Yarn review – Fishnet Fever

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Su Ying

Fishnet Fever is part of Spotlight’s own line of knitting yarns. It has an interesting weave. When you pull the yarn the weave spreads out to reveal a fishnet design. When knitted the effect is really lovely with ruffles. Looks really pretty and complicated, but its actually very easy to knit once you figure out how to do it.

The yarn comes with a free pattern for a scarf. It suggests that one ball of 100g is sufficient for a scarf, but I found that it was only enough for half a scarf. Perhaps the ruffles where not spaced out enough and this means I need 2 balls instead of one. This yarn is priced at S$8.00 per ball, the scarf is only S$16. What good value!

The free pattern is not difficult once you figure out what it is trying to tell you. It is probably far easier to watch a video on youtube on how to knit this rather rather than trying to figure out the instructions.

The best part about this yarn is that it knits up really fast. It is possible to knit a scarf over 2 weekends.

Knitting tips for this yarn:
Use giant needle stoppers when you stop to prevent the stitches from slipping off the needle when you stop knitting.

Moda Vera Fishnet Fever
Manufactured by: Vera Moda
Weight: 1000g / 30m
Weight of yarn: unspecified
Knitting needle size: 4.5-5.5mm
Tension: 18.5st = 10cm / 4in, 24 rows = 10cm / 4in
Washing instructions: cool 40C handwash only. Do not tumble dry. Do not iron. Do not bleach. Dry cleanable.
Available from: Spotlight, Singapore
Price: S$8.00
Rating: B+

Summary
Very inexpensive fancy yarn that is actually easy and fast to knit. It also looks really interesting.

More Pictures

Fisnnet fever straight from the ball of yarn

Fishnet weave when yarn is spread out

Fishnet Fever scarf with ruffles

Posted in Projects, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Socks with stirrups I

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Su Ying

This is a pair of socks with stirrups which I think will be perfect for yoga and pilates. They will also work well as sleeves if you make it without the stirrups. Perfect for cold malls and cinemas as well as the gym! This makes a niffy ultilitarian knitting project for the tropics. I like that in Hongkong the thermostat is legally set at 25C, which still makes for a comfortable environment indoors, but not so cold in contrast to the warm humid outdoors that one needs warmer clothing indoors. As you can see I’ve only just started, its grown since this photo was taken. If it looks great completed, I will make another pair for a friend. I will also consider making a pair of sleeves with the same pattern, but perhaps not wear the socks with the sleeves at the same time – overkill!

Socks, leg warmers, sleeves, hats and gloves make wonderful projects to take with you on holiday. They start small and are small even when completed, so they don’t take up that much space in your hand luggage (or luggage).

This pattern is knitting in the round with magic loop on 80cm circular knitting needles in 3.25mm. It is possible to knit this project with 2 circular knitting needles or with double pointed knitting needles. I just prefer to knit in the round with magic loop using slightly longer circular knitting needles. The pattern itself is not hard, though some interpretation is needed for the twist in the pattern. The pattern is easy to remember and keep track of once you have done a few repetitions.

We’re knitting with:
- Addi Premium Circular Knitting Needles 80cm 3.25mm
- 4ply 100% wool 100g grams from Spotlight, Singapore. (I lost the label a long time ago sorry)

This is a free pattern from www.vogueknitting.com. They have a very nice selection of free knitting patterns available.

The free pattern is available here:
Stirrup Socks

Links:
Socks with stirrups 2

Posted in Projects | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Yarn Review – Patons Feathers

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Su Ying

Patons Feathers

This is a review of Patons Feathers. This fancy yarn knits looks totally adorable when you knit it. It has a underlying colour in this case teal with green. It knits to a lovely blue green fabric which is nice and soft. It comes in a wide variety of colours. I’ve seen a few bags made with this yarn combined with normal yarn for very nice effect. The yarn looks very much like eyelashes!

