The simplicity of granny squares

My very first memory of crochet is of a little girl in school uniform sitting on the bus from school, and furiously stabbing away with a thin metal hook & cotton thread, oblivious to the stares from strangers on the bus.

I was about 12 then.  We had just learnt how to crochet in Home Economics.  Till today, my friends tease me that while everyone was struggling to crochet little chains, I had already gone on to crochet a pineapple lace tablecloth.  That memory makes me smile.  I did finish that tablecloth, and gave it to my grandmother.

Since then, I have crocheted many many things - Barbie doll clothes, coasters, more coasters, clothes, bags, even a bikini.  But the simplicity of the granny squares never fails to inspire me.  It is the most simple form of crochet, with no need to plan or count rows.  Just dip my hand into the yarn containers, pull out whatever strikes my fancy, and off I go.

In the spirit of stashbusting, I've dug out my softest cottons (and about 10 years old in my stash), and have been crocheting granny washcloths all week.  It's amazing what a little washcloth can do for your skin - my face already feels cleaner and smoother after a few uses.

My not-so baby

Sometimes, I forget that my little girl has only been on this earth for 3 years. She has changed my life so much, redefined our family so much, that I can't even remember my life without her. Sometimes, in my eagerness to see her grow, I push her too hard. I see other parents sending their kids for enrichment classes and worry that I didn't give her a chance to reach her potential. I see her hiding under her bed & giggling to herself and wonder if she's wasting her time while others are learning how to paint / dance / learn Mandarin.

But when she's asleep like this, I remember how young she really is. I marvel at the innocence of those round (ok not as round as I'd like) cheeks, those tiny rosebud lips, and I remind myself not to be too hard on her. She's only 3 - let her sleep, let her wander around the house in her pajamas, let her play....

I love you, little baby of mine.

I think I am back

Ok. After a brief flirtation with tumblr, I've realized that I blog for user comments (yes, shameless I know), which tumblr doesn't support. Plus it's weird that people keep reblogging stuff - maybe I'm not quite cool enough to understand that yet - but I do like to know the source of people's posts, and tumblr is very good at hiding it.

So I've found Blogger's iPhone app (it's about time, Google!) and am ridiculously excited about it.

In the meantime, I've rediscovered my love for crochet, and have been making lots of instant gratification presents.

Crochet Gift Baskets (pattern from here)

Crochet Sun Hats (made 5), modified pattern from here

Granny Square Cushion (back)

Granny Square Cushion (front)

Changing to Tumblr

Dear friends,

I'm switching over to try Tumblr for a little bit. Blogging seems to require too much commitment, and I like that it's so easy to post to Tumblr from my iPhone. I figure that a little bit of writing (on Tumblr) each day beats no writing (on Blogger) for months at a time. See you over at iroknits.tumblr.com !

It's difficult to be a knitter in Singapore. The weather is hot & humid, and most of the time, I have a sheen of perspiration on my face and neck. Everyone who sees me knitting will ask 'isn't it hot?'. Hence, I have learnt that when knitting for myself, thin little cardigans and shawls to protect my arms from the freezing air-conditioning are ideal.

Having said that, I think I have found the perfect pattern. Something that is pretty & fast & that I will get a lot of wear out of. Liesl cardigan. Knitted in worsted weight Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran, it ought to be really warm, but because of the feather and fan pattern, is surprisingly wearable. Best of all, it took me about 5 days to knit & finish & block it (twice). I am already planning to cast on another. It's fun to be knitting for myself again.

Bliss

A fresh cup of coffee on a pretty coaster.

A fresh stack of magazines just delivered.

Madeline Tosh yarn...

A morning of uninterrupted knitting time. Bliss.

What my knitting needles have been up to

A couple of friends commented fairly recently that they still read my blog. I track back to my last entry and am ashamed. It's been 9 months and my knitterly buddies haven't thrown their hands up in exasperation at me?? Instead, they are STILL reading my blog..? Wow.

On the knitting newsfront, small quick projects that don't require much brain power have ruled. Hats, scarves, hairbands, more hats. Oh, and a cardigan for my not-so-little-one who has outgrown her pretty pink BSJ with the gorgeous buttons!! How dare she!? :)

Little one said 'mommy's yarn', and 'knit like mommy' the other day. I am one proud knitter mommy. So since there is so little action on the knitting front, you would assume that my needles have been sitting idle? No sirree... This is what they have been up to.

They have been pretend pencils for little one to draw with. They have been sticks for her to collect and wave around (while nearly poking out her own eye). They have been treated like music instruments, been arranged artfully in yarn cakes and in my knitting. Initially, I was horrified, then (like everything else when it comes to dealing with a toddler), I gave up and just went with the flow. At least I got a chance to touch my pretty knitting sticks.

The garter stitch scarf in the pictures above are my current knitting project. Using Noro Iro and 6mm needles (a la brooklyntweed's version). It's pretty and it's a fast-ish project but I am soooooo bored with it. But little one says it's 'nice' when I told her it was for her 'gu-gu' (auntie in mandarin), and gently patted it, so I guess I might persevere.

When oh when can I knit lace again?

Knitting Wishes

I tend to  be really bad at making and keep resolutions, so for this year I have decided not to make any major resolutions (since I forget it all the next day anyway).  However, as a knitter, it helps to keep my knitting in focus so let's just call them 'Knitting Wishes' shall we?

1. To have a ready pile of luxurious scarfs, hats, little gifts ready for the invariable last minute birthday, baby shower etc.

2. To only use beautiful yarn that doesn't make me itch or sneeze. 

3. To de-stash.  (ok stop laughing, seriously...).  I probably have enough lace yarn to knit 20 shawls so this is a serious problem.  Not to mention enough cotton to knit another 20 blankets. So to show how serious I am, I'm declaring that I will only buy new yarn after I've finished 5 projects using yarn from my stash.  I would make it more projects but at the rate I'm knitting, 5 projects could very well take half a year, so quit your sniggering.... 

Actually, come to think of it, de-stashing is also really relevant in other parts of my life.  Living with the minimum, trimming away excess clothes, shoes, cosmetics, and just stuff.  I could probably come up with really meaningful reasons for why we should learn to live with less stuff (world economy, going green and so on) but there is just one shallow reason - mess makes me grumpy and itchy.  So here's to a clean & neat 2009!

P.S. Gift yarn doesn't count as buying yarn right...?

A Christmas Dress

The holidays sneaked by me with minimal knitting this year.. but I did manage to finish the Rainbow Dress just in time by Christmas eve. Didn't have time nor energy to sew in the ends though, so the little girl wore it around the house with a bunch of ends trailing around her. It's a tad too big (hence the sexy off-the-shoulder look) but I absolutely love it.

Pattern : Rainbow Dress by Tikki

Yarn : Sublime Soy Cotton in Pomegranate, and RYC CashCotton in Apple

Needles : 3.5mm

Here's a picture of her guzzling down Bucks Fizz to end off the year. Happy Holidays!

A Day at the Beach

Pattern : Children's Cotton Hats by Kim Hamlin (Last Minute Knitted Gifts)
Yarn : Rowan RYC Silk Cotton (Cucumber)
Needle : 4.5mm
Size : Toddler


A cool refreshing drink.

A straw.

A little summer hat knit out of luxurious Rowan Silk Cotton, with a yellow ribbon fluttering in the breeze.

A great way to spend the afternoon.