New Year = New Finished Projects

It is time for self assessment to see my progress and what I have achieved so far even it is only the second month of the year.
Just want to make sure that I actually will manage to achieve the resolutions which I have set in the beginning of the year.

Started with this test knit project that I signed up sometime end of last year.
This project has actually change my opinion about cable motif which I find bit annoying when you always need cable needle to work with.
Thanks to this test knit, I now find cable actually is a fun motif to work need especially when you can work with any help of the cable needle.

My second finished object for this year was doily which was part of mystery KAL in my local knitting group and was a very quick knit.
Planning to knit another piece so I can actually combine both pieces into wearable but yet to have the time to do so.

Finished Project ~ Little Twister Sweater

Finally, another long paused WIP is completed.
Love the cabling details a lot, not to forget the interesting constructing method during the knitting progress.

Kate Gondwana always able to impress me with her every design, which involve lots of different techniques in the making.
The set up of this sweater, like usual, is challenging, started off with provisional cast on for the back neck part with German short row included, continued to the front with cable detail, then the body is finished of with working in round. As for the sleeve, it involve few short rows too. 

Overall, I just love to knit the sweater for sure.

Finished project for the week ~ Tallis Lace Tunic

I am loving it...!!!
I really am loving it...!!!
Really love this Tallis Lace Tunic pattern by Ash Kearns.

Just check out how great the lace pattern turns out when I wear it and how well it fits me.
Even though the knitting progress was a little bit slow with some pause in between, I could not be more happy to see how I manage to meet up the dateline for this test pattern submission.

My First International KAL.

I can't exactly recall how I found this pattern from Hollaknits , but I know it was love at first sight and I told myself that I must make one of this for myself, cos it is just too lovely. This pattern called Nachtfalter by Stefanie Pollmeier and I am just so thrilled when I found out that there are lotsa knitter on Ravelry who actually want to held a knit-a-long for this. 

  

This pullover is worked in round for its ribbing with a very neat cable pattern and continue by working flat for its lace part with a very beautiful Honeybee stitch that creates a sophisticated overall look. 

It is a 6weeks KAL, which started on 3rd June and to be finished latest by 15th July 2013. And the best part of all lots of great prizes offer for those who can finish the project on time.

So I start my swatching yesterday night, using a local made yarn called Soft Cotton Acrylic, made of 60% cotton, 40% acrylic which I found will be suitable enough to be worn in a hot weather country like mine here.

Call me lazy or anything else for doing the swatch both the ribbing and the lace part on one piece, but I love to see how my swatch turn out and makes me can't wait to see how my whole project will look like on me once I finish.

Managed to get the gauge for the ribbing area after swatching it for two time, cos this part seems to be kind of important in determining how nicely fit it will be once finished.
As for the honeybee lace, I am just loving it. It actually was easier that I thought earlier, thanks to a very detailed explanation on Stephanie's Blog.

Gauge achieved with needle size 3mm for ribbing & 3.75mm for the lace

However I decided, I will go a size higher for the ribbing part, cos I like it to fit me comfortably with a positive ease. And really can't wait to finish mine soon.

The Last Wednesday of the Month.

I finally have the time to sit down in front of my laptop and web browsing through some great blogs, on this very last Wednesday on the month of May.

Found out these great blogs : Tami's Amis  & Small Things that encourage people to actually share their work in progress on any crafts online every Wednesday. 

You can check out what other crafters are doing this week listed in those two blogs as well. It caught my interest for sure and definitely is my first event to join which sounds really fun.

A little encouragement from others will sure boost up the mood to get the project finish soon, especially when you know there will be some of the reader that will drop by to read your blog on the progress you made, I assume.

Tami's Amis Blog

Ginny's Blog - Small Thing

So here is my work in progress for this week: a pullover with a cable and lace pattern, progressing at 60% done, worked in round and I am desperately hoping to get it completed by end of the week. 

The only issue I have now, I accidentally hurt my right hand while I start knitting this few days back. Somehow this yarn that I used was not moving smoothly on my bamboo needle - Etimo Carry C, so I have to push almost every stitch I am about to knit. 

Never have this kind experience with other yarn of the same type though. I ended up have to change the needle to aluminium circular - Addi fixed circular and it did help the stitches to move smoothly but sadly my hand already hurts, so I still need to slow down and take a rest another day or two.

Finger crossing that my hand will heal soon and I can get back to finishing the pullover.

Finished Project on May.

Only a couple of week left to end of the month of May. Gosh..how time moves very fast do scare me a lot sometimes and make me think back on what I have actually done to get through it.

I know I supposed to update my blog as what I have promised earlier this year, but sometimes with all the hectic activities happening almost everyday, the brain seems to get stuck on what should I write on blog.

However, I do force myself to at least write in once a month though, or else what is the point of creating the blog, rite.

So, talked about my achievement, I actually manage to finished two wearable project as a test pattern project from Ravelry; Windsong Bolero by Nitza Coto. This is a lovely lace-button down bolero which turns out to be cardigan for me cos I am only 5.1" tall and still I love how it looks on me.

