Wednesday, November 29, 2006

My First Knitted Top Without Pattern


Actually this top was finished quite sometimes ago, but because at that time my camera was not back yet, I could not take a picture of it.

I made this top inspired by this pattern:


However, since I got the yarn very cheap (only RM 0.80 or USD 0.22/ball), it seemed such a waste to spend USD7.00 only for the pattern. I also thought, this would be a good knitting practice for me. If it is turn out not nice, I can simply throw it away and forget about it.


Pattern: My Own (inspired by Simple Knitted Bodice)
Source: NA
Materials: Croft Nylon DK, 100% nylon, 20 gram each, Made in England, Red Color (13 balls x 50 yards)
Needles: 3.5 mm Addi Turbo circular needle
Total Cost: RM 0.80 x 13 = RM10.40 or USD 2.80
Start Date: 20 Sep 2006
Finish Date: 27 Oct 2006


It turned out quite OK, although I wished that I knitted a bit longer before started the lace pattern on the waist, because as you can see on the photo, my bra was showing. Probably I should wear natural color bra if I wanted to wear this out. My original plan was to make the long sleeve version, but since this is not cotton, in the end I made short sleeve version so it would not too hot to wear out. The yarn itself was quite stretchy, so although I made this top with negative ease, it’s quite comfy.

Other entry about this project: starting

Friday, November 24, 2006

Today, 6 Years ago, We said "I do"

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Lauri Fishing

Nggak beneran mancing, cuma pura-pura mancing. Pertama dia nggak tau caranya gimana. Tapi setelah diajari 2 kali sama James, dia langsung isa. Lucunya setelah dia dapet ikan, dia akan nunggu sampe James dan aku dapat ikan, baru dia naruh ikannya balik ke tempatnya. Dia juga isa nakalan (berhubung dia liat James nakalan). Kalo dia frustasi nggak isa masukkan umpan nya ke mulut ikan, ikan nya sama dia diambil, dibuka mulutnya dan umpannya dimasukkan ke mulut ikan.

Well, not really fishing, only pretending to fish. At first she did not know how to fish. After James showing her two times, she got the idea. The funny thing was, after she got the fish, she would wait for me and James to got the fish first, before she put the fish back to the place. She also learned to cheat (because she saw James cheat). If she got frustrated after several attempts could not put the bait into the fish’ mouth, she would pick up the fish, opened the mouth, and put the bait into the fish mouth.


Dia juga isa pura-pura digigit ikan. Sama dia jarinya dimasukkan ke mulut ikan, terus teriak: “Mommy, help me…help me….!”

She even could pretend to get bitten by the fish by putting her finger into the fish mouth and screamed: “Mommy, help me….help me….!”



Pas James masih di India 3 hari yang lalu, suatu pagi pas Lauri bangun tidur, dia liat di sisi ranjang biasanya James tidur ada guling ketutupan selimut. Mungkin dia pikir itu James. Jadi dia manggil manggil “Papa…Papa…What are you doing there?”. Terus berhubung nggak ada jawaban, sama dia selimutnya dibuka. Heheheheh… Bingung dia kok papanya nggak ada.

One morning, when James still in India 3 days ago, Lauri woke up and saw a pillow covered by blanket on the side where James normally sleep. She thought that it was her father, so she called “Papa…Papa…What are you doing there?” When she didn’t get any response, she opened the blanket. Heheheheh…. She just confused why the father was not there.

Oh ya, Lauri punya potongan rambut baru. Poninya dipotong sama emaknya. Nggak rata. Diliat, yang sebelah kiri lebih panjang, jadi sama emaknya dipotong lagi yang sebelah kiri,. Eh, motongnya kependekan, jadi sekarang yang sebelah kanan yang kepanjangan. Gitu mau dipotong lagi. Sama aku nggak boleh. Soale kalo dipotong terus kayak gitu bisa habis itu poni. Hehehehe.