Patons Feathers - how the yarn looks like

I am making a little short sleeve cardigan with it in stocking stitch. I have unpicked this 3 times since I started. Its very difficult to count the stitches on the knitting needle. It is also difficult to tell if you have dropped a stitch and put it back on the needle. This means that this cardigan has to be knitted carefully to avoid dropping stitches. I am using little marking safety pins to keep track of the number of stitches which I count every 10 rows or so.

Patons Feathers swatch

This makes Patons Feathers a difficult yarn to knit with. Not recommended it for beginners or knitters who do not like to unpick, because it will happen despite one’s best efforts.

The question remains whether it is worth all this effort. I’m going to continue knitting this project and hope to complete sometime soon. It just means that it is something I have knit when I can concentrate on this and not be interrupted mid row.

I got this yarn at Spotlight, Singapore. It seems they no longer carry this yarn. However, they do have a similar one called Moda Vera Flurry. Even the needle and needle size is the same. This retails for S$2.00 at Spotlight. Its really inexpensive way experiment with fancy yarn or add interest to a project.

Moda Vera Flurry

Moda Vera Flurry - yarn info

Patons Feathers
Manufactured by: Patons
Weight: 50g / 65m
Weight of yarn: very similar to 8ply / DK
Knitting needle size: 4.00mm
Tension: 18.5st = 10cm / 4in, 24 rows = 10cm / 4in
Price: S$2.00
Rating: B-

Summary
Very inexpensive fancy yarn that knits into a cute furry fabric, but is not easy to knit.

8 May 2012 Update:
It is possible to knit this yarn with a fine yarn which makes this much easier to knit. Unfortunately the pattern that I am knitting does not call for this!

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off

Folk Art Painting Class

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Su Ying

Folk art

What is Folk Art?
This is known by many names: country painting, tole painting, decorating painting and folk art painting. It usually refers to painting and decorating objects. It is possible to paint beautiful fine art on canvas with the same techniques. Wood items, paper mache, glass, cloth &, leather are the more common objects for folk art painting. There are many styles of folk art painting: traditional designs, modern styles and faux finishes.

The paint medium used in folk art painting is mainly acrylic paint. It is a very versatile paint that can be used on many surfaces. It is water soluble and dries relatively quickly in about 30 minutes. Various mediums such as retarder, glaze, sealant and varnish are also used in painting to change the effect of the paint. 3D objects can also be incorporated into designs with acrylic powder.

Handbag holder with 3D acrylic flowers

What will you learn?
In the beginning, you will learn brush control, beautiful strokes with different brushes and many different finishes. These will be taught step by step with each project. As you progress through the different projects you will combine different strokes to form beautiful flowers, butterflies, birds, shells and many different others. Projects are designed to teach specific skills, rather than creativity at this point.

As skills are learnt and techniques mastered, you will will become more confident. With confidence comes the comes creativity – the fun part. You will explore colours and design simple patterns. You will learn colour theory, perspective and sophisticated drawing techniques, so that you can create your own simple designs. From here you can begin your journey independent of tracings and patterns, with your own design.

Folk Art photo frame by Irene - simple and elegant

Beautiful fan

Folk Art Class by Irene Goh
Where: Plaza Singapura, Orchard Road
Nearest MRT Station: Dhoby Ghaut
When: Friday or Saturday
Price: $180 for 4 lessons
Materials: not included. Will cost approximately $150.00 for beginners.

No experience is required for this class.

Please call 98348354 for more information.

Painted umbrella

Tshirt with folk art design


More about Irene Goh
Irene Goh has a natural flare for art. She is adept at many crafts, from paper weaving, beading to decorating boxes. From the moment she picked up her fist brush and painted her first brush stroke, she knew she would never put it down. Soon she was painting “everything on anything” – from pretty floral designs, charming teddy bears, traditional folk art designs to simply breathtaking landscapes. Since then it has become Irene’s choice of medium for artistic expression.

Devoted to her love of painting and on the insistence of her friends who have admired her folk art pieces, Irene who persuaded to teach – a challenge she took on. Since then, Irene has taught many students with different backgrounds and from all over the world.

