Hemlock Ring Blanket

It has been a long time after my last posting. I hope people will not blame me. (Well, are there still people reading this I suspect.) I drafted quite a number of blog post for my knitting in 2008 so updates are coming.

I finally started casting on something that I bought from the Jimmy Beans Wool some days ago. I thought I bought a lot. The very first initiative to make me start casting this on is that I claimed to one of my knitting friend+yarn buddy "I am on a yarn diet and I got to use up 500g of yarn before further purchase". At that moment I was crocheting a lace shawl and there's no way I can use up 500g of yarn at that time.

The crochet shawl was completed, finally, after 3 weeks hard work. And, I bought yarn, well, I should say, I joined a yarn club from dkknits. It's equivalent to 12 skeins of 100g sock yarn, beautifully hand dyed, and dyed personally, i.e. for me, and myself only. How can I resist the temptation? And I just received some yarn from Sundara, and will receive more in the coming weeks before the holidays. OH MY GOD. What commitment I have done. I was ashamed by looking at the yarn and I decided a good way. Do something bulky and consume more yarn as soon as possible.

After working on the crochet shawl, I made a small cowl using bulky thick and thin yarn which will be posted later. Ok, time to go back to the topic. I have just started that Hemlock Ring Blanket, which I adored for quite some time and is on my Ravelry queue. I have bought 2 skeins of Cascade EcoWool (250g each) which is explicitly used for the pattern. Using 6mm needles which I am not familiar with after knitting a lot of fingering weight yarn, I hope this blanket can be finished within 2 weeks. And I can consume a total of 500g of yarn that I committed! yay!

Just cast it on and started working it using my KnitPicks Intergeable Circular, it's my first experience to use Magic Loop. I felt that I am learning a new skill and I have modified it a bit now because my cable is not long enough for a complete magic loop. I just pull one loop out near my right hand needle and continue working without much problem. It is expected that I can work in a round without making any loops soon. I am at Row 21 now after a hour of knitting. It's fast in the first few rows, which is quite understandable for this sort of knitting. I will upload the photos when I finish the first part of the blanket.

Yay! I finally type something!
(and I gave up writing Chinese in the blog, it's too time consuming.)

ISE6 Finished!

Pattern: 素敵なかぎ針編み
Yarn: Nine Colourful Deer 100% Cotton
Tools: Clover Crochet Hook No.3/0
Time：20/04/2008 - 10/05/2008

This shawl, not scarf, is made for my ISE6 pal!

It's soft and lovely! I was quite surprised with the texture of the yarn and wonder why they can make such a good quality yarn with that price! (~HK$8 / 50g)

The pattern is fast and the result's perfect! I hope this would fit my pal's black outfits she normally wear to work. :)

Robin 帽子

花樣：Robin by Kim Hargreaves
毛線：Rowan RYC Cashsoft 4 ply
工具：Addi 兩頭直針 2.25mm, Addi輪針3mm
完成時間：22/02/2008 - 25/02/2008

Pattern: Robin by Kim Hargreaves
Yarn: Rowan RYC Cashsoft 4 ply
Tools: Addi DPN 2.25mm, Addi Turbo 3mm
Time：22/02/2008 - 25/02/2008

太累了，中文後補吧！

This pattern was purchased as a kit from the Kim Hargreaves web site from UK. They were arrived 5 days after my order and wrapped so beautifully which made my brother so jealous! I felt like unwrapping a gift box from my very best friend when I untie the ribbons in the box.

I ordered 2 kits and one book "Heartfelt" from the website and all of them are so gorgeous and left me nil disappointment. The yarn's nice, and the patterns are simple yet elegant, which were really MY STYLE!

Anyhow, I gotta report the FO. It's beautiful, the yarn's nice, but, it's too small for me, I don't really understand. Does it mean that my head's far too bigger than normal people? My SIL, whose head's much smaller than me, would become the recipient of this project. And, me, gotta find another beret pattern which can accommodate a big head...

Since the pattern's simple, the FO is so wearable that people can just go with it in any clothes. Kim's patterns are mostly in this style, very simple, but really show the beauty of the yarn. I strongly recommend everyone to go to her website and have a peek. You would surely in love with them like I do!

我的毛線 My Yarn Collection

這是我現時擁有的毛線，不知道要多久才可以把這些線都耗掉了呢？

This is the yarn stash that I currently have..... Well.... when can I finish all these yarn??

手套

花樣：Maine Morning Mitts by Clara Parkes (The Book of Yarn)
毛線：Noro Silk Garden
工具：Addi 雙頭直針 4.5mm
完成時間：21/02/2008 - 22/02/2008

Pattern: Maine Morning Mitts by Clara Parkes (The Book of Yarn)
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden
Tools: Addi DPN 4.5mm
Time：21/02/2008 - 22/02/2008

這是我第一次作的手套，也是我第一次用這個毛線。我只可以說，我不會再用這毛線了！因為雖然這個叫作silk garden，所以用料也比較高貴，可是對我來說這真的是不可以接受的扎人。而且我還找到了一個顏色不能配上的結呢！

This is the first pair of fingerless mittens that I made, and my first exposure to noro yarn. I must say, I would not use this yarn again. Although silk garden was claimed to be more delicate and decent and luxurious, it is still unforgiveably itchy and unmatched knots were found!

可是，這花樣很美呢！而且用的時間很短，只用了兩晚就完成了。這真是最好用來送禮的東西呢！
Well, the pattern is great, lovely, and easy to do. It spent me approximately two nights to finish a pair, and the result was good. It is surely a nice last-minute knitted gifts!

