So sorry!!!

I just want to thank everyone who was at the Fred Hutch winter craft fair on November 30th!!
There has been a massive amount of knitting and designing going on that I haven't blogged about recently. But, before anything, I'm proud to announce I am a new home owner!! The closing is on December 14th. So, until then I probably won't be able to update this page.

Please stay tuned as I am re-energized by your positive response and I promise to post up new projects and finished designs as soon as I'm all moved in.

Happy Holidays!

Tilted Duster

Another finished project! A tilted duster in Elsebeth Lavold chunky AL. Everything turned out great with this pattern, but if I were to complain about something, I would change the button arrangement or just change the clasp to something different. The floppy drape of the alpaca plus the weight of the finished fabric needs something sturdy to keep it together. Definitely think about that if you plan on making this project. Otherwise, it went fast and simply. The buttons are made of bone, they aren't actually what I initially chose for this garment, but I needed to give this as a gift and the button I really wanted would have taken awhile to ship. Oh well. It works.

I'm working on the minimalist cardigan from IK fall 2007 right now. Using Elsebeth Lavold classic AL in a garnet color. (yes I went nutty on the Lavold yarn sale at yarn.com how could I not when it was 50% off??)
I was also lured into purchasing a large quantity of silky wool for a project for.....myself. Surprisingly, I have yet to knit myself something.

Some pictures of progress....and a Bavarian expedition

A spontaneous trip to Leavenworth + a chilly day = a perfect opportunity to take some pictures of one of my finished objects! Yay! My sweater for Kev was inspired by IK Summer 2007 Luvtroja Mans. As much as I liked the checkered pattern on the original, it just seemed a little too busy. I used Palette from knitpicks in bark and nutmeg, I think. I also used size 2 needles. I really liked the hand of this knit after blocking (rigorously), so much so, that I am considering making myself one to lounge around in.

This was my first attempt at a large sweater with such small needles, and I was surprised at how unproblematic it went.

I have also finished the tilted duster from IK Fall 2007. I'll leave those pictures for the next posting. And a new Work in progress.....

Yes....it's Eunny's Print O' the Wave stole. My first attempt at lace knitting, and I'm enjoying it! I'm using size 0 needles with laceweight alpaca/synthethic fiber blend which I'm using merely as a test. I didn't want to ruin some expensive silk cashmere on a trial.

And I totally splurged on myself. A Lantern Moon needle case from my local yarn shop Greenwood Fiber Gallery.

It's so pretty...and soo organized. Bye Bye shoebox!




CHEERS!

Let me end this with a video of what it's like to ride a tricycle through Tarlac City, Philippines.

Do the puyallup

I do the Puyallup every year, but this was the first year as an obsessed knitter. The livestock barns held a brand new fascination for me.

And next to these furry fellas are their owners displaying wool, fiber, spinning wheels, yarn, and knitted pieces.

The funny thing is, there was all this beautiful fiber and spinning equipment out as well as knitted examples. But, the lady that was there was knitting with a store bought skein of yarn. Uhm....wait a minutes, what's wrong with that picture???

Wait a minute....Did you feel that?? IT'S AN EARTHQUAKE!!!! (burger)

What in heaven's name is a kamaru??

A delectable little MOLE CRICKET sauted a la adobo.....mmmm.

It's an old school kapampangan recipe which I must say, is rather tasty. But if you are a fan of texture, the feel of crunchy insect heads and abdomens will definitely make you ralph like there's no tomorrow. I, myself, was torn by flavor vs. consistency and ate them, but with a grimace.

Oh, and what's a trip to the philippines without a good old fashioned lechon??

My mom seems mighty proud of our little piggy. :)

Oh.....and a video of the cousins.

A moment of silence please, for my dearly departed Fair Isle U-neck pullover (Vogue Knitting Fall 2006). I found her in my stash box and she is beyond repair. She was a failed attempt at wool colorwork before I knew how to block, swatch, and keep an even tension. What a disaster! *sniffle* I'll miss you....

