tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-217096352024-03-07T13:39:43.103+08:00Little Sesame KnitsAll about my knitting, and anything and everything having to do with yarn...Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-50558028447803315632008-11-19T16:24:00.009+08:002008-11-19T18:44:56.079+08:00Hello MojoThe weather is finally cooling down, and knitting's back on the needles! There are endless queue of things on my ravelry but I have had my fair share of knitting accidents in the past months, and just got to get these UFOs sorted out first before I can knit happy again.Here's the embossed leaves sock started in February with the Regia Silk that have been previously frogged and overdyed. It was Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-24253166274281479342008-09-24T18:29:00.012+08:002008-09-24T20:34:53.481+08:00LYS Hopping in BeijingI really haven’t got much knitting progress to report… but I took a morning off my recent trip to Beijing and hopped around a few LYS in the western part of the city: Beauty Wool (名线)Location: Shop 3018K, Golden Resources Shopping Centre, 1 Yuanda Lu, Haidian District(海淀区远大路1号金源时代购物中心3018K) Tel: + 86.10.8887.5848 or call their hotline on 800.829.6889for other locations in Beijing and other major Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-21576279047015658412008-07-11T21:26:00.019+08:002008-12-12T22:45:18.126+08:00Long time, no see...Sorry for the blog-silence. I've honestly been extremely busy and just haven't had all that much to say. Nonetheless, I've never intended to be away for as long as I did and thanks to those who have written worried about me! Life just took over but here I am again :)Well luckily enough for me and for Jasmine, I was able to cut down vastly on my business travels this year... as she goes through Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-83700210868718621362008-02-18T23:30:00.005+08:002008-02-21T17:16:58.396+08:002 years, and countingWell, it has been a while, hasn't it? Rather than to bore you with my "life has been so hectic" speech, I will boil it down to this:I missed my 2nd year blog anniversary on Jan 31. I didn't forget, but just have no time to post. It's been two wonderful years! And thank you to all for being here and sharing the fun with me. As a little token, I've finally put together my notes for the baby sweaterMaryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-32136779140371684802008-02-18T22:55:00.008+08:002009-01-10T01:11:14.627+08:00Baby/Toddler Sweater Dress PatternNOTE: Errors in the pattern has been corrected and updated as of Jan 9, 2009Fall inspired, I made this up for Jasmine. Knitted all in one piece, bottom-up with a seamless (and painless) set-in sleeve shaping, minimal finishing, and you can easily size up or down with thicker/thinner yarn to suit your child.We love the dress length that gave her some extended coverage and kept her snuggly warm Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-69187902396738407982008-01-11T22:40:00.000+08:002008-02-21T17:18:16.438+08:00Happy 2008!I hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday and that your New Year is filled with peace and joy and lots of knitting fun! Obviously, my blogging slump was, not from a lack of knitting content to write about, but rather the opposite. I’ve just been sooooo busy and hardly had time to sit down, and when I did, I have got so much to recap so I procrastinated and then I have even more stuff theMaryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-68824166464351779752007-12-12T20:12:00.001+08:002009-09-07T17:01:40.375+08:00A bit of sunshine might help beat the fluso I'll start with this ;) Inside and outside of the Grand PalaceWe had another wonderful vacation in Bangkok (again)... I have actually been there more than a dozen times, but this is the very first for Jasmine. She's definitely having much fun in the sun... We took her to the Children's Discovery Museum opposite the Chatuchak Weekend Market on our second day. Honestly, the musuem is a little Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-28606541740717388012007-12-11T22:19:00.000+08:002007-12-12T20:12:26.743+08:00Still here.. still knitting...But just really BUSY. Since I last blogged, I went on 5 business trips and a short vacation; started Jasmine at her pre-nursery classes; poured a cup of tea onto my laptop; bought lots of yarn; had a very fun yarn dyeing party with travellersyarn (thanks again for having me over); met with my local knit buddies; chipped my front tooth (I swear I'll go fix it tomorrow); fighting a flu right now; Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-7448536055436779662007-11-15T18:40:00.000+08:002008-02-21T17:16:58.399+08:00All