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