Love at First Sight

When I saw a version of this cardigan on Fo Knit's blog and I was in love.

The Debbie Bliss cardigan is a bit baggy but it's perfect to keep me warm and cozy. Toronto is c-c-c-c-cold so it will be useful. I absolutely adore the cables and raspberry stitch... it's so thick but sooooo soft. The raglan shaping is wonderful too - it was a cinch to put together. I love it!!!

Source: Debbie Bliss - Cashmere Collection - Cabled Jacket
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Superchunky X 16; 6.5-7.0mm
For: Myself

Mommy's Socks

Here's mommy's socks (imagine if there were two). The socks consists of a lattice pattern, which is easy to remember but difficult to knit without mistakes. Frustrating at times but I think the end product is quite satisfying... (Note: mom and dad evenutually decided to switch socks... apparently I had some problems visualizing the sizes :P)

Source: Patons Classics in Kroy - #17
Yarn: Sheepjes Invicta Extra (light gray) X 2; 2.25mm
For: Mommy

Daddy's Socks

Tried to knit a pair of socks for my dad, my mom AND my two sisters for Christmas 2005. Needless to say... it was unsuccessful BUT here's daddy's socks! Love the cables but I really don't like knitting in dark yarn.

Source: Patons Classics in Kroy - #15
Yarn: Scheepjes Invicta Extra (1361) X 2; 2.25mm
For: Daddy

Cushion Covers

I've always had a "thing" for knitted home decor items - a warm cozy blanket, fluffy soft cushions, colorfully unique placemates - they are all so pretty! But since all my friends are either renting or still living with their parents, there has not been an opportunity to make such things as gifts... until NOW. A friend recently got his own flat. He's one of the first people I know who has his own place so I'm really excited for him. But it just seems that something is missing... perhaps some cozy cushion covers can add some warmth?

(The colors in the pic are a little bit off. It looks a bit green but the true color should be pale taupe, an ochre.)

Source: Pattern from Canadian Living
Yarn: Patons Decor X 4; 5.0 mm
For: One of my friends who bought a flat by himself! (V)

First Socks

My first pair of socks... I used the Patons Kroy yarn pattern. After finishing the socks and realizing it was VERY loose, I found a pattern customized for this yarn! Grrrr...

Still, I enjoyed watching the color patterns unravel in front of my eyes!

Source: Patons Kroy yarn pattern
Yarn: Confetti DGB yarn (#193?) X 2; 2.75mm
For: Myself

Cotton Tank

Description from Vogue Knitting: "A deep cable rib and a center cable that flows to sweet shoulder straps". Yeah, I do admit the straps are kinda sweet, hee hee. Overall the project was quite enjoyable... I love the cable ribbing, but I find cotton very hard on my hands.

Source: Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2002 #7
Yarn: Charmy Cotton 6 (100% Cotton); 5 skeins; 4.0 mm
For: Myself

Josie

My frumpbuster piece. This used to be a vest, but the yarn was this really cheap nylon/poly-something that was hard, scratchy and dusty. However, working 2 strands together gave a nice thick fabric perfect for a bag.

Source: Rowan Ribbon Twist - Josie
Yarn: ?? Some sort of boucle mix; 12 mm
For: Sister C

Mr. T II & Ms. Bunnie

From Last Minute Knitted Gifts, I really enjoyed knitting these two suckers and the glass beads eyes make them look sooo innocent!... It took about 6 hours for each, which is quick and easy. Pretty soon, they will need clothes... but then again, I think they look cuter naked!

Source: Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: Pop n' Yarn; one skein per doll; 4.0 mm
For: Ms. Bunnie for Sister B and Mr. TII for Sister C

Baby Blanket

For a baby whose gender is still a secret, this blanket was knit using a crochet pattern. My calculations failed a bit, which explains why the blanket is only half the intended size. Luckily, it's still a decent size for a newborn and it's already quite heavy with a lavender flannel lining, so everything worked out by mistake!

Source: Bernat Baby Afghan Kit
Yarn: Bernat Berella; used up 1/2 of the kit; 5.5 mm
For: GCL's baby
Modifications: Knit instead of crochet pattern

Joan Vass Vest

Another reworked piece. This sweater miraculously used to fit me back in the 90's (the baggy look was in). I frogged it and followed a very old Vogue Knitting pattern (1996) by Joan Vass. There was just enough yarn to make it long enough (the picture is very dark but shows the fit well enough). Again, some before and after pics.

Source: Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 1996 # 30
Yarn: ?? Some sort of boucle mix; 4.5 mm
For: Myself

Stripe Vest

Reworked from a vest I knitted without a pattern in the 90's (which explains why it looks kinda frumpy)... I tore out the button band and replaced with a ribbed edging. Here's the before & after shots.

Source: Own design.
Yarn: ?? A combination of left-over yarns; 5.5-6 mm
For: ??

Mr. Teddy

Before I left Hong Kong, I had promised to make my colleague's soon-to-be-born baby a present. Rather than knitting clothes, (this is her second baby, I knitted baby #1 a vest some years ago), I hereby present Mr. Teddy. I added some underwear for him as not having enough yarn is always an issue for me.

