Baby sock

Made another baby sock for my nephew. Looks so christmas-y right?

Nightsongs finished!

After blocked. The size is 144 cm (width) 68 cm (length). I'm satisfied with the result.

Nightsongs on block

Currently blocking my night songs

recycling

im trying to grow something on a recycled container. anybody can guess what is the plant i am using?

to open a store

 I am seriously considering in opening a store at etsy.com.

I know that I am not that productive as a knitter. However, I have a lot of projects that I want to try, and I know that it would be beautiful, but ... I'm not sure I am fashionable enough to wear those :p. You know how conservative I am kekekeke...  I tend to like the same things again and again. It is probably different when I stay in Taiwan. But here?

Most of the stuff that I sell will probably ... lace shawl. I am fascinated with lace shawl and hope that in the future, I can design my own. I am thinking to get inspirations from Indonesian traditional textiles, but so far... I had problems in implementing the shapes into lace pattern. So, I figure out that I need to increase my experience in lace knitting. I think, lace shawl (and/or lace scarf) would be enough for that.

Hm... what do you think?

nightsongs... almost

almost finished!!!

oh... my hands are so tired! i need to stay away from fingering or lace yarn...

Nightsongs has just started

 I've been eye-ing a project from EmeraldEmpress from Ravelry, the project is made from a pattern called Gail (Nightsongs). I like her project because it looked like a peacock feathers. I fell in love with the pattern already, and decided that I should make it with a green yarn. It is just so obvious that I do love green so much.

So, I started few days ago, after I finished my nephew's blanket and socks (I'll upload the socks later). The yarn was already bought months ago. Another product from Pierrot, called Sawayaka, made from 100% cotton and it's fingering weight. I'm using another 4.00 mm circular needles. I guess circular needles and me is almost inseparable right now.

To my disappointment, I didn't understand the pattern from Jane Araujo, the creator of the pattern. So I just go with text pattern EmeraldEmpress used. It was quite clear and easy, although I hate that everytime I want to knit a row, I must see the pattern, rather than just follow the holes. Just like what I did with my summer blanket and all crochet projects.

Anyways... so far, the project is still going on smoothly, and I quite like the result. Although, after I think abot it, if I want to use this shawl as a classy piece, I should've add beads to add some sparkle on the shawl.

Anyways... Hopefully I'm finishing it soon...

The summer baby blanket, finally finished

After several months, I finally finished this project. I can't say it's a masterpiece, but looking at the result, I feel proud! :D



I used Pierrot yarn tre, leaf green color. I used approximately 5.5 balls of yarn (I bought 8, and the left over was 2.5 balls). I really recommend this yarn for lace, because it lays very beautifully. I also don't think that blocking is not that difficult for this piece, since it already looked so nice and "flat". I'm not sure about whether other pattern should be blocked or not, since when I used tre for a basketweave pattern, it needed a blocking.



I used 4.0 mm circular needle (40 cm long), made from bamboo and plastic hose. I bought the needles on ebay from kashi6688 store. For you who don't really that into branded-snob knitting needles, I really think that his store offers good price and good products. I use the needles larger than Pierrot suggested just because I want to make sure that I don't do it too tight. I have the tendency to knit too tight. If you want to use the size of needle as Pierrot suggested (I believe it is 3 to 3.25 mm), I believe the differences would not be much with my result ^^.

Ok... so I used a chevron lace pattern. It's a 12 sts repeat. The Chevron pattern repeat is:
row 1: p1, k5, p1, k5
row 2 and all even (ws) rows: purl the purl sts, knit the knit sts.
row 3: p1, k3, k2tog, yo, p1, ssk, k3
row 5: p1, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, p1, k1, yo, ssk, k2
row 7: p1, k1, k2tog, yo, k2, p1, k2, yo, ssk, k1
row 9: p1, k2tog, yo, k3, p1, k3, yo, ssk

and the blanket pattern is:
Part 1: Ribbing
CO 12 + (12x12) + 12 sts = 168 sts
row 1: k1, *p2, k2* until the end of the row.
row 2: knit the knit sts, purl the purl sts.
repeat row 1 and 2 until the ribbing reaches 12 rows (or 2 inches)

