My first swatch

When I got the yarn from Hubby dearest, I can’t wait to get started with knitting socks. But a few pages on my book on socks, the author strongly recommends that I swatch my yarn before I start anything. All this while, I don’t swatch. My ‘sifu’ when I learn to knit never thought me to swatch. I learn how to adapt a pattern with the her so no matter what yarn, it’s still OK.

But this time around, I figure, it’s not that easy to adapt a pattern for socks to have it fit nicely. I dug out my 2.5mm Korean bamboo circular which I bought from Mayfair sometime ago and did a swatch following the instructions from the book, washed it and blocked it.

This is a note as one day I’d might dig up this swatch again and don’t know what is the gauge. So, this swatch is 30st in 4 inches with 2.5mm needles.

Sock yarn for my yarn stash

This is what Hubby dearest brought back from Germany for me :) Regia sock yarn. Love them. Thank you Hubby dearest :) 

Announcing the winner of Rozi’s birthday giveaway...

It’s a wet monday morning. I’m happy, hubby is back home with us. Everybody was still asleep when I cut out the names of the participants to my giveaway and put it in one of Arwen’s plastic container. I’ve promised myself, first order of the week is to find the winner for the giveaway.

Danial went to school wearing his new Buzz Lightyear shirt that came all the way from UK. It’s actually a pj but I let him wear the shirt until it can be downgraded to a pj sometime in the future.

After breakfast, I let my lilArwen pick one of the folded paper in the container and guess who’s smiling from ear to ear? *drumroll*

And the winner is....

Congratulations! My partner in crime, AzaIdris!!!!

For those who’ve participated in my giveaway, thank you so much for all the well wishes. May Allah blessed you with the same du’a many times fold.

Have a great week ahead!

It’s all about pleating

I received a gentle reminder from Fuzzy with regards to pleating her fabric for smocking. I’m very busy this week as I’m now holding the fort on my own. Hubby dearest is away at a medical conference in Germany for a week. And yes, we celebrated Hari Raya Aidiladha without him. Just me and the kids. Anyway, on with the pleating story.

So, I took down my pleater and dusted the box. Took it out from the box and my spool rack. Fuzzy sent me 6 fabrics to pleat. She even tag them individually as to how many rows she wants on each of it. I save the last, 23 rows and snapped some pictures here.

My spool rack and threads for 23 rows of pleating

I put the pleater on its box for the extra height

Fabric to be pleated and magnetic rod

Rolling the fabric onto the magnetic rod

Pleating in progress

Pleating completed

My work is done for the day

The fabric Fuzzy sent me are ever so cute. Makes me itch to do smocking again. Well, at least I can get this off my things to do list. Fuzzy, they’re coming home to you. Can’t wait to see how the smocking come out... Enjoy :)

p/s: I offer pleating services and charge RM1.00 per row. And if you just want to do smocking and you’re not very sure to put them together into a dress, I charge a small fee for tailoring too. Just email me and we can discuss the details.

p/s: I’ve yet to select any winner for my giveaway. Sorry for the delay. Will get on to it ASAP. Just bear with me.

Pre-Ordered CD Toters

It’s been a while since I last made one of these CD toters. A bit rusty in the beginning. Made the pink and the green with ladybugs last night. Made three of the roses in black background today.

They are all pre-ordered and booked by Siti Hajar and Fadhilah. In case you’re wondering how to use this contraption, you can click here.

Embroidery thread

Love the splash of colours. Thanks Faziah a.k.a. Fuzzy for the barter trade!

p/s: still contemplating on purchasing the license for Photoshop Elements 9

Bantal MakNab

My friend, Alice asked me to make kapok (kekabu) filled pillows for her mom inlaw and so I did. She asked for four. I gave her two first and forgot to take pictures. The husband, Faudzi, requested me to personalize the pillows. I didn’t want to do an iron-on transfer labels because it doesn’t last after a few washing (Actually, after one washing). So, the first two didn’t have any personalization. To make it up, I personalized the other two; Even on the pillows (see picture on the bottom right hand corner). 

I hope MakNab slumbers well with these pillows and have beautiful dreams.

p/s: I’m on hyper-drive with photo editing and blogging now as my Photoshop Elements 9 trial is expiring in 5 days!