The One About Inori

Name of project: Purple Forest Canopy Shawl

Yarn:Moda Vera Bamboo/Cotton

I cannot remember the details of this shawl because it was a quick knit (finished less than 2 weeks and to me, that’s pretty quick!)

And I didn’t have time to record what I did etc… and there isn’t time to model the shawl either! When we had time, it was rainy and overcast. When it was sunny, Nad wasn’t in to take pictures of me modeling it.

So sorry, you’ll have to see it being modeled on a bush.

I used a thick yarn and big needles so that the shawl would go quickly. I made it for my neighbour who is getting married this month! That was why I needed a quick shawl pattern and this was perfect!

The yarn is rather splitty (can’t expect much from a Spotlight brand) but when knitted up, it actually has a very nice drape and is not so warm – perfect for the cooler summer nights.

The pattern is easily remembered as there are really only 3 rows to memorise. It has an 8 row repeat but 4 rows are purl-back rows and the 1st row is a set up (knit) row.

This is how it looked like during blocking:

and how it looked like before blocking:

I created a care sheet for my neighbour as she is not a knitter and I would imagine that she might want to, at some point in time, wash her shawl.

You are most welcome to use this care sheet for handmade shawl gifts. Click HERE for the care sheet (or use the link to the right, under ‘pages’).

Comments and criticism welcome!

So I was watching FRIENDS (season 2) and laughing my head off…….

Sunshine, who was sitting on my lap, turned around, glanced at me, turned back and said,

“Mummy’s crazy!”

Ok, almost 6 months ago when Chubbs was born, I sewed this:

Yukatas are a thinner, more casual version of a Kimono, usually worn in warmer weather and when Japanese attend spring or summer festivals (Omatsuri).

I waited so long before letting Sunshine wear this because it only just begun to heat up. Temperatures are hovering about 25 degrees (Celsius) now in the daytime and yes, I’m COMPLAINING ABOUT THE HEAT. COME BACK MY WINTER!!!! Winter is always over too soon! I wish I lived in Canada/ Greenland/ Iceland/ Antartica. Lucky the nights are still nice and cold at 6 to 10 degrees.

My mum was here for a month when Chubbs was born and she was the one who figured out the Yukata pattern from a Japanese Kimono pattern book.

We did not follow the exact instructions (as we didn’t really understand the Japanese words….) and also used my Yukata (which my Japanese friend gave to me when Nad and I got married) as a template.

My mum, the professional seamstress, taught me to take Sunshine’s measurements and we sewed the Yukata to fit.

And it still fits her now which means she hasn’t grown much for 5 months.

I only finished sewing the Obi (sash) 2 nights ago. I cheated a little a lot. It wasn’t long enough and I had run out of fabric so I attached an extension haphazardly, causing the whole Obi to twist at the end.
But never mind! You won’t be able to see it because it’s tied into a bow anyway!!!!! Shhh!

I learned to tie a Cho Cho Musubi (Butterfly Obi) and managed to tie it on a very very wriggly little girl. She wore the Yukata to Church yesterday and SO MANY people came up to her to exclaim how cute the outfit was. I would then beam and say, “I MADE IT MYSELF!” and their eyelids would flutter in amazement. Hehehe.

What? I can’t help it! Hahahaha!

The Yukata was such a hit that some church members were still asking me about it today and some asked if I sewed the dress Sunshine was wearing today. (No)

I’m thinking of letting her wear it again tomorrow to Church.

On some knitterly news, a very nice lady named Elena from Ravelry had offered to translate my Honeycomb Scarf pattern into Russian!

If you read Russian, you can find the translated pattern here:
http://moreknitsinrussian.blogspot.com/2009/10/honeycomb-scarf.html

I can’t believe so many people like this scarf I created and it certainly has spurred me on to continue designing other knitwear.

I’ve finished knitting the first ‘draft’ of the sweater I was designing and have written up the smaller as well as the bigger versions on paper. I’m test knitting the smallest size right now and will be asking for a test knitter very soon.

Here’s a sneak preview:

Watch this space!

Now we dawk wike dad because we all have a coud.

Nose is clogged and the symphony cacophony of coughing and sniffling and sneezing in our house right now.

My heart aches whenever the babies, especially Chubbs, coughs or has difficulty breathing, as he is still too young to take meds. I refrain from medication too as I’m boobfeeding him.

But we all must try to get better AS SOON AS POSSIBLE as it’s the Feast of Tabernacles right now and we yearn to fellowship with our church. Lots of rest and lots of water for all 4 of us and of course, prayers too.

Just popping in to update on my new design:

I’m left with the bottom hem and the sleeves and then I have to cast on to knit a smaller size as well as one size bigger and then write out the pattern and then save in pdf format and then I can upload it and then I can share with everyone of you!

And because many people asked, here’s a pic of Chubbs in his bathtub today:

Chubby turkey thighs!!!