Part 2: Blanket
row 1: k12, *row 1 of Chevron pattern* repeated 12 times, k12
row 2: k12, *row 2 of Chevron pattern* repeated 12 times, k12
row 3: k12, *row 3 of Chevron pattern* repeated 12 times, k12
row 4: k12, *row 4 of Chevron pattern* repeated 12 times, k12
row 5: k12, *row 5 of Chevron pattern* repeated 12 times, k12
row 6: k12, *row 6 of Chevron pattern* repeated 12 times, k12
row 7: k12, *row 7 of Chevron pattern* repeated 12 times, k12
row 8: k12, *row 8 of Chevron pattern* repeated 12 times, k12
row 9: k12, *row 9 of Chevron pattern* repeated 12 times, k12
row 10: k12, *row 10 of Chevron pattern* repeated 12 times, k12

Repeat the rows until the desired length achieved. Mine is 20 times. I encourage to put marker on each repeat so that if there's any error, it would be easy to track.

Part 3: Ribbing
Repeat row 1 and 2 of the Part 1 Ribbing until the ribbing reaches 12 rows (or 2 inches)

Bind-off
Using the Kitchener stitch. Make sure that you don't pull too hard, other wise the length of the bottom and top part of the blanket would be dissimilar.

Block if necessary.

I think, this project is also good for a lap blanket, to warm your laps during the late autumn and early winter. But I do think that the holes on the lace made it a perfect summer blanket. Recommended for you who lives in the tropical region too! :D Like I do.

Mini mango bonsai

So, I developed a simple hobby of trying to grow any seed. And when I say any seed, I really mean it. 

Few months ago when I was still in Taiwan, a friend of mine brought me a stolen mangoes. Yes, 4 stolen mangoes smuggled from Taizhong. The mangoes were stolen from neighbor's tree that... errr... let's just say, the tree had tempted my friend to steal them. Especially the mangoes looked so beautiful. I thought, "hey! we should make a mini fruit bonsai!"

So what we need would be:

- mango with seed

- soil

- pot

- small stones or pebbles

- water

- small shovel or spoon

- clean container

- fruit knife

- a good (gardening) scissors

After we ate them, I collected all the seeds. You know, the part that we usually bite and chew as our last resort in eating whole part of the mango. That part, is actually the casing of the mango seed. First, we wash the collected casings and clean the outer surface of the casing, peel the leftover mango fruit-flesh with the knife. Carefully find the the cleft on the side of the casing, and gently tug it open (or dig a hole) with the gardening scissors.

Then peek inside the casing, you will have the seeds. Pull out the seeds, and carefully not to cause any damage on the mango seed. Remove the brown skin from the seed and then soak the seed on clean water, in a clean container. Change the water everyday or earlier if the water had turned brown. I believe the brown color is a kind of sap (now, I forgot what's the scientific name, but it usually excreted by trees to avoid insects or when wounded). As for the casings, dry them under a direct sunlight. It usually dries out in 1-2 days.

After a 1-2 weeks, a bud (or more) will sprout. 

The color will then change from white to green. And if the plants were continued soaked, the bud will transform into a shoot and root. If you're lucky, the rootings will be long enough.

And after the rootings are established, it is safe for you to move the seed into a soiled pot. Make sure that the rootings are well sunked and covered with soil and pebbels. Spray with water (into the pot) immediately.

So, after I put the pebbles, I kept the mango bonsai on a well sun-lighted area in my room (direct sunlight is acceptable for the baby). And the plant grew quickly (thanks to the constant watering) everyday.

 

Now... who said that growing plant is a difficult way? It is easy and simple!

See you next time :D

Container gardening

 You know that I always fond on plants, right?

Well, other than trying to move those plants and grow them inside the house, I am also interested with recycled-container gardening. Well, I believe that I have a hoarder in me, a dark side that I am trying to suppress as much as possible. That side, has the tendency of reuse and recycle things, not wanting to throw out stuffs, no matter how bad the condition is. So... there I am.

So far, I'm still trying not to buy anything new for my garden, and if I buy, I try to limit the expenses and the frequency to once or twice a month. THAT is a big thing for a person with hoarding tendency like me. I'm learning to throw stuff too. It was difficult at first, but now... I believe I am getting better.

Anyways...

Previously, when I was still in Taiwan, owning a huge window and enough sun every morning, I used glass container (They were bottles for chicken essence and herbal medicine for women). Since I can't make any hole on the bottom, I used crystal gel to grow the plants, and I was satisfied with the result.

