Sai Sai

2005-06-15T22:52:00.000-05:00

I'm leaving... on a jet plane!
Don't know when I'll be back again!

Actually, I'll be back in a month. I've decided not to bring any knitting, despite the crazy long plane ride (direct flight to Hong Kong). So no knitting updates.

Siow Chin was really kind to give me some HK LYS recommendations. One is in Wan Chai, and another in Kowloon Bay. I must squeeze in time for a visit to these LYS!!

Goodbye Toronto! Hello Hong Kong!!!!!

2005-06-09T23:33:00.000-05:00

Look what Leo got me today!! It's an early birthday present for me, since I'll be in Hong Kong on my birthday. Isn't he the sweetest? I haven't decided what to name her yet though. But it's definitely a "her". I'm such a sucker for cute stuffed animals!! She is quite big, and the perfect huggable size, about the size of 2 basketballs (one for the head, one for the body). I haven't done any knitting today or yesterday. And I have a feeling I won't be knitting this weekend or next week, since I must start packing!! So, I doubt I'd finish Crossed Cardie before I leave. *sigh* But I might bring a sleeve or two for the looonnnggg plane ride. I'm still debating.

By the way, the fever is gone, but my throat still hurts like crazy. Argh.

2005-06-07T09:54:00.000-05:00

I've been struck by a virus.

It all started with the headache and dizziness, thinking it was a hangover from drinking the previous night. Then Leo finally noticed I was really flushed and my head was burning hot. I was having a fever. Ends up, my throat was swollen and infected, and the fever won't go away. I've been sleeping most of the past two days. I can't swallow anything without pain. I'd be cold and shivering one moment, and then hot and sweaty a few moments later. There's no fun knitting with sweaty hands. But before all this, I completed the back piece and one of the front pieces. I've only been able to take quick shots of the pieces today.

Back and front right pieces. I've finally realized that black is a
very boring color.

I've even started on the left front piece!

They say a picture is worth a million words. Here are two. I need to get drugged and konk out.

2005-06-01T09:23:00.000-05:00

I finally did some serious knitting this past week. After seeing Adele's fabulous Crossed Cardie in Jaeger Alpaca soon to be completed, I bought myself some Phildar Lambswool in Noir and the Spring Tendances 05 to make this cardie as well.

Actually, I've been trying to find a similar looking top (with the deep V crossed fronts) since last year! And whenever I see one, there ought to be something wrong with it. Like in the wrong colors, or sleeves not short/long enough. Too this and Too that. So. If I handknit one, then there would be no more complaints. Right? (Probably except on my own handicraft)

Phildar Lambswool: Noir. 51% lambswool 49% acrylic.
But since it's NOIR, future photos of knitting progresses will be
dull and boring. I can't help it, I wear too much black.

And of course some Phildar knitting mags.
Tendances Spring 04 and 05 in English version.
Also Jean Greenhowe's Knitted Toy Animals Leaflet.

I've already completed the back piece of the cardigan, and just started the ribbing for the front right piece. I hope photos of my knitting in black would show up OK. I'll post my progress once this front piece is done, and we shall see from there.

2005-05-24T12:07:00.000-05:00

I'm on a knitting block.

Not that I've ever been Miss.Turbo-Knit-o-maniac or anything. More likely recently I've been a Miss.Yarn-o-maniac in purchasing new yarns for new projects that I never really get to start and/or finish. I've bought more Phildar yarn and some Phildar magazines. So go figure.

I've got minimal knitting progress over the long weekend. That, and the fact that my internet connection has been very screwy lately, and never allows me to post.

Also lately, I find that knitting puts me in a anti-social, anti-doing-anything mood. I won't want to talk to anyone or do anything except sitting here and knit. And then, eventually, I won't want to knit either.

With my final semester of school finished and all, and only having a month away from flying to Hong Kong for the Study Abroad program, it doesn't leave me enough time to find a job in between. So, I'm always at home alone with nothing meaningful to do. And I guess that puts me in a mellow mood, when only watching DVDs will make my day. I try to work on my Ene's Scarf while I watching, but lately, my yarn and I just ain't clicking. Ene's Scarf is more of a pain in the arse than I thought. I've got an extra stitch, for no reason. I've spent more time counting stitches than really knitting. Argh. I can only blame on this invisible knitting block I'm currently facing, and I guess 375 stitches per row in lace pattern isn't exactly helping either.

