Archive for knitting

Phoenix Wright Beanie

March 23, 2012 at 3:38 AM · Filed under knitting ·Tagged , , , ,

Today is my last day of finals. I’m taking a quick break to write up this post, and then I should really get back to studying. There’s a lot of stuff going on…

Anyways, here is the Phoenix Wright hobo hat, as it appears in the the fourth Ace Attorney game! Complete with the :O face button and everything! Compare it with the official Hobohodo art here at court-records.net

hobohodo1

I started knitting this at the beginning of the quarter in January, when I was watching a movie with two of my friends. I was pretty busy during the quarter, but I managed to work in 2 or 3 days where I watched Doctor Who and knit at home. I enjoy having those kinds of quiet, lazy days every so often, as a relaxing break from life.

This was my first time trying to do 2 color knitting that was not in rows, so I had to learn about intarsia and fair isle knitting. At the beginning, I tried to use the fair isle technique, but I couldn’t figure out how to make it work in the round. I ended up doing intarsia, which was still pretty complicated! There were so many butterflies of yarn to keep track of. I know that in some places I got the strands twisted, and knit it out of order, because on the inside there are a few strands of floating yarn. At least it’s on the inside and doesn’t show! Weaving in the ends after I finished with the color block was not fun either. SO MANY ENDS. I’m pretty happy with how it looks in the end though!

Besides knitting with intarsia, this pattern was pretty simple! I used the Classic WWII Watch Cap pattern, slightly modified. For charting the “PaPa” on the hat, I used the typed instructions from here. Since the hat was pretty basic, it was quick to knit up.

For the button, I bought some of those plastic pins from Michaels and inserted a printed out image. For the image, I just used Photoshop to make something similar. I was thinking about purchasing a real button, but decided that the shipping would take too long.

So yup, I finished this earlier in March, so that I was able to gift it to someone. 🙂
I think that it’s pretty cool! For me, the colors are a little bright, and I don’t usually wear hats, but I just love that it’s from Phoenix Wright. I actually have a lot of yarn left over, so if I have time, I might try to make a few more! I think that this would be perfect for a simple cosplay costume.

Anyways, hope that you all enjoyed this update! I recently bought 2 skeins of a green bamboo yarn, but I really should try to knock out some of my longstanding WIPs. I can’t remember which projects that I have lined up right now, so it’s a mystery what my next crafty post will be about! Wish me luck on my finals and misc. stuff, and I’ll hopefully get back to you soon.

Best wishes to anyone else still in the grasp of finals (and also to those who are already free. :P)

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crochet lace scarf and heart

January 8, 2012 at 11:53 PM · Filed under knitting

Queen Anne's Lace Scarf

When I started knitting and crochet, my grandma gave me a few skeins of a pink yarn. I couldn’t decide what to do with it for the longest time. Over my winter break trip to LA and Vegas, trying to stash-bust, I brought these with me.

I was browsing the Ravelry pattern database, and found this pattern for a crochet scarf. After having made the crochet cats, I was in the mood for crochet. I think crochet projects are faster than knitting ones actually.

For this project, I used the tutorial from Mr. Micawber’s, to make the matching scalloped edges.

It was actually a pretty easy project! This the second big project that I crocheted, so definitely it’s good for beginners. It’s also quick to make, so would be perfect for gifting.

I was able to get two scarves and an amigurumi heart out of the yarn.
pop heart

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DNA scarf

January 8, 2012 at 10:52 PM · Filed under knitting ·Tagged ,

DNA scarf

I cast on for this project when I first started knitting in 2008, and now I’ve finally finished with it! I learned how to read a chart by doing this. This was also the first time that I steam blocked something. I really like the pattern, and want to try putting it on some other projects! In fact, I’m making a pair of fingerless gloves! 🙂

Instead of using the full pattern with the mock twist cables, I did a k1p1 ribbing on the sides. The scarf curls a bit, even after blocking, so it probably would have been better to make the ribbing longer or to use a different stitch.

DNA scarf detail

Here’s a close up of the pattern. 🙂

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going on a trip!

December 19, 2011 at 7:23 AM · Filed under knitting, updates ·Tagged , , , , ,

Hello all, I’ll be away until December 27th, visiting my grandparents in LA, going to Vegas with the family, and enjoying the holidays.

