Last FO of 2007, first WIP of 2008

Though it was not a deliberate attempt, I managed to squeeze in one last FO before the year ends. Here is the baby bolero from One Skein book, done in the same yarn as the pattern called for, a most sumptiously soft Blue Skies Organic Cotton. This is one of those magical yarns that, once cast on, simply glides and floats through one's fingers... and before you know it, the entire skein is gone, and all one can do is give a wistful sigh that such beautiful yarn is used up.

Another WIP that I cast on 2 nights ago (yes while in the midst of trying to finish my Tuscany shawl as well). 'Wisp' published by knitty. Maybe it's the rainy spell we've been having, but I itched to touch silky halo-y mohair yarn, and those who know me know that I literally itch and break out in a rash as soon as I do. But this 'Silkid Fine' by Puppy Yarn (55% mohair, 45% silk) that I found in my Japan stash, defies all previous mohair-itch experiences and I love it so much that I've been knitting non-stop the past few days. Look, Ma, no itch!

More sparkly stuff

More practice pieces, trying out different lengths and shapes of ear wires

Finally learnt how to wire wrap the top of the briolette bead

I need another pair of ears

Happy Holidays everyone!

I've been holed up at home and madly indulging in all my crafts, and I must say this is a great way to spend the Christmas season. The rest of the time I've spent trawling through the beading shops in Singapore and buying packets and packets of swarovski crystals, and strands and strands of stones and beads.... bliss....

Results of the hobby immersion week :

Earrings... several pairs made over 2 days - I need another pair of ears to wear them all. Am sure my neighbour has fun watching the waddly preggie lady sitting in the balcony in the mornings, in pajamas, with a cup of coffee and a different earring dangling gaily from each ear.

More earring pics here

On the knitting front, I've been working on the Tuscany Shawl from 'No Sheep' book, in Handmaiden Seasilk. This yarn totally lives up to it's reputation - it's addictive and I'm already plotting for another colorway soon. Wasn't in love with this particular browny colorway until I realised that the tatting thread that I bought and some recent bead purchases are also in the "Tigereye" color scheme.... Oh great.... Now when I obsess about a color, I have 3 hobbies to stash it in!!

Iro Iro tats and beads

Lately I've been thinking about changing my blog name.. cos Iro Iro no longer only knits, she has been tatting, and beading, and lately seriously contemplating making bears again.

This is what I've been up to in a sudden burst of inspiration - all in like 2 days.

Tatted using : (left) Oren Bayan thread, motif from Blomqvist and Persson's book, (right) "Forest" in Size 80 from Yarnplayer, Christmas tree motif from an old booklet. This is my first time using Size 80 thread and I have to say, it's not for me... I much prefer the crispness and solid feeling of Size 30 knots!



Stitchmarkers! This was what started the whole beaded jewellery craze for me.... I've been practicing those triple loop headpins (those flowery looking ones) cos I love the look so much. The last 3 markers are a combination of beads & tatted motifs.



Christmas themed earrings in Green and Red ... I like 'em long and dangly so these are gonna be for me.

Pendants. From top left : Egyptian Nile (the wire wrapping and color combi just reminds me of Egypt), Mistake Key (cos I made so many mistakes that the wire kept getting cut shorter and shorter and in the end there was only space for 3 little seed beads), Oriental Xmas (christmassy colors in jade and clear quartz), and bottom : Green Chalcedony on silver.

Petal Bibs from One Skein book

Petal Bibs done up in pink and green - one of my favourite color combinations. Butterfly Super 10 cotton is fantastic for bibs - it's not rough on skin, yet in a DK to light worsted weight, it works up fast and is hardy enough. Used a slightly smaller needle (3.75mm) so that the bibs wouldn't be too floppy.

Petal Bibs taking a bath to even them out. They were all wrinkly and the edges were all curled up. No idea if it was the yarn, all those short-row shaping, or just me - but they behaved after that.

Posing with a matching 2 color silk changing mat from Blu Lily.

A last minute present

As if I didn't have enough hobbies, the notion of beading popped into my head one day. Nothing fancy, mind you, just the bare basics to make a simple pair of drop earrings, maybe. I really don't have enough space for stash for another hobby.. horrors.

This morning I toyed around with a tatted floral motif, and thought how pretty it would look as a pendant for a little girl. So I found the basics on YouTube (how to make a wire-loop, how to open & close jump rings)... and came up with this :

The pearl bead has its coating completely worn off at the top cos I abraded it so hard with one of the pliers. The gold coating of the wires has also been rubbed black in certain places where I had struggled to make a loop... and I'm pretty sure the bead doesn't hang quite straight. In spite of all that, there is a certain sense of satisfaction - my first piece of hand-made, hand-tatted jewellery. Ta-dah!

I also found the perfect brown choker and fushcia jewellery pouch in my stash to complement the pendant.. Nothing makes me happier than digging around in my stash to find matching materials to finish a project - it's like going to my very own craft supplies store in my pajamas......

This little pendant is now ready to be gifted. Not bad at all for a morning's worth of work. Now just cross your fingers for me that nothing drops off....