Abbreviations (The World of Knitting)

k3,p3,C3B, alt, Dec. Inc.


These are some of the jargons or rather abbreviations used for knitters.
Just like musical scores that has their own aphebetical signifier,  (Treble cleff as G key and Bass Cleff as F key/ F# as F sharp etc.) and HTML has their own codes, so is knitting patterns.

And the above are some of the examples of the frequently seen knitting abbreviations.

At first I found it a little alien reading them. Fortunately, after going through countless knitting magazines and references I found myself beginning to understand them a little.

Still in the middle of beginner going to intermidiate stage, I thank all the Japanese and Chinese Books/ References that provides charts instead of words for easier references, though I would say that the western references offer a number of brilliant patterns (Thus, the more I need to brush up with my knitting abbreviation skills).  And all in all, I found myself ever so intrigued and amazed by the world of knitting.

Author such as Claire Crompton from her books Stitch Library and The Knitter's Bible had helped me a lot with the different possible patterns that I can make at my current stage. The book also allows me to be inspired by the various projects it offers. It is also through the exposure of this book that I am able to learn and read both patterns and abbreviations.

Besides her book, I had also borrowed a book by Potter Craft which entitles 400 Knitting Stitches which I believe will be a great guide for all beginner knit lovers. Just like Crompton's book, the book covers different forms of knitting patterns from the most basic moss stitch to the most complicated lace stitch or cable stitch, cross stitch etc. You name it.

Anyways, thanks to all these books, and several other books which is too long and too many to be named, I had been having a great time browsing and getting ideas for my next projects.

Currently I am into the world of short and sweet knitting projects, by saying that I mean, things that are easy and quick to make such as fingerless mittens (at least it is shorter and probably faster than shawls), or glass warmer/ leg warmer/ mufflers/ hand phone pouch.

Been finding sometime for the right measurement for handphone pouch as I was making one at the moment with my own scale lol. I hope I can find it and I hope mine is gonna turn out sweet :)

Well, without further ado, a sneak peak to some of the things I've done. Enjoy ;)

These two little things is a small shawl and bag like inspired 'project' that I did out of boredom today and yesterday.

Pretty glad that through the small shawl (yellow knit) I am able to exercise left-hand cable knits as well as a pattern of my own :) It really makes me smile when I see that the result is not too bad after all :) hehe.

The other one, the grey coloured knit, was another of my own invention with bag like inspired theme in  mind. Happy that through this exercise I am able to practise casting off the proper way, using the crotchet hook, as well as practicing my mind with moss stitch design.

And this one right here is a shawl I am making for my mom, currently the length is already like an ancient scroll (haha) and since it is not done, so I'm not gonna show you yet. The best is yet to come savvy?

Anyway, it was done with a 5 mm needle and yarn from this brand Sirdar Click Aran with Wool (70% Arcrylic and 30% Wool) and it was the first project I did after I am able to knit properly. 

And this one right here is my Christmas Inspired Maroon shawl.
Okay, I know Christmas is still far far away now, but, well who is not excited for Christmas? Everybody does and so do I, and so, I am just getting way too early.

Anyway, this is my first shawl and project that I knit myself and with cable knits.
Both shawls are still on the brink of the finishing line and I really hope that I can see the final result soon :)

Alright got to go, the time now is 12:52 a.m. and song of the day before I end my post is Samba Pa Ti by Guitarist Peter Pupping.

Good Night and see you in my next post :)

Love and Peace,
Yuliana :)

Colourful Saturday

"Miss, wake up!" called out my maid as she entered our room and annouced her wake up call. "It's already 12:30p.m. you said you want to bake." she reminded.

Our Macaroon

Immediately, or maybe almost immediately, my sister and I jerked out of our parent's bed and got ourselves ready.

It was Saturday!
and with both our parents out of town and our elder sister, who does not really like baking, also away to run some personal errands, we, the Chip and Dale as my mom used to call us when we were a child, decided that it will be a PERFECT TIME to CONQUER the kitchen (which mostly belong to my mom, the  BIG cook at home) with bakings! :9

Earlier my sister had looked out for macaroons recipe which she excitedly claimed to "try it this saturday" and I on the other hand who has always been fond of cupcakes, decided to bake one of those cutie.

Sweet cupcake cases 

So, on Friday Night, after we settled our personal meetings with our own friends and the movie night, we went to the supermarket and shop for baking needs! The only grocery chores I never find a bore.