Crafts-wise, I’m going to bring the DNA scarf project. I think I just need 2 more pattern repeats until I finally finish! So most likely you can check back in a week or so and see the finished scarf! 🙂

Maybe I’ll also bring the scrap black yarn to make another crochet cat/dog? Really not sure if there is enough yarn though… I think I should probably save it to use in other projects. Black is such a common color. I was thinking of finding some patterns for amigurumi Zelda figures?
I should really bring the CPH, but there’s way too much stuff to bring for that project. Eventually I will finish it!
Or I could bring the random pink yarn I have and try making hearts? Should start that early. 😛

So, well, as you can see, even though it’s the morning before I leave, I’m still not exactly sure what to pack. OH, I have to find my DS and the charger to bring those for sure!

Anyways, that’s it for my rambling. Warm wishes for the holidays, and I hope everyone is able to spend it with their families/friends/loved ones. 😀 See you all in a week or so

Happy Holidays!

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crochet cats

December 18, 2011 at 3:05 AM · Filed under knitting ·Tagged , ,

Hello again! Here’s the first post with actual content for winter break! So, even though last time I said I was going to try to work on my WIPs, I decided to work on something different entirely.

Last year or so, I made my first crochet project, a black cat, supposed to look like the one from Studio Ghibli’s Kiki’s Delivery Service. (I love that movie!!) I ended up changing the eyes/nose a bit, so my project looks like just a generic black cat. 😛

Today, my family had an early Christmas party with my aunt and uncle, since we are going to be in Vegas/Los Angeles over Christmas. Since we were exchanging gifts, I decided to make another one of the crochet cats to give to my aunt and uncle.

crochet cats
(The original one to the left, and the newer one to the right.)

Random thoughts under the cut!

Read the rest of this entry »

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knitting stuff (fall quarter/winter break)

October 27, 2010 at 10:05 AM · Filed under knitting ·Tagged ,

Wow. Did you know that I started drafting thus post in October of last year? This first paragraph I wrote back then is amazingly still applicable.

Time always seems to pass by so quickly whenever school is in session. I can’t believe that it’s already fifth week and that we’re almost halfway through with this quarter. Classes and MASA have been keeping me busy, so not quite so much crafting time.

(Well it is only fourth week now, but still…)

Anyways, I have a few things to blog about from over winter break! Needed a break from my life right now…

First up, the Garterlac dishcloth and the tribble from a ball of Lily Sugar and Cream in Strawberry.
garterlac dishcloth (1)
I like the dishcloth pattern and feel like it works well with the yarn’s striping, but I think I really need to focus on picking up stitches evenly. The corners are not so nice here. In the future, I’d want to try this as the entrelac scarf or hat pattern.tribble
The tribble was a fun quick knit. I want to try making more with my other scrap yarn. I think closing it would be good practice for doing a beanie!

my kind of town cowl (2)
Next, the My Kind of Town Cowl. A super easy knit done in a chunky yarn – quick to knit up. I like it! Not sure if it’s too small though. I only used one ball. Also yarn is a bit sheddy, with these navy blue fibers sticking to my shirts. Mm if I did this again, I’d use a different yarn and allow more yardage.

cph back panel
Finally, a progress shot of my CPH, which is FINALLY started after like… three years? Hahaha. I am the master of procrastination. It’s actually back in hibernation again, while I’m at school this (and probably next) quarter.

Also, I bought some pretty gray yarn, intending to make this:
Knit In Chunks
Haha. I wonder if this is going to turn into another CPH, shelved for a few years?

Well, that’s it for knitting for a while. So hmmm, next post is gonna be an announcement. After that, we’ll see. Wish me luck this quarter!

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stuffed animals

September 20, 2010 at 5:15 PM · Filed under knitting ·Tagged , ,

Stuffed crocheted animals can be called amigurumi, but I wonder what term you use when they’re made by knitting instead.  According to Wikipedia, amigurumi is a designation for both knitted and crocheted animals. but when I hear amigurmi, my only associaton is with crochet.  Oh well..

