I've Been Bad

I'm still here but I know I'm bad. SP 9 had been long over and I still have not blog about my last package from my SP. In the last package, my SP send me Knit Scene Magazine, At Knit's End from Stephanie Pearl-McPhee and set of beautiful stitch markers. And my spoiler is no other than Yvonne from UK. Thank you so much Yvonne. I just love all the gifts presented to me.

Here is the close-up of the stitch markers. It is really a beauty don't you think so.

My spoilee is from Hungary. Her name is Zita and she is one talented lady. She can really do magic with her sewing and like me she is into lace knitting too. I've been having fun sending stuff to her. I'm so glad that she is happy with the stuff that I've send her. You can check her out here.

I really have a super time in this round of SP. Thank you so much to both Yvonne and Zita for being a wonderful SP.

What A Day

I can't log in to the net for almost the whole yesterday morning. This is because local access to internet services and websites hosted overseas came to a standstill after international links were distrupted by the earthquake that struck southern Taiwan on Tuesday night. So you can guess, life is bored in the office without internet access. I was a bit lucky, manage to get online later in the evening but it was real slow. Today is better and hope that it will get back to normal soon.

Back from lunch yesterday and I got a surprise on my table. A package waiting for me. It was from my SP. It was a real surprise as I was not aware that I will be receiving a package from her. Thanks SP. I just love it. She sent me 1 skein of the Habu Textile 100% silk yarn, chocolates, a notepad and address book, a Christmas carol CD and not forgetting the Debbie Bliss Pure Silk Collection.

Knitting progress, I've completed Martha last weekend before Christmas. I'll post about it soon in my next post as I still don't get the chance to model in it yet.

Well, I think I better log-off now before the line act up again. Till then, wishing you Happy Holidays and A Happy New Year.

Dedicated To My Secret Pal

This is a post dedicated to my Secret Pal.

I received a package all the way from England yesterday morning. The package really make my day. Here is a photo to proof it.

(1) Woman's Weekly - Knitting & Stitching.
I found something I wanted to knit minutes after browsing through. It just came
in time, as I was looking for a cable cardi pattern to knit.

(2) 6 balls of Bergerde De France - Flamme Lin in the shade of lovely pink

(3) A pattern for the yarn - Sweater with Lacy Edges
This is a pattern that goes with the yarn. I will definately attempt to knit this once I'm done with all my other WIP.

(4) A packet of Belgian White & Milk Chocolate

(5) I box of After Eight Chocolate

(6) A greeting card

I was drooling over the package the whole morning in the office.

Thank you so much SP. Love U.

P/s : As this post is dedicated to my SP, I will post more on my knitting in the next post. Stay tune.

Secret Pal 9 Questionnaire

What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely
*not* like?
I like to knit with cotton blend yarn which is more suitable for our weather here in Malaysia which is hot and humid. I also love to knit shawl and scarf with lace or fingering weight yarn. Most of my yarn is in fingering and sport weight. I prefer to knit with them more then worsted or bulky weight.

What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
At the moment, I store my straight needles in a vase I got from IKEA and I'm still looking around for a circular needle case to store my circulars.

How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your
skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I'm not sure myself now, how long I have been knitting. I learned knitting from my mom and
the rest I pick up from books. I consider my skill level is intermediate to advance.

Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I don't have any now but I'll create one on my side bar soon. So look out for it.

What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
I'm don't like scented candles but I do like sweet scents like lavendar and any fruity scents.

Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I love dark chocolates or any chocolates with fruits and nuts (definately no no to white chocolates).

What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I think I'm not a creative person, most of my knitting is straight from books with instructions. (I use to design my own pattern but with all the new books around, I think it is easier to knit straight from the books). So, beside knitting I still do a bit of crocheting. Not into spinning at the moment.

What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD?
I love sentimental and love songs and most of the time I listen to musis from my computer or MP3.

What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love pastels colours. No bright colours for me i.e. orange and red.

What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I stay with my hubby and I do have a kitty pet call Baby.

Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I do wear scarves but not hats, mittens or ponchos. Guess this is not suitable for me in this weather.

What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I love to knit lacy tops, scaves and shawls. At least lace won't get me bored and I can stay more focus.

What are you knitting right now?
Nothing in progress rite now. I'm frogging at the moment. I'm planning though, will post on my blog once it is in progress.

Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Not so much into handmade gifts but I do appreciate it.

Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Previously, I prefer straight to circulars but for the past one year I find that circulars are easier to handle. Therefore, now I can say that I prefer circulars more than straight. I prefer my circulars in aluminium.

Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I just bought a yarn winder and still waiting for it to arrive. I don't own a swift, probably will get hubby to make a simple one for me if I ever needed it.

How old is your oldest UFO?
At the moment I don't have any UFO.

What is your favorite holiday?
My favourite holiday will be yarn shopping. Been pestering hubby to go on holidays so I can get more yarn.

Is there anything that you collect?
Is yarn consider a collection? My stash is growing.

Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I'm dying to have a set of Knitpicks Interchangeable needles. As for the rest I'll post it on my side bar soon. I subscribe to Interweave Knits but I'm going to stop once the subcriptions end.

Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I love to learn more about crocheting as I find my stitches are not even.

Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I'm not a sock knitter as I seldom wear it here in Malaysia and my foot measurements is 36.

When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
November, 24th

Surprises From SP

At last, package from my SP, Lia arrived. I was very happy to receive this package. She send me a felted tote (which I like the most), 3 balls of variegated yarn in turquiose, a crochet pattern book, hand cream and some candies. Thanks Lia. Guess, on my list now should be finding a pattern for the variegated yarn.

Besides that, I've started another project. The Hearty Lace is on hold at the moment. Well, it got to be another lace. Here it is.

Still without a name. How about Snowy since its white. This is my first project in white and I can tell you I'm pretty careful with it, wont want it to get black before I get the chance to wear it.

Secret Pal Package

Just a short update today.

I've receive the package from my Secret Pal last week. Only now I can find the time to update on it. So sorry Secret Pal. What a surprise, the package arrived within 2 weeks. My Secret Pal is from Brazil, land of all the happy people.

As you can see here, Secret Pal send me 2 CDs and a shopping bag. According to her, the 2 singers is very popular in Brazil. Although, I don't understand it, but I find it to be very relaxing. For the shopping bag, I just loved it. It's so colourful and furthermore what other better ways to use it then carry all my knitting stuff in it. Thank you so much Secret Pal, Lia.

No project update at the moment, because I'm quite demotivated for the time being. I'm thinking of frogging Rosey as I find it rather big and heavy. I'll update again soon.

Secret Pal 5 Questionnaire

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you.
   I prefer cotton blend yarn as it will be more suitable with the weather here in Malaysia. I have not tried Red Heart and Lion Brand as it is not available in this part of the world.
   
   
2. Do you spin? Crochet?
   I don’t spin but I do some crochet. I’m attempting to crochet a top at the moment.
   
   
3. Do you have any allergies?
   Not really allergic to any fiber, but I don’t really like smoke or strong perfume cause I do have Allergic Rhintis.
   
   
4. How long have you been knitting?
   I have been knitting for almost 5 years now.
   
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
   I don’t have an Amazon or other wish list because I can’t really figure out what I really one. When I see something nice I just fell in love.
   
   
6. What’s your favourite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
   My favourite scent should be Lavender and any sweet fruits scents such as orange, dewberry, strawberry etc.
   
   
7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
   I adore chocolates (not white chocolates) especially those with nuts.
   
   
8. What other crafts or Do-It Yourself things do you like to do?
   Currently only actively doing knitting and crochet. I might try my hands on beading if I can find the time.
   
   
9. What kind of music to you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3 (if you buddy wants to make you a CD)
   I like more to sentimental and love songs. No preferable on singers as long as it is nice. Definitely no rock music for me.
   
   
10. What’s your favourite color? Or do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can’t stand?
    I love pastel colors, such as pink and sea blue, lavender (any pastel colors) I don’t really like bright colors such as orange or bright red.
    
    
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
    There are only 3 of us in the family, just a small one (me and my hubby and not forgetting my pet kitty, Baby)
    
    
12. What are your life dreams?
    I will like to have my own yarn shop. Have all those nice yarn I can knit and if possible more time to knit too.
    
    
13. What is/are your favourite yarn/s to knit with?
    Don’t really have preferable on this, as long as the yarn is easy to knit and doesn’t splits. Not forgetting something suitable for Malaysia weather which is warm.
    
    
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
    Arcylics
    
    
15. What is/are your current knitting obssession/s?
    I like lacey and cables stuff. With lace or cables I can really concentrate and not get bored too fast.
    
    
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
    I love to knit tank top which is wearable in Malaysia.
    
    
    
17. What are you knitting right now?
    I’m knitting and crocheting a top at the moment
    
    
18. What do you think about ponchos?
    Would love to try to knit them, but I think I wouldn’t have a chance to wear it here in Malaysia because the weather here might be to warm for ponchos.
    
    
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
    Definitely would be straight needles
    
    
20. Bamboo, aluminium, plastic?
    Most of my needles are bamboos. Bamboos is easy to grip and not slippery too.
    
    
21. Are you a sock knitter?
    I’m not a sock knitter and I don’t think I will ever try to knit a pair of sock.
    
    
22. How did you learn to knit?
    I learn knitting from my mom and some are self-taught by referring to books and websites.
    
    
23. How old is your oldest UFO?
    My oldest UFO is about 4 months (not really that old). Normally, I will finish one FO before I start another one. I don’t really like to see my UFO lying around.
    
    
24. What is your favourite animated character or a favourite animal/bird?
    I love dolphins
    
    
25. What is your favourite holiday?
    I love to visit Japan yarn shop if ever get the chance.
    
    
26. Is there anything that you collect?
    Not into collection. Does yarn stashing considered as collection too. My yarn stash is getting bigger.
    
    
27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
    Previously I did subscribe Vogue Knitting, but recently I have stop because now it is available in the book store. But I do love to have Interweave Knits as it is hard to find a copy here.
    
    
28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
    Would really like to get a copy of Scarf Style.