Claire De Lune

I need to break them down twice to finally happy enough wit the result. From the beginning the name is Claire De Lune, in the process I called it Scary Night (my husband insisted to add people hung their head at tree branch on the chart). Yes and it was scary night until I attached the moon.
The bag is about (11x4x10) inch. Here are some pictures of the finished project

front view

back view

If you are interested in making one, leave a comment and your email address. I'll send you the color chart in excel workbook format.
Thx, Happy Crocheting!

TOSCA TUCK BAG

This past few months have been a 'tosca theme', I'm not a shopping-type-woman, or in short a shopaholic, but when I do, I'll purchase something with this shade of color. And...anyway the yarn was never meant to be a purse, clutch, bag or hand bag or something in common, I wanted to make a shrug or cropped cardi from this yarn. I almost finished with my project when I realized something was wrong. This type of yarn, beside getting more and more expensive every year, it's shorter than before. Ugh! I didn't expect this. So there  I was, thinking about continuing or stopping.

I chose stop and it gave me a chance to use my brand new tunisian crochet hook for the first time. No pattern here (sorry) but I'll tell you how I made this bag. The finished bag is about (25x10x25) cm

The base of the bag worked in tunisian simple stitch, a rectangle about 25x10 cm. The straps also in tunisian simple stitch .

To create the body, pick up and knit around rectangle edge and work in circular needle. It's a little tricky sometimes when knit in circular based on rectangular edge, but after some rows, it's getting easier and as smooth as usual. Work straight for 5 rows, and make the very bottom tuck. If you're not familiar here is how you make tucks. After the 1st tuck work 8 rows in st st, and repeat the tuck process. Repeat this until you reach your desire height. 

   

The closure is up to you, snap button, zipper, i-cord rope, anything will do, but because I LOVE privacy to what inside my bag I choose zipper, and I found inside lining is useful, especially when working with zipper. I sew the zipper with the lining fabric, and hand-sew the zipper (which had already attached with the lining) with  the bag. Here it is the result!

I was so lucky found zipper that matched the color of my yarn, but not without an effort. I came to a shop inside a traditional market that looked like the zipper had been there like forever. It's so dull and dirty and I need to wash it thoroughly before sewing it.But it's worth the result.

Happy Knitting! (and crocheting)

KNITTING WITH TUCKS

We need to fold across the knitting piece to create tucks (this is similar in making hems). The number of rows are depend on how long/big the tucks will be. Tucks usually work in st st, on the right side fold the knitting piece along the row and knit each stitch on the needle together with the back loop of each corresponding stitch of the previous or several rows below.

Imagine you are working tucks at 5th rows, so you need to knit all each stitch at the top together with the back loop of all corresponding stitch 4 rows below. For me, it's better to work with crochet hook instead of knitting needle. What I do is insert the crochet hook at the front loop of the 1st stitch on the working needle and through the back of knitting fabric I'll hook the back loop of the corresponding stitch below and pull a loop from there (on the picture above it shows in red dotted line). Do this across the row while transferring the loop to knitting needle. After the tuck is done continue to knit as usual or work another tucks.

Tucks consist of few rows give a corded effect to the fabric

 

ADDING SLEEVES (FROM SLEEVELESS)

Some of you may remember the Botanica Medallion Cardi from Vogue Knitting Spring-Summer 2009. No? The fabulous cardi looked like this . I think there’s a reason why it’s being called medallion. It does a medallion. I still love it until today.

As the time goes by, I think I need this cardi with sleeves more than sleeveless, and because it’s been years since I knit my medaliion, I need to make sure that I still have enough yarn to do my project : adding sleeves, so what I did first was digging my stash. So if you have enough yarns, know how to pick up and knit, and also working short rows, this project is ready to go!

CABLE-RIB CARDI

Whooo hoooo....