Anyways, whatever you want to call it, here are two stuffed creatures. One knitted squid and one crocheted cat.

squiddy
Yay for Squiddy! I totally finished most of this two years ago, during my first obsession with knitting. I used Cascade Wool 220, purchased somehwere while I was in Alaska.  Earlier, I had knitted up a pair of Dashing fingerless gloves with the skein, so while this was still in progress, I ran out of yarn.  I decided to hibernate the project, discouraged, and finally decided to just finish Squiddy this week.  So, that’s why this poor squid only has six appendages: two tentacles and four arms.

I tried to do a french knot for the eyes, as instructed, but I didn’t really get how it was supposed to be done, especially since I didn’t have a tapestry needle.  Instead, I made up this weird loopy knot using the crochet hook, and now the right eye is a bit loose. :/  I should learn how to do french knots for real though.  There’re some amazing projects done with them, like this moon. OH, actually THIS MOON is the one that I was thinking about.

jiji
And here’s Jiji the Cat! It’s supposed to look like the one in the Ghibli movie, Kiki’s Delivery Service. It’s not quite done, but I forgot my pink yarn at home, so I’ll have to embroider a nose on later, then stitch the eyes on as well.  I think it still looks cute, despite my crocheting errors.

At one point in the pattern, it mentions to crochet through only the back loop. I didn’t know what that meant, so found this website to explain.  Apparently, the way I’d been crocheting wasn’t normal, and so I had done the whole head and body already entirely through the back loops.  I still wanted to have some distinction at that row, so I instead crocheted through only the front loop. 😛  I wonder if this is the reason why there are all these unattractive holes by the increases or decreases, or if they’re  just my mistakes.

And so, that brings a real close to my summer projects. If I’ve time, I think I’ll actually try to finish and attach the sleeves of ma Cherie Amour, or finish up the DNA scarf…. Or maybe it’ll be another year or so before things get done again. 😛

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end of the summer projects

September 15, 2010 at 3:04 AM · Filed under knitting, project planning ·Tagged

I’m back in SD, and there’s only about one week left until school starts. Time really has flown! Anyways, let’s take a look at what WIPs I managed to knock off since the last post.

Pokemon Hoodie: I didn’t even take out the box with this project while I was at home. So, the project’s status is still the same. But darn, it would have only taken maybe a day or two to finish this up. Maybe during winter break?

Cherie Amour: Did not complete this, sigh. I’ve knitted up the whole body segment, but still have the sleeves and finishing to go. I’m knitting the sleeves in the round, to avoid seaming. I’m kind of tired of working this lace pattern, and am dreading attempting to join the sleeves with the armholes. Perhaps this project will go into hibernation for another few months.

Central Park Hoodie: haha. What a joke. I still haven’t even cast on for this project. I think that I’m procrastinating, since it’ll be my first actual garment project, and that I really want it to come out well. Maybe I’ll start this after I have a more solid concept of gauge and swatching.

Dragonskin: Started and finished it! I really like the pattern, the subtle arc of the scales, and how it looks so smooth still. But, oops, I think I ruined this with a poor choice in yarn. I tried to use the last of the Lily Sugar n Cream in the Potpourri colorway, but ran out halfway through. Decided to continue with the rest of the Summer Splash colorway, just to finish it off. And ERGH, it came out so awkwardly. Also, made a mistake cabling with the Summer Splash, so they’re reversed. I think I need to do this in a solid, perhaps a deep wineish or burgundy red, or a heather gray. But well, at the very least, it’s a good fit for the DS.
dragonskin front

Ravenclaw Dashing: Yes! I am done with this. I’m not entirely sure about the placement of the stripes, but still, I think that everything came out quite well. The yarn is nice and soft, and since it’s acrylic, it should totally be machine washable too.
ravenclaw dashing 3

Biwa, Mer du Sud: I still don’t know what I want to do with this. If I do a triangular shawl, maybe it’ll become Springtime Bandit or Traveling Woman. But then, I don’t think I can pull off a shawl like that. So, maybe I should turn this into a more regular rectangular scarf, a la Spring Leaves? I really do like these lacy leaf based patterns. But, instead of a scarf or shawl, maybe I could try to do this ProtoPretty DNA Sweater Shell? Since I’m still not done with the DNA scarf, I really want something with that amazing chart. But anyways, I left this cone at home, so all decisions postponed to winter break at least.