Things RedI wouldn't say I had a great time away, but my 3 weeks of blog absence has been rather efficacious. Despite all the setbacks, I finally finished off these longstanding pairs of Oak Ribbed Socks started back in March. Long story short, I switched needles half way (stupidly) and my second sock turned out bigger. The yarn is a millend lot, really nice stuff, so instead of frogging I made 4 socks outMaryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-30444011500502481052007-10-23T18:58:00.000+08:002008-02-21T17:16:58.400+08:00Little TangerineLittle Tangerine SweaterYarn: Angora/Cashmere/Cotton blend from the Beijing LYS. 2 ends of lace weight held together throughout.Pattern: My own designNeedles: 3.5mm circulars/dpnsFinished Size: 2TChest 22-24", Length 13.5" Sleeves are 8.5" from underarm to wristThis design is actually an old-time attempt of mine. Originally intended to fit a newborn but somehow the knitting just never happened. Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-78524482298182001942007-09-30T21:32:00.000+08:002008-02-21T17:16:58.401+08:00Into the woods...Jasmine turned two last Wednesday and this is my birthday present to her. We love the results! The yarns are just luscious, so silky, and wonderfully soft that I almost didn't want to be finished with the knitting. And those colors reminds me of a beautiful Autumn afternoon... one of those you'd steal away with a cup of coffee outside your log cabin, and take a walk through the crunchy leaves allMaryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-81469343467269501262007-09-19T08:07:00.000+08:002008-02-21T17:16:58.402+08:00Think Big...Acted small, but it's turning out big again...My almost forgotten baby blue AJ that was finished in June. Pattern: Apricot Jacket from Rebecca 27Needles: 4mm circularsYarn: 250g of Softy Cottons from the yarn stall in CausewayMods: Substituted DK weight for the worsted, I went with the smallest size and shorten the ribbings on the body a little bit, maybe by 20%Finished Size: Chest 28", Length 16Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-69515098645249675862007-09-05T16:08:00.000+08:002007-09-26T02:04:42.043+08:00Beyond Great WallsLast weekend, we made a side trip to the Bashang Grassland. Bashang, bordering on the Inner Mongolia Plateau and located at the foot of the Yanshan Mountains, is 280km north of Beijing, and 87 km northwest of the county side of Fengning. Since ancient times it has been a pasture for Mongolian herders, and a hunting place for Qing imperial families. We spent a whole morning on the horseback, Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-59854682968859349162007-08-14T22:00:00.001+08:002009-09-07T16:57:31.368+08:00A is for absenceThanks so much for all your lovely comments on my previous posts. Once again, I fear I must apologize for more absence - but as they say, life intervenes. Work has been draining the life out of me and sapping my energy to knit or blog. And I'll be leaving again tomorrow and work the rest of August from our Beijing office... Jasmine will come along with me so this will be a two-in-one working/Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-18672690634099652492007-07-29T11:28:00.000+08:002007-09-26T02:03:31.799+08:00Where Blue meets GrayWe've finally got some FO shots for Claude and the Ribbed Tank Top... I know the shots could have been better but since I'm heading out to Beijing today.... I'd better post first before I'm gone again.First up, here's my Ribbed Tank Top. I was totally inspired after seeing Krista's Fitted Tank here and went digging into my stash for the 400 yards of worsted cotton/silks...Yarn: Classic Elite Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-2856774698529416012007-07-27T16:36:00.000+08:002007-09-25T23:33:21.277+08:00Going with the flow...I have been knitting almost nothing but socks since my last post... that includes ripping out my first Sockapalooza sock about 10 times before giving up on the pooling and switched to a solid color yarn. I’m glad I did so and hopefully my pal will like them too.Yarn: 18% Cashmere, 12% Soybean Fiber, 70% LambswoolPattern: Go With the Flow by Evelyn A. Clark.Available from IK Summer 2005 or Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-84984616584093768182007-07-06T17:13:00.000+08:002008-02-21T17:16:58.405+08:00Last Minute Knitted "Bibs"I'm way way way behind on my blogging these day... The blocked internet access (to all blog servers, and even flickr) from Beijing is to blame... But the good thing is, I have more time to knit... Haven't I told you that both Baby Apricot and