The One About Inori

I think I’m addicted to sewing because as what Donna said the previous post’s comments, it gives instant gratification as compared to knitting! (But it won’t replace knitting!!!)

Following a pattern from Habitual, I made this Kimono styled top for Sunshine.

Step 1: Draw template and cut out.

2: Crush it by mistake and throw in bin.

3: Wonder where the template went. Fished it out. Smooth it as flat as possible. -___-

The things I do… Never fail to amaze myself. *Rolls eyes*

Then, I for the first time in my life, I made bias binding from scratch!!!

Never underestimate this little innocent looking strip of fabric. My goodness… The time and effort that goes into making this!!!!!!

And because I wanted to save as much fabric as possible, I cut the fabric into a smaller length and therefore had to join the binding many times.

(Joining the binding pieces.)

Then I cut out the main fabric pieces and laid them out and pinned them into place.

I sewed the pieces together following the instructions on the pattern. My mum suggested that I use a hand stitch to tack/baste the pieces together instead of using pins so that I can concentrate on sewing straight than worry about getting the pins out in time. It did help a little. I still sew crooked. That’s why my seams pucker.

Then, I sewed on the bias binding onto the main piece.

And ta daaahhh!!!!!!!!!!! The finished product!

I decided to use the remaining bias binding to finish off the bottom hem.

Then I put the top on our little model and tried to take decent pictures of her in it. She wouldn’t stop walking around and refused to look into the camera!!!!!! Grrrrr.

I asked her to please look into the camera and she showed me her butt instead. -___-”

Will have to wash and iron it before she wears it out.

(No, it’s not washed yet. I just hung it there to take pictures since our model was so unwilling today.)

My skills are still shoddy and I need heaps of practice. It’s a good experience though. And I’m very happy with it. I did it in about 5 hours or less. So that’s a personal achievement.

Oh I must mention one thing about Kimono styled tops. I think I wrote about this before in the Kimono Jacket post that Kimonos are worn with the left side OVER the right side.

The only time the Japanese wear their Kimonos/ Yukatas right side over left is when they are dead and in a coffin, awaiting cremation/ burial.

These patterns may have come from Western countries and are ‘only inspired’ by Kimonos and/or Yukatas but because it is mimicking the Japanese style, I think the ‘rules’ should still apply. At least to me and my family anyway.

It’s also very easy to remember which side goes over which. Just think of “Left Over Rice” - Left Over Right.

Comments and criticism welcome!

Edited to add: Ohhh, Chinese New Year is just around the corner and this comes just in time! – The Chinese usually buy or sew new clothes for their kids and family before Chinese New Year and they will wear them from the first day of the New Year.

In olden times, folks were so poor that the only time they get new clothes is during the CNY period. The tradition is passed down and still widely practised today by many Chinese although we can now afford new clothes all year round.

I was inspired by the cute little project bags that were made by fellow ravelers for their swap partners in the latest orange swap. Hence I decided to try my hand at making one of them!

Donna, from the Creative Controller blog made one of these bags and pointed me to the pattern here.

I used fabric I bought from Spotlight eons ago. Ironed it out and cut the template,

I meticulously and faithfully traced the seam allowance on both the linings and the main fabric pieces…..

ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE FIRST STEP OF SEWING WAS TO SEW THE BATTING ONTO THE PIECES which obscured the markings! Duh! Wasted my time! I shall have to use my eye judgment from now on.

Sewing on the batting.

Sheesh…. My indoor pictures really turned out horrible. Sorry folks…

Anyway, everything went pretty smoothly. UNTIL, I misinterpreted the pattern’s instructions and SEWED THE BAG TO ITSELF SHUT!

And I was wondering about the next step: “Pull bag and lining through the opening in lining bottom.”

I was, like, “How?”

Duh.

So I celebrated my blond moment by taking a short chicken wing break after I unpicked the stitches.

I need a lot of practice on the machine. I cannot sew in straight lines! Let alone follow the curves. Let me show you proof:

Go ahead. You are allowed to laugh at me. I know, I’ve let my mum and grannies down. Sigh.

Anyway, here’s the finished product:

It’s pretty roomy!

It’s currently holding Chubbs’ pullover.

Am very happy with the bag and I forsee making more than a few for my friends and family!

Yes. Benji likes it too!

Hmm, I realised that by posting this may make it seem like a whiny b*tch. I assure you I’m not bitching but am voicing out what I think is my right on my own blog.

I’ve joined about 3 swaps conducted via Ravelry and am currently on the 4th one, which is the Aussie Favourite Colour Swap.

Out of the 3 swaps, I was disappointed with 2. Which is the reason why I’ve decided to voice out here.

I have two complaints:

1. Everyone who signs up for the swap should obey the rules and keep to the budget limit. The Aussie swaps are usually limited at $25 or above. And I got one package sent to me that was obviously below $25.

Now, I usually go over the limit BUT I am NOT comparing NOR AM I EXPECTING something equivalent in return. I give because I want to. I give because I love spoiling the person I’m supposed to spoil. But rules are rules.

If something unexpected happened to my ‘spoiler’, that is something that cannot be helped and I would understand. But events such as having exams, paying tuition fees, moving interstate/overseas and other circumstances that are anticipated or obviously planned in advance, one should think twice about signing up if they cannot meet the demand of $25 or above.

In a worst case scenario, one can always send an SOS message to the moderators to get ‘swap angels’ to help out.

And one must also factor in that postage is NOT INCLUDED.

Once again, I must stress that I DO NOT expect my ‘spoiler’ to go over the $25 (or whatever the limit is) mark. Just stick to the rules only because it’s fair.

