To the original crafter

When I was growing up, if you had told my Mom I would someday immerse myself in knitting, sewing and other crafty pursuits, I am pretty sure she would have laughed in your face.  I didn’t just not do crafts, I actively disdained them.  I groaned every time I had to wait around at the fabric and craft supply stores.  When she would proudly show off a doll she just made I would shrug apathetically and hope she wasn’t giving it to me.  I just didn’t get it.  (Sorry Mom.)

But now, things are different.  I finally get it.  Now I long to go fabric shopping with my Mom.  (And she is going to start knitting just as soon as we can have her first lesson.)  I still don’t really want one of those dolls she used to make (remember family, the ones with the really long wood legs and HUGE curly hair) but I now totally respect the talent it takes to flawlessly create one.  I am so happy the gene that makes me want to make stuff finally kicked in and I am grateful to my Mom for passing it along.

So to my original crafter, mother of 4, powerful teacher, talented creator, expert bargain shopper, loyal friend, and heart of our family…thank you for my life, for your example, for your awesome genes, and for your unconditional love.  Happy Mother’s Day.

I love you lots and lots and lots.

I should be packing but…

The last couple months I have been in a bit of a knitting lull.  I’ve started several projects only to lose interest and frog or just put the project to the side.  I just couldn’t get excited–I wasn’t inspired by anything.

And then, about a week ago, I got my hands on a copy of this book:

Japanese Inspired Knits

I want to knit EVERYTHING in this book.  Okay, not everything but close.  First there is this sweet cardigan:

the fan

and this pretty fair isle:

summer in tokyo

I love, love, love, this cardigan coat:

flower buds

and finally, this clever tee:

the carp

While the one I am most excited about is “flower buds”, I thought I would first start with something a little more season appropriate.

beginnings of “the carp”

I love it!  I have never knit a sweater this way before, all in metered squares.  You basically knit it in stripes–such an interesting way to construct a garment.  I am excited to see how it all fits together.  Here is a close up:

The lighter yarn looks a little more green in person but I like the slight blue cast of it. Why my knitting mojo had to come back in force when I should be spending all my time packing boxes, I don’t know.  I guess that is just the way it goes.

Okay, back to kni…ur, packing.

Change

First off I should say, I love Denver and the two years I have lived here.  I love the city and the restaurants and the over-sized animal statues.  I love my job and the company I have been lucky enough to work for.  I really love the people I’ve met here, real lifetime friends that I hope to always have in my life.  But, no matter how much I love a place, when I feel the need to move on, I need to move on.

In the last week, I accepted a new job (a great job I couldn’t be more thrilled about), gave notice at the company I currently work for, and began the process of moving my life from Denver to Salt Lake City.  Yes, I am coming back.  Close to family and many dear friends–I am excited to start a new life in a familiar place.

I officially move on May 16th so I have LOTS to do until then.  In the next three weeks I will be writing some posts about some of my favorite things in Denver so stay tuned for that.

Also upcoming…taking advantage of my transition period coinciding with the news that my parents are moving away from Hong Kong in July, I decided to go on a 2 week trip to China in June.  Crazy!  So you can expect some travel notes on the blog after I return from that adventure.

I feel very blessed with all the great things happening in my life right now.  Life is never perfect but so far 2009 is really doing well by me and for that I am very grateful.

Ellie’s Colored Pencil Roll

Before I started sewing, one of the projects that kept tempting and wooing me into the craft was the Colored Pencil Roll pattern found in Last Minute Patchwork Gifts.  About a month after I started sewing I realized I could totally make it now.  I immediately thought of my niece Ellie’s birthday coming up and knew she had to have a custom colored pencil roll made by her Auntie Erin.

I started to collect fat quarters and found a bunch of great ones at this quilt market my friend took me to.  Next step was to buy the colored pencils.  I then painstakingly went through all the fabric I had in order to match the right color tone of the fabric with the different pencil colors.  For those that I didn’t have the right matching fabric for, I took to the fabric store and matched the pencil to the bolts of fabric.  I learned A LOT about color with this project and it really made me want to try my hand at other patchwork and quilting projects.

I found this great Little Red Riding Hood fabric (actually Kara was with me at the time and she spotted it) that was perfectly suited for the backing of the roll.  Every step of this project was fun to create from the patchwork front to attaching the little ties to the side.  I love the result.  And I hope Ellie does too.

Anthro-Inspired Scarflet

In the craziness that has been the last month, I completely neglected to post about a quick knitting project I picked up one night when I needed to knit something different, small, and out of stash yarn.  I went to my handy ravelry queue for ideas and was reminded of the Anthro-Inspired Scarflet–a pattern that copies a pretty little scarf as seen in the Anthropologie catalog.