 

The other finished wearable is also a test pattern called V-Line Pullover designed by Svetlana Volkova, this is a very quick top down pullover which really great for a beginner to try on, and I just love the colour gradation effect from the yarn.

I definitely proud of myself and could not believe at first on what I am actually capable in achieving. Yeay Me \'(^^,)'/

A Great Start of April.

On my last blog, I did mention that I have submitted some of my finished knitting project to a contest held locally by an online shop, using the yarn bought from the shop as the main condition to be fulfilled.
I submitted 4 projects in total: a triangle shawl, a kids sweater and 2 adult wearable.

And guess what.... one of my project WON!!! As a reward from winning I received an amazing great package of yarns, knitting notion and books from the shop.

I could not be more happier as this awards has earned me the recognition of my knitting skill from all local knitters and also has become the stepping stone to sharpen my skill for sure. 

What is up with March.

It has been a while since the last time I write something on this blog.
Promise made to fill up the blog with some writing has not yet been accomplished for sure. Time management has been an issue for me lately. Hassling with house-chores, kid and hubby, not to forget my offline yarn shop.

But I still manage to get some knitting project done in this month though and entering to few contest held locally and international too.

Polaire Pullover, Pattern by Julliana Lund

The above pullover was made as a pattern testing for Julliana Lund on Ravelry, named Polaire pullover. Knitted using Pierrot Yuttari Silky yarn, used up only 250grams yarns to complete. I also submitted this for a chance to win some amazing prize at 2013 Spring 8th Pierrot Yarn Contest. The contest is ending on 10th May, so hopefully I earn a spot as one of the winner in it.

Sashiko Cardigan, pattern by Ellen Gill

This the second wearable project is also one of the test pattern from Ravelry, which I managed to complete this month. The pattern called Sashiko Cardigan, designed by Ellen Gill. I entered this to a local contest held online by Papiput Yarn Shop. This was knitted using Sublime yarns and used up 400grams of yarns. Loving the details of this pattern for sure and never regretted to have signed up for the test cos I get to learn some new technique through it.

This month of March also been truly an amazing month for me, surprisingly the project which I posted in Google+ for fun, was chosen as the weekly winner by Yarn Mountain and won me a copy of free eBook of knitting pattern and some discounts applicable for any yarn purchase at Yarn Mountain's website.

    

So... I were asked how was my March been going, all I could say is "It has been really amazing ^^, "

Mom's Cardigan is finally completed!

Talking bout the cardigan which I supposed to knit for my mom somewhere around end of last year, the one faced with lack of yarn issue, has finally been resolved.
Yes.. I finally found a fellow knitter who did buy the same yarn as the I used to knit the cardigan and I am just so lucky.

So my mom's cardigan sleeves finally completed and whole project is no longer a working in progress for sure. But just too bad that Mom could not wear it yet at the moment since the cardigan is a little bit too thick for the weather at our end at this time.

Despite all of that I am really relieved that I can finally checked this cardigan out from my WIP list forever..hahaha!

It is the last week of the year!

Another 4 more days, the year 2012 is about to end. Was thinking and analyzing did I managed to get my resolutions made earlier this year actually accomplished.
Well, let's just say there some resolutions still will be included in next year list definitely.
I guess it is just a common human mistake and error..hahahaha.

So, lately ideas on yarn and needle related been flying everywhere in my head and I ended up with jugling with few projects at the same time. And for those of you-fellow knitter, might just understand how frustrating it can be, when there is just too many things to complete within such short time and yet you still have to feed your curiousity on making your idea comes to life.

And with the holiday season around, I actually have the spare time to actually make it happen. Here are some pictures of the projects which I have been working on during the holiday:

This Entrelac kids cardigan is actually inspired by a friend project. And because I finally managed to get myself familiar with this technique also found the suitable yarn from my stash, I decided to give it a try on knitting even without any pattern to refer to.
I am done with the other sleeve already and now left another sleeve also the edging to finish up.

I started this project because I attracted to the design shown in a book while correcting my student's work which is also in the same design. Decided to knit this specially for my mom, since she always complaining bout how old is her favourite sweater already.

The initial plan is to get it done before the 30th December so she can bring it along during her vacation. But I doubt the timing now, since I still need to work on both sleeves and its edging.

This hat is a-one day project which at first was meant for my hubby's customer's son but turn out it fits an adult head instead. So decided to give it to my sister as her upcoming birthday present, since she did request me to make her a hat some time ago.

The hat pattern is my original design and just love the finished look of it. Hoping to have time to write down the pattern soon.

Colour changed ???

Remember my last pattern tester done from last month? The Haubergeon tops?
When I finished knitting it, I have not got the time to actually blocking the tops to get the better final result. So the other day, I finally make it to happen.

Since the material was actually local made cotton and the colour also not too stricking, I was expecting there will be no colour changing at all. But check this out, see what happen.

The colour of the water is changing yellow instead of purple, when I expected the water to have no colour at all.

Here is the clearer picture on how the colour of the water had changed from no colour to yellow after I soaked in the tops. Luckily I wash this tops separately.

