Clapping Hands

On Sunday 15 March, when I and Lauri were clapping hands together to follow a song in TV, suddenly I noticed that Fiori was also clapping her hands. I had to run upstairs to my room to get the camera and luckily managed to get a nice photo of her clapping her hands. Another milestone for Fiori.

Fiori is Enjoying The Cake

Remember my birthday cake? Well, Fiori loved it very much. Look at how serious she ate the cake.

I tried to gave her solid since she was 6 months old, but she did not want to eat. She took her tongue out everytime I tried to feed her. Then last month, all of the sudden she started to eat a lot, and she seemed really enjoying her food. Mash carrot, meat, apple, manggo, banana, potatoes, everything went in. However she doesn't like something too watery.

Happy Birthday To Me

Nothing fancy, I celebrated my birthday with hubby and my daughters. My hubby cooked for me and Lauri sang happy birthday song and kiss me. This year is final year of my thirties decade. Next year is the beginning of my forties era.

Playing With Tassles

On 22 December 2008, we were having Christmas dinner with my in laws cell group members. During the whole dinner, Fiori was busy trying to get the Christmas presents.



Finally, she settled by playing and eating my MIL tassles (handbag tassles).

Falling Leaves Top Knitting Pattern For Sale

The idea of this design came to me after I saw a nice lace pattern on one of my knitting books. The name of the lace pattern was "Falling Leaves" so I decided to keep the name. This is a very simple and cute top with some lace on the edge and button details on the sleeves. You can also make it longer and wear it as a dress. I imagine that this top will look elegant with black yarn, gold button, and beads on the lace part. This top is knit in the round, from the top down, and in one piece, so there’s no seaming. The pattern is available in 4 ply/sport weight and DK weight yarn.







Sizes: See measurement table. The sizing of the sweater is easy to customize. I’ve included sizing guidelines, but keep in mind that you can control the size. I also included tips how to make it fit to your own measurement. Since this is knitted from top down, you can try it as you go!



Needle:
4 Ply: 3.00 mm (size 2) 80 cm long circular needle for the neck band, 3.50 mm (size 4) 80 cm long circular needle for the yoke, body and part of the lace, 4.00 mm (size 6) 80 cm long circular needle for part of lace.

DK Weight: 3.25 mm (size 3) 80 cm long circular needle for the neck band, 3.75 mm (size 5) 80 cm long circular needle for the yoke, body and part of the lace, 4.25 (size 7) mm 80 cm long circular needle for part of lace.

Yarn: Sport or DK Weight

Yarn requirement:
4 Ply: XS: 1000m, S: 1100m, M: 1200m, L: 1300m, XL: 1400m, XXL: 1500m, XXXL: 1600m DK: XS: 800m, S: 880m, M: 960m, L: 1040m, XL: 1120m, XXL: 1200m, XXXL: 1280m

Notion: Tapestry needle, buttons (8 pcs), marker, scrap yarn

Gauge for body:
4 ply/Sport Weight: 25 sts and 30 rows = 4” (10 cm) in Stockinette Stitch (St st) using 3.5 mm needle or adjust the needle size to get gauge.

Double Knit Weight: 20 sts and 28 rows = 4” (10 cm) in Stockinette Stitch (St st) using 3.75 mm needle or adjust the needle size to get gauge.

Difficulty: Intermediate

All about this project in my blog

Click on the button below to buy a copy. This pattern is a pdf file, which you will be able to download once your payment is complete. Thanks!

US$ 5.00,-

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Official Post for Falling Leaves Top

Falling Leaves is my first FO and my first published pattern for 2009. Last year I managed to reach my target to publish 3 patterns in a year. Hopefully, this year I can publish another 3 patterns as well.

It took me almost 3 months to finish this top, since I had to frog and re-designed almost the whole thing when I didn’t like the result of the original version. Actually, the original result not so bad, but I could not live with a “not so bad” FO. So, after sleeping over it I decided to frog.

I really like the result of this new version and I have worn this top many times already. As for the yarn, this is my first experienced to knit with 4-ply yarn. As you probably know that I like to knit using fine yarn. DK weight yarn is too thick for me to wear in this tropical island. This is the reason why sometimes I split my DK yarn into two to make it finer. However, since I know that most of people don’t like the idea to work with fine yarn that is why I write the pattern for DK weight yarn as well.

Pattern: Falling Leaves
Source: Here
Materials: Jaegar Sienna 4 ply. Color: Blue, SH 405, lot 1697051
Qty: 8 x 50 gram (140 m / 153 yards per ball)
Needles: Addi Metal Circular Needle 3.50 mm
Cost: Yarn USD 26.60 + button USD 10
Start Date: 3 November 2008
Finish Date: 22 January 2009

Happy Valentine's Day

Five years ago Valentine’s Day also fell on Saturday. I remember this because that day was the day I found out that I was pregnant with Lauri. I remember vividly like it was just yesterday. Hubby just got back from his half day work and gave me my Valentine’s roses. I asked him to buy test pregnancy kit for me. My period was late almost 2 weeks but it was nothing usual. However, since I had to go overseas the following week, I wanted to make sure that I was not pregnant. It turned out that I was pregnant.

Look her now! Almost 5 years old already. How time flies.

Fiori also got a rose from Papa

Many Faces of Fiori

Sitting on Trolley

Fiori got a chance to sit on the trolley for the first time last Sunday 25 January. We went to Giant Hypermarket near our house to buy some mosquito repellents because Fiori and Lauri got bitten by mosquitos lately. See! Can you see a mosquito bite on Fiori’s right cheek.

