My 1st Toe Up Socks

Diagonal Lace Socks 
Feb 11, 2012: I started with Wendy's Diagonal Lace Socks but at that time i couldn’t figure out some steps……… so frogged…..

Around Oct 2, 2013
After another year of knitting and learning more stuffs… I wanted to try it again BUT I changed another pattern also from Wendy….Double Eyelet Rib Toe-up Socks

I could handle most of the part. 
For Cast on method, I used Judy Magic Cast on because I can handle better this than Turkish cast on, but I have a problem on one side after knit the first round…. having a HOLE… :( Don’t know how to fix this….

Also, the Wrap & Turn I did not do well too... LOL

I will try more different technique socks for comparison~

After finished up this pair of sock, I went back to Craftsy.com a free short tutorial by Carol Feller about Short Rows method!!! Also I purchased another online knitting class on "Knit Original Toe-up Sock" with Donna Druchuans.

Chinese Moon Cake Festival 2013

Today is Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival aka Moon Cake Festival! 

Beside Moon Cake we can have, paper lantern is another popular item especially for kids.

In the last 2 years I wanted to knit a Bunny Lantern (one of the traditional one) but always too late to do so.... 

This year I thought let do something more funny is (1) make Amineko (2) make a bunny lantern for him. 

I MADE IT!!!!! YAY

Also, I am happy that I bought a mini moon cake with a cute miniature moon cake tin. 

This pattern on the tin is one of the oldest moon cake box pattern. In the very early stage, it was printed on a paper box with moon cake. Later on, printed on tin but usually held 4 normal sizes moon cake inside this tin! hehe

Tonight, we will go to our grandma's home for a family dinner, eating moon cake, playing lanterns and look up to the sky for the FULL Moon! 

Happy Moon Cake Festival

祝大家中秋節快樂! 

love love, k

My First Amineko Cat!

I have been seeing people posting their funny Amineko Cat for so long. Finally I also cannot resist this little fellow! XD!

Also, he is my first CROCHET doll. 

However I had problem when crocheting in round, sometime when keep on moving up... the number of stitches changed.... So when I making the 2nd arm (halfway) & I compared to the 1st one...er... why not look the same!?@@#@$#$%... look bigger... so undo...re-do.. 2 times, 3 times,.. or 4 times. I can't remember. Then for the legs happened the same! =.=

At the end, somehow look ok altogether! LOL

I will make more accessories for him to make more funny pictures!
 

Stay Tune! 

love love, k

Rose Teapot Cozy

My 1st crochet TEAPOT COZY is done!!!! 

The pattern I followed was a Japanese pattern book & the original one with RED roses. At the beginning I also thought to use red color but I realise that the teapot itself has pink & purple rose patterns. Last minute change! eheheh 

The body of the cozy is easy to make and took not too long BUT the sewing up for the roses & leaves, then attached the roses on the cozy... REALLY TAKE TIME!!!!! 

Another piece as "Labor of Love" XD!

I also found that the Doily Dishcloth I made earlier in August is  a perfect match for this. So let them being together! hehehe 

It is sent out today and hopefully it will be arrived on time!!!!! 

Wish me luck! 

love love, k

Crochet Roses on Sunday

How was your weekend?

I spent my whole Sunday to crochet leaves & rose petals....... and hand-sewing up all of them.

They are 7 Purple roses, 7 Pink roses & 2 extra leaves.

What are they making for? 

I am going to finish up today after work! 

Wish me luck to finish it by the end of today! :)

love love, k

Rose & Lace Doily

I wanted to crochet traditional-look doily for a while.

I made this and add a rose on the middle, that.... is... so... beautiful! I am sure I will crochet more! ahaha

love love, k

Another crochet bunny

I left this little bunny in pieces for months. As I was going to have dinner with this Bunny-Owner-to-be 2 weeks ago. So I dug out from my "WIP or Frogged projects"(mess)... XD

I gave up my original idea that make a bag and fill in some lavender then put it inside the bunny... >.<

Anyway my friend loves it and the color of this little bunny matching her REAL BIG BUNNY! :P

I am happy! 

love love, k

Sunday Project: Quick, Easy & Beautiful

What do u usually do on Sunday? 

