Welcome 2012!

A very Happy New Year to all of you, though belated. This year I haven’t taken several New Year Resolutions like I usually do. I am tired of not keeping up with my resolutions. We are back after a nice holiday in Singapore. I did a wee bit of shopping for yarn and other crafty stuff. The day I reached home, I was swamped with house work. On an organising spree, I found this cross stitch worked by me some eons ago.

Then I realized that working on crochet and knitting throughout the year, I have neglected other the crafts that I used to do, like cross stitch, embroidery and painting. I just can’t believe it is a little over ten years since I last picked up my brush. I hope to do justice to my other crafts also this year. There! I have made one resolution already.
This year I hope to learn quilting even though I don’t have a machine yet. I am yet to start a new project this year, though there are several languishing in the WIP pile. It will be better if I tackle them first before embarking on new ones. This is will be my second resolution I guess. Writing this blog is not helping me, I am making resolution after resolution. So before another one pops up in my head, I will take leave. Until my next post Ciao!

Winter wear and accessories

Winter has arrived. So it was necessary to stock up on my winter wear. I tested the beautiful Lena wrap by Chelsea Norquay.

Lena Wrap

Then I also tested for Joanne of Terrific Fibers the scarf “In a Breeze”. Literally, as the name suggests this pattern which is just a one row repeat is the first scarf that I have made in a matter of a day and a half.

In a breeze

This month also saw the resurrection of my passion for doilies. So I unearthed an incomplete doily and completed it.

Center of Attraction

Then I made another doily.

Diamonds

The last is my piece de resistance an Angel Food cake. This is the first time I am making a food item. I was testing it for Nett on Ravelry. The cake is also a box which had hold itty bitty stuff.

Angel Food Cake Box

That is all for this week. I hope to come back again next week. Do check out Tamis’ for more finished objects.

Garments galore!

It has been a month since I updated my blog. Have been traveling and then generally life took over. However, I have a couple of projects to show off.
My pet project has been Owlivia, the adorable owl from Interweave Crochet summer issue.

Owlivia

I had to make her when I set my eyes on her. But then, I got the time to make her only yesterday. It takes only two hours to complete this cute project.
Then earlier I made the Zipline Shell by Linda Permann. When my daughter saw the pattern as I was browsing online, she wanted it in pink. But the pattern came in larger sizes only. So I did the math and surprised myself by getting it right and it now fits her to a T.

Zipline Shell

Another such project was the Spring Shell by Simona Merchant Dest. This is also a plus size garment and from Interweave. I had been eyeing it for long. Emboldened by my previous effort at sizing down a garment, I ventured to do my math and it turned out perfect.

Spring Shell

That is all for this week. Hope to post my WIP on Wednesday. This goes to Tamis Amis’ FO Fridays. Do check out other FO’s here.

Trifle shawl

At last I have a finished object to talk about. It was a test knit for Megan Goodacre. All was well when I started the knitting. But as I progressed I was getting worried about the amount of yarn I had left. When I had about 20 rows to complete the yarn got over. So I just bound off and the shawl looks good too. But I am disappointed that I had to stop midway. Hope to make another one with a different brand and color of yarn.
I hope after this I would never ever start a project without checking the yardage and availability of yarn.
Here is the shawl :

A Colourful Cushion

I have long wanted to make colorful granny square pillows. When a friend recently asked if I could make them for her, I agreed. Here is the one I completed.

After joining the squares on the go, I joined the two sides and added two buttons. However, I do feel that I have to sew a lining for the next one I make. This cushion was done with scraps of acrylic yarn. The other one in the making is with knitting cotton.
Check out other finished objects at Tamis Amis.

Delightful Doilies

It has been ages since I worked on a doily. I have always been a fan of Patricia Kristofferson and her absolutely delightful and challenging doilies. A friend gifted me a few patterns some aeons ago and I never got around to working on them. This Pineapple Song

is from that collection. Iam working two rows a day and hope to complete it by next wednesday. Unfortunately I am going to run out of thread and am considering a contrast thread to continue it with.
The other incomplete project I have, was begun in earnest for a CAL (crochet along for the unitiated) with Raveler friends. Many of them have completed and put up gorgeous photos of the finished wigglies but I am lagging behind. This wiggly crochet is very simple and worked on a grid. It was a nice technic to learn.

Hoping to finish this too before next week.
Want to check out more such delightful incomplete goodies. Head over to Tamis Amis

Teensy Weensies

The projects that I finished last week but failed to update my blog is the subject of this week’s update. I was up to my neck with knitting lace and it absorbed so much of my energy. Being fairly new to lace, I spend more time on it, especially frogging and restarting etc, that I need a break every couple of days by making something else which is quick and easy and cheery to make.
The first thing which went on to make was teeny little birdie that found in Attic 24, which had also been in my list of to-do’s for so long.
This birdie done on a whim with bits of yarn lying around. However, I did enjoy making it under an hour.
The other quick project I made was the cute little bunny, again inspired by Lucy of Attic 24

Last but not the least is the teeny weeny heart Baby Delicious
This absolutely adorable doll was made as soon as I set eyes on it while surfing in blogland.

If you want to check out more awesome finished projects check out TamisAmis.

Shawls on needles

I never used to make shawls, simply because I didn’t have any use for them. But since I moved to the hills, it gets pretty cold even during the daytime. So I started making shawls and I am simply loving it. There are two shawls on the needles now. One is the Icarus Shawl by Miriam Felton
I am using Malabrigo lace 2 ply for this project and I love this yarn, mainly because it has withstood innumerable frogging. Got this from someone who did not have any use for it.

And the other is a test knit for Megan Goodacre on Ravelry. The yarn I am using is light fingering weight and so far the yarn and the pattern haven’t disappointed me.

This goes to the Work-in Progress Wednesdays on Tamis Amis

Knitting Lace

At last I have a triangular knitted shawl to show off. A lace knitted shawl was all I wanted and you won’t know how hard I have tried to knit lace. Have I mastered it? Of course not! But I am getting there. This shawl by Lankakomero is very easy for a novice who has been battling with lace patterns for the past several months.
Some pearls of wisdom for those who wish to try knitted lace.
a. If you have children, work on your project after you make sure they have slept. ☺
b. Mark the row you are working on, in your pattern sheet, if you have to get up in the middle. (Though people swear by life lines, it doesn’t work for me.)☺

Eliina Shawl

The best thing is I have learnt to read charts and I think it is easier sometimes to work with charts. Lastly, I have to thank the designer for writing the pattern very well that even beginners can follow easily.

Amigurumi Again!

Though I have done a couple of Amigurumi toys before, the SAARC Amigurumi KAL/CAL on Ravelry had me queing and faving (if I can coin a word like that ) a lot of Amigurumi toys. The first of my favorites was the Amigurumi Flower Pot from Lion Brand pattern. It is a very versatile pattern in that, you don’t necessarily have to make the same flowers in the pattern but can play around with different flowers in a myriad colors and sew them on.I made them that way to have a variety of flowers in a bright colors.
This is my finished object for this Friday.
My camera is yet to be repaired. I am waiting impatiently to take better pictures.
I am linking it here.