Now? I have expand my planting media to soil, which is more tricky. I like them though, since I can grow pretty much everything. The problem is, if I use soil on fully closed non-aerated glass container, it would cause problematic root growth. So... I am now using plastic container, which I can punch or burn holes by using simple tools.

Again, to prevent my hoarding personality resurface, I limit my project into 3-5 projects at once, depends on how big the project is. I am currently doing the mango and lemon semi-bonsai. Incoming, mung beans maybe? And still trying to make sure that my Longan grows nice. The soil is the biggest problem I am facing right now (other than the lack of sunlight).

Well... See you on the next posts when I update you on the results.

My potato grew...

 I can't believe that my potato grows!

About one and a half month ago, my sister gave me a potato that already sprouted some buds. I decided to grow the potato. But since I don't have any good (deep) planting pot, I used something from IKEA.

So... use a very simple soil mix, I added some fertilizer pellets in the almost top of the soil surface. I made a hole in the middle of the soil, plant the potato, and then close the hole with the soil mixture, add the fertilizer pellet and add more soil. Make sure that the potato is under the soil.

Water regularly and give sunshine as much as you can.

And... this is 1.5 months later.

In my case, the potato suddenly showed up after 2 weeks. I was a bit worried, but apparently it grew ok. So... no worries. If you want to plant the potato and make them produce more potatoes, then you need a deeper pot (maybe about 15 inches?, mine is only 4 inches). Plus... you need to put them on a very good-lighted place. Mine is so small and I just want them to produce leaves. I want the plant to be semi-indoor plant that I can put on my desk.

So, if you have a potato that already sprouted new buds... don't throw them away. Plant them in your yard, or in a container, and have fun! :D

DIY waxing

 Hello hello...

I'm still busy with my craft after moving to the new place. Plus, there's a new baby at home (not mine) so... basically, it's a bit hectic lately.

Anyways. I want to add an entry, which actually not really related with craft, but when I made this blog, I was going to write home-related things too. Well, especially DIYs. So, our current topic is waxing, and to be specific, brazillian waxing.

I am using the instant waxing strips from Body Shop. Why did I buy it? My consideration was because it is very practical, which means that I don't have to heat the wax prior the process. Most of the time, I will cut the strips to the size that I need. But, I think my method can be applied to most of the waxing product.

What we need:
- Instant waxing strips
- talcum powder, I prefer the ones with menthol to 'calm' my skin
- hand held mirror, but if you have small standing mirror, it would be better
- tweezers, use different tweezers if you also pluck your eyebrow. But, if you're okay, just wash the tweezers after each use.
- common scissors, to cut the strips
- small comb
- soap, water
- towel or a very good tissue


Let's do it!
1. first, I usually wash the area I want to wax with warm soapy water. It would be better if you use non-sodium liquid soap so that your skin will not be dry. But, if your daily bath soap does not dry-out your skin, then just use it. I personally use Johnson's pH 5.5 liquid soap.
2. Dry the area with a towel or tissue. It is important that you don't leave any fiber on the area, so careful with your choice of towel/tissue. If you feel you need too, comb the hairs downward. If you don't have comb, just use your fingers.
3. Cut the strips. I usually cut them without changing the original width of the strips (the narrowest side), so the size will be about 8 cm (width) x 2 (length) cm.
4. Peel the instant waxing strips. Since both sides are usable, remember to put the unused strip safely away from you. You don't want to have them stick to your hands or any other place when you accidentally touch them. Put the sticky side up. Hold the peeled strip on your hand. I'm not a lefty, so I hold it on my right hand by using two fingers only.
5. Stretch the area that you want to wax by pulling the skin upward using your other hand (I'm using my left).
6. Stick the strips downward carefully. Downward here means that they are following the direction of the hair growth. Do not let go of your stretching hands (here... my left).
7. At this stage, the original width of the strip (8 cm) will be sticking downward. (... please use your imagination). Or... the 8 cm will be the vertical length.
8. Still using the other hand to stretch, use your hand to improve and distribute the stickiness by gently press and rub (once or twice is sufficient) in downward direction. Body Shop suggest that you can warm the strips by rubbing them prior to use, but I prefer to just put my hands (so... don't be cold handed) for about 15 seconds on the sticking strip.
9. Get ready, and pull the strip upward.
10. Repeat the process from 2 to 9, with combing the hairs if necessary. Repeat until the area that you need to wax are mostly stripped, and the majority of the hairs are gone. Once you reached areas that are difficult too see, use the mirror.
11. In my experience, the wax from the strips will usually sticks hard to the hairs. The first pull usually have weakened the hair roots. So if you have hairs that are so difficult to remove, even after you use the strips multiple times, handle this problem by gently pull them using your fingers. They supposed to be pulled off easily.
12. Using tweezers, pluck the hairs that are hidden or grow at a difficult area. Tweezers can also be used to shape the area if you have any pattern in mind.
13. Apply the talcum powder to remove stickiness and to find hairs that haven't been removed.
14. Once you are satisfied, wash the waxed area with warm soapy water, rinse, and apply the talcum powder again.