For me, usually sleep, yumcha with family & relax at home.

The last Sunday, I woke up and made myself a cup of coffee, then started this project as I want to try new thing but quick! :P

I love "yo" thing and after I knitted half way thru.... ah.... something very familiar ---- [yo, K2tog] repeat...... hehe

My JunKAL2013 - Mesh Bag

haha I was lazy and did not post this picture back in June! This is a Knit-along project on Google+. 

Love love, k

Try New Things for Bath - soap making & knit-crochet new things

I love learning all sort of crafty things although I am too slow so still learning not many! 

I have been learning soap making for months. It is interesting & natural but I learn making it because I can make a gift set like this! LOL

So I tried to knit a dishcloth (here as a wash cloth :P) that is knitting from diagonal from here. I added a loop for hook.

Soap Saver: I found that when I put a soap on soap dish in bath, it cannot dry proper and if my sister using another soap mean need another soap dish? So I was looking for soap saver that can hold the soap, scrub & hanging on the rack. I found this one but I cannot understand the instruction as I learnt crochet with diagram! So I used what I just learnt from my sampler of 70's pattern to re-create mine! hehe! 

love love, k

My YearLongKAL2013 Afghan Update

Started the YearLongKAL2013 Afghan in March and now already August, only 4 months to go! 

My status is...... 50% of Squares have done!!! Still have a lot to do but let sharing my up-to-date status to you all! 

I enjoy this Year Long Knit-A-Long 2013 project very much. Learning new stitches, sharing to others and when seeing other knitters showing their pieces on G+ that may attract me to knit that pattern! hehehe Each piece may only consume 2-3hours to do.

Also inspiring other people to join in! This is a very happy journey of knitting! :) How's about you?

love love, k

70s Pattern Book

I think many knitters like me love to flip around and keep a lot of patterns! I inherit my mom's knitting & crochet pattern books (they are from 70s). Some are still looking pretty for nowadays at least I think so! LOL

This one I quite like it and especially with the little belt! 

I made a sampler to see! 

Look good, agree? :P

love love, k

Tapestry Crochet BAG is done!

yay! I am happy that I finally finish this project! 

Added a long strap so I can use it as my handbag! 

hehehehe Love it! 

love love, k

Tapestry Crochet

I have been sick for a week,... and then to see doctor.... @.@ so now I am still taking medicine.

Meanwhile, I started again my frogged project.... (was started in Nov 2012 when I was in holiday at Kota kinabalu, Malaysia)

This crochet technique should be called as "Tapestry crochet" as I searched online. This pattern is from one of a Japanese pattern books I bought in last Summer! 

The pattern here is in 2 color, Black & White.

Base is Round and crochet in Black color, the floral pattern part is in 2 color and the tricky part is the instruction indicates in White = my black color,... and crochet in Black color can make you blind!!!!! 

After back from holiday and I realize the floral part I did (around 5 rows) had some mistake...ugh..... 

After sitting in my bedroom for months, I decided to dig it out and try to finish it! After nights from the last 5 days sitting in my bed, turn on my desk lamp to get better light then I started over again the floral part. NOW, here we are: 

18 more rows for the body part (black color only),  and then with the scallops rim & strings.... 

My target is to KO it within this week! 

Stay tune! ahahahaha

love love, k

May is arrived.... 1st project of this month

I bought this pattern book when it was on sales. This crochet top is my favorite one! Also, I found this color cotton yarn, like dark jean blue. 

I never tried to crochet like this to wear! It is very interesting (at least for me) that crochet from a square, then connect to another square... total 28 square.. then DONE! This is amazing..... 