Finished My Sewing Projects

I managed to finish my sewing project before Chinese New Year. Sorry for the blurry photo, since I was in the hurry taking this.


Anyway, since I had 3 yards material, and I only used up less than 2 yards, I have more than 1 yard left to make a dress for Lauri. So we can have matching clothes. I made this dress a bit bigger and longer so Lauri can wear it at least 2 years before it is too short or too small for her. I am very happy with the result. The puff sleeves are just perfect. I also put several flower buttons for embelishment.

Happy Moo Moo Year

That was what Lauri keep singing this week, imitating the song she heard from Disney Channel. Her grandma kept disturbing her by singing “Happy Moo Moo day” and Lauri kept correcting her “No, Bee Maaaa!! It’s happy Moo Moo year not day”

This is Lauri with her Chinese New Year Outfit

And Fiori……

Sewing Project

After I finished my Falling Leaves top project, I am working on sewing project now. I bought 3 yards of the Amy Butler Lotus collection called star paisley from ebay months ago, and I thought now is the right time to work on in. Hopefully, I can finish it before Chinese New Year.

As usual I design it myself according to my taste. I already made 2 tops using this design and I really like them a lot. I wear them too ofter that I believe they will complain if they can talk. Fortunately the can not! LOL!
Because of frequent washing, one of them needs to retire as the color has faded. It is already served me for more than 4 years, so I think it’s about time to retire.

I stay at home most of the time, and I like to wear something comfy and practical at home. That is the reason why I choose cotton material to make. I also add 2 big pockets so I can put anything there, like milk bottle, toys, or even yarn there. Love those pockets! This top is also ideal for breastfeeding, since it opens in front.

Falling Leaves

Finally, I finished my new top. I decided to name it “Falling Leaves” the same as the name of the lace pattern. I really satisfied with the result this time. It fits me nicely and it made me look slimmer.

I weaved in all the ends today and probably will block it tomorrow. I am not sure when I can do the formal shooting as I need my hubby to take photo of me. I have almost finished write the pattern, hopefully tomorrow I can start distribute it to the testers. Since the end result different from the original, I think I need to ask them whether they are still interested to test.

My Little Model

These photos were taken after we went to eat at my in law’s favorite restaurant in front of the beach. Lauri really can model naturally without me have to arrange it first. I wonder where she got the talent from. Someday, I will make another knit or crochet dress for her to model.

She can write letter A to Z (both small and capital letters) and 1 to 10. She also can spell her own name, one to eleven and some other words like eat, house, apple, but most of the time she just like to play all day long.

Crocheted Lace to Lengthen the Dress

Lauri grows very fast. Most of her dresses are too short although width wise, she still can wear them. I suppose she could wear it with pants as a tunic, but I am afraid she will have difficulty to open the pant when she goes to the toilet in the kindy. So, I made crocheted lace to lengthen the dress. I just attached the lace with running stitch. The idea is, when she can not wear this dress anymore, I just take the lace and attach it to another dress that need to be lengthen.

I Am Not Happy With The Result!

I finally managed to finish my new project. However, there is one problem. I DON”T LIKE IT! This is the first time EVER that I don’t like my own design. The idea seemed nice and I imagined it would look nice (at least on me), but the reality said different thing. It was not flattering at all. I looked fat wearing it. At first I was thinking to block it and see whether it will look better after blocking. However, after giving it a second thought, I don’t think it will improve a lot even after blocking, so I frogged the whole thing up to waist. Total I frogged 4 balls of yarn. About half a month of work is wasted.

Anyway, I have already got another idea how to finish it. So, keep checking this blog :)

Merry Christmas!

After waiting days to open the presents under the christmas tree, finally today she was able to do it. She woke up early in the morning before everybody else. I was quite surprise that she was able to wake up that early considering she slept quite late.

Oh, and the christmas tree, she hang all the ornaments herself.

Lauri's First Stage Performance

On last 29 November, Lauri was having her first stage performance. Her kindy organized a concert for celebrating their 10th anniversary. Lauri’s class had 2 performances, dancing and singing.

Lauri singing and dancing on the last good bye song with the entire kids

I brought Fiori along to see the concert since my in laws were attending wedding dinner. Since I had to carry Fiori with me, it’s very difficult to take the video properly. My hand could not hold the camera (it has video function) properly. Hubby was taking the DSLR camera since that camera was much bigger and heavier.

Fiori was watching her sister's performance attentively

Lauri was enjoying her experience and the next day she even asked to go to concert again. Hahahahaha!

Fiori Start Solid Food

Since Fiori already 6 months old, on 3 December I started to give her solid food. I was hoping that she won’t become a picky eater like her sister, but I guess I have to face the reality.

Here was the first spoon:

And her reaction:

Then when I gave her another spoon, she started shaking her head.

Actually, when I gave Lauri her first solid, she was enjoying it. The first few months it was fun to feed her, because she opened her mouth everytime I fed her, and she finished her bowl of porridge very fast. Then somehow she became more difficult to feed until now.

Waving Balloon...!

This video was taken when we visited Gurney Plaza on 16 November. It was the first trip for Fiori to a Mall. At that time Sakae Sushi was having grand opening. They opened another outlet in Gurney Plaza’s new wing. Thus, both Lauri and Fiori had a balloon each. To my surprise Fiori could grab the balloon’s stick and she even waved it. See the video yourself.

Sneak Peak

Here is the sneak peak of the lace pattern. How do you like it? I got this pattern from The Knitting Stitch Bible by Maria Parry-Jones called Falling Leaves.

And these are the button that I plan to use. I think I have about total 16 pcs of these buttons. They are made of glass. I got them from ebay at $10. I am going to use some of them on the sleeves part.