Pattern: Gap-Tastic (rav link)

Needle: US 9 (5.5mm)

Yarn: di.Ve “Autunno” 2 skeins

The yarn I had were thinner than what the original pattern calls for, but the pattern is basically rounds and rounds of moss stitch. I also didn’t want a huge pile of fabric around my neck. So I used US 9, and cast on 105 sts instead.

The cowl sits comfortably around my neck when I wrap it around twice, so it’s nice and easy.

I love the subtle gradation of the yarn (from white to light gray to dark gray). It goes with almost everything I own in the closet.

I have to be honest; I dont love moss stitch patterns that much, but this yarn is so soft and fun to knit with because of all the color changes. I finished this in two days when I was down with this cold. You can still tell how the skin around my nose is raw in the pictures.

It’s been a while since I updated anything on this blog so I wanted to take pictures of this FO right away. My hair looks messy, and my makeup is ashy and that sweater is pretty fun, but that’s all the energy I could muster that day for the “photoshoot”

Will I make this again? mmm probably not. I still don’t like moss stitch.

Oh boy, was that some roadtrip or what?!

Happy New Year everyone!

I’m finally back home with Bagel, my sister, and my husband. Poor husband drove all the way from SF to Irvine, it is about 6 hours on Freeway 5.

When we got home, it was 6 oclock and we were famished. We didn’t stop for lunch and had to run and get some Korean food takeouts. We came home, pigged out, and watched the NYC countdown on tv. Ah. Family time at home.

The past 6 days in SF was quite an experience. I definitely learned to use public transportation, something I’ve never had to do. I’m still not that confident about public transportation. California is generally not a public transportation type of place and I never lived anywhere I had to take buses or trains, excluding occasional bus rides to campus when I was in Santa Barbara.

And then book shopping! I scored some awesome books in a couple of used bookstores in the City. I have a weird habit of buying the same books, just in different versions/editions of books that I love. Emily Dickinson, Thoreau, Emerson, and Frost. I ended up finding an old 1970s copy of a John Rawls book on Theory of Justice. And a relatively new, but more complete version of Emerson’s writings. And on my last night there, I also found a 1960s copy of Ariel by Sylvia Plath.  I love old books. New books are easier on the eyes, but there is something more romantic about finding and reading used, out-of-print versions of books that I love. Someone else held these books and read them; and hopefully appreciated them as much as I do now.

I hope that everyone had the perfect New Year’s Eve. See you next year!

Today's purchases from Britex Fabrics

I grew up in the Bay Area; and have been to the City maybe more than 200 times after my 15th birthday. My mom is a fashion designer and sews at home all the time. And yet, this is my FIRST TIME even hearing about Britex Fabrics. WTH?

But even though this was my first time, it didn’t take me long to realize the historical and industrial importance of this store. Today, hubby went back to work (not far from Union Square), sis went to hang out with her friends in Japantown, so I had some free time today. I finished working on some things for my own job, and then went to explore this store.

If I died and went to fabric heaven, this is it. Very expensive heaven, but heaven nonetheless. I walked in and was a bit overwhelmed by the proper-looking salespeople and high-end, quality fabrics in the first floor. Silk, mohair-blend, woolen fabrics. After the initial price tag shock, I was able to look at some beautiful fabrics. I especially wanted this woolen fabric that said it was made for Prada, but couldn’t afford to pay $170 for fabric just enough for a short pencil skirt that I may or may not be able to fit and cut perfectly. Maybe when I get better at sewing, I’ll come back and buy the most exquisite suiting materials.

I ended up getting some materials for the knitting pieces I’m doing right now. For those who don’t know, I am knitting an evening gown from scratch. The yarn is deep midnight-black (a hint of blue-green) so I picked up some satin ribbon for the belt section, and then some darning needles (because I packed needles and yarns for the trip, but forgot my notions bag… dumb me); and a measuring tape (for the same reason above).

Good thing I picked up these at Britex, because when I came back to the Castro neighborhood, ImagiKnit was closed early! What a disappointment.

Just one week left in 2011! And I’m on the road. Currently, I’m staying in San Francisco, about 10 feet away from one of my favorite yarn shop, ImagiKnit.

I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday season!

Years ago, I came across some yarns on sale. Fingering weight sock yarn on sale? Score.

But when I came home, I realized I hated the colors. They were all variegated yarns and I don’t really do variegated stuff. They were in balls but I managed to skein them (never doing THAT again…) and then overdyed the yarn three times to achieve this deep, camouflage look.

They still stayed in my stash for a long time because I couldnt think of anything I wanted to knit in camouflage color.

Until my dear husband asked for some fingerless mitts. He has been away in SF working on a project, and unlike Irvine, SF is very very cold. He was complaining how he has to walk in the cold while holding his phone to his ear to talk to me. “Where are the gloves you promised me!” he whined. He was referring to a glove I started, finished one side, and never got to the second one of the pair.

I went to see him in SF last week, and finished this pair on the trip. I cast on the first one of the pair while waiting for my plane to take off; and I bound off the second one of the pair upon arrival at Santa Ana airport. It took exactly two days since I only spent one night in SF.