A yarn bombing music video

Ok ... so it's been a looooong while ... but I have good reason, trust me.  Starting a business is no easy task ...
But I'm not here to talk about my business (which is completely unrelated to knitting or yarns, BTW).
I just discovered a yarn bombing video and am absolutely want to share -


Seventeen Evergreen - Polarity Song from Lucky Number Music on Vimeo.
There is an article accompanying the video on HuffingtonPost too.

Hey there! It's me!

OMG! It's 2010! How's everyone been doing? A heartfelt thank you if you still come by!

No BS ... I haven't visited a yarn store or craft store, not posting on my own blog, not visiting your blogs, not pattern-browsing in Ravelry ... If you ask me which is the latest hot pattern now, sorry, no idea. But the truth is, I felt pretty good like that. No more feeling extremely agonized because I couldn't knit fast enough to catch up with the trend. No yarn buying in 4 months ... and I survive pretty well ... LOL!

I am still knitting though. Definitely not a very productive 2009, but I still managed to finish up a few things (socks, basically) before the year ended.


Pattern: Be Still My Heart Socks designed by Sandy Lake (Socks à la Carte)
Yarn: TOFUtsies sock yarn color 876 Limited Edition (my favourite summer sock yarn ... I would love it more if there are more solid colours)
Needles: Darn Pretty Needles US1 (I am in love with these needles ... don't want to knit socks with any needles else)
Notes: I didn't bother taking pictures with this one because the pattern is not really very visible. They require extra caution in knitting too. From experience, the TOFUtsies sock yarns are not very hard wearing ... or maybe I didn't have enough socks made from this yarn. The first pair I made were already worn out ... since they are non-wool, I don't know darning would work. And to be honest, I am too lazy to darn. :)
Cast On: 07-23-09
Cast Off: 08-19-09


Pattern: Crosshatch Lace Socks (pattern from More Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch
Yarn: Patons Stretch Socks (41% Cotton, 39% Wool, 13% Nylon, 7% Elastic) Colour: 31242 Olive
Needles: Darn Pretty Needles US 1
Notes: Just like the TOFUtsies sock yarn, the colourway of this yarn is pretty hard to find a good matching pattern. I tried several from the book and settle on this ... and I think they turned out pretty good.
Cast On: 08-20-09
Cast Off: 10-31-09




Pattern: Matilde Socks designed by Debbie O'Neill
Yarn: Ivy Brambles Sockscene Fingering Weight (410 yards, 100g) Colour: Pine Tree
Needles: Darn Pretty Needles US1
Notes: Everything came together perfectly for me. I think the pattern is one of the most gorgeous ones I've ever seen. The green is just irresistable. And now I can tell you that the yarn wears and feels great.
Cast On: 11-13-09
Cast Off: 12-13-09



Pattern: Mamluke Socks designed by Nancy Bush (Folk Socks)
Yarn: Regia Silk (55% Wool, 25% Nylon, 20% Silk) Colour: Natural & Red
Needles: Darn Pretty Needles US1 and US2
Notes: I love this pattern! It is great fun to knit. Though I had doubts about the heels, I followed the pattern anyway. Since I have wide ankles, I need to change to larger needles starting from the heel. The socks turned out to be surprising comfortable to wear ... and super warm! Which one do you like better? I think the one with Natural as the base colour and Red as the pattern colour is great.
Cast On: 12-19-09
Cast Off: 12-30-09

This is the progress I've made on the Unst Lace Stole so far. I must say the edging is a bit of a drag to me ... and I am not always very motivated to work on it. But believe me, I would have it done this year ... hahaha ...

After warming up with the Mamluke Socks, I started the Autumn Rose Cardigan on New Year's Day. The colour combo I chose is the very first swatch I made:
The only thing bothering me is the deep green in the center of the medallion. I decided to switch to another softer green. I am now halfway of the first medallion. I'll show you how it looks next time. Yes, I am going to post again ... hehehe ... and also start visiting friends' blogs again.

So, before we meet again, take good care and happy knitting.

What's wrong with this picture?

Here I am again ... after an unannounced and unplanned hiatus. The knitting hasn't stopped though, just going on leisurely. Nothing too exciting to show you, just a new sock project for the month. See if you can spot what is wrong:
I know it can be really hard. ;) It would be better if the yarn was in solid colour ... just why they didn't make solid colours in TOFUtsies? Here is a little help:
For some reason, I made up part of the lace pattern myself after turning the heel ... LOL! Sharon Miller said in her book, "... never settle for second best ..." So true. Second best would only deteroriate into an eye sore. So, even though the sock has been finished (even the loose ends were sewn in), I didn't hesitate frogging it.

Talking about Sharon Miller. The edging of the Unst Lace Stole has also been frogged because I just didn't like the way the corner was turned. Never settle for second best. Since I have to start over, I did the doubling right at the beginning this time. But I am still hopeful to finish the stole this month.