2. Prior to the commencement of the swaps, participants are usually asked to fill in a questionnaire. This Q&A gives the bare basics of the person’s likes/dislikes. For example, favourite colours, allergies, preferred knitting/crocheting accessories etc. There is also a question that asks “What type of yarn will you not use?”.

I really wish all participants would take their time to read this short questionnaire. If you do not wish to stalk your ‘spoilee’ on Ravelry or on their blogs, at least read the questionnaire.

Because, I have put down that I do not use acrylic or novelty yarns at all. But received it in a recent swap.

Before you jump and point your finger at me, calling me a ‘yarn snob’, I must clarify that I do knit with ‘cheap’ yarn. I buy wool from Spotlight. I use ‘common’ brands such as Cleckheaton, Patons, Yarn Bee, Moda Vera etc. AS LONG AS THEY ARE MADE OF NATURAL FIBRE, I use them.

This is a personal preference.
I have received a huge bag of acrylic from my mum’s friend and I thought I could use them to knit toys. I tried knitting a toy elephant out of it for Sunshine but halfway through, I stopped. I just do not like the feeling of it on my fingers and on my needles. I gave the bag away to my god-sis who doesn’t mind knitting with acrylic.

For what it’s worth, we do not use artificial fibres for our clothes either. Few months back, Nad and I cleared out all sweaters/jackets/shirts that were made of polyester and acrylic and gave them to the Salvation Army.

I just do not like the feel of artificial fibres on my skin. We try our very best to buy only natural fibres for our clothing. I have eczema and wearing a jacket made of polyester would make me perspire, itch and break out in rash as compared to a cotton or wool jacket absorbing the moisture and leaving my skin dry. Even my bra and underwear have to be cotton. Otherwise you would see me break out in rash. (Not that you would get to see those parts anyway!!!) (And hoo boy! Cotton bra is hard to find! )
The only time I would use an artificial fibre is when it’s a small percentage of nylon in sock yarn.

I do not judge people who use acrylic. So you should not judge me either. It’s all personal preference.

In my personal opinion, not reading the questionnaire or even trying to get to know your ‘spoilee’ better shows a lack of interest in participating in the swap. Which in this case, why sign up?

I know I’m treading on egg shells here….*nervous laughter*…..

I’m moving on and not losing sleep over this matter. I do not have a vendetta against my previous swappers at all and am NOT bitter over this. Disappointed, yes. But not bitter. Not losing sleep. Not harbouring ill thoughts. I’m also not out to gain pity so don’t start sending RAKs to me.. LOL..

I wanted to write this also because of a few mates I’ve got to know through Ravelry who have been disappointed with what they received in the past too. (One received a shoelace [wth!?!], one received a 2nd hand book, one received a tiny packet of candy etc….) They all suffered in silence. *Sigh*

I also do not want to lose faith in these swaps… they are supposed to be fun if everyone would play by the rules!

On the other hand, I know there are really nice swappers out there who put their time and thought into the swaps and I feel happy looking at all those nice little parcels that other people receive and feel spoilt over. I’ve even got ideas from some of the parcels and am going to incorporate it into the current swap I’m in! I’m getting excited just thinking of what I can put together for ************* (oops… almost gave the person’s name away!).

To those participating in swaps: Have fun! Remember the rules and remember to read the questionnaires!

Everyone, I present to you………….

Sunshine’s SUMMER TREASURE CARDIGAN!

(Yes, can you tell I love this cardi? So much so that I posted so many pics of it? LOL)

Name of project: Sunshine’s Summer Treasure Cardigan

Yarn: ONline Linie 134 Candy

Needles: Addi Turbos 3mm

Cast on date: 11 December 2007

Cast off date: 18 January 2009 (Hibernated for a year!)

Learned: When I first started it, it was my first lace project. Then it went into hibernation and I started and finished the Swallowtail Shawl.

Modifications: With Sasha‘s encouragement, I shortened the sleeves.

Mistakes: Surprisingly, this cardi is almost perfect! With only 1 or 2 mistakes here and there.

One thing about the pattern though… the buttonholes are just one Yarn Over. Which with 3mm needles and 4 ply yarn, makes them very small buttonholes indeed.
There are only 3 buttons and out of the 3, I think we will only use 2 since the 1st one is too close to the collar and would be stifling in summer. So I’m okay with stretching the ‘holes’ for those two buttons.

If I were to do this cardi again (which I won’t because the lace part takes a VERY LONG TIME TO KNIT!!!!!!!) I would enlarge the buttonholes or maybe crochet button loops instead.

Okay.. getting too carried away with similar pictures.. -___-

This was how it looked like during its blocking session and before I seamed the pieces up:

Anyway, our princess also had her first nosebleed in her life.

She was sitting on my lap doodling on a piece of paper when I looked down and saw her painting the paper with….. BLOOD!

I thought she had a cut but when I checked, I realised it was from her left nostril.

I grabbed some tissue and tried to apply pressure on her nose but she screamed and wouldn’t let me touch her. She didn’t want to sit on my lap either and kept rubbing at her nose. Which of course, made it worse.

I plonked her on the toilet (with the seat cover down) so that she would calm down and I could take a good look at her nose.

Waited out the nosebleed with her and it stopped soon enough.

Luckily, as a kid, I had nosebleeds at alarming frequencies – like once every month! Was just like having periods. *Snark*.

So I knew how to deal with it. Otherwise, not good for both baby and mummy to be panicking is it?

Have boiled barley water for our consumption to cool her body down.

Must be the heat getting into her. Poor girl. She’s okay now though. As happy as ever. In fact, the nosebleed happened before I took those pictures of her in the cardigan!

Me: My friend had to put one of her sheep to sleep over the weekend. It contracted a disease.

Person: Oh no………..that’s sad…………. But, was the sheep shorn?

Me: ……………