It was perfect.  Fast and easy and the end result is so very sweet.

The thing is, as I was knitting it I started to have a little debate with myself over which side looked better.  The above picture is of the “right side.”  Here is the “wrong”:

Both are pretty I think.  This is a perfect little scarf for those cool spring nights.  It was also the perfect little project that distracted me for a few days and then…it was done!

Stats:

Pattern: Anthro-Inspired Scarflet

Source: Kim Seio (Free Ravelry Download)

Yarn: Alpaca with a Twist, Highlander – less than 1 skein

Needles: US 8

Mods: None.

And special thanks to my friend Teri for lending me your modeling skillz.  I need to get more knitting done so we have another excuse for a fun modeling shoot!

I will be back soon with the new sewing project I have been waiting to show.  Hope you all are having a spendid weekend.

Ohana Means Family

I have a hard time summing up my feelings about my visit home for Grandpa’s funeral.  The funeral itself was very profound, the time with my family was much needed–just being in Hawaii is a somewhat spiritual experience for me.  It was…wonderful.  Organized in sections, here is my attempt to document some of the highlights of the week.

FOOD

We ate all kinds of food that reminded us of grandpa.  Food like KFC, Chinese take out, Chantilly Cake, Kalbi Ribs, Kua’aina Burgers, and Hot Fudge Sundaes.

Yes, this is a lot of KFC. I believe we got a discount, although I think that was mainly because KFC found out grandpa had died–he was a good customer.

If you’ve never had Kalbi ribs before–specifically grilled by my Uncle Jim, then I am deeply sorry for you.

Chris really did eat the 8 pieces of Chantilly Cake on this plate.  And then he went back for seconds.

Side note: If you ever visit Hawaii, please make an effort to visit Liliha Bakery.  Just in case you are wondering what to order, it should be a Chantilly cake and/or–if you don’t have the space to store a whole cake–a Coco Puff (great blog about the tasty treats here.)  The topper of this divine pastry is a nice portion of their famous Chantilly icing (yum, yum, yum.) Liliha bakery also  has a small eating counter with diner like food on the menu. I hear it is good although I have always felt a wee bit too haole to sit at the counter.  My mom has though.  She’s local like that.

COUSINS

I feel pretty lucky to have so many memories and experiences with cousins who I genuinely like.  I am also pretty grateful that the ones who are married have given me some cousins-in-law that I am proud to call family.  All the cousins except the pregnant one (We missed you Jill!) were in Hawaii which served as a wonderful impromptu family reunion.

FAMILY TIME

We had a work party.

Picnic party.

Went for walks.

We took self portraits.

Some successful.

Some not so much.

GRANDPA

Of course, the whole reason we were there, and the meaning behind all the activities we shared, was to pay honor to the life of our Grandpa.  I was reminded of the good life he led and was inspired to look at my own life, reset my focus, and make some important changes.  I also committed to stay connected to some of my favorite people on earth.

My family.

Rosa

I still knit folks.  I swear.  And this proves it.

It is Rosa!

Remember this pattern?  Yeah, I know, it has been a while.  I got this kit last May when I visited Kara in London and promptly cast on, knit the bottom ribbing, and then totally lost interest.  A couple of months ago, I was feeling the excitement of needing a new project.  I chose a (completely different) project, ordered yarn, and while I was waiting, I picked up Rosa again.  Well, my new yarn came but by that time I knew that I needed to finish this sweater or I never would.

Even not counting the months and months this project lay dormant, it still took me longer than it should have.  I am not entirely sure why but I suspect it has something to do with the color.  Knitting with black yarn is just not fun.  I wouldn’t think it would make that big a difference but it really did.  Don’t get me wrong, I like the end product and am glad I choose the color I did to get the finished look I got but, black yarn just doesn’t excite me as it is being knitted.

The fun part of knitting this sweater came in the form of ruffles.  Sure there were like 300+ stitches of kidsilk haze on each–they were time consuming and a little fiddly but the ruffles were at least fun to make.

Project Stats

Pattern: Rosa

Source: Kim Hargreaves

Size: 38

Yarn:Rowan RYC Cashsoft 4-ply, Black & Rowan Kidsilk Haze, Slate

Needles: US 1 & 3

Mods: I added about 3 inches of length to the bottom of the sweater–just adding rows evenly between increases and also adding some rows to the straight knitting at the waist.

I am really happy with the end result of this sweater.  If the two sweaters I have made from Kim Hargreaves patterns are any indication of the rest, I feel like her style and fit is a very flattering one and I highly recommend her designs.  For your information, I believe Rosa is now a pattern in Kim’s book Thrown Together so you no longer have to order a full kit from England to get the pattern.  Just in case you are interested.

