Little Purl of the Orient

If you're happy and you know it clap your hands

I managed to finish Clapotis amidst all the mess. I know you must have seen all you want to see and read all you want to read on Clapotis but here is one more. It is the best project to knit during multi-tasking times. I was able to squeeze in a few rows here and there in between playing with my kids and before I knew it, I ran out of yarn. Rather than wait weeks for to order one more hank from Chez Casuelle (which, by the way, has excellent service), I make a calculation of the number of stitches I could save if I rip out a straight row repeat. It seems just about to make up what I'm missing. So I thread a life line where I want to stop unravelling and rip I went. The second time through the decrease rows, I crossed my fingers real tight and told myself I'll have enough, and I sure did. It was a close save.

So here it is, still unblocked. Wrap style.

And scarf style.

I take my hats off to all self-photographers out there. How do you do it? I'm all shaky hands.

I'll go finish up the pink boucle next. Really appreciate your opinions on the finishing. Guess I'll ponder it over some more while knitting up the collar.

Where has my holiday gone?

So did I paint Easter eggs with my kids? Nope but Chung Yi did practise a bit her fine motor skills, trying to scope the straw cut-outs from one cup to another.

After some struggle, Ji Yuan managed to wrangle some of those cut-outs and strung them into a necklace. Don't be deceived by the mute photos. During this time, both kids and mama got a lot of practice for our vocal cords.

Meanwhile, the furniture men came to install more hanging cabinets, no, not for stash. You might have imagined how those two kids are invading our space with their stuff. So lots of cleaning, packing and rearranging but I'm happy with the increased storage space. Maybe, just maybe, I could fight the kids and squeeze in some yarn in there.

Busy, busy, busy. I did manage to squeeze in some knitting though. I got to drop some stitches for Clapotis. Notice the dark patches? The yarn pooled so I alternated two balls and the pool got larger. So I'm going to just go with the flow after the first ball finishes.

And, go say hello to Erin, a new blogger from sunny Singapore! She blogs at Opportunity Knits.

Slowly, I knit again

In order to start Clapotis, I need to free up my 5.1mm needles from the pink boucle, which reminded me, I still have Ji Yuan's pink cardigan to finish before it gets too warm. At least the fronts are done.

So I cast on for Clapotis. No fancy stitch holders here, just the good, old Clover workhorse. The lion and lamb is rather slippery even on my bamboos but it knits up into a oh-so-soft fabric. And I couldn't help but thought how very easy but clever the design is.

Next, some headachy, denim Delta data.

Official gauge:
Pre-wash: 10 cm = 20sts = 28 rows
Post-wash: 10 cm = 20sts = 32 rows

My gauge:
Pre-wash: 10 cm = 20sts (I did measure) = ? rows (I didn't measure, had assumed naively that if stitch gauge is right, row gauge should be okay. Anyway, I learnt my lesson)

Post-wash:
Old denim: 10 cm = 19sts (it grew!) = 29 rows
New denim (which I used for the lower front): 10 cm = 19sts = 31 rows

Both sleeves should measure 43 cm from cuff to just before sleeve shaping but my stocking stitch one measured 54 cm while the dropped stitch one 49 cm. I don't think any washing is going to shrink the sleeve by 11 cm! I threw the longer sleeve into the washer this morning. However, it didn't shrink any shorter.

What about the body?
Width: official = 49 cm, mine = 50cm
Length: official = 46 cm, mine = 53cm

Ther verdict: somehow, my denim just doesn't shrink like other denim. I can only deduce that the batch of 'black-label' denim I used is so old that it mal-functioned. How sad. Maybe, someday when I want to face it, I'll just rip out the whole thing and knit something else, like a Buckle Bag, where gauge doesn't really matter. Hey, maybe I could even knit my own mitred squares blanket! That sounds just like the right idea. I'm going to check and see if there are more sugar n cream to go with it.

More fibery therapy

I've got quite a bit going on here. Basically two sick children, school searching, plus the colleague sitting next to me went into labour this afternoon. She is due Easter day but starting having contractions and  so she noted down the timing. They were not very regular yet and she thought they were just Braxton Hicks contractions. As this is her no. 2 and I cautioned her the labour may be short just like mine (I nearly gave birth to Chung Yi in the taxi, it was a close shave just 10 minutes from getting off the cab to her birth). Anyway, I urged her to see her doctor who is just close to our office and she came back telling me that she is dilatating. Let's hope everything goes well for her.

My stash was enhanced yesterday with the arrival of something noir, Lorna's Laces lion and lamb in black purl. Hmm, I'm in love. What're they going to become but the ubiquitous Clapotis. This will go to Singapore with me for my brother's wedding in June instead of Ab Fab as I think the mohair will reduce me into a puddle in the tropical heat. Probably lion and lamb would do a good job of keeping out the air-con chills.

And may I also proudly present Sugar n Cream, ta da! I'm equally excited to find these cotton yarn made famous by Kay. They sprung out of nowhere in the Wool Shop at Mongkok which is breathing its last breath. It will close very soon. See, I can't wait to start knitting with them and started this. It's for a good cause. Any guess what is it and for what purpose?

Today's only Tuesday but I'm already getting anxious for Ji Yuan's coming interview this Friday at another school. Hate it but still have to go through it. And of course, I can't let my anxiety show one bit. If you plan to reside in a pre-dominantly Chinese society, don't give birth in the year of the dragon, unless you like a hassle for everything. There are just too many children coming out in a dragon year.