amimono note

Bonbon cardi

I went to the Black Sheep Gathering last weekend, but I'll write about it next time. I have to learn how to edit pictures taken by a new camera first... The pictures are not JPEG and I don't know what to do with it.

Anyway. I started a new project the other day. It's the Bonbon cardi from Rowan magazine #33.

I've been reading Mimi's blog; she knits a lot of beautiful tops from Japanese knitting patterns. So I thought I really had to try a Japanese pattern for the next project, and I looked for something I might like in my books.

However, I ended up choosing Rowan instead, because I don't have to worry about substituting yarn with Rowan. Substituting yarn is a lot of work for me since I haven't had much luck with it, and I was not in the mood for a challenging project.

So, I thought I chose an easier and more promising project...... but I'm not so sure about that now.

First, they put the wrong name on the photo page. It says Missy, but on the pattern page Missy is a different project. I had to look for the pattern in the pattern section, and the cardi was called Bonbon there.

Then, I somehow thought the yarn for the cardi was Handknit Cotton DK instead of Cotton 4ply, and didn't realize my mistake until I finished crocheting one ball for the back body. I should have noticed it when I made several swatches, and I actually thought the stitches looked rather larger than the magazine photo. Yet I was preoccupied with getting the stitch pattern right, and completely forgot to measure the gauge. Stupid me.

The pattern reading is not so easy either. So far, the stitch pattern itself is simple (once you get it), but I have to sort of reverse the order of the stitch pattern in some rows. There are a few row repeats in the pattern and it says to "repeat row A to row D for row E to row H", but the beginning stitch is different in row A and row E. Does that make sense...? I had to write a chart to be sure what I was doing was right.

I hope the cardi is not doomed...

cross stitch

I used to did lots of cross stitches. These are some of my projects. (Designs are not mine, I stitched from published patterns.)

Some of these are stitched with Danish Handcraft Design's Flower Thread, and I love, love, love its texture. It's thicker than DMC embroidery floss, and it's matte, does not shine like DMC. I would never have done cross stitch in the first place if I hadn't encountered the Flower Thread.

The problem is that I have never liked to use them as interior decorations. I think they are difficult to coordinate with other things... So I just put them in the closet, but fortunately they don't take up space like knitted sweaters unless you frame them.

I will go to the Black Sheep Gathering this weekend. Usually we have visitors from Japan this time of the year and I don't have time to go to Eugene, but this year no one came! I hope to find some spindles and fibers I like.

Wendy Knits Book

I'm reading the book "Wendy Knits", and I'm almost half the way through.

I felt strange at first, because I felt like I knew most of the things written in the book. Then I realized I was subconsciously looking for a picture of Izzy (*), now I'm a little scared of myself. One obsessive blog reader or what?

Re-reading her writing was good though, since there were lots of great knitting tips. I like the book and recommend it. It somewhat reminds me of Elizabeth Zimmerman. Maybe it's the opinionated knitterness...?

I think ChickKnits' Bonne Marie's comment on the back cover describes the book very well: "Take a peek into the mind of one of the nation's most talented and prolific knitters! A straightforward and no-nonsense approach to life and stitching." If you are intrigued by that praise, you should read the book.

The one thing which disappointed me was that there were no color photos of Wendy's work. How come? It would have been really nice if there were.

(*) Wendy's late cat

Jaywalker

Jaywalker

I started knitting the popular Jaywalker socks with Opal's Flamingo colorway, 68 stitches a round. I thought 76 stitches would be too big for my grandmother, so I made it smaller. I learned from the Noro Butterfly cardigan that this stitch pattern does not stretch a lot widthwise, but I was worried that 68 might still be too big. I was wrong! When I tried it on, I could barely wear it...I had to stretch the cuff to the limit to get my heel through! I think it will fit my grandmother though, as she has smaller and skinnier feet than I do.

I didn't do slip stitches on the heel flap for this sock. I thought I would try a different heel from the one I gave grandmother before.

Books

Since my knitting time is decreased greatly in order to rest my wrist, I've been reading a lot recently (yes, I can read books in English...). My current favorite is the "No.1 Ladies Detective" series. Not only is it really fun, but it's also sort of informative (or educational?) for me. I think I've never read a novel based on an African country before, and it's fascinating.

I read the first 6 books of the series in 3 weeks, and now I'm waiting for the newest from the library. Unfortunately, it will be a long time before I get to read it, because I'm 114th on a waiting list of 168.

When my mother told me there were about 100 people on her library's waiting list for The Da Vinci Code last year, I laughed and thought Tokyo was crazy. Well, it seems like Portland is the same! (But I'm still convinced Tokyo is crazier, because the library covers a much smaller area than here (only a part of Tokyo, like 1/25 of it, I think), and The Da Vinci Code had been out for more than a year at that time. )

Fortissima Socka Cotton Color Socks

A pair of socks is done. I think I started the socks in early April. It's really good to have a completed project!

The yarn is Fortissima Socka Cotton Color, 6523. I like the greens (there are two shades of green in the yarn), but I hate the ochre and patchy blue part! Then why did I buy it? I wanted cotton blended sock yarn and the yarn shop didn't have many choices. I usually go to yarn shops when I'm desperate for something new, and the desperation makes me compromise on what I buy... I should plan better, or... should I visit LYS more often?

Anyway, fortunately the socks are very comfortable to wear, so I think I'll use them.