Oh yeah, Lauri got new hair cut. Her fringe was cut by her Grandma. Seing that the left side was longer than the right, grandma cut it again. Eh, she cut too much. The result: the right side now was longer than the left side. When she attempted to cut again, I asked her not to. I just afraid that she would keep cutting until Lauri has no more fringe. Hehehehe.

Aiaiaiaia... My left fringe is shorter than the right one

Friday, November 17, 2006

Progress on The New Projects

After two weeks working on my light green/sage cardigan, I manage to finish the back. Yes, only the back. It’s very slow progress considering I only working on this project. I didn’t even touch my other projects. Well, what can I expect? The gauge is 8 sts x 10 rows in order to make 1x1 inch.

The top strand is the original, the bottom strand is after splitting it into two (because I don't want bulky cardigan)


As you can see on the photo, I put some texture on it. This is in order to keep me not to get bored with never ending stockinette. So far, I like with the result.

At first, I planned to work on the round in order to minimize the seaming job. But, after thinking about it, probably it’s not a good idea, since this is my first design, I want to know whether my measurement is correct. If I can finish the back first, at least I know whether the overall measurement is OK or not.

I also plan to try kitchener method to join the shoulder part, so I will get more polish and professional result. I hope I won’t screw it up. In order to do that, I keep all the stitches alive and just run a string through it for later.


Anyway, after I have finished the back, I directly washed and blocked it. To my satisfaction, the measurement was correct. My tension was consistent with the swatch. Furthermore, after washing, the stitches look even and nice. And it drapes nicely.

Now, it takes me 2 weeks to finish the back, so, it will takes me another 2 week to finish the front, and another 4 weeks to finish the two sleeves. Very long time.

Monday, November 06, 2006

Walking on The Sand

Hari Selasa kemarin aku ke dokter gigi. Habis dari dokter gigi, makan siang di restaurant dekat pantai. Waktu mau masuk ke mobil, kok cuacanya bagus. Nggak panas dan agak mendung. Jadi aku ajak Lauri jalan jalan di dekat pantai.

Waktu jalan-jalan di jalanan yang semenan, dia seneng sekali, tapi pas aku ajak dia jalan di pasir, dia takut. Nggak mau jalan dan minta gendong. Hehehehe. Mungkin karena dia nggak biasa, dan pikirnya kok jalannya nggak stabil. Jadi lebih amannya lebih baik minta gendong.

Dulu yang rebutan nonton TV ada 3 orang. Aku senengnya liat TV komedi barat. Mamanya James senengnya nonton serial kantonese, James senengnya nonton filem action. Sekarang tambah satu saingan. Lauri. Dia maunya filem kartun. Jadi kadang kalo James pulang kerja dan saluran TV nya dirubah, Lauri pasti protes: “Aaaah… Don’t want… Don’t want!”


Ini foto Lauri kalo di mobil. Tampang dia agak aneh berhubung mungkin udah kelamaan duduk di mobil. Hehehehe.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

New Projects

I have finished my knitted red top. However, since I don’t have my camera, I can’t take a picture of it. It will have to wait until I got my camera back. I am planning to wear it on Chinese New Year.

Since I have no other WIP on knitting, I started planning to make another one. This time, I want to design it myself. Long time ago when I worked as an assistant lecturer and had to teach in non-AC room, I used to make my own cotton dress. I learned to make pattern and sew from my mother. Then later on when I worked in a big company, wearing a home made cotton dress did not look professional.



Anyway, I think knitting should be similar like sewing, I only need to translate it into stitches. Well, I have to try to find out.

For this project, I use 100% cotton yarn called Wendy Supreme that I got from Cucumber Path UK. Once again, I split the yarn in order to yet finer yarn. I use 3.25 mm needle. It will take forever to knit this, but I want to achieve thin and not so bulky result for me to be able to wear in this country.

Beside this, I also started another lace project. Its Candle Flame Scarf. This time I use JaggerSpun Zephyr (black color). Knit in black is not such a good idea. Very difficult to see the stitch. And I use black color to make lace? What was I thinking?