I crochet one on 30/4 but I kept it as a sample. So yesterday I started new... I made two... wow... it took me more than an hour per motif... hehe look simple but still a lot of workload!

Or 

once I can memorize the pattern, I can do faster!?!! 

Stay Tune! :)

love love, k

AprKAL2013 - Steeking Coffee Cosy

Today is 29th of April,.... my April is quite busy but I feel good about it! :)

AprKAL2013 from KAL on Google+ has 2 challenges in April. Early this month, I already finished one, Double Knitting Pot Holder.

As of today, I also finished another challenge - steeking Coffee cosy.
What is steeking? 
When u are knitting with multicolor pattern and knit in ROUND, then CUT the your fabric and turn into FLAT.

I just found one short video from Knitting Daily, Eunny Jang demonstrates 3 different techniques of steeking, from 2:30 on the  video :). 

For me, I just followed the designer, Rachel Henry, from the pattern I followed on ravelry.com. When I was going to CUT my work, I was struggling & undo the crochet and do it again as I felt I need "Double CHECK"! ahahahah  But I did it! :) YAY

love love, k

Embroidery Hoop Art

my friend, Pearl is leaving HongKong to Melbourne, Australia in early May.

So I was thinking what I should make for her & her husband James as a farewell gift!?!?!?!!??!?  

Ok, I thought of this! 

Although I am not good at embroidery, (haha), I still gave it a try! 

I drew the name & pattern on a piece of paper, then just put on top of the fabric and locked them with a pin! :P 

Then start doing the name first, um....as free hand drawing, so not too tidy :P

The flower thing I picked 

the State flower of Victoria: Common Heath. 

As I said earlier, she is moving to Melbourne where is the capital city in the state of Victoria. 

I think the work is not perfect but I still like it 

(definitely need to practice more).... 

For backing, just cut a piece of felt and free hand sewing 

"best wishes, karen 4-2013, ♥ ♥ k"

& glue with the back of the work! hehehehehe 

Good luck for their next stage of life in Aussie!!!!! 

love love, k

Crochet Starburst Hotpad

I found this Starburst Hotpad pattern on Ravelry.com. 

1st impression: WOW so pretty!!!

2nd impression: Oh is it difficult to make?

Ans: NO! 

Thanks Carol Floyd's Youtube demonstration of how magically to turn 5 motifs into this pretty thing!!!! 

Here, I also put my progress into pictures and let's get some quick idea of how to make this pretty & useful hotpad!Yay!

Remark: I made a loop for hanging by using i-cord! So it can hang in the kitchen:) 

So would you like to make one for yourself or a friends of yours?

I made this for my lovely friend! :) Definitely will make more!!! 

love love, k

Crochet Sleeping Bunnies

During Easter, I saw a blogger, One Crafty Mumma, made a mother-daughter crafting day that made Easter Bunnies. Immediately this is put into my "To-Do-List". hehe

***This Bunny is actually original from this blogger,the green dragonfly, with picture-tutorial to follow. BUT this bunny is also revised from an crochet owl from, bunny mummy. (Owl is also on my list!):P

On hands, I had prepared one for a friend who loves it too... but I haven't finished that yet as I want to do some "Add-on". :P

However, I used this design to make a baby version, sleeping one in white/light pink organic cotton yarns for 2 lovely baby girls.

It is easy to make! Thanks to the bloggers who put a lot of efforts to do those picture-tutorials for us to follow! Yay!!!!! 

Last week, beside making these 2 little ones, I also crochet one more hotpad and one hoop art for my friends. Will show to you within this week! ^.<

love love, k

New Knitting needles Set | Denise2Go

Yay I got my needles! hehe I bought this Denise2Go online and arrived yesterday!!! 

The pastel color needles & the beautiful print bag are hard to resist!!!! Do you agree with me??? hehee

This is my first time to have interchangeable knitting needles! Cannot wait to use this to cast on!!!! 