It usually takes 20-30 minutes of my time, depends on how much hair I want to remove.

.... that's all for now. :D

the blanket... 3 months after

 So... I started to knit a blanket for my (was) soon-to-be-born nephew last June. But, well... all the activities and I was so totally busy to knit since I have to finish my thesis and prepare the thesis defense. It was exhausting. I rarely sleep and knitting is something I can't afford (time-wise).

I left school after graduated 2 months later, which was late August, and I run away to Singapore, at my sister's place. And... 10 days after I stayed in Singapore, my sister gave birth of her first son, 3 weeks earlier than her approximate due date. The blanket was still 20% finish.

I'm using Pierrot Yarn Tre, made from cotton, and the color is my fave color: green. I was going to make a block blanket, but after I think about it, a whole blanket without connecting the blocks would be much easier and convenient for me. I did a trial to make a basketweave pattern, so I can predict the approximate stitches I need to make a new chevron lace pattern. The pattern was a 12 sts repeats. Or to be more exact, it is a 11 +1 repeat. I make 12 chevrons in one row, and added garter st at 9 st on each side. This garter st is to make the blanket flat.

Right now, I think I've already reached about 60% of the total length I wanted, and I can't wait to finish this project, since I want to start another projects: scarf for my friend who helped me a lot in Taiwan, and a doily for my teacher.

So far, I like the project, I enjoy knitting the yarn and the yarn is surprisingly "clean". It's easy to work with, and the fabric fell gracefully, even before blocking. I think the yarn is recommendable for lace.

We'll see what's gonna happen.

[teaser] the beauty of growing

 I'm going to post some of my projects with plants. Relax, it's not about my experiments, although this is an experiment. :p

I'm playing with plants and use them for decoration. Let's just say, I found the beauty of watching my plants grow. I hope you will find that beauty too.

Wait until I have enough time to arrange my photos (and in the meantime, also waiting for my plants to grow).

Tie dye

 My second chance of playing with tie dye.

We went to a tribe in Taiwan called Shi-bi, which actually means canyon or stone wall. They have a fabric art center, where we went for a tie dye experience.

This time, I tied it like this:

and this is after the cloth was dyed, before I opened the knots.



And this is the result:



I think I should do this again sometime :D

tiny cactus can be pretty too

 Lately, I've been fond of a song called Ugly from 2NE1. One of the sentence was "Just like her I wanna be pretty."

So, under that theme, I learned from a cactus park in Hsinchu, Taiwan, that tiny cactus can look pretty too.

What you need is:
- a tall glass, or any size that can fit the cactus
- colorful stones, or you can change them with colorful sands
- chopstick, to put in the cactus
- spoon
- and a cute cactus in a small pot. The size of the pot that I am using is 2.5 cm (diameter).



First, put in the stones, any color you like, until it reached about 1 cm thick.



Put in the cactus, and carefully put it in the middle of the glass.



Start to add in more stones, using any color you like, and carefully not to drop the stones on top of the cactus, because it will be difficult to remove.



Redirect the cactus using chopstick when needed.



Stop adding stones until the pot, soil and bottom part of the cactus is fully drown in stones.

  And voila!

another victim - recycled yarn

 Made from a pants given by a friend.

Maybe I'm going to make a bag. I should've been able to transform the trousers into shorts, but it was too late, so... I'll see what I can do with the top part.

The victim

The victim of the hat :p

rib hat: finished!

the express gift already finished.