Some exciting news about Sock Knitters Anonymous Sockdown schedule:

Sockdown 2009 - 2010!!

• September – Technique: All knit with the same color (Solid or Semi-Solid Yellow)
  Designer: Wendy Johnson Mystery Sock Designer: Nancy Bush

• October – Technique: Holiday Stocking/ Man Socks/Knitting for a Cause
  Designer: Jeannie Cartmel

• November – Technique: Mosaic/Slipped Stitches
  Designer: Chrissy Gardiner Mystery Sock Designer: Star Athena

• December – Technique: Almost Socks/Leftover Socks/Stashbuster Socks/Stripes/Self Striping Yarns
  Designers: Kirsten Kapur/ Kristi Schueler/ Hunter Hammersen

• January – Technique: Texture Other than Rib/ Beaded Socks
  Designer: Nancy Bush Mystery Sock Designer: Debbie O’Neill

• February – Technique: Underappreciated Patterns/ Entrelac/ Intarsia
  Designer: Yarnissima

• March – Technique: Lace
  Designer: Janel Laidman Mystery Sock Designer: Kristi Geraci

• April – Technique: Designs from an Online Magazine
  Designer: Cookie A.

• May – Technique: Cables/Traveling Stitches
  Designer: Cat Bordhi Mystery Sock Designer: Cookie A.

• June – Technique: DYO, Vintage Patterns
  Designer: Stephanie van der Linden

• July – Technique: Stranded/Colorwork/Fairisle (Including Nordic/Scandinavian)
  Designer: Anne Hanson Mystery Sock Designer: Chrissy Gardiner

August - VACATION

I didn't do too well last year. The new schedule seems a lot of fun ... so I am all geared up for the new year!

09:10 Grey Miele Socks

Wow! End of July already! It seems that my blog routine has become one post per week. I would like to post more often, but there really is not enough time ... and sometimes I feel like knitting instead of blogging. Especially recently when I started the Magical Mosaic Blanket. The mosaic knitting method is pretty easy to grasp. I would think once I got familiar with the method, the knitting would become monotonous ... or even boring. Surprise! I haven't been able to stop and am now into the 4th square already:

Unlike the Great American Afghan, all the squares in this project are of the same number of stitches. So I chose to knit the blanket in stripes. I still have a long long way to go ... there are 63 squares. :D

The mysterious sock mojo has also been back. Not knowing how long it is going to stay, so just try to capitalize the opportunity. Kathy's Miele Sock pattern is fun to knit and is fast. I didn't make her very popular Jaywalker pattern because the chevron pattern is just not my favourite. But I really love this one:
However, it seems I should have used an even smaller needles so that the leg and heel would be more snug. But the socks actually fit ... comfortable too:

Details:
Pattern: Grey Miele Socks designed by Grumperina from knit.1 Spring/Summer 2009
Yarn: Furryarns MaineBearSOX 4 in Opal (65% SWT Wool & 35% Tussah Silk)
Needles: Grafton Fibers Darn Pretty dpn US0
Cast On: 07-14-2009
Cast Off: 07-24-2009

I have actually started another sock project immediately ... just forgot to take picture. Will show you later.

I guess it is also time for the monthly-goal accessement. Pretty simple this time.

July:
Knitting: finish the GAA DONE!

August:
Knitting:

• finish the Unst Lace Stole (still remember this? hahaha ...)
• finish one stripe (9 squares) for the Magical Mosaic Blanket
• finish one pair of socks

Exercising:
I seemed to find a way to insert the strength training exercises from Keeping Fit in Your 50s twice into my weekly exercise routine. I aim at consolidating that so that I would be lifting some dumbbells 3 times a week.

Random Thursday

Just got a clean bill of health from my doctor. I always schedule my yearly physical examinations around the time of my birthday ... so that I won't forget! My doctor seemed really excited when I told him about my exercise routine this year. Last year, he told me that swimming was good, but was not intense enough to accelerate the heart rate to a healthy level. Obviously I am a very good and obedient patient when I am given sensible advice. :) And oh, I dropped 5 lbs compared to last year!

We watched "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" Sunday night. The book is my most favourite in the series and the movie is excellent. Before this latest installment to the series, I used to love "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" the best because I just loved the 3 of them as kids. But now, I think "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" just trumped any of the previous one. The script was well written ... very good selection of materials from the original book. The director has done a very good job this time in portraying the mood and atmosphere. I especially love the movement of the camera in showing the loneliness of Malfoy. It is also delightful to see those little kids have grown into really good actors/actress, especially Ron Weasley and Draco Malfoy. I am now waiting for the DVD to come out.

The sock mojo has come back a little bit:
These are Kathy's design from the latest issue of knit.1, Miele Socks. The first attempt failed because I cast on for the larger size, which was too large for me. It is quite an enjoyable pattern, just that in my version, the twisted stitches don't pop out as much:
I think it didn't come out as cute as Kathy's version, but still, not bad ...