Irene continues to inspire and spread the joy of painting by conducting regular classes. Her friendliness, encouraging and sunny outlook on life, make lessons fun and thoroughly enjoyable.

Irene believes there is a painter in everyone. Join the folk art painting class and learn a very versatile skill as you embark on a journey of discovery and creativity.

Folk Art Class with Irene

Posted in Articles | Tagged , , , | Comments Off

I really really want to knit a scarf – with a Knitting Loom

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Su Ying

You want to knit a scarf as a gift and have never knit before? This will be a herculean task! Please our previous post on knitting a scarf from scratch with no knowledge on knitting first. Here.

Scarf made with Knitting Loom

If you really must knit a scarf, the most painless way would be to use a knitting loom like the one above. This loom makes knitting with no experience easy. There is no need to learn to knit, you can start on the scarf immediately and it is so easy to use.

Good things about knitting loom:

  • No need to practice
  • Stitches will be perfectly even
  • Start on scarf immediately
  • Very easy

Not so good:

  • Slower than knitting if you are experienced
  • More difficult to keep track of pattern.
  • Only suitable for thick yarn

What is in the Knit- Fun Loom Kit?
The Knit-Fun Loom kit is available from Spotlight, Singapore for S$11.95. It comes with 1 purple plastic loom, 1 metal hook with handle, 1 blue plastic needle and instruction leaflet.  You will need also need a crochet hook and approximately 200g of thick or bulky yarn to make this scarf.

Knitting Look Kit with bag

Knitting Loom Crash Course
You will need between 2-3 lessons to complete this scarf with the knitting loom, unless you are exceptional in following instructions and have superb spatial ability.

What you need to know to make a scarf:

  • Cast on stitches on the loom
  • Join yarn
  • Cast off stitches
  • Tidy up loose ends
  • Single crochet around scarf
  • Attach tassles

What do I think of this kit?
The loom is designed with extra fins to hold the yarn in place before you look them over the pins. This makes it slightly more efficient than a normal knitting loom with no fins. It very easy to use. Very good introduction to fiber crafts as it very easy to use.

I did manage to break the last fin at the end of the loom. This does not effect using the loom at all as you do not wrap yarn around the last fin. It is something I would not throw around.

A scarf knitted on the loom with in stocking stitch (like the multicoloured one in the first picture) will curl. Even if worked with selvedge edge.  A round of single crochet will flatten the scarf but only a little. It will still curl. A design which is the same on both sides of the scar so that the scarf will be flat. However this needs more practice and experience as one will need to know both how to knit and purl.

For a more experienced knitter it would be faster to just knit it rather than use a knitting loom. I would just use thick yarn and big knitting needles so that it is fast to knit. However for someone with no experience in knitting and wants to start on a scarf this is perfect.

Posted in Articles, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off

I want to learn to knit a scarf for someone

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Su Ying

People write to me all the time about knitting scarves with no prior knitting experience. This is the most common item that people want to make as a gift for someone else.

To make a scarf you will need:
1 pair of knitting needles (S$8-23)
4-6 balls of yarn ($$30-90)

Depending on how fast you knit, how thick the yarn is, the size of the knitting needle and if you want tassles, it will take about 20-24 hours to knit if you can already knit well. It will take longer far longer if you have never knitted before because you will lack speed and will make mistakes that need to be corrected, the tension will not be even – the stitches will not all be the same size, the edges will not be straight and there may be numerous holes because of mistakes. Also a scarf requires between 4-6 balls of yarn, most beginners underestimate how much knitting one ball of yarn requires. A scarf is not a small fast to knit project.

Scarf with tassles

The above scarf is knit every row, which is very easy if you can knit. How hard can it be if you have never knitted before? Here’s what else you need to make this scarf:

4 knitting lessons ($100)
You need to learn:
Cast on
Cast off
Russian knot to join yarn
Tension
Attaching the tassles
Finishing your project
1 month of practice before you start scarf

Just the scarf alone costs between $38 – depending on the yarn and knitting needles. Add 4 knitting lessons of $100. Your hand knitted scarf is $138-$213. This does not include the opportunity cost of your time, practicing and knitting it. You get a really basic looking scarf. You would be better off buying a really nice pashmina or cashmere scarf for a lot less. Its expensive and just not worth the effort, unless you are genuinely interested in learning to knit.