Self-Raising flour (Checked)
Sugar (Checked)
Eggs( Checked)
Vanilla Extract (Checked)
Checked
Checked

And then, after happily checked and re-checked that all that we need is taken, we went home.

It was 1:30 plus plus plus, when we started to make our first trial of vanilla macaroon! :)

The colouful batter for macaroon

It was fun as we sifted, and grilled the almond ground, and icing sugar into one mixture, followed with the mixture of eggs and caster sugar, plus the food colouring which made us go crazy as the batter transformed into beautiful pastel pink and green. And last but not least, of course, the transfering of the batter into a pipping bag and the baking tray.

Freshly baked cupcakes

It took the macaroon about (I can't remember) 10 minutes/15 before it was fully set, and as we pulled it out of the oven, :DD :DD :DD!!!! a great fragrance of sweet vanilla filled the air. It was Amazing!

Then, after we filled it up with the filling, and had our first bite, (wooohhh) it was even more amazing! The feeling was just superb.

Follow up next, we got ourselves busy once again with the baking of my cupcakes.
As always, baking cupcake is a bliss! :) It was easy and quick.
So in a while, we are able to bake it, brought it out of the over, let it cool, and decorate the top of the cupcake with our beautiful cupcake frosting. 

Tat's my Cupcake!

It was a little troublesome using the pipping bag though it was fun and cute when the ic swirled in place. But, as we were not expert, there were times when we had to re-do the frosting decor just so that our cupcakes look sweet and appealling.

It was almost 9 p.m. when we finished with everything, and you won't believe it man, the moment we sat down on our comfortable sofa, our butt just seems to stick on it.

We were so tired!!!!!!!! we didnt even realize it until we sat on the sofa and like, woohhh the whole hair is down.

Overall, it was a Colourful Saturday with many laughters and good, colourful food to brighten up the Weekend.



 

He had made me glad

The Beginning 

A few weeks ago, when I looked at myself in front of the mirror, I got the biggest shock of my life!
I'M UGLY! like freaking ugly. with additional acnes around the temple of my face, and clogged up pores at my forehead, and...big big eye bags....it was horrible horrible.

 Then I began to think of the factors that lead to such horrible state of mine. At first I thought it was the food consumed, indeed, I had been crazily feeding myself with chocolates after not getting in contact with the sinful indulgence for God knows when. Then comes the sleepless night which I spent most of it on my knitting :p.

However, despite listing out the possible factors, I realized that there is really something missing in here.
Something that I still unable to figure out why.
Until, I sat down on night (after finally putting away my knitting materials) and as I was starring at the ceiling, a thought struck into mind *TING*

It was then when I realized that the main reason for all that pathetic state of mine is because of my anxieties.
All sorts of anxieties from the fact that I have not been spending time with God, praying, what am I suppose to do next, to how long do I have to wait till I get a call for an interview. (Earlier on I had sent out a few resumes, and after re-writing and re-writing my cover letter, but unfortunately, there's still no call from the respective companies. Sadded. Yes I am.

So, that night, I began to pray.
Even then, I realized that my prayer is filled with prayers for other people instead of my own needs.
Indeed, I've learned about some of my friends who had been troubled with one thing or another, and thinking that since I've not been doing much lately, i can share their burdens; only to realize that well, I am not that tough myself.

And so that night I ranted out all my 'secrets' to God. And as always, I feel so much better.
Very much.
 It was also during those time when I was reminded once again about how God knows our every needs and if only I take a time to listen to His calling, actually, He is everywhere around me, and there is no need for me to be afraid/ worried for He holds tomorrow. And just like father to his children, he knows when and what kind of things/ jobs that is going to come my way...if only I take a time to WAIT on His time instead of my own time.

Then when I see myself, I also realized how mnay times have I been putting away all my hobbies, or doing them for the sake of doing/ stress relieves instead of an enjoyment?
And it is no wonder, I dont feel joy in doing it. and though my hands are kntting a beautiful piece of scarf, but my heart is all empty and dissatisfied.

Fortunately, I get the message pretty quickly and without further ado, had been trying to enjoy myself once again. (Dont get me wrong though, not saying as to take advantage of time being unemployed. but well, at least still learn to count my blessings.)

And to think that it's going to be April, there is an Israel Trip to look forward to. A trip which I hope not only enable me to see the world, but also an opportunity to learn more about Jesus's hometown. Then there is Good Friday and Easter that is coming in about two weeks times and being a choir member of the church, maybe I should see this as an opportunity to serve Him with the Heart of Worship. Afterall this is my first time singing for the church on Good Friday and Easter.