I finished knitting the hat yesterday, but I have to wash and block it first. The material dried quite quick. In only 6  hours, it dried perfectly (maybe because it is 100% wool?). So, I'm not sure whether the blocking was successful.

the hat, oddly shaped even after blocking

Hope Fishball like this hat. It's a bit oddly shaped, I added pom pom since I felt the shape of the hat screamed pom pom loudly. I made it slighly longer than Fishball's head because I thought it would be useful during winter, you can still pull down the length, to cover more of your face, or pull down to the back of the neck, and cover it with scarf to keep warm. Europe is not that friendly during winter, right?

the gift

recycling t-shirt: Yarn

Since I moved to Taiwan, I have to admit that my awareness of reduce, reuse and recycle has greatly increased. I believe, the habit of the Taiwanese society, along with the encouragement from the government had supported the development of the care towards the mother nature.

One of the great advantage of staying in a dorm that is occupied by rich Taiwanese student (I'm not rich. I chose this dorm because the school encourage me too, and I'm too busy to find a cheaper place to stay), is that they like to discard clothes. Some of my PJs are second hand from those discarded clothes. I even found a contoured/ergonomic pillow, carpet, hot water jar, etc. for my room. Well, most of the discarded - yet still usable - stuff is t-shirt.

I've been wanting to do this since a long time ago, but I can't do it with my tees, even the one that I already owned since 1997. I am dreaming to cut and recycle the tees into a usable yarn.

A week ago, I found the victim in a carton box in front of the elevator. So whoever has this shirt before, be happy, it will be useful for quite a long time.

First, I cut the part that I want to transform into yarn

Second, I cut that part into small vertical cuts and the width was approximately 1.5 cm (or about half inch), but left one end uncut for about 2.5 cm (one inch).

Third, I cut the last strand of the vertical cuts, and the cut should be diagonal.

Fourth, continue the diagonal cut to all the next vertical cuts until all the cuts are done.

Fifth, pull the t-shirt strip. since mine is a bit fragile, I did it by holding the connection seams between front and back part of the original t-shirt, so that the seams would not be destroyed. Stretch the strips until the sides of the strips curled (usually inward).

And the yarn is ready for use.

I'm thinking about making a mop by crocheting the yarn. Whaddayathink?

In progress: Rib hat

Making another gift for my senior who is leaving for Holland. He helped me a lot during my experiments, and I asked him a lot of things, especially with the equipment. So this is a thank gift for him, which is currently still on the making. I might need another ball of yarn.

The hat is made simply with rib pattern, since this is another express project. I have the yarn since last year... Hoping that the store would still have some :p. It's made of Kanebo Shanbell Tweed, 100% Wool, to scare away the chill of european winter.

Will upload again when it's finished.

Last minute hand-made gift: cable headband

 Now...

my classmate is heading for Michigan tomorrow, and I had to make last minute gift, despite of my thesis deadline. So... well, not much that I can make.

Name of project: cable headband
Time required to make: 1-2 hours
Difficulty: easy




The tools and materials that I used:
- wool yarn (using something from Australia, 80% wool, 20% polyester, worsted)
- 5.00 mm circs knitting needle
- cable needle (optional)
- hook, any size, just to help you sew in the knitted cable
- scissors
- glue, adhesive ones if you can. Do not use double tape, it won't work.
- plastic bando headband

How to make:
- co 6 sts, make sure that you leave tail about 30 cm to weave the ends.
row 1 (RS): p1 k4 p1
row 2 (WS): k1 p4 k1
row 3, 5: as row 1
row 4, 6: as row 2
row 7 (cable): p1, move next 2 sts to the cable needle, put in front, k2 on the next 2 sts from the left needle (LN), move back the sts on cable needle to the LN, knit the 2 sts, p1
row 8, 10: as row 2
row 9, 11: as row 1
repeat row 7-11 until the length of the knitted cable is enough to cover the bando headband.



- seam the CO part of the cable, by folding the left and right rows to make a small sack for the plastic headband ends. Seam the left and right rows for at least 1 inch along the knitted cable. Use hook to help you with this, or use a wool needle. Cable (RS) side facing upwards.
- do the same thing to the other end of the cable.
- Apply glue on one end of the plastic headband. Put the applied end into the weaved small sack at the end of the knitted cable. Make sure that the cable is facing upwards before you put in the plastic headband.
- carefully apply the glue, inch by inch, and stick the cable onto the plastic headband. Gently press the cable so it lays flat on the headband. Make sure the glue did not stick into the RS of the cable.
- when you reached the end, about 2-3 inch left, apply the glue until the tip of the plastic headband. Carefully stretch the cable and gently put the plastic headband into the other end of the weaved cable.



- wait until the glue is dried
- the cable headband is ready for use!



Stay tuned and keep crafting!