Well, when one door closes, another one opens.

And my new project begins! It seems like everyone my age is getting married and having babies now. I don't think I got the memo. But, I'm doing my part to clothe the new mommies and babies. A tilted duster for an expectant mommy in Elisabeth Lavold dark green chunky AL, a 50% first shear alpaca and 50% peruvian wool. This is on a size US10 needle, the largest needles I have ever knitted with, and this project is zooming by....I think I like it!! Kevin's sweater is finished and is drying on my blocking mat as I type. Pictures to come!

My other unfinished project is some jaywalker socks in 100% cashmere because socks are always the most travel-worthy projects.

I'll include some pictures of my trip to the Philippines in every post since I took a LOAD of them, even though I was only there for one week. The week was spent in the provinces, far from any tourist spot, and with family.

A church in San Fernando in the center of a busy market.

Gone Bamboo

The reason for my lack of bloggy goodness is my trip to the Philippines last week. It was a hot, muggy adventure in open markets, strange food....oh and family ;). I'll post pictures as soon as I can, however, I'm in a race to complete a couple of projects. Firstly, Kevin's sweater I've promised him which should be completed tonight. Secondly a pair of cashmere jaywalker socks I had started on the plane ride the Asia. And all this to start two new projects from the latest Interweave Knits mag. I received the yarn while I was away....some beautiful Elisabeth Lavold Chunky AL and classic that was sinfully cheap at yarn.com Posts are coming, but it's good to be back in Seattle. I miss the rain, the cool temperatures, all the green trees, the internet....oh, and my yarn.

And to everyone in the Philippines...especially kuya noel, ate evelyn, tita sally, ate cleo, kristina, kuya allen, and tita rose.....thank you again for such a great time!! I'll be posting pictures today or tomorrow...depending on how busy I'll be (It's Kevin and my first year anniversary today so I'm not sure what's going on).

A weekend with family...

It's a shedir! I felt cable-ey...uh, ya. Last weekend was a day in Seattle with my fam-fam. Lunch at the crab pot, because food tastes best when eaten with your hands. The Seattle Aquarium because it was next door and we needed to be out of the crowds of hemp-fest. Pike market to buy seafood. After seeing all those fish we decided to buy some at the market. And finally sushi in Chinatown. Wow, I just realized, that's a lot of seafood. yum

aww...mom and sister eating pike market donuts...yum

Camping

I've been camping in the Olympic Peninsula this week. Here are a few photos of Ruby Beach and Kalaloch. I started a shedir cap while I was there and I'll post those pics later. Enjoy!

Bootylicious

Christine's Booties

These were made with Australian merino Baby Color. So soft! I made them about three rows shorter than the original pattern.

My US2 double pointed needles are getting a work out

Monkey socks size 8. 100% cashmere!

Monkeying around

Guess what I found in my mailbox yesterday?

50/140 NM 100% cashmere from Colourmart

I knit up a swatch with US2 needles, then washed with dishwashing liquid in very hot water, rinsed in a sink of hot water with a little conditioner, and tossed her into the dryer on low with a towel. The yarn almost doubles in size and fluffiness!

I've decided to use this lovely yarn for some monkey socks

Some old projects

Bayerische Sock by Eunny Jang

I finished these socks awhile back. I can post better pictures later. They are in Lorna's Lace Shepherd Sock wool in Brick which I want to use again. I heart them, and weren't as big a pain in the butt to make, but then, I love to work with tiny needles and intricate cable work.

Vogue Knitting winter 2006

Don't know the exact details of this sweater, but I know I made it for mom and it's made of a synthetic fiber that was spun by hand. It was surprisingly nice to work with. My choice of material was based on my mother's refusal to dry clean, handwash, or otherwise deal with an "itchy" wool sweater. I will prove her wrong about itchy with some alpaca or cashmere after I get my shipment from colourmart!