A year ago I bought one pair of Harmony wood circular knitting needle at one of the local yarn shop in 5mm is very smooth to knit with. I do want to buy the Harmony wood interchangeable set but many online shop not ship to HKG or out of stock,...sign....... 

Anyway, let me try something on tonite! ehehehe 

love love, k

April New Knitting - WIP/ FO [Double Knitting]

Yesterday I said I have started 2 projects in April & I showed one to you on yesterday. Guess what? The 2nd one I wanted to show to you today, not anymore WIP! It is a FO!!!!!! 

AprKAL2013-DoubleKnitting

This project is one of my AprKAL2013. The group has posted 3 projects for us to do in April. I picked this one first as I want to learn how to do the Double Knitting! :)

Thanks again YouTube to let so many knitters to be my teachers online! Thank you very much! 

I forgot to save the videos I watched, but still have some for your reference:

Double Knitting - Cast on

Double Knitting - Bind off

Hope you also like the double knitting! :) 

love love, k

Remark: for the people who may not understand the terms:

WIP: Work in Progress

FO: Finished Object

April New Knitting - WIP

I have started TWO projects in April already.

1st Project: Orna bag by Nathalie O'Shea

I found this pattern (was free) somewhere in 2009. Why I picked this? Wow,because at that time Spotlight shop was NEW in HongKong (I used to shop there when i lived in Sydney, Aussie) and it was so nearby my work back then. So I went there very often for window shopping & real shopping! haha I bought this light green yarn. I like the color and texture very much although it is 100% acrylic yarn still very soft to me! 

Then I was searching around for pattern to use this yarn and I found this Orna bag. Unfortunately at that moment I did not knit for some years and my last knitting experience was just cable stitches... and this bag involves Lace stitches , "YO" thing.... I could not figure out how to do it and the counting... and another misleading thing was....

The instruction is saying need size 10 needles and the yarn recommends 10mm needles... Do u see my problem here??? >.<
I bought the 10mm circular needle and when I was knitting it, the bag was HUGE!....

Then later on I was guessing the "size 10 needles" is meaning US Size 10 that mean 6mm needles... wt.....

So after some cast on and ripped off .... this project was frogged..........

In Oct of 2011, I solved the problem of "yo" by watching a Youtube video to do my  ribbed lace bolero... YAY... I got it finally! 

So, now 2013 I think I should finish it up and should not keep it as my stash, rite? 

Ok, the base of the bag the instruction says just Garter stitch but after I learnt the Sock knitting and I used the Sock gusset knitting to make it more stronger (I think)...

Up to now, I have finished 3 rounds of this 8-row pattern. Total needs 6 rounds! so 50% done. 

The 2nd project in April, I will show here on tomorrow! :)

love love, k

2nd Block is on the way

My second square sampler of my YearLongAfghanKAL2013 is blocking now! 

After the first round experience (SS#23), I use a triangle ruler to check the 4 corners & the lines if straight or not. So it was much much faster then the first one. 

The first one took me around 45 mins and this one I think is around 20 mins! Wow! :P

BTW, I bought 3 packs of pin (@60pins per pkg) means 180pins. Wow I am collecting pins or what!?!?! XD 
But sure, more pin you use mean better it comes out!!! :)

***Side story***
When I was knitting this SS#38 I was watching TV and I thought I did count "carefully". HOWEVER, when I was knitting around the last 3-4 rows.... I finally SAW the 2nd round of the pattern is missing ONE part...... @.@ At the end, I decided left it like this! LOL

WIP: 

Square Sampler #23: 3/26-27/2013 

Square Sampler #38: 3/28-31/2013


love love, k

Knit Along on Google+

I am so happy to tell you that I just join a group on G+ called, "Knit Along on Google+".