So here is the tops after a mild wash, ready to be blocked. It seems the garment had shrinked a little bit after wash and I am just glad to find out the that the bust has actually meets the size which I supposed to do for this oattern though.

By the way I had detached the sleeves which I done earlier since I have done a size bigger than my actual body size, that is why during blocking, I pulled the tops longer hoping the bust of the garment will become smaller.

Friday WIPs

Here some of my WIPs that I am planning to finished up soon. Considered to be a nit greedy to work on spfew big project on the same thing I think..hahaha..but it is all part of kicking out the boredom if having to work on one project.

Digged this project out from my WIPs bag, a wearable started way long ago, from 2004. Never get to finish it since it started, due to lack of knowledge in knitting wearable without any guidance.

This was the second project after my very first lesson from the local yarn shop where I learn to knit.

So since currently I think that myself been capable enough to knit on my own, I decide to finish this project up soon.

Second WIPs for the week is this circular scarf made by order received online. The request is this scarf to be long and wide enough to be wrapped around the neck.

It has reached 100cm length now, with a simple my very owned design of stokinette with garter band on each side. Plan to finish it off with 180cm length.

Here is my another project that I am soon to start. Was checking the gauge with the soft cotton from my shop.

This project taken from Free Pattern Tester Group called 'Hear Apart Girl's Sweater' design by MariChiba.

The submission dateline is this end of the month but I just want to finish this up as soon as possible so I can clear up my another WIPs.

My 2nd finish knitted adult tops!

Though I have been knitting for sometime, to have finished wearable project for my size is still countable within my five fingers. Hahaha. All this while I am only manage to knit tthe wearable for children size.

But then I definitely have step up the challenge this year, making a big progress with my skills.
Yup, I have finally made another wearable for myself and surprisingly it is not being frogged inside my WIPs bag like my few other so called adult wearable which I have started few years back since I have learned how to knit.

The pattern was taken from Ravelry Free Pattern Tester Group, called Haubergeon Pullover, design by Julliana Lund. It really catched my attention with its elegant cable-lace designs.

I started to cast on as soon as I received the pattern from Julliana. But again after managed to finish the early part if knitting the waist band, I stop continuing the work due to the hecticness in finisihing some crochet order which I have taken.

Thankfully that since I am volunteering as a tester, there is a dateline to meet in finishing the project, which triggered me to have no option but to finish this pullover as soon as possible.
And guess what, I did it! I manage to finish knitting the whole pullover within 10days with approximately 3-5hours spend with knitting it in a day. Quite an achievement for me, I might say.

Guess you really never know what you are capable of doing when you are under pressured. Though the pullover is actually bit too loose for me, since the size I have taken is actually bigger than I thought, I just could not be more proud to myself. And i do have the thought of knitting another piece of this pullover with smaller size to fit me better.

And having this knitted pullover finished in such a short time, I am definitely looking forward to have more wearable knitted in future. With this thought of having to knit your own wearable and being able to show it off to the public is really giving a big Proud feeling.

Dreaming to be part of big brand, Rowan!

The well known brand of a yarn company, Rowan, is looking the suitable candidate to become part of their team, which called as Rowanette.
I have submitted my entry right vefore the dateline which is 28th September 2012.
Just hoping and finger crossing, I will be shortlisted.

I have chosen a crochet pattern from Japanese Ondori book #3362, cos I found this tops has a very beautiful lace motif that looks elegant and complicated. Othe than that I also want to stress a point where Rowan Yarns is not only suitable for Knitting but also it is comfortable to be crocheted, especially when you are in a tropical country like Indonesia, where crochet is way more popular to knitting due to the whether issue.


The chosen candidate result will only be out somewhere around October 2012 though, so just wish me the best of luck then ;))

Believe in yourself!!!

Why did I said so? It is a common thing happens with all of us, I guess.
Things in life are usually looks tougher before we actually been going through with it.
The beginning stage always difficult, but when we adapt ourselves to it, slowly we are getting used to whatever situation we have been facing with and we start to actually believe what we are capable of doing with the life.
That is just the simple philosophy of life which I believe everyone will sure been having too.

The same thing like what I written above did happen to me, but only not happening with daiy life, more to my skills in the hobby I am loving alot now, that is Knitting.
It was all started by the encouragement given by a fellow knitter, to join along the free pattern tester group on Ravelry to test on a shrug pattern called 'Piano Princess Lace Shrug IV'. I, at last, out of my curiousity, sign up as a tester then.

During the testing process, before I actually started to cast on mine and reading along the comment given by other tester in the pattern discussion board, I started to loose confidence to actually be able to finish the project within the given dateline. Cos it seems even the advance knitters who share the same pattern with me found lotsa difficulties in working the project.

I was actually about to quit as a knitter until the fellow knitter whom was the first reason I join along this test, continuously giving the encouragement to not stopping before I actually give a try. And I am just so thankful that I did listen to her.

The project was actually not as difficult as it might seen, when you start to get familiar with the whole pattern and it is more to a work repetition. I could not be more proud of myself, as I like to say, I finally managed to get the project completed on time. Again it was a really big accomplishment I have managed to achieve within 2012. And this definitely has become a stepping stone for me to sharpen my skills even more.