Chennai Weekend: What else

Last week i posted (ok ok my DH) few RAK Packages.
My Damask Bag is progressing well i now started the flower pattern on it. Its the first time i am doing something changing the colors.
I had to stop my Juno Stole as i dont have yarn… How could i be so dumb that i couldn’t see the difference between 1 ball and 1 skien. Before i start frogging it ( i really dont want to as its my first lace project) I mailed Jeni, if She could send me some more of that yarn. She said YES ( she has to check with the yarn shop for the same color)…. oh my god…. Thanks a lot dear… I have to wait for sometime but eventually i can finish it…

I signed up for another swap, this time i have to make a Hat. I am very much excited and waiting for the partners to be assigned.
Another News for me is that Swapna is coming in August to chennai and i am very excited….

off to look for some inspiration and make some stitch markers.

Travel Size Soap Saver

My Hands itched for a small project as two of my projects are progressing slowly…

TRAVEL SIZE SOAP SAVER

History
I saw a mail on my crochet mail group from Liz saying that she just wrote her first pattern and wants someone to test it. So i grabbed the chance as i had the yarn for it.
Yarn: Sugar n Cream Ombere in “Rainbow”
Hook: 4mm Pony Metal
Size: 1.9” X 3.5″
Pattern: The pattern by Liz is here on her blog
Notes:
I think my Soap Saver is smaller than her, May be i did my stitches a bit tight.

The Ombere Yarn doesnt show the stitches properly.

There are some corrections in the pattern (I mailed Liz so you can see a corrected pattern on her blog)
I made mine with corrections

If i make it again;
I will use a solid colored yarn

Learnt: decreasing stitches in dc ( dc2tog)
Time: 1 hour

I like this small FO, i may not use it as a soap saver but to hold a pod shuffle….

Chennai Weekend – Beads for Stitch Markers

I realised that i need some bright beads for making stitch markers…
Yesterday ( on saturday) I along with my DH went to T.Nagar as we had some work over there. So i combined my craft shopping also into the agenda. After we finished up the work we headed towards the dreaded Usman Road. Its really dreaded, with the “Aadi Sale” going on, With the flyover being constructed right in the middle of the road, with the road dug up all over to lay some cables… on top this the pavement shops and the maddening crowd.
I just got exhausted after walking some 200 meters between all this… My god, if possible i want the street to be in a no vehicle zone.

I visited Raja Thread Store ( Be very patient when you visit this store… as uaual regulars get priority) not in the best time. Its very crowded. The best time to visit it is during the weekdays just after they open or during their lunch hour.
I saw some nylon yarn this time 400rs per kg ( Probably the yarn weight is 9-10 wraps per inch) I didnt like the colors much and i dont even have a project in mind for that.
I got some Sparkling Knitting Yarn by “Red Rose”.
Some Wooden and Coconut Shell Buttons. (i would prefer the Parrys shop for buttons as it is cheaper)

Some nice beads.

Note: The Paper that acted as a background the pictures is from a chocolate box that We got in office when my manager was visiting us from Brussels.
I claimed the empty box, its a tin box with toon character “Tin Tin” all over it.

I didnt dare to do any other shopping…. especially in the super stores of “Chennai Silks”, “Pothys”, “Nalli”…. etc

RAK4 – Jewellery Findings

After seeing some colorful stitch markers over the net, I wanted some for me. I had the beads, pliers but whats missing is the wire. I could find some in my usual craft shops ( whihc also sell jewellery findings) or probably they didnt understand what i was trying to say.
Whenever i tell them the english version of something the sales girl here doesn’t get it and i dont know how to ask or explain in Tamil (the local language) so its very difficult for me to move around. For example “Tiger Tail” is called “Gear Wire” in shops here.
I would like to go to my craft shopping alone… i need the time to look around. But i have to take my DH due to the language problems and he acts as a language translator

Anyway thats history, I asked for some wire to make some stitch markers in Rav RAK group. Diane promised me some and the package arraived on thursday evening (17th July).

Along with the wire she also included some headpins, eyepins and jump rings. Thanks a lot Diane.

I am dying to make some stitch markers. I went through my Bead Box and realised that i need some bright beads to make stitch markers….mmm…that means a trip to craft store.

Chennai Weekend – Summer HeadBand

My last post said that i received some cotton yarn, and i started my first project with that.
So what am i waiting for….

SUMMER HEADBAND
History
I named it “Summer Headband” as the colorway of the yarn used is “Summer Splash”. When i received my first cotton yarn, i wanted a small project to try the yarn and its feel and a headband seemed to be the perfect fit.

Yarn: Lily Sugar’n cream Ombres in “Summer Splash”
Needles: 5mm (4mm DP for Icord)
Size made: 20 inches including ties

Pattern: Arrowhead lace Headband by Persnickety Knitter

Notes: The original pattern doesn’t has Icord ties but says to stitch the two ends.

I used plastic needles to knit, i think the metal ones are preferable when working with cotton.
Yet to block it, blocking might actually open the lacy pattern.

If i make it again
I will make it 2 inches less in length, the lace pattern is very strechy.
Use a solid colored yarn, as the changing colors dominate the pattern.

Learnt: Making I-cords using double pointed needles

Time: May be done in a day. I streached it over 5 days, knitting only few rows per day.

I am not much into wearing headbands (expect once in a while), so i may not use it and the colors are a bit too bright for me to wear. I have seen another pattern for headband, i am planning to make it in mute colored sportweight acrylic yarn which i may use.