The name already tells the story, rite?! ahahaha 

1. Monthly projects for anyone to knit along. 

2. Year Long Afghan project, the patterns from: 
Knitting Primer | 100 Easy-to-Knit Stitches plus Instructions for Sampler Afghans | Volume 34


I Pick up the Year Long Afghan project, and the first one I knit is: Square Sampler No 23.

This sampler is easy to knit but the pattern instruction has some missing but not too hard to find out! :)

WOW, the Blocking is the challenge for me actually. As I do not have experience on it & no appropriated tools.... anyway, learn from mistake! XD but next thing to buy is PINS as so quick to run out of pins! 

Keep on knitting! 

love love, k

my first shawl is completed!

wow, last Aug in 2012, I bought 4 balls of golden mustard cotton yarn, Mondial Cable 5 Filo Di Scozia, to knit my first shawl, Ginkgo Shoulderette Shawl by Maggie Magali.(free download from Ravelry.com):P

Aug-Sep 2012
At the beginning, I thought 2/3 is Stocking sts & 1/3 is the lace  should be okay to finish it by 2 weeks.... (Obviously I was wrong). Cos the first part is boring just keep knitting bigger & bigger... so I stopped it somewhere in Sept. 

Dec 2012 - Jan 2013
I thought, "Hey I have to complete it and I cannot leave it halfway (not really 50% work done)". So I picked up again although a bit long boring journey. Knit, knit, knit... 

The Pattern instruction wrote abt the calculation & the chart was a bit confused me.... so at the FIRST round, I knit 8x15 per side Plus 2 sts at the beginning. HUH! The wrong thing began. I was happy to start my Lace part... I think it was around 2 to 3 rows of Lace (I was watching TV).. oh no... sthg wrong and the counting was not right.... then I frogged as Chinese New Year & holiday was coming....

Mar 2013
I know & I want to KO it ASAP. So one nite, I undo the lace and some part of the stocking sts. I also read again the instruction. THEN, I FINALLY finally understood how the calculation works!!!! 

The calculation should be (also my shawl used) 2 Garter sts + ((9x15)+2) + 1 Centre st + ((9x15)+2) +  2 Garter sts = 279 sts 

Remark: [the instruction said if you want to increase the size before the lace part you need an odd multiple of 15 stitches + 2]

When I got this calculation clear,... continue to knit knit knit my Stocking sts... When I started my lace was not smooth, the counting had some problem, my yarn was a mess & knots.... I spent my nearly 12 hours on Sun to keep knitting & solve the yarn mess!!!! Anyway,... I spent 2 more nights to finish it! YAY!!!!! 

Then I bought a set of Baby mat as this is my first time to do Blocking. So followed the instruction, I soak the FO into some cold water for 30 mins, then dry it and laid out on top of the mat. Tried to stretch it out evenly. wow! Looking good! 

So after one day drying! Viola! DONE!!!! 
So happy that I can finish it on time for my own birthday! 

love love, k

Knitting Journey

My knitting journey started from highschool.... my 1st teacher must be my mum, then my home economic teacher (although she questioned my work if it was knitted by my mom instead of me, that made me so sad), my homestay mother & her daughter(She is genius in knitting & esp. sewing); later on knitting experts on Youtube, Ravelry, and some knitting books! 

So you can see now I mainly learn knitting online! 

During my holiday in Feb, I took some Free online knitting course!!! 
Q: Where?
A: Craftsy.com

This is very interesting online course! 
Easy to use, they also provide some instruction for you to download, you can make notes, ask question and even encourage you to post your work after you learn.

Right now I am enjoying their FREE ones! hehe 













Latest eMagazine I bought: Vogue Knitting 

The magazine has so many knitted fashion to follow! But most of them are big projects for me,... I need to think clear before take action otherwise I will produce a lot of "FROGGED" Objects in my room! LOL

Hope you will join me to take some courses or having fun to watch on youtube. Here is one of the Knitting Experts on Youtube that I like: Very Pink Knits! Her teaching & demonstration are very very clear!!!! You will LOVE her! :)

love love, k