Before & After

Wow...this is a record in my blogging history. I'm actually blogging almost everyday!!!


Anyway, I have been thinking about this project since ages ago. I knitted this teal mini shrug last year. I adapted the pattern from a raglan sleeve top I got from one of my Japanese pattern books. However, when I did this I did not think about the curling that I would get when I knitted everything without a border. Also, I had no clue how to pick up stitches. Hence, I ended up with with a somewhat cute top (IMHO) with collars that are messed up (so I folded it down when wearing it) and bottoms that would not stop curling. I finished it off with a ribbon tie which I do adore. ^^

Time passed and I eventually did end up learning how to pick stitches up. ;;^^ And recently I acquired a pair of fingerless gloves from Mimco. This pair of gloves are lovely but I thought the buttons are horrendous, being placed where they are.

Today while bitten by the knitting bug and a bit reluctant to start anything new and not in the mood to continue what I'm doing so far, I decided to re-work my teal shrug!!! ^^ First I picked up the stitches at the bottom and added a 2 by 2 rib edging. Then, I decided to stick the two giant buttons that seemed to misplaced on the Mimco gloves onto my shrug to cover the horrible mistakes I've made when knitting the collar.

And here is the result!!! ^^ The photo was taken on a rainy, cloudy day...so it looked a bit dark... :(


I absolutely adore it now!!! The buttons really did find their rightful place... ^^.

Keeping Kitty Kat Warm

J bought this cup for Wool Baa as I had knitted a cup warmer and actually left behind my own cup at Wool Baa for display. When she got this, I took back my cup and the initial cup warmer (which was pretty crappy I think, in fact a customer once mentioned it was ugly...lol until she asked me who did that and I told her I did... hehehe).

Anyhoo, she bought this lovely cup with a kitty cat on it. I decided to re-knit the cup warmer with improved pattern and using the Clover felting kit, added a ball of running yarn. Unexpectedly as I ran and felted the yarn, I created a word that looked like "one".

Will be writing the pattern up and bringing it to Wool Baa for display on Friday. :)

Fish - do give us a sufficiency! ^^

Ok, this is the ginger steamed fish I cooked yesterday. I kind of forgot to get the spring onions haha...so in terms of the colour of the presentation, it is a bit lacking. ;;^^ It's real easy to cook, with soya sauce, pepper, a bit of sugar and sesame oil. Steamed it first for about 20 minutes, then pour hot oil (cooking + a bit more sesame oil + sesame seeds) over it. Real quick to cook too!!! ^^

In terms of knitting projects, I haven't knitted much since I'm trying to catch up with my readings and korean dramas. ;;^^ Sigh...I really need to find a full time job though. :( I also need to call up for freelance jobs now that everything has ended. :P I feel a bit lazy but I keep telling myself no...I need to be more pro-active this time!!! Yosh~! ^0^/

Easy Recipes!

This posting is inspired by one conversation I had with Shanwen about easy cooking...^^


First, let me present Unagi Don homestyle! Don't pay $12 or even $11 for this great tasting dish. Just buy a pack of frozen unagi from those Asian grocery stores (for about $9) and you can actually cook two sets of Unagi Don with this. I was just being hungry when I did this and finished off the whole pack...hehehe... Top it off with a sprinkle of dried sea-weed and sesame seeds garnish.

Next is Karaage Chicken (Jennifer's style!). This one the recipe is purely made up with initial tips from my parents haha... The chicken has been seasoned with salt, pepper & garlic powder. Then it is tossed in cornflour (dry! not mixed with water or egg) seasoned with salt and pepper. Then deep fried and presented on a bed of rice. Topped off with Tonkatsu sauce and wasabi mayonaise, sprinkled with dried sea-weed and sesame garnish.

I know I cooked mostly Japanese influenced cooking, but I guess they are usually easy to do...;;^^ also haha...just realised that me working on a restaurant's menu as a freelance job before actually paid off with the way I described my own cooking!

And oh oh oh...serve these with Japanese green tea that you can buy for about $2.50 per pack at Asian grocery stores.

Economic, simple and nice! ^^

Bootielicious!

At least that's what I hope Chia and Tai would say when they see what I've made for their little bundle of joy who would be making his or her entrance in 3 months time...;;^^


It's my very first booties and it's knitted in 8 ply Heirloom Cashmino with 4mm needles. ^^ It is then finished off with a simple yellow button ensuring if it's a her or a him, it will suit. ^^ The pattern came from the Vogue Knit Simple Spring/Summer 2007 magazine.

View from the top...

I'm back from my Gold Coast trip~! ^^ I'm so glad to be back in Melbourne despite the weather and all. Don't get me wrong...Gold Coast is a very nice place. Dream World, Movie World, the beach and the shopping trips are fun.

I just dreaded the nights as the people I went with tend to get drunk within the 4 days and 3 nights we were there. I swear it's like as if they are deprived of alcohol from the way some of them were drinking. Or maybe some of them are just alcoholic... Gah~!

Here's a photo that made my day...hehe...even though I looked so scared lol my expression can't beat some people's...hehehe


Anyhoo... I captured this beautiful view from my hotel room on the last morning. Despite all, I did enjoy some parts of the trip. I guess the trip just made me realise the true colours of some people, and perhaps made me appreciate more the friends that I already have...

Buttons buttons buttons!!!

Went to the button sales with Shanwen and got heaps of buttons for my stash. I did go over budget with it but some of the buttons are really worth it! ^^

Going to Gold Coast tonight and will be away till the 14th. Excited but I hope those people I'm going with are not going to drink so much. I'd rather shop and take in the sights than get drunk...;;^^

not knitting... :(

exam and assignment time...not knitting. :( Won't be working this weekend either...sigh~~~ ;_; studying... :(

You'd know I'm stressed when...