*sigh* I hope my next post will have some knitting action. I've taken some photos of my new yarn and mags, so I'll be posting them soon. And also, a secret knitting project *slowly* on it's way to making it's debut. We'll see how that one goes.

2005-05-16T13:27:00.000-05:00

Yarn in the mail makes my day!!

I received my package of Alpaca Cloud in Iris color from Knit Picks over the weekend. Getting carried away with excitement, I forgot to photograph the two hanks before I began unravelling. So here's a photo of only one hank of this lovely and incredibly sooofftt Alpaca Cloud.

Mmmm... Alpaca Cloud is so soft I can just take this and wrap it
around my neck like a boa-scarf.

The color. Iris. Purplish lilac, with nibs of salmon and tan. I've been worried about this color being too "Granny". Now that I've seen the actual yarn, from afar, it looks pretty much like a dull lilac color. Not entirely disappointing. Except that if I were to knit the Ene's Scarf single-stranded as recommended in the pattern, then I'd have a very loose and holey Granny's shawl.

After much consideration, I decided to knit the whole scarf double-stranded (which means I need to order 2 more hanks of Alpaca Cloud) using 3.50mm needles. I wouldn't match the suggested gauge with this combo, but I think I'd prefer a smaller scarf wrapped around my neck that's slightly draping passed the top of shoulders. Whatever the actual size is, I'll get the real picture after some more knitting.

I've casted on a whopping 375 stitches!!! After much counting, ripping and recounting stitches, I've safely made it to the 7th row. The trick it to keep count of your stitches between your markers. And in this project, stitch markers are your best friend. It makes counting stitches more managable. This baby is gonna take me a while!!

2005-05-12T12:33:00.000-05:00

Books!! Books!! It's all about books today.

I bought textbooks for my summer course, which be taken in Hong Kong!! It's a political science slash east asian studies course, primarily on state and society of 20th China. Boring, I know. And I'm a complete idiot in politics too.

Governing China from Revolution Through Reform
Origins of the Chinese Revolution

Then I went to Romni's and got Scarf Style. I've looked all over for this book. At both Indigo and Chapters. But it's been sold out everywhere. Fortunately, when I got to Romni's, their shipping of Scarf Style just came in.

Scarf Style by Pam Allen
for Ene's Scarf , using Alpaca Cloud

I also joined the Scarf Style KnitAlong, in hope that I'll finish that in time for next winter.(!!) I ordered Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud in Iris color. They took this color off their website order form though. I hope I'll like this color. It's a blend of purplish (I think) and brownish mesh. So it can either look awesome, or like Granny's wear. I'm still waiting for the shipping.

Finally, I got some entertainment reading: Da Vinci Code, Confessions of a Shopaholic, and Shopaholic takes Manhattan. So I'll have plenty to occupy myself these days.

2005-05-09T14:46:00.000-05:00

Sunny Pink Vest!! The weather's been gorgeously sunny this weekend, and I just couldn't resist doing some knitting outside. Thus, I decided to call this tank/vest Sunny Pink Vest! Yesterday was Leo's birthday. We went downtown and to Woodbine beach to enjoy the beautiful weather, bought some yummy Rocky Road ice cream from Baskin Robbins (only to find that Ben & Jerry's was only a block away. >.<~) Then we had dinner at Baton Rouge. Nice nice restaurant. I got some knitting done during the car ride to the beach and back. And again today out in my backyard porch. Here's my progress.

Only a few more rows until I start armhole shaping!
Phildar Licorne knits fabulously.

Another view.
My ribbing is always uneven.
Probably cuz I didn't go down one needle size for it. Eek.

I decided to fudge the pattern a bit and knit a vest instead of a tank. After knitting a few rows of the back piece, I noticed that Phildar Licorne had a bit of a shiny sheer to the color. So it's not quite "casual" enough to be a summer tank. I thought if it were to be a vest, then I can wear a white buttoned shirt underneath it for work. But it will still have the shimmery Phildar Sunset ribbed neckline border, which probably will be knit held together with Licorne.