And yes, I know I look like I am mad. I’m not.

Baby Kimono

First off, thank you so much for all your kind comments and condolences on my grandfather’s passing.  I really appreciate all the love and support I feel from friends–both in real and blog life.  In about a week I will be heading to Hawaii for the funeral to say goodbye along with many members of my extended family.  I’ll try to give a full report on my time there.

Now…the baby kimono.

I know right? 

My friend Jennie is having a baby boy in April and I was having some trouble deciding what I would make for her.  I thought about something knitted but then thought something sewn would be a better choice for a spring and summertime baby.  Plus there is this book… 

I bought the book Weekend Sewing the minute I knew amazon had stock–I had seen a preview copy a couple months ago and like its sister book (Weekend Knitting) I fell in love right away.  This is the first project I’ve made from the book and so far I am very pleased and can’t wait to try more. 

I love this kimono jacket.  There is something so wonderful about miniature anything.  The pattern size is for newborn to 3 months which makes for an especially tiny garment.  Like with most baby things I make, I had a hard time giving it away.  If it didn’t sound so weird and unhealthy I would decorate my house in miniature baby knits and sewn items. 

Project Stats

Pattern: Lucy’s Kimono

Source: Weekend Sewing

Fabric: Moda, Urban Chiks SWEET collection, Icing

Size: Newborn – 3 months

Mods: Maybe?  I don’t know…I did have a couple questions about the pattern.  I just don’t know if I found errors or if my questions came about because I am still fairly new to the sewing world and thus didn’t get some of the instructions.  One in particular was about the side ties–the pattern seemed to say that the two ties added to the sides of the kimono are done the same on both sides.  However, I believe you need one to be accessible on the outside of the kimono and the other on the inside.  Either way, the couple questions I did have I was able to work out on my own which in the end was a good learning experience for me to do some sewing troubleshooting. 

As a side note…Some of you have asked me where I get my fabric.  Most of the fabric I have featured so far I bought at this really great craft store in Denver called Fancy Tiger.  They have a small but fantastic collection of fabric (mostly cotton) as well as yarn, stuff for embroidery, felting, spinning, and other craft projects.  I love going there and want to buy something new every time I go.  So next time you are in town, you should for sure check it out.

Next up: a newly finished sweater…yes, I really mean it.

Grandpa H. 1918-2009

For those who don’t know, I grew up on Oahu in the State of Hawaii.  During my college years I remember visiting home one summer with a friend.  We went to go visit my grandpa one day.  He was out in his yard hard at work–wearing his coveralls of course.  He greeted my friend warmly and asked her if she had ever been to Hawaii before.  She said no, it was her first time.  He then lifted his arms and motioned to the beautiful green mountains so prevalent in the Manoa valley and enthusiastically said, “isn’t this paradise?”

Grandpa LOVED Hawaii.  Almost as much as he loved ice cream.  (You thought I was going to say my Grandma didn’t you?)  He loved faking us out and pretending he didn’t have the tickets to whatever show we were going to.  He loved his watch Mei Ling (yes, that is the name he gave the watch) which faithfully spoke the time to him for many, many years.  He loved dinners out–especially those that had salad and dessert included in the price–Grandpa loved a good deal.  Grandpa loved his faith and lived it with conviction–leading his life the way he professed to believe.  He loved his name, my name, and hoped all who bore it would always honor it.  He loved his children and grandchildren of which I am very proud to be one.  And of course, Grandpa loved, loved his classy wife, my Grandma.

Last night Grandpa passed away.  I knew it was coming, it was his time and I am happy for him, just feeling a little sad for me.  I wanted him to meet my future husband, to have my children know the man who was so influential in my life.  As I get older, the more I understand what he and my Grandma gave me and I am forever grateful for them both.

Dad, Me, and Grandpa in Hawaii last summer

I miss you already Grandpa.  Give my love to Grandma and Aunt Patty.  Paradise just won’t be the same without you.

Just a little friendly advice from Vogue

So I am flipping through a friend’s copy of Vogue Sewing.  I am reading a section that talks about  how to deal with fitting problems or making a pattern fit your body right and I stumble across this nugget of wisdom:

“If you are ten or twenty pounds overweight, you could try to lose weight. Even a loss of five pounds could help to eliminate potential fitting problems.” (Source: Vogue Sewing, p.20)

So there you go folks.  Having problems with the right fit?  Simple.  Just lose weight. 

Thanks Vogue.

As a side note…can you imagine a knitting pattern saying…”if the waist shaping is a little tight around your tummy, sounds like it is time to get your lazy self back to the gym…oh, and you should stop eating those Girl Scout Cookies too.”