... I trolled on ebay and buy buy buy~! ;;^^ I think I've bought party dresses to last me a lifetime...or at least for a couple of parties...haha...


Anyway, I didn't buy these two garments...I doubt very much at the end of the auctions I'll be able to afford these...;;^^ But they are so pretty and all for a good cause! The proceeds go to Unicef.

Que Sera Sera....

As promised to Jacqueline, this is a photo of me wearing the Que Sera Sera Necklace. Beautiful isn't it??? ^^ So visit her site Angelicious Creations for original lovely jewellery~! ^^

And this is a close up of the necklace...:)

A bunch of scarves....

First one up is done in Patons Merino Totem DK. Though usually I don't really knit with Patons yarns, when I saw this colour, I knew I had to have it! It actually matched one of my dress-top thingie...^^

Next one up is hmmm...little pom-pom-ed scarf. This one was inspired by one of my Japanese knitting books and this was knitted in Louisa Harding Kashmir DK yarns! ^^ I think it again matches my top...hehe....

Then, finally this is the Wool Baa's bow tie scarf. ^^ Adapted in stripes in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK and Kashmir DK. Can't wait to finish it!!!! \^0^/

Reversable?

After many frustrating days with internet connection that froze from time to time, I'm finally back online. >.<


Anyway, Wool Baa had so many new yarns and books that I'm very much inspired to do some new projects other than scarves (or at least different designs of scarves). To start off, I did this Jo Sharp Reversable beanie from Knit Issue 3. Though tagged as suitable for intermediate knitters, I reckon it's good for beginners too. Best of all I completed it in one night! However, I personally do not think it is actually reversable. I mean it's got be joined by a seam. Unless one is a really neat sewer then the seam is visible if worn the other way. I think if it is to be worn in reverse, it needs to be knitted in circular form. Despite this, I think even if worn one way it's absolutely funky~! ^^

(umm...this is a picture of me...)

I've had a very trying week, so I am knitting with vengence to de-stress (April...I need my comics!!). Expect a couple of new projects. Here's a hint for the next one...it's a scarf, it's cashmere, it's merino wool...it's a Lisa Harding yarn!!!

My red scarf...

This was initially not meant to be like this... ;;^^
Had to do modification and was inspired by a Japanese knitting book.
I think the ribbon would have been better off if it was red and white.
But...red scarf for this winter season!!! ^^

This winter's must have...

red scarf! At least for me...:)

The red scarf was first spotted on this Vogue Knitting magazine. However, upon looking at the pattern, I think it's something that will take me maybe....2 years? ;;^^

Other red things I've acquired is this cardigan from Country Road and other red yarns...;;^^


Initially, I was very much attracted to the red cardigan in Country Road. Decided to knit one similarly using hmm...a modified pattern. Unfortunately, my calculation was off and I may not be able to make one with the design I like, so I bought it instead. :P

Anyway, I think I'll be knitting my scarf using the new Merino Totem 8 Ply. I actually saw a nice red that I wanted. Although, I would still like the Heirloom Cashmino yarns too...

*gasps* no Zara! LOL
(only because they don't have the red I wanted...;;^^)

Good Ol' Zara

More Zara projects on the way...

A couple of new projects for Wool Baa

Just to let everyone know, the Pacha scarf pattern is now available from Wool Baa. It comes with the purchase of the yarn...I think. ^^


Also, new bag knitted! This bag display is viewable at the Wool Baa. I had so much fun making this one... ^^ Simple to do, just 1 ball of Hawthorne Chunky yarn!!! And more pompoms! ^^

Here's a little preview of what I'm working on now...I'm not sure how it'll turn out since I'm experimenting...:P But hmm...I'll take a photo when done...:)

BTW all the new Zara colours are in and there is this lovely turquoise. I'm not sure what I'll do with it, but I'm really excited about it. ^^

Pacha Scarf

This is a scarf modified from a Japanese pattern book. It requires 1 ball of Pacha (from Wool Baa) and 1 ball of....yes! Zara!!!! The Zara is used for the Pompom bits...:)

The model is my mum! ^^ LOL

I think it's rather Fetching!

I've finally finished Fetching! :)

Thanks to Shanwen who greatly inspired me to finish this...and the extremely cold Melbourne weather too...lol

Took me about 4 days in the end, with assignments and all.

Did this (as per recommended by Shanwen) with 3mm needles, yarn used is 1 ball of Heirloom Cashmino 8 Ply. Made teeny mistakes esp. with the Picot Hem cast off since I'm not sure what that is...:P but hey it'll do...:)


Woo Hoo~ finally something to warm my hands!!! ^^

Finally and update!

But it's another scarf...lol

I knitted this for a friend of mine. She wanted a white scarf and no...this is not Zara. LOL

It's ends of Cleckcheaton Country 8ply knitted in dropped garter stitch. Took me a couple of days to do as I was doing my assignments at the same time then... :P

Currently knitting 'right' Fetching! \^^/ yay~!

I'm on a roll!

Well, this is not the handwarmers that I was doing...but I actually finished these in one day! I've used the Bamboo 5.4mm circulars to knit these. The pattern come from Cleckheaton Merino Supreme book.


I have to say I love the yarn...though Shanwen did warn me it does pile a lot. It's so quick to knit though! ^^

I added a stripe on to the other side as I wanted a pair of fingerless gloves that doesn't really match. I might do another one with more stripes or something. But at the moment, I'm just glad I have a finished project in time for this winter. ^^