And maybe, just a maybe, this is also God way of letting me serve him without worrying/ bothering about earthly things. And when I see it that way, it really made me feel so glad.

Love and peace,
Yuliana :)

Titles Titles (For all book lovers!)

Hmmm..It's been sometime since I last visited a book store and bought myself a new book, LOL suddenly, all the book prices seems so frightening LOL. What to do? Been living a humble-cheapskate life-- whereby instead of buying I borrow it from the nearby library, haha yesterday I found myself, seriously having a difficult time in deciding whether or not to buy.

If it's not because the book is 'on loan' islandwide, maybe I will not even bought it.

Well hellow there! How r ya doing? Been sometime since the last time I updated my posts.
In fact for the time being I've been wondering what on earth have I been doing.
Not much I suppose, thus the reason why there's nothing special to post about-- or even if they do, facebook and twitter had already told them all.


Anyway, been busy, KNITTING!
as I've written previously, I had finally took up that skills from my aunt when I went back to Medan one happy January. And since then, had been finding myself spinning in the world of yarns and needles and knitting apparrels.


Thus far, I've been in 2 serious projects of making a shawl and a muffler. And had been shopping for yarns yarns yarns and more yarns, that at present, I've had about 10 or more yarns in my closet. (uh-oh! blame it on Spotlight who is having a great yarn sale till end of this week :p )


So engrossed was I in the world of knitting that for a moment when I stopped back and think about what have I been doing besides knitting, I realized that I have not been doing pretty much. Well, yeah...not much.


And one thing that I missed the most when I entered into Kinokuniya Bookstore yesterday, after finally getting rid of the knitting books fever at the Mandarin and Japanese section as well, is my passion for fiction books.


I was so happy when I was able to discover some new titles on the shelves. And this makes me want to bring them all home, and build myself a fort out of books and create a 'reading world'.


Some titles that I found interesting are:
1. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran which had become a movie starring Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks. (and which I had found great interest and decided to bring it home)


2. Something of the Night by Ian Marchant which explores into the different lifestyles/ activites people do when the night came, and believe or not, "we all have something of the night about us." (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13366208-something-of-the-night) (hmmm..spooky!!!)


3. Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern which told a story about a mysterious night circus that came only at night and leaves without a trace the day after and what happened inside that black and white tent when two of their characters fall in love? (Seems pretty in a spooky way too...I'm expecting to see another great journey like the one I had with Water for Elephant)


4. Hector and the search for Happiness by French Author Francois Lelord which told a story about Hector, a psychiatrist who went on a journey all over the world in search of happiness and did he learnt in the end? The book had been regarded as a 'feelgood gem' and selling over two million copies. And for your information, the book is a psychological-effect of some sort genre as well, so for those of you who loves psychology, maybe you can try.  (http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/hector-and-the-search-for-happiness-by-francois-lelord-1951338.html)  (Think I will give this one a try...never read a psychological related books before :) it will be a good exploration for the mind :) huuuhuuu...)


5. Books of Ghost Stories by Roald Dahl which involved a selection of 14 ghost stories selected by Dahl himself after reading some 749 supernatural tales at the British Museum Library (can you believe it? he read 700 over ghost stories...wow!! I wonder how haunted his mind can be? :p) Honestly when I saw this, I was overwhelmed. I never thought that Dahl is gonna come up with such haunting ideas remembering him as the author of such happy creations such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory/ Fantastic Mr Fox. Anyway, maybe it's worth our time to read it! I'm prepared for the eerieness as after all, "spookiness is after all the real purpose of ghost story...It should gives you the creeps and disturb your thought." -- Dahl. 


Some other interesting titles are:


The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes and winner of the 2011 Man Booker Prize. 22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson and The Art of hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker. 


Well, so far these are what I've read (the reviews) yesterday when walking around Kinokuniya.
Seems like a good time to read read and read!!!!


Hee, for more titles, do check out Kinokuniya Bookstore and be their member too! (It's really worth it! especially when they have member's offer :))
http://www.kinokuniya.com/sg/index.php/fbs002 (can make book search from the following link too before you go to the store. see so convenient :p )


Anyway, do take up some time to read peeps afterall a good read serves a good knowledge :)


See yawl soon.


Love and Peace,
Yuliana ;)


"The habit of reading is the only enjoyment in which there is no alloy; it lasts when all other pleasures fade." Anthony Trollope