Column of Leaves Scarf 2

花樣：Column of Leaves Scarf
毛線：Sublime Yarns Cashmere Merino Silk DK
工具：Knit Picks Options 可轉換輪針組 4mm
完成時間：02/2008 - 02/2008

Pattern: Column of Leaves Scarf
Yarn: Sublime Yarns Cashmere Merino Silk DK
Tools: Knit Picks Options 可轉換輪針組 4mm
Time：02/2008 - 02/2008

這個花樣之前已經打了一條給朋友，覺得真的好漂亮，所以忍不住為自己也打了一條。這個花樣真的非常細緻，而且難度也不高，打了一兩個重覆後已經不用再看著圖樣來編了，真好！

I have done this pattern before, and cannot stop from knitting another one for myself after seeing its beauty. This pattern is so decent and not difficult at all! I can memorize the whole stuff after one or two repeats! hurray!

這毛線的顏色雖然看起來灰灰暗暗的，但其實當中帶了很少的光澤，我最喜歡就是這樣的感覺了！而且摸起來也很滑，軟軟的，很舒適呢！

Though the photos may show the yarn to be a little bit too dull, but it is actually with a minimal of shine from silk. I love that feeling! And it's soft and smooth, and nice!

2007 Finished Objects 完成品

Somewhat, I engaged this year, with needles and hooks. :) And here's a wrap up of all the FOs.
這一年，我和織針連上了。讓我回顧一下今年的成品。

第一次的Lace Crocheting
Column of Leaves Scarf
五月群編會－夏天的小外套
小朋友糖果外套
媽媽的背心
下田直子的拼花手袋 Motif Handbag
ISE5 Scarf
鉤針披肩Crochet Shawl
短外套Margaret
Ruffles Scarf 波浪圍巾
Bubble Scarf 波波圍巾
Bubble Scarf 2 波波圍巾 2
十二月群編會 Joey's Knitalong for December
媽媽的披肩 Stole for Mum
綠色的圍巾 Green Scarf

綠色的圍巾 Green Scarf

花樣：Men's Cashmere Scarf from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts
毛線：Knit Picks Andean Silk 250g
工具：Knit Picks Options 可轉換輪針組 5mm
完成時間：10/11 - 30/11

Pattern: Men's Cashmere Scarf from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: Knit Picks Andean Silk 250g
Tools: Knit Picks Options Interchangeable 5mm
Time: 10/11 - 30/11

雖然它的名字是「男子的開司米圍巾」，可不是為了男孩子而編的哦，也不是用開司米作的呢～這毛線有23%的絲呢。看起來有點光澤，但低調，結果成為了我的至愛呢，平常用來上班也很合適。
Although the pattern's name is called "Men's Cashmere Scarf", it's not knitted for a man, nor using Cashmere / cashmere. :P This yarn contains 23% silk, and looks a bit shiny with it, yet subtle which makes it to be my favourite. It's so well fit for me to wear to work.

花樣其實就只是一行高針，一行則是一針高一針低的，非常簡單呢。唔，看來我仍是喜歡這種簡單的東西呢。
The pattern is extremely simple, with one row purl, and one row and alternately one purl and one knit. Umm, it seems that I love these kind of simple things. :D

媽媽的披肩 Stole for Mum

花樣：Stolen Moments Wrap by Amy Swenson
毛線：SkiYarn Flopsy 200g
工具 ：KnitPicks Options 輪針組 8mm
完成時間：10/12 - 30/12

Pattern: Stolen Moments Wrap by Amy Swenson
Yarn: SkiYarn Flopsy 200g
Tools: KnitPicks Options Interchangeable Circular 8mm
Time: 10/12-30/12

這披肩是為了媽媽而編的，因為她近期看著我其他的成品都看得紅了眼呢！:)
This stole is knitted for mum to stop her from staring from all my other knitting. :)

這毛線是在家附近的毛線店減價時買到的，有差不多六折的折扣呢！這個披肩（30cm x 180cm）只用了我150元港幣呢，超化算的！
I found the yarn in a blowout sale in a LYS, with about 40% discount for each skein! And I finally made the whole stole (36cm x 180cm) with only $150HKD, so attractive!

這花樣很簡單，但這毛線秋天的顏色卻令人覺得好有趣呢，紅紅啡啡的，不禁令人想起了秋天（雖然現在已是冬天了）。
The pattern is simple and repetitive, yet the yarn's autumn colour added details to it, with orange and brown scattering everywhere in it's soft, nice touch. It reminds my of the autumn red maple leaves!

在除夕的晚上送給了媽媽，她好喜歡呢！新年快樂。
It was just given to mum at the night of New Year Eve, Happy New Year to all!

十二月群編會 Joey's Knitalong for December

花樣：群編會
毛線：九色鹿竹白色約７０克
工具：Clover鈎針日規６號
完成時間：4/12 - 31/12

Pattern: from Joey's Knitalong (Chinese)
Yarn: Nine Colourful Deer Bamboo White 70g approx.
Tools: Clover Crochet Hook Japanese No. 6
Time: 4/12-31/12

其實這個圍巾只進行了兩天，但中間就在其他不同的圍巾中給纏著了。
Actually the crocheting work continued for only 2 days, but I stopped for several weeks in between..... Obviously got sticked to other interesting projects.

這個花樣其實相當容易，而且用的時間很少，可惜我想我選錯毛線了。這九色鹿的竹線是太重了一點，就是我整型後，也不太看得到花樣呢。唔，不要緊了，因為，我想我也不太喜歡這花樣呢。
This scarf is a very easy and fast one. However, I got the wrong yarn. The bamboo yarn was too drapy and the shape of the pattern did not come out well, even after blocking. Umm.... anyway, I do not like much the result of the pattern.....