I would like to thank Adele once again for helping me out with translating this French pattern. You're the best, Adele!

Today for lunch, I made myself a caesar salad with toasted garlic cheese bread, an imitation of what I had the previous night at Baton Rouge. It was super yummy!!

Even though the caesar dressing was store bought, it was just as
delicious, just cuz I made it myself!! Teehee.

2005-05-06T21:52:00.000-05:00

I stashed!! Yummy Phildar yarn from Knit N Tyme and GGH yarn from Romni Wools.

Phildar Licorne: Jacinthe. 100% mercerised cotton.
Phildar Sunset: Irise. 65% Viscose, 35% Polyester.
Project: Phildar Tank

GGH Java: Fuschia and Light Blue. 85% mercerised cotton, 15% Acrylic.
Project: Unknown

I also got the Phildar Ete 2004, but unfornately, it's in French. And this is my first time using Phildar, so I've been ripping my hair out trying to translate their patterns into English!!

"faire de ch. cote a 1 m. des bords 1 x 1 dim. puis ts les 6 rgs: 2 x 1 dim. et ts les 4 rgs: 5 x 1 dim."????

"former les emman. en rab. de ch. cote ts les 2 rgs: 1 x7m, 2 x 6m, 1 x 5m, 1 x 4m, 2 x 3m, 1 x 2m et 3 x 1m."???

Eeek. I need help.

2005-04-29T20:08:00.000-05:00

I was driving home from school, in the middle of "pre-rush hour" traffic.

Note that today is Friday. People like to leave work earlier on Fridays. It was 3:00pm, and the DVP was already jammed packed with annoyed drivers like me going at an average speed of 5km/hr.

The sun was doing its vibe. Even with my windows rolled all the way down, I was sweating like pig. I thought to myself, if only I had a cold glass of lemon iced tea. Mmmm. Well, someone up there heard me alright. Cuz look what just drove past my window at the precise moment. Not exactly a refreshing glass of iced tea, but it did wake me up from my rush hour driving "nap" enough to take out my cellphone to snap this picture.

Vitasoy!

Guess what I drank once I stepped inside my house.

2005-04-28T16:02:00.000-05:00

Taking a quick breather from studying.

Read some blogs and ordered some Alpaca Cloud yarn from Knit Picks. Hopefully, the yarn will arrive once I'm done exams next week. The anticipation of yarn arriving via mail is so exciting. Because until I open the package and see the yarn itself (and not just over my computer monitor at the checkout shopping cart) I don't know if I'd love it or just like it. I really gotta watch where I spend my money. But $3.99 for 440 yards of 100% baby alpaca yarn isn't really breaking my bank, right?

2005-04-27T22:51:00.000-05:00

Make or break. Do or die. Now or never.
These words circle my mind every day, every minute.
Everything is starting to get dizzy and meshed all together.

God, when will this be over?

I heard yoga helps with stress. *makes mental note to sign up for yoga classes right after finals*

2005-04-26T12:21:00.000-05:00

I just registered and paid for an International Studying Abroad Program with U of T to Hong Kong.

Even though I was born in Hong Kong, Toronto's been my home for the past 20 years. But, needless to say, I'm excited to go back.

Hong Kong, the Vertical City. The city that never sleeps. There's no doubt Hong Kong is one of the busiest places on earth. It's a heaven for avid shopaholics like me.

Large billboards and luminated signs. Skycrapers and tall apartment buildings.
Streets filled with red taxis and mini buses.
Sidewalks crowded with busy people always on the run.

However, I must constantly remind myself that I'm there to S-T-U-D-Y. Or more like: Shop Til U Drop Yeah!. (Ok, I couldn't think of what to put for Y.) So. Which means, I must save a lot of moola. Which means, I don't have moola for yarn at the moment. But hopefully means, I'll be able to spend some moola on good yarn buys in Hong Kong. However, I'm still in search of yarn stores in Hong Kong. Any recommendations?