I think Mr. Teddy looks cuter naked. However, that probably being not too healthy of a thing to teach a baby, I also made him some overalls.

Source: Last Minute Knitted Gifts, with some alterations. Overalls own design.
Yarn: Bear - Pop N'Yarn; 1 skein; 4mm; Undies - Bernat Satin; 1 skein; 4 mm; Overalls - from yarn stash; double strand; 5mm
For: CC's son WKT

Blue & White Afghan

My first blankie! To speed things up, I cheated - doubled up the yarn and knitted it up on 8mm needles. Based on a Family Circle Knitting Afghans Book which was still in a container somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, I winged it. 35 stitches across 38 rows X 5 alternating colors X 3 panels.

Source: Own Calculations, based on design from Family Circle Knitting Simple Afghans
Yarn: Bernat Pounder; 1 ball blue, 1 ball white, double strand; 8mm
For: Mommy

Fuschia Clutch

This Fuschia/Hot Pink clutch which was inspired by these cute Margaret Nicole clutches. My version is bigger, with less delicate handles and a knitted yarn lining, finished off with a metallic clasp. Was so excited by the hot pink color, I didn't consider that there will be few opportunities to use it! There are also holes along the handle to allow for an optional ribbon.

Source: Own Design
Yarn: Mondail Merino Special, 3 balls, 6mm
For: Myself?

Digi-Cam Bag

I've always wanted to make a bag to protect my digital camera and to practice my crochet skills. Here's the "practice" project.

Source: Own Design
Yarn: Katia Swing, 1 ball, double strand, 6mm
For: Myself :)

Summer Boobtube

Bought 3 balls of Katia Spray on sale (165 yards) - it was such a beautiful color and I was curious to see what ribbon yarn would be like. It's a bit difficult as the ribbon twists but eventually I just let it be. I don't think it makes a difference once it's knit up. Due to the limited yarn, I knit this boobtube and trimmed it with a contrasting ribbon yarn. Finished with a drawstring i-cord to keep it up. :P

Source: Own Design
Yarn: For body - Katia Spray, 3 balls, 8mm; For lace edging - Katia Swing, 1 ball, double strand, 6mm
For: Me

Cow Baby Sweater

Inspired by a very old Debble Bliss book, I changed the long-sleeve cardigan pattern into this sleeveless pullover.

Here's for you to see the scale...

Source: Debbie Bliss Book
Yarn: Patons Poppy, don't remember how many balls of yarn used
For: MC (now MM)'s baby boy to be!

Phallic Bear Bear

I tried to use the same size needles but I guess the guage is off. He turned out really skinny! Looks a bit naughty too :P

Source: Knitted Teddybear Heirloom
Yarn: Lang Yarns Thema Nuova
For: CC

Mini Capelet

Source: Chinese Rowan Magazine 28 #11
Yarn: Rowa Biggy Print, 2 balls, 20mm
For: Myself :)

2 Chunky Scarves

I bought lots of Biggy Print when it was on sale!

Source: Own design, garter stitch
Yarn: Rowan Biggy Print, 2 balls for each scarf, 20mm
For: Green for mommy, colorful one for myself :)

Aran Scarf

From Vogue Knitting, Holiday Issue 2003, I fell in love with the cables right away. Yes, it's ANOTHER scarf but this is HK, and scarves are more than enough for 360 days of the year. Because the pattern called for 2 strands to be held together, I had to use 10 balls and this thing weighs almost a tonne.

Source: VK Holiday 2003 #3
Yarn: Lang Yarns Thema Nuova, 10 balls, 5mm/6mm
For: Myself :)

Chunky Fair Isle Sweater

I changed the colors for this because as usual, I ran out of yarn. But it turned out OK (like it was planned all along), didn't it? I also knitted in the round, so the rib edging had to be re-calculated and hence is different around the neck, at the bottom and on the arms!

Source: Rowan Big Easy - Greta
Yarn: Rowan Big Wool, 6 balls in total, 15mm
For: Myself :)

Red Touque

One lone ball of Rowan Big Wool on sale, a beautiful red-orange tweed effect one... how could I possibly leave it orphaned? The pattern used exactly 1 ball with not even 1 inch to spare. I just love it when there's no wastage!!

Another with my favorite model...

Source: Chinese Rowan Magazine 28 #16
Yarn: Rowan Big Wool, 1 ball, 12mm
For: ?? Haven't decided yet

Blue Chenielle Scarf

This yarn is a very soft chenielle. I bought it for no reason except that it was pretty. And so a scarf it became.

Source: Own design; st stitch with garter stitch trim
Yarn: Mondial Garbo Lux, 3 balls, 8mm
For: Intentially for mom but she wasn't too enthusiastic with the gold speckles.

Blue Center Cable Poncho

Source: VK Holiday 2004 #8
Yarn: Cheval Blanc Uttacryl (cheap acrylic), about 8-9 balls, 4.5-5.5mm
For: Myself :)