Petunia Tote - done atlast

When I first saw the photos from the IK magazine I loved it but I can't say that about my FO. First of all, when I was picking up stitches I didn't exactly bother to read up how to do that ... so the base is inside out (haha) but I think I shall add some cord/edging to make it look neater. Also, I was tempted to stop after doing 1.5 repeats of the pattern but at that point it felt too small so I did the full 2 repeats... and it's ginormous. Enh. And while I was on gauge for the bag, once it came to the handles I started pulling my stitches quite tightly. Which I guess made it a stiffer fabric. Though it's not as long as it's supposed to be but if it was any longer my bag would be to my knees. I stitched a piece of denim into the handles so that it wouldn't stretch out and then lined the rest of the bag. I think I might fix-up a few more details but there you have it.

zoom-in on the lining

sitting on the floor

hanging on the railing

Note: I don't have any good action shots! (lol) Maybe later.

WIP: Legwarmers

So I bought yarn today for VanSiu's legwarmers at Mary's Yarns. What a lovely shop. There was so much yarn and the people were superbly friendly. :)

I must get to my real point for blogging ... I'm terribly frustrated with myself* because I'm supposed to do a basic lace pattern on the DPNs however, it's not working for me. How am I supposed to slip the stitch over the k2tog part if I'm using all four needles. Do I use another one? Is that how this works? Maybe I'll try that next. Anyhow, I've ripped out what I just started and will try this again. (Note: I want these done by Saturday. Yeup, I did just say Saturday.) I get the feeling that the first of the pair will be kinda wonky but the second one will be okay. VanSiu will just have to make do with my shoddy first-attempts. (I mean really, I've only ever done plain stockinette on DPNs and that didn't even look brilliant!)

In other news, I bought myself some sock yarn. I plan on following this brilliant tutorial online for knitting socks. I can't wait :) ... just need to get these legwarmers done. And started. lol And someone please tell me why sock yarn is so expensive.

*note: I only have made one attempt so far so who knows what I will be like if I fail at this after 3 gos. I think I'm just tired.


Add-on: So After I had done tone round of the lace pattern and then a round of plain knitting I figured wheeeee, I've got it! But now I'm extremely confused. I started off with 17/16/17 for stitches on each needle and then now it's 18/16/18. And when I work out the lace pattern in my head, it seems to be increasing. But it's not increasing enough or properly because at the end of the lace round I end up with extra stitches. And wtheck, I don't think it should be increasing either. Goodness, this is just simple sl/k2tog/psso/yo and yet I'm completely baffled.

Add-on again: I have now ripped this thing out 4 times. Three of those times had to do with the stitch numbers fudging on me and this last time because my hand slipped pulling out more stitches than i could catch. I think I need to stop. I need sleep.

WIP: Petunia Tote - final update before it's done... I think

Yeah. It has been a slow process. Only because I always put it down. Anyhow, all that's left to do is knit the handles. Here it's what it's like after being steam-ironed. The old-lady fabric in the background is actually what I'm using to line it. (shrugs)

Add-on: So today is May 21st. I'm working on the handles. There's a problem, however. I suppose since it was my first time using DPNs I have been pulling my stitches ridiculously tight to avoid that awful rung/ladder of stitches that people always get when using them. So I've pretty much managed to avoid that but my gauge is all off. The stitches are much tinier on the handles than they are on the bag... and I'm running out of yarn. I'm hoping that by the time I get to the end of the skein I will have large enough handles for such a ginormous bag because I really don't want to have to buy another one. It's good in one sense because it's now rather stiff and once I stitch in the denim in the handle it won't stretch out but still. Also, this bag is ridiculously huge. Why did I make such a big bag? Why didn't I stop at 1.5 repeats like a smart person? And why did I actually use cotton to make this bag? Sure, it was the recommended yarn for a "summer knit" but even with all my lining it will no doubt stretch out.

RARGH. I just needed to rant.

Distracted by the fiber arts

So my parents have called a few times today to see what I'm up to and how exactly I'm getting to school later, etc. And each time they've called, they've asked me if I'm studying because I told them yesterday I needed to study Spanish. And I keep saying that I am.

What am I really doing? Browsing the crochet section of Craftster, wondering why on earth I can't get past a row of chain stitching without it going all wonky, and reading The Happy Hooker. Aiya. I've got to shower and stop this nonsense.

Attempts at Crocheting

So I've been wanting to make the clutch that's in Happy Hooker for awhile now. Last night I whipped out the crochet hook I use for fringes when knitting and some of that blue and white yarn and attempted to try the first chain stitch. It really looked odd. Either way, I attempted again this morning and I'm doing it and there's a distinct flow to it, except I think I'm too tense - my hands are that is. But if I do it less so, I always get both pieces of yarn caught under the hook - instead of one over and one under. Eugh. I'm going to try the half double crochet stitch now.


Add-on: You know, I really think I should be using a smaller hook. Or a thicker yarn. In the videos I just looked up, they do it a lot more naturally than I do.
Add-on2: Okay, yeah, it works much better with thicker yarn. I don't know why I didn't pay attention to that at the beginning. Joyyy.