It's finally done! This is the loongeest project I've ever encountered. LOL. This one ordered by my friend, few months ago (yes months ago!) she sent me a picture and she said she want me to knit something like this:

The image isn't clear enough for me to see the details. Actually, the picture next to this, which is originally attached,(I already cropped it, sorry) showed similar shape with different color and clearer cable pattern. Just simple repetitive cable. But it looks slightly different. (Oh God, should I believe my eyes?) And I don't see armhole seam at the other picture.

After considering one and other thing, I decided to knit a seamless cardigan. Since the cable pattern is 'happen' anywhere at the fabric, well, I'll do it too! So the project began with a lot of calculation and sketch. I created a pattern for multiple size for you to purchase (I almost drain my brain for this), but this one is custom size. The hardest part is joining the pattern into a large yoke, and I want the pattern to keep continues. I learnt a lot from here. Due to a sudden miscellaneous business (it was before Idul Fitri-two mos go), I could only knit a few rows/ day (literally FEW) and sometimes not at all. Now, two months later, I finished it

After two months this cardigan finally done 

I improvise here and there, also decided to crochet the front opening edge instead of knit it. I don't crochet very well so I need to consulted with my friend for that. Crochet is sturdy, I believe it will be suitable for big button band and neck edging  where the opening is pretty wide.  And I'm happy with the result! This is front post/back post double crochet , and it's good to substitute ribbing.

Do you see the painting at background? My mother painted that herself.

Are you knitting? 

Yes : This pattern will be available soon on ravelry store

No : Ah, I'll be back with knitting tutorial ( I hope soon, in Bahasa)

See you around, HANK

Best warmer regards 

Casting On!

Alley

Alley is my first seamless top. I created the yoke pattern a few years back but I haven’t found ‘a place’ to knit with the pattern yet…until a few weeks ago.  And I already have a name for this pattern: 4 petals flower with bobbles.

So the story begins. I have a pale pink and a deep red yarns, contrast color is the best to show off a pattern. I was using Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Knitting without Tears as a guide (since this is my first time I didn't plan to knit blindly). It’s true, when knitting seamless from bottom, the body part felt like forever! But the fun and most important part happened at the very last: the yoke. The slightly ruffled effect was accidental, but surprisingly I love it….

When the fabric finished, time to give a name. 4 Petals flower with bobbles yoke top is ridiculously long, so I need to look for something else. Before the name even found, I need a picture to show you all the result. I have some ideas how the picture will be, but considering the situation, we are quite busy right now, finally I end up in an alley not far from home. It’s a small passage behind the main street and surrounded with people’s houses. A series of photo spoiler happened too! A man peeking from behind and he clearly visible in the frame! The pictures are continues so he continually appear.  I need the help of photo processing software to eliminate him from the focus.

see the old man in red?

So this is where the name comes from: Alley, though I would rather imagine I was walking in a path with bushes and flower bed rather than people’s houses. But thanks it didn't happen. If it were flowers, then I’m invisible J

The pattern is available in ravelry for free in limited time, how to customize is included.  Be sure to download it (and knit it). I really want to see yours!

HANK..

CastingOn!

Green Lantern Earflap Hat

Yes, and it's GREEN, honestly this is my firs hat project

A color work hat requested by my husband. He just wanted the green lantern symbol, and I'm the one who improvised. I don't know this is because the green color, or green lantern itself made him a huge fans of green lantern. All i know, he loves green (as a back up I start to make color chart for other lanterns)

With cotton yarn as the material, this beanie is warm enough but not too hot (as person who live in tropical region, the need of warm headcover is not primary, except if you are frequently hiking or camping on the mountain and sleeping in a tent, but my husband is getting cold easily-i wonder how-so a hat is necessary.
For you who love to knit, the pattern is available for download. Visit my Shop to download it for FREE via ravelry.Or see HERE
HANK! (Have A Nice Knitting--> in case i will use this words latter )



                                                                                                                                   Regards,

                                                                                                                                  CastingOn!