarked for the DH. I’m not really sure why he rejected my offer to make a sweater, actually. But he did. So I decided to use it for this purpose.

The design has an option of making a sweater or increasing the length to a tunic. My only concern with it once I started knitting, was the gauge, or rather the number of stitches it necessitated :(. The sheer number of stitches per row was the main reason i just couldn’t persuade myself to finish it. It didn’t help matters that mine was one of the larger sizes, which in turn meant… u guessed it: more stitches!!!

So I finally managed to complete it to sweater length. The gray was boring me out, so added plum for a nice hem contrast.

 

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Working with a Deadline

 

Finally my neck has some relief, and with no less enthusiasm, am back into my knitting. Right now I’m trying to get 2 projects done. The Mohair KAL, and the Winifred tunic.

I had to rip the mohair stole earlier. The problem was that I’d never knit with 4mm needles, and didn’t think to check the gauge. Next result was I had one hell of a wide stole. In fact it qualified for a jumbo shawl!!! And for those who think its easy to rip stuff up, lemme tell u, it’s not that easy with mohair. The thread is so fine, you almost end up in tears trying to get it to open up. Not to mention when you hit a snag (which, btw, you’re bound to!) The yarn is so hairy, that ripping becomes a major pain in… you’re choice of place. 🙁

Now finally I’ve gotten on track with the stole.

I’ve called it Fresh Earth,because that’s what it reminded me of. The yarn is a muddy brown (no choice in the shop), and the design is this delicate set of curves grooving through the design. I felt like I was watching the earth being tilled and readied for seeding. It’s such a good feeling, that I had to name the design as such.

Here’s a quick preview:

Fresh Earth