Auqa Summer Cardi

I love this cardi as it had turned out so well. I am so happy with it as it's a 1st time for me knitting a cardi top-down without a pattern. The start of the cardi took me a while as I had to cast on a few times to get the right neckline as I wanted a wide one. I also had to keep trying it on when I was doing the raglan increases for the sleeves. After separating the stitches for the sleeves, it was smooth knitting for the body & it got a little boring with the plain stocking stitch. But in the end, it fitted perfectly ......

It's gorgeous & I love the yarn too - it's Cleckheaton 4 ply Bamboo - has a lovely & soft feel although it can be splitty when knitting with it. This cardi only costs $21 as I use 6 balls of the bamboo - it's a bargain. Now I am just waiting for the weather to cool down so that I can wear it.

I sew on 2 plastic press studs on the inside of the collar band & then on top of that, I sew on a glass bead for decoration .....

..... I am so pleased with the finish & now that I have done a cardi top down, I am sure I can knit another & have a different stitch pattern for the collar or long sleeves or...... my goodness, there are so many variations !

Remember the Green Scrunchable Scarf that I knitted for my niece ? As I showed the scarf to the ladies in my knitting groups, we came up with the idea of a neck warmer using the same stitch pattern & so during the weekend, I found some leftover sock yarn & cast on. About 4 hours later ......

...... I just can't believe how fast this knitted up. It's so easy & will make a great present. This neck warmer measures 80cm x 10cm & fits nicely around the neck. This is a really great stitch pattern & I love it, it's so easy - cast on 23 sts (the stitch pattern is a multiple of 3 sts with 2 end sts). With yarn in front, slip the 1st st purlwise, (k2, p1 for 7 times) & knit the last st. Repeat this for every row until you have the required length.

I knit mine with 6mm needles with 2 sock yarn together. A great way to use up the left over sock yarn !

Grandma's Comfort Shawl

Another FO off the needles - this took me a week.

It's the Comfort Shawl that I am knitting for my Grandma in Singapore. I knitted the shawl in 4ply cashmere/merino from the Knittery with 4.5mm needles & it went really fast. Blocking it was a challenge because of the shape. There is shaping done on the shoulders so that the shawl will sit nicely like a cape. Notice my new blocking mat - I bought these little alphabet squares for A$15 a pack & it's great - they are waterproof & it's much easier to stick the pins in than what I used to do on the carpet.

The shawl fitted Lynette nicely & it should fit my Grandma too as she is also very slim. It measures 58" around the bottom & 15" from the neck to the end. I think it's just the right size to sit on the shoulder & keep it warm.

I hope Grandma likes it & she should be able to wear it next week as hubby is leaving for Singapore this weekend.

Eversince I returned from my holidays, I have been feeling lazy expecially with blogging. I have not been reading blogs (my apologies to all my blogging friends) or the forums or updating my projects on ravelry. I just feel too tired to be sitting in front of the computer ...... but I forced myself to do it yesterday. I spent 4 hours uploading photos, updating my projects on ravelry & also published 2 patterns on ravelry. Remember these ......

The Petite Felted Bags (with 2 handles)

and this .....

Snakes & Ladders Socks

...... these 2 patterns are now available in Ravelry as free downloads.

I will like to thank Gosia & Linda for test knitting the Snakes & Ladders socks - both of them did a fantastic job !

A List Of Knitting Requests

Did you remember the 4 felted bags that my girls & I made for my nieces in Singapore ? Well, my nieces love the bags & just couldn't believe that I made them. Anyway, now that they & the rest of the family know that I can knit (of course), they started putting in their requests & now I have this list of projects which will keep me busy for the next few months !

This is the 1st on the list ......

..... a scarf for one of my nieces who will be spending sometime in China. She asked for a long & thin scarf & I remembered a lovely scarf pattern that Knit Flix knitted in 1 day. My niece's favorite color is green & I had limited green yarn in my stash but managed to find these 2 balls - a Zen Yarn Garden Bamboolicious in Pine Grove & the Knittery Cashmere/Merino in Lakeside Flora - the combination of colors is great!

I didn't believe that a scarf can be knitted in 1 day but when I cast on this pattern, it was flying off the needles & I finished it in 3 days ! It's a record for me as it always takes me ages to finish a scarf . I guess it must be the 6mm needles as I use 2 yarns together & of course, the lovely pattern. I love the scarf as it's so soft & warm & the stitch pattern is gorgeous ......

Well, 1 project off the list of knitting requests & I am planning to cast on the 2nd one - the Comfort Shawl for my 93 year old grandmother. When I saw my grandmother in Singapore, she was wearing a lace cardigan that I knitted 5 years ago for Lynette. She told me that she loves wearing it & always save it to wear for outings only. So I decided to knit her a shawl that she can wear at home & the Comfort Shawl will be perfect for her. I am casting on this afternoon but I have to go through my sock yarn stash to find the perfect color !

The 3rd request is from my Mum who showed me the cotton vest that she has been wearing & which look a little worn. I knitted this vest 3 years ago when she visited us. Now she wants a long cardigan to keep her body & hands warm & she wants the same cotton (Bendigo). I am thinking of knitting the Lady February Sweater in a longer version.

The 4th request is from another niece (I have 8 nieces in Singapore) who wants a shrug/bolero & also in cotton. I am planning to knit her the Short Sleeve Bolero from Jo Sharp's designs as I had knitted one for myself before.

The 5th request is for my 1st grand nephew who is 6 months old & I met him for the 1st time when I was in Singapore. He is so cute & his mum has requested for a little vest just to keep his body warm. Again in cotton which is the best yarn for the weather in Singapore. I think I will just make up my own v-neck vest pattern as it should be easy.

I have just put in a big order for Bendigo 8 ply cotton & now I am off to find the yarn for the shawl .....

I Am Back !

It's so good to be home - in fact, I have been home for 5 days but as usual, I was busy with cleaning, washing & stocking the fridge & preparing for the girls to start their new school year yesterday. Now I am back to normal routine & back to knitting which I did not do much during the holidays.

We left after Christmas & spent the 1st week in Singapore - getting together with family & friends & the 2nd week we took this luxurious bus to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia .....

... the bus trip was 5 hours but it was great as we were served lunch while watching movies on the upper deck. The bus had more room than a plane & there was a lower deck with a lounge where we can sit & have refreshments & watch more movies. I did most of my knitting on this bus trip.

We stayed at this nice hotel which is connected to 2 hugh shopping malls & that kept us busy for the whole 2 days while we were there ......

Then we took the same bus on another 5 hour trip (more knitting time) north to Penang - a beautiful island & stayed at a gorgeous beach resort for the next 4 days, we really did not do much but lazed by the pool .....

The girls did spent some time at the beach .......

..... but I just parked myself on the deck chair under the coconut trees & did managed to cast off one sock .....

..... people around me must be thinking I was crazy when I put on the sock & took some pictures .....

Then we were back in Singapore for another 2 weeks - more get-togethers & eating out with family & friends & of course to celebrate Chinese New Year ......

I just can't believe that in 4 weeks, I only managed to finish a pair of socks ! I had brought along enough yarn for 4 projects ! It was hard to find time to knit with all those social activities & when I could find time, I was just too hot & tired to take out the knitting. Anyway, I do have a pair of socks - my own design but have not decided on a name - knitted with Dream In Color Smooshy .....

I am quite happy with the stitch pattern as it took me a while to get it right ....

What does this stitch pattern reminds you of ?