A new project from IK

The right and left front is finished. Next is to joint them with the back and crochet the border. I like to crochet the border.

From my previous message, I say I will tell you how I block my knitting stuff. You can see that I pin them in my non-used pillow. It is a good idea that I don't have to do it in my bed, otherwise, I have to block it early in the Sunday morning in sake of it can be dried at night. Now, I can block them at any time and anywhere. And also it is good that the fabric pattern of the pillow cover is rectangle, this can be treated as a ruler to guide the straight line and inches.



This is my next project - Sienna cardigan from IK Fall 2006 using this mohair + wool yarns which are given by my friend many years ago. As the tension is not the same as the pattern, I have to use some time to calculate the no. of stitches and adjust my size.

Nothing is done

Re my friend's blue cardigan that I have finished at July, here are the photos sent by her recently. It is a little bit larger but not so bad, I quite like it. I will try to adjust her measurement by viewing these photos for future use.

During these few week, I knit nothing and no progress for my pink colourway cotton cardigan. It seems the weather will become cooler, I should be hurry to finish it otherwise it will slip to next year.

What am I busy now? Scanning my travel pictures and store in CD. There are so many albums (before digital camera is invented) that don't know how many hours are needed to do this tedious task. I only want to space out more places for the knitting books. It is always very hard to find spaces at your home to store your favourite collection, especially at Hong Kong - small house.

My First Cotton Cardi

I tell you, this is my first cotton cardigan using the pink colourway cotton yarn. I only get 3 balls (400m length of each) of it for originally want to knit a shawl. Later, I change my mind and want a cotton cardi that I never have. But what pattern should I need and always worry whether it is enough for a cardi, may be only enough for no sleeves. So it is decided to have a sleeveless one as pictured.


The inspiration cames from Vanessa''s Cherry. Firstly, I knit difference stitches of the lower and upper body. I don't feel comfortable when the back is finished and sorry to take the picture before ripped it. I rip it from the waist band (not rip the whole one from the shoulder), rejoin the yarn and start to knit from the waist band down to the bottom. Can you see that the diamond lace pattern is up side down compared with the upper body. This cotton yarn is hard to block that it seems not balance between left and right side. I hope it will be alright when join with the front (has not been started yet).

I think I am addicted to this diamond lace pattern.



I suddenly find a convenience way to block my knitting stuff, as don't want to pin it on my bed. It is quite trouble to pin to the bed that I have to do it early in the Sunday morning, otherwise it might not have time to dry it. Try to show you when I block the front of this cotton cardigan.

A bad news

Hi, everybody, my bad news.

THE SEWING MACHINE IS OUT OF ORDER AGAIN.

This is the second time within a year. The last fix is one month ago. The same defect area - the thread in the lower bobbin case cannot be pull up through the needle plate. The technical has already warned us that some plastic tools inside is aged, so the machine will not be any long lasting, unless a metal one is changed. Only a similar parts can be replaced for he does not have that exact model.

SIGH.... I don't why mine is so easily broken down. How about yours ? Which brand should I buy ? Can anybody tell me ????

I think I better go back to my knitting. Finally, I have an idea what pattern should be knitted using that pink colourway cotton yarn. I will show you when the back is finished.

Sewing a Shirt

After the sewing machine is fixed, I have a thought to sew a shirt for myself. This is the first trial after at least 15 years ago.

Browse thru all my sewing books collection. These old books are mostly published at 198x, so they are all at least 20 years old.






The top of this dress is my chosen pattern for it is simple for me. Following the instruction to draw the pattern onto a paper and adjust the body measurement against my exiting shirt.





Outline the pattern onto the fabric.









After my try hard and effort, a shirt is sewn.










I am quite satisfied with it. I have changed the collar, not same with the original pattern. The original collar is so ugly after sewn and I don't why. My mother suggests me to have a "stand" collar, for it is simply and easy, this is what you see of the shirt. Don't have a close detail look of it for it has some deficiency in some area. I will try to fix all of them in my next attempt.

One is complete, this makes me have an intention to make a second one, third one, fourth one,.......

Sewing

Ha, very happy that I can talk about my sewing that I am hunger for a long time. But don't be so exciting, it is just a start and no FO is come.

Seeing most bloggers can do some sewing, this motivate me a lot, especially Siow Chin. Unfortunately, my sewing machine is out of order for at least 3-4 years that it has been fixed once by a technician near my home. The fee is very costly at about HKD300.00 (USD38.5). After used it for a few times, it breaks down again, so my family gives up and just put it aside. I am very angry that sewing machine's co had wholly moved out from Hong Kong after I bought it within a year. Whenever there is any wrong with it, I need to find the technician by myself, sometimes it is very hard to find a skillful one.

Now, it is lucky that my parent can find one at the Queen's Road West (search from the HK Yellow Page) which is quite near my home. Congratulate me, it is fixed. I think the happiest one is my mother, she is now very busy in buying some fabric and sewing machine. Up to now, she has sewn some pajamas for her and my father. She is keeping on working hard on some other stuff.

How about me, you see :

these are the japan fabric that I have bought from Japan for at least 3 years ago. Wait unit now, I can make a bag. I cut all the flower patterns out from the fabric and join them. One piece is the front and the other is the back. I need to buy one fabric for the 4 edges, the handle and the lining. Still struggling what colour is matched. Hope can complete it very soon and post it.

For the thin pink colourway cotton yarn that I have mentioned in my last post, I now have an idea what to knit and will show you later. But my heart is flied to the sewing.

Waiting and Pending

1. My friend's blue cardigan has already flown to Vancouver. Waiting for her digital photo that very eager to know whether the cardi fit her or not. Is it too long or too short, too width or too tight, so many question ???

2. Ordered the IK magazine. The IK said that it is sent out on Jun 22, 2006 and has to wait about 6-8 weeks to reach Hong Kong. Really can't wait any longer.

3. Remember my pink colourway cotton yarn. I still can't figure out what pattern to be knit. Keep browsing all my knitting books and internet to give any idea of the pattern.

Waiting makes me feel annoyance.