Claude are done now, and I finished another Ribbed Top out of some Classic Elite Cotton/Silk last week... please bear with me for a bit... I'm hoping for Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-14382075718884250062007-06-14T17:47:00.000+08:002008-02-21T17:16:58.406+08:00Love at first sight!Time flies (again)... it's been 10 days since my last post and I haven't any blog-worthy knitting to show you... Both Claude and Baby Apricot are half-seamed... each has only one sleeve and some part of the body done... I could have finished either one if I manage to focus... haha... At some point, I thought I could fall back to my CTH socks for sanity, but my second sock is turning out much Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-91766243509878046732007-06-05T23:11:00.000+08:002008-02-21T17:16:58.408+08:00A bit of everythingFirst of all, Don and I thank you all for your lovely words on our anniversary. May has been one of the most frantic but prolific month of my year. Aside from my busy-as-usual work schedule, I took a short break and brought Jasmine to sunny Singapore to see grandma and grandpa and many of her uncles and aunties.In additions to family gatherings during those few days, we squeezed in a playgroup Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-23504661143085231292007-05-20T14:46:00.001+08:002009-09-07T17:02:39.480+08:00How about a meme...I've got a few things in the frog pond awaiting your final verdicts but it’s been raining and raining for two days… and I can't show them to you without pics.... so I'll do a meme instead.I have been tagged by Sue. Here are the rules as I understand them to be - Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves...I can have the same breakfast over and over again until I get sick of Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-30289406918677492412007-05-13T11:57:00.000+08:002008-02-21T17:16:58.409+08:00Just one more... for now...Just one more pair of soakers... for now and probably ever... if only I could stop myself... it actually make more sense for me to start making her some longies instead. So even if she gets potty-trained by wintertime, we can still use them as pants.Pattern: Ottobre Soakers (10-24mos), pdf here.Yarn: Araucania Nature Wool Chunky in #123. A beautifully golden ochre with a hint of green. A Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-14767730256665423712007-05-05T12:21:00.000+08:002008-02-21T17:16:58.411+08:00It's shorties time!We had such a great fun time at the playground. To my surprise, Jasmine was extremely obliging, just see how my sweetie shows off her new shorties... Pattern: I started with the Curly Purly Soaker pattern (again) in the largest size, and just knitted on without decreasing until about 9" and incorporated a crotch before spliting up the legs. Yarn: I hank of Cascade 220, plus scrap yarns for the Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-29889455873313473362007-04-29T10:48:00.001+08:002009-01-10T01:48:46.729+08:00Super Easy DIY Sock Blockers (Tutorial)I've always wanted some sock blockers, but was a bit skeptical about paying $20-30 for one... If you're like me, try these... they are really easy to make and cost me a dollar. Oh, just why did it took me so long to get inspired....ETA 5/5/07: I'm absolutely thrilled to learned that this tutorial has been featured on Craftzine. Thanks Natalie, and also Erin for forwarding me the link. Yay!Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com59tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-781301029781418242007-04-22T16:51:00.000+08:002008-02-21T17:16:58.412+08:00Wool is cool!I got a crazy urge to get started after seeing all those wonderful cutie soakers and shorties out there, and knowing wool is completely natural, breathable, antibacterial, can hold 30% of it's weight in moisture without feeling clammy, and surprisingly, it's even known to be cool in summer and warm in winter. And of course, a handknitted soaker just looks too darn cute on baby’s bum!!This first Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21709635.post-29120156022434463842007-04-17T23:46:00.000+08:002007-04-18T01:48:03.790+08:00Retrophilia?!This thing is a beauty, it sews like a dream! It does come as a surprise to me as well but after testing driving more than a handful of newer and older Singer models… I must say I am absolutely impressed by her -- this 1970's Singer Diana 360 Electronic sewing machine. She is so cool!There are some typical yellowing and dings for it's age, but I LOVE the super smooth and quiet running, the more Maryannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219086743668595174noreply@blogger.com8