Pebble Beach: I found two potential patterns for this, but can’t decide which one to go with! I still really like the Ester shrug, but the charts look intimidating, and I do not get what that “No Stitch” means in the Set-Up row. I think if I actually start, I’ll be able to figure it out, but for now, it’s just scary!  The safer choice I could go with would be the Green Day vest. I get most of the instructions, and it seems like a much faster knit. But then, which one of these would be worn more often? The color and the nubby texture of this yarn makes it challenging to decide.

embroider faces onto GRR: DONE! Actually finished this up at home after finding my plastic needle. I think these came out super cute, with the faces just so smiley and d’awwww. I hope that I secured the embroidery on correctly, and that the faces won’t come loose and get messed up when the washcloth is actually in use!
grrr 1

stuff, sew, embroider Squiddy: Almost done! Gah. I hate running out of yarn when trying to finish a project. Decided to leave the poor squid with only six legs, two of them extra thin, and just finish up the project. Stuffed and sewed it shut, but still have to embroider the face. I might try to felt a bit, since this was done in Cascade 220 wool, as opposed to a cheap acrylic yarn. Hopefully this will come out well!

add findings for crochet earrings: Finished! I tied the smaller crochet circles onto a pair of the sterling silver findings I’d bought from Michaels. They make for a lovely pop of color, not too overstated. The larger ones are a bit too much for me.
crochet earrings small 3

Not too bad I suppose? With so little time before life sets in for fall, I should probably be trying to finish up Cherie Amour, but I’m lacking interest. Instead, I’m trying to finally finish up a crochet project instead: Jiji the Cat. Cast on for this in September 2009, and I’ve totally forgotten what part of the pattern that I’m on. I’ve no idea how to count rows in crochet, but I think I can guess. Also, I’ve totally forgotten how to use the stitch markers in crochet. Yep. I wonder how well this is going to go.

https://eikosi.wordpress.com/2010/04/16/hoodie-update-applique/w

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WIPs and ma cherie amour

September 4, 2010 at 12:09 AM · Filed under knitting, project planning ·Tagged ,

Summer, despite all these lazy days, passes by so quickly. There’s only one week left before I go back to San Diego. From then on, I’ll be busy again. I’m looking forwards to a change in pace. (Also, I miss my exacto knife.)  But still, I’m not ready for summer to end. There are so many things that I still want to have done, things that I should have done, and things that I’m afraid to start.

I’m don’t want to leave so many plans or WIPs behind. I think my problem is that I’m too ambitious and find more things that interest me than I am capable of doing.

Anyways, back at SD, I’m (hopefully) going to put the finishing touches on a few other projects.

And here’s the current project in progress.:

cherie amour progress

Hah. I cast on for this in September 2008. It’s been such a long time…. will I finish?

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variegated yarn, part the second.

September 2, 2010 at 9:33 PM · Filed under knitting ·Tagged , , , ,

Ha, I am so easily swayed. So, from cursing these types of yarns in my last post, I am now presenting Lily Sugar’n Cream Ombres and Prints in the ever delightful SUMMER SPLASH :

frogged tissue box
(1×1 knit rib, meant to become a tissue cozy, but I needed the yarn for other projects!)

Oh, even though this yarn is again self-striping, I love how it knits out so brightly and boldly. I’ve used it to finish four projects already. Much love for each of them.

  • belt
    Exhibit A: Linen stitch D-ring belt. MY FAVORITE! I don’t usually wear belts, but this is very convincing.
  • scrunchie
    Exhibit B: Moss stitch scrunchie.
  • crochet earring 1
    crochet earring 2
    Exhibit C: crochet earrings! Still have to attach to the findings…
  • bracelet
    Exhibit D: knit bracelet. I’m making way too many of these kind of funky bracelets. I can’t help it though! They’re so charming and quick to knit up. 🙂

And now, what of the Cool Breeze colorway? I finished what was left of the skein after the earlier disaster by improvising this linen stitch headband. This could be almost cute, but I think again, the color choice is at fault. Also, oops. My thumb is in the way;;
headband

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