Knitting looks very easy in the hands of an experienced knitter. To get to that good, you will need to learn to knit first. That is the easy part. The hardest part is getting tension even and correct – meaning that all stitches are even and regular, not too tight and not too loose. This takes about 4-8 weeks to master.

My suggestion is if you really really want to make a scarf but are not interested in learning to knit as a hobby, make one with a knitting loom. It looks just like knitting. But its very much easier, as there is no need to learn to knit, worry about tension or practice. You need 3 lessons for this.

Posted in Articles | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

30% sale at Spotlight 17-20 November 2011

Posted on November 13, 2011 by Su Ying

That’s right! The sale starts on Thursday 17 November and ends on the Sunday 20th November. Its storewide.

What will you be getting? I’m getting a straight knitting loom to make a scarf.

Posted in Reviews | Comments Off

Travel & Knitting

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Su Ying

Ankor Wat glowing in the beautiful morning light

I recently when on a photography holiday to Siem Reap in Cambodia. I had a great time on the tour, met loads of photographers and took about 500 photos. Tried the local food which is nice but seems similar to Vietnamese food. Ankor Wat was really picturesque.  Yes I brought some knitting with me and debated whether I should knit on the Jetstar flight. This time round I packed my project in my suitcase and did not knit on the plane, although I did sit next to a woman who knitted on the plane.

Can you knit on the airplane?
I used to knit on the airplane in times gone by. These days I read on the airplane while listening to music. I pack my knitting project in my suitcase and usually do not knit on the airplane, unless I really know that it is acceptable to bring knitting needles onboard the airplane. Knitting needles , yarn cutters and blunt scissors may be on the prohibited list. It seems that it varies so much depending on which country and which airline. So it would probably be best to check before your flight.

Here are some useful links-
UK – knitting needles and crochet hooks not allowed in carry on plane bag
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Foreigntravel/AirTravel/DG_176922

US – knitting needles and crochet hooks allowed in carry on plane bag
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1252.shtm

Australia – knitting needles and crochet hooks not allowed in carry on plane bag
http://travelsecure.infrastructure.gov.au/international/onboard/prohibited_items.aspx

If you really want  knit or crochet on the airplane, than I would suggest using an  inexpensive bamboo circular knitting needles for your project and pack an extra pair of knitting needles in your luggage just in case they decide to confiscate your knitting needles – I’ve not seen this happen yet, but you never know. This way all you stand to lose is a cheap pair of knitting needles. Also these circular knitting needles hopefully look like little pencils on the scanner.  I would suggest not bringing large metal knitting needles onto the airplane.

What kind of projects are great for holidays?
Good projects for to bring on holiday are ones that are small and don’t take up too much space in your bag. Socks are great because they are small and the stitches fine, it takes a long time to knit. In the past when I made more cardigans and sweaters, I would just pack the part of the project that I am working on instead of the whole project.

Knitting / Crochet projects for the road:

  • socks
  • hats
  • gloves
  • small bags

Holiday knitting kit
The project I brought with me to Siem Reap is a red clutch bag. I knitted during the evenings and lost the pattern. Fortunately this was a photocopy of the pattern! This time I didn’t pack any accesories as it was a 4 day trip and figured I would be too tired to knit. Normally I would have a very mini accessories kit which I include with the project in a small knitting bag.