Speaking of yarn stores, Adele, who's also a fellow Torontonian, gets her Phildar yarns from Knit N Tyme. I'm contemplating on whether I should buy yarn there, or from Breiweb (but shipping costs are expensive). I must carefully think through what yarn I want, and what yarn I REALLY want. Cuz apparently, I can't afford to buy anything impulsively. Sucks to be a student without a job. Which reminds me, I still got one more exam to study for. *sigh*

And you didn't think I'd leave without another amazing photo of Hong Kong at night, did you?

Beautiful? Now imagine this view during Christmas

2005-04-21T23:40:00.001-05:00

Exam status: 2 down, 1 to go.

I'm giving myself a short breather and relaxing before cramming for the last exam. So. That means I get to do some knitting! However, I won't be starting any new knitting projects until at least after finals. Cuz I know I won't be able to stand the temptation of an unfinished knit. Instead, I've been browsing through sweater patterns both online and mags. I got some Rowan Calmer that's been in my stash since early winter. I've been saving it for a sweater, since I got 10 balls. Without any progress, I saw some cute knits in a Taiwanese magazine instead.

I absolutely love that orange scarf with mitts attached. And the white capelet with pompoms! Soooo cute!!! Too bad this wasn't a knitting mag, so no patterns. Darn!

2005-04-18T23:02:00.000-05:00

Hummmmm.... i wonder if by meditating, I can foresee tomorrow's exam questions.

2005-04-16T18:36:00.000-05:00

To say that I'm a blog virgin, would be a lie. But! Needless to say, this is the very first entry in my first online journal with blogger. So, I believe the term "blog virgin" would be suitable for this special entry.

Please take caution upon deciding to continue reading my journal entries, as there will be much boring content on knitting progress updates (yes, I like to knit), random events of another boring day, and occasional whining about life in general.

Now, shall I begin with a brief intro?

VISUAL:
brown eyes, five feet five, past-shoulder-length hair, nearsighted, sometimes glasses, sometimes contacts, sometimes neither. ethnicity wise, i'm chinese-canadian.

LOVE:
heterosexual, in a relationship

LOCATION:
suburb of Toronto, Canada

I AM:
a girl, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a girlfriend, reserved, shy, thoughtful, understanding, silly, clumsy, confused, simple, naive, carefree, emotional, a dreamer, a listener, hopeful, imaginative, ignored, misunderstood, taken for granted, stared at, laughed at, laughed with.

CANCER GIRL:
Certainly not the easiest person to understand, as my emotions are hidden beneath the tough exterior that I possess. Although I can be kind and affable, my mood swings are unpredictable. My seemingly cold tough behavior is only a clever means to hide my own insecurities and complexes. Inside, I am almost like a timid, hurt child. I can be admirably kind, generous, understanding and gracious, if all is well with me. Like most water signs, I too have good intuitive powers and mostly put them to good use in managing my life. I am a home-loving person. (courtesy of astro-yogi)

FEELS SO GOOD:
Knitting, mint chocolate chip ice cream, phone calls, egg tart, web designing, coconut milk, Starbucks Peppermint Mocha, my cellphone, Photo Hunt, bubble tea, Finding Nemo, cheesecakes & pastries, cheese, PS2, downtown shopping, flipping magazines, daydreaming

NOT SO GOOD:
Dark, alone, spiders, hypocrites, work, pimples, panda eyes, backstabbers, break-ups

PHOBIAS:
ailurophobia (afraid of cats), arachnephobia (spiders), isolophobia (alone), megalophobia (large objects), musophobia (mice), scotophobia (dark), astrophobia (celestral space), and probably more, but I think I should stop here.You get the idea.

FAMILY:
Parents happily married. I have one sibling, who I do not resemble. She's 2 years younger. Unlike most sisters, we hardly ever fight, mostly because she loves me as much as I love her.

OUTER WEAR:
Clothing choices are based on my personal comfort. Usually means shirt and jeans/skirt. I have an anklet on my left leg that I wear 24/7, but recently broke off. So now I'm in search of a new one! Pierced both my earlobes. I dye and/or streak my hair from time to time. I don't like to make fashion statements only because I don't like being stared at like a foreign object.