Lacy Baktus

Lacy Baktus
Originally uploaded by Garyou.

I chose Lacy Baktus because I only had 2 balls of Solfa and wanted to make this scarf longer. Solfa is so soft and easy to knit. Subtle changes of colour is nice, too.
It was 25 degree Centigrade today. I'm longing for cool and crisp weather.

Yarn: Nikke Solfa Col.418 2 balls
Size 9 (4.5mm) Circular Needle
Started on 3 Oct. 2010
Finished on 11 Oct. 2010

Lacy Baktus in Progress

Lacy Baktus in Progress
Originally uploaded by Garyou.

It's a bit too much for me to write something in English.
So, I just put some photos of my work in progress.
Yarn is Nikke's Solfa in colour 418. I'm using size 9 (4.5mm) circular needle.

How Can I Tell

Brueghel Lace Scarf
Originally uploaded by Garyou.

So happy.
Finally, I've done with this scarf.
This was my second attempt to make this scarf. The first time, I quitted. I just failed to count rows and loops over and over again.
But this time, counting didn't bother me at all. What was the problem last time? I can't figure it out.

I also crocheted ponpons. I'm not a fringe-or-ponpon person. I usually don't add them to scarves, shawls, whaterver. This time, I just felt like it. It seemed like taking me forever to make them. And here they are.
The pattern tells me to sew them on, but I didn't. Instead, I tied them on. So, I can take them off easily.

It is really time-consuming for me to write in English. But, in a way, I can express my feeling a little bit better than writing in Japanese. My poor English vocabulary makes me so. My writing style is somewhat indirect. I tend to write briefly, maybe because I've learned that from classical Chinese literature a bit. Sentences are brief, but what's inside them is not so simple nor direct. That's what I like; thus that's my writing style. In Japanese, of course, but in English.

So, I just can say, "I'm so happy to make this scarf."
Simple, but true.

Crochet My Love

Brueghel Lace Scarf in Progress
Originally uploaded by Garyou.

It's been a while since last time I crochetted.
This happnes a lot.
Now I tat the most, but then, I knit the most, and so on.
That doesn't mean I do nothing other than knit while I'm hooked to knit. I also tat, crochet and spin once in a while. And sometimes, I just do what I'm hooked only.
Anyway, I've been away from crochet for quite a while.

This method is called brueghel lace. You make a long tape with loops and join some loops together. I believe this is one of the methods of bobbin lace, but not so sure.
I've tried this method for crochet and always failed to count rows and loops.
But this time, I'm doing ok so far.

Also, I crochet in a very relaxed manner. I've been a tight crocheter ever since I began crochet lace. This time, I try not to crochet too tight, rather, try to crochet without strain, but not too loose.
And so far, it turns out very nice fabric.

The photo below shows the book contains this pattern. It is my favourite book. It is rather old book, but doesn't matter. I've made several stuffs out of this book.

I'm using Jaeger's Matchmaker Merino 4 Ply. I really love this yarn. It is the "yarn." My idea. I'm so sad it is out of production. Or isn't it?

Garter Stitch Revisited

Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf in Progress
Originally uploaded by Garyou.

Garter Stitch? Boring!
But, wait. Is it really so?

Mindless knitting.
Doesn't it sound a bit calling it down?
Sometimes, I desperately need it, mindles knitting.
When I have nothing to do while watching TV, listening to music, and reading a book, and also I'm too tired to refering to a pattern every row, I want to knit, tat, or crochet something without looking up the pattern.
#"But you are watching TV ,listening to music or reading book! You're doing something!"
#Yeah, I know what you mean.
#I just can't stand my hands being empty.
#That's all.

It doesn't have to be mindless; I can knit cable rib socks without its pattern as well.
So, usually I pick something with a little decorative stitch to avoid boredom. That means, I choose not-only-stockinette-stitch-in-round or not-only-garter-stitch-in-flat pattern to make me feel busy.

But, you know, there surely are beautiful garter stitch garments in the world. A huge number of them exists. I mean, not only the garment but also garter stitches that consist that garment are awesome. And I really admire them.

So, once in a while I revisit garter stitch patterns and try to knit each row as beautiful as possible. Well, I know I'm a clumsy knitter, but still it is a good thing to have a model. It must be better than without one, at least.

And this is my 4th or maybe 5th Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf. The yarn I use is Diakeito's Dia Tasmanian Merino Atelier in AT810 colourway. This is one of the new yarns from Diakeito. When I first saw this yarn at my LYS I didn't think this yarn would become popular because its colourway variation. It's ... well, it's a bit large.
But working with it has totally changed my mind. This yarn is so lovely. It is so soft, so smooth, and fabric made of this is so tender that I don't want to take my hands off from it.
This would be perfect if they have different colourways.

Dia tasmanian Merino Atelier requires size 5 or 6 in Japanese size needles. So, it is 3.6mm to 3.9mm. I first tried size 4 (3.3mm) needles. I usually size down needles when I make all garter stitch garments.
But, the result was somewhat drapey (I may misinterpret the word drapey. The result was easy to fold).
So, I changed the needle to size 7 (4.2mm).

And you know what?
A pinwheel sweater is in progress, too!
Knit stitch one after another.
And, it isn't boring at all.