Holiday knitting kit:

  • small blunt scissors or concealed blade yarn cutter
  • photocopy of pattern
  • marking safety pins (optional)
  • crochet hook (optional)

Visiting knitting shops
I found a knitting store in the Central Market in Siem Reap. As you can see it stocked bright neon coloured acrylic yarn which kinda scared me. I love to visit yarn shops in the countries I visit. I found the easiest way is to go prepared, I research and print a list of all the knitting shops in the place I am going to visit using good before I go. I like to see what kind of yarns they have, especially if they have locally made interesting yarn, what kind of knitting needles and accesories they have, and if they have any special local designs. I did find some really interesting handspun cotton yarn & raw silk yarn in Chang Mai. I also enjoyed meeting people from other countries who knit.

Yarn shop at Central Market, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Dutyfree shopping
I discovered what good value it is to shop dutyfree at Changi Airport, Singapore. A Mac lipstick sells for S$21.80 at dutyfree. It is normally available at S$28 on the island, which means a savings of about 22% from luxury goods tax and GST (Goods and sales tax). That is a lot. It explains why cosmetics, perfume, highend toiletries and wine are way more expensive in Singapore. Something for international companies in these sectors to wrangle with, because these days with with world being very connected, it is not difficult to find out how much things cost at retail in the country of origin. I always feel so swindled if I find out that the item is way cheaper like 1/3 the price in the country of origin. I will be very inclined to shop at dutyfree next time!

Posted in Articles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Yarn Review – Butterfly Super 10

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Su Ying

This is by far my favourite cotton yarn. Its been around for a long time. Butterfly Super 10 comes in very wide variety of colours. It is mercerized so it is strong and this adds a silky sheen to the yarn. It knits smoothly and beautifully. Because it is DK / 8 ply it can easily be substituted for wool or other materials quite easily without recalculating the pattern, which means you can make warm weather versions of sweaters and cardigans.

You might need more yarn than is indicated if you substitute cotton yarn for wool or acrlic, as cotton is slightly heavier. You might also notice that it tends to hang more than lighter fibres because of its weight.

Although it isn’t the smoothest most luxurious cotton yarn around, there are definitely more expensive really nice cotton yarn available,  it is extremely good value,  at this time it retails for about S$15.00 (US$12.00) per skein for 125g, which makes it very good value. Great for summer knits, bags and cushions etc.

The only drawback of this yarn is that is sold in skeins. It must wound up before you can knit / crochet with it. This takes about 15 minutes with ball winder and even faster if you have a swift and ball winder. By hand it takes about 40minutes.

Butterfly Super 10
Manufactured by: EL. D. Mouzakis
Weight: 125g  / 230m
Weight of yarn:  double knitting / 8 ply
Knitting needle size: 3.5-5.5mm
Tension: 22st = 10cm / 4in
Price: S$15.00
Made in Greece.
Rating: A-

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off

Perseverance & trying new patterns

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Su Ying

What you see is the third pass for this pattern. It looks mostly right except for a couple of rows where I forgot that it was garter stitch and did stocking stitch instead. This is a lace triangles scarf with an increase every 4 rows. A little bit more challenging than usual, with very confusing “yo” and instructions that could have been a little bit more straightforward, especially for the increase every 4th row.

This is probably the most interesting / challenging part of knitting – trying new patterns. Knit a few rows of the pattern to see if you make it work and watch it unfold.  You might have to try it a few times before the pattern looks as its supposed to. So I wouldn’t give up after the first time. This especially so for more harder designs with like lace and aran. I tried this pattern 3 times! Just need work through the kinks of the pattern and not give up.

“Yo” is yarn over. I think it should be more prescisely called “yon” yarn over needle. Its basically creating an new stitch with yarn over the needle, sounds straight forward? Each one is achieved differently, but the result is the same. Once you understand what end result of “yo” is, it should be very easy to do it for all 4 combinations.  Would it not be easier to just use yf and yrn to explain all this with less confusion?

4 “yo” combinations How to  achieve this in practise:
New stitch between 2 knit stitches yf to achieve this
New stitch beween 2 purl stitches Yrn
New stitch between a knit and purl stitch yrn
New stitch between a purl and knit stitch Yf (do not bring yarn back to knit)
Posted in Articles | Tagged , , , | Comments Off