My first cardigan.. for me

As you can see, i'am not a type who like knit a big thing.
But, it's looks like that knitting a sweater has become a latest trend at my knitting's group.
And after few months just watched someone else knitting sweater, i finally can't stand anymore : I had to knit one!

Still remember from Debbie Bliss's tips, I picked the colors, drawn some sketch, picked the motives i want, measure the size, and finally made some gauge swatch to determined how many stitch i had to knit, etc.

I knew i am a knitter that can knit quite fast.. But i never test it to make a big knitting until now. And i surprised when this 'thing' finished only in two weeks.

Not perfect in design, but i feel happy! ^ ^

Inspirations and/or books used =
- [this] pinterest's picture, for model inspiration
- Essentially Feminine Knits by Lene Samsoe, for size guide
- Cast On, Bind Off by Cap Sease, for invisible bind off at every ribbing edges
- Knitting On The edge by Nicky Epstein, for embellished at the sleeves
- ミセスの手あみ 16 (Let’s Knit series), for leaves lace pattern inspiration

After this "baby", i knit one more cardigan using stranded knitting technique. Simpler one than this, because for me lace pattern is more complicated than stranded knitting.

Happy Knitting!! :D

@ajeng_poyeng

Rajut Free Knitting Pattern : a cardigan with some adjustment

I always love Pierrot's patterns. They usually only have one size = medium. And thank God its my size (and also my husband size). I also used their patterns as a reminder to maintain my weight if i still want to knit their patterns for myself without making any adjustment. :p

I knitted this cardigan based on this cardigan free knitting pattern from Pierrot. Since the pattern used smaller yarn than i used, i made change based on simple math equation, so the result would still have same size with the example. And also made it as a long sleeve's cardigan. The pattern itself come in one color. Except for the additional color and adaptation because i change the yarn and needle, and knit it in round, i did not make any change to this pattern.

Why i knitted it as sweater? Because stranded knitting is easier to make in round. I also not very fond using purl stitch very often.

The pattern for color part, i made only in simple excel. The patterns made based on this picture, except for the cat and squirrel part, i used charts from book of knitting stitches i had.

*digital art = Dare to Dream by Jojoincov
note = the friend that want this cardigan give me edited version of this picture on his mail. I found the original source of this image by searching it in Google, that's why i can share the original one. Because I didn't want to add an image that isn't mine without proper credit. :)

After I finished knitted the sweater, i steek it so it will be a cardigan. It's my first attemp at steek, and i think i a little bit ruined the stitches (my heartbeat raised to the roof)! So i reinforced the crochet edging right away after i cut the knitting, and reinforced it again by sewing it with a ribbon (so i will only see the beautiful thing, which is : ribbon).. fyuuhh...

Pattern used = Honwaka Cardigan by Pierrot (Gosyo)
Yarn used = SA Poyeng (soft acrylic)
Knitting Needle = 4mm/80cm and 4mm/23cm
skill needed = (to follow the pattern) basic knitting, sew a knitting, reading Japanese style knitting pattern; (to make it as i did) intermediate knitting, color knitting, steek, circular knitting.

Book used =
- Mastering Color Knitting by Melissa Leapman (you also can find about Steek by googling it)
- 500 Knitting Stitches (the book written in Chinese, true be told, i not really know if the tittle is right)

Happy Knitting!! 

 @Ajeng_Poyeng

Rajut Free Knitting Pattern : Medieval Pouch Bless

One of my knitting friend at Poyeng will have to return to her hometown, maybe for good. And suddenly i want to give her one nice gift so she will always remember us when she at home.

She like to reading everywhere, and so i want to knit her a nice book size's bag for her carry her book. While i surfing on Ravelry free knitting pattern's database, i tumbling in this nice free pattern which suddenly i love! A very nice medieval pouch which is fast to knit. This free knitting pattern even has Arabic calligraphy "barrokhah" (bless) into it!

Pattern used = Medieval Pouch Charts by Wendy Dunlap
Yarn = i used acrylic yarn DK/worsted weight size red and yellow
Knitting needle = 4mm circular 40cm
Skill needed = circular knitting, color knitting, reading chart.

Happy Knitting!! 

 @Ajeng_Poyeng

Rajut Free Knitting Pattern : Square Little Owl

I at last really found a pattern that can be knitted by a very beginner knitter!! A knitting pattern that result in something cute.. like owl. :D

Thanks for Georgie with her Hootie Hoo's free knitting pattern. She made cute owl from a simple square.
I resize her knitting pattern into half of her little owl's pattern so a very beginner knitter can finished it in 3-4 hours (it result into tiny owl with a quarter of the original Georgie's small owl finished size), and made it into cellphone charm!

*we today can made an owl!!

Happy Knitting!!

 @Ajeng_Poyeng

My Knittings as a part of a fashion show

I start knitting since 2008 from literally zero. Until now 2014, knitting still one of my biggest passion.
And it's pure because of luck (and God will), a senior designer who live in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, suddenly came to my door and wanted me to make her (she brought her own paper templates and basic figure's sketches), some knittings for her next fashion show. Said fashion show held at 23 April 2014 at one of well-known star hotel in Yogyakarta.

And i was lucky enough can personally took the pictures of my knittings while they be wore by models in catwalk at that time. :)

Happy Knitting!!

@Ajeng_Poyeng

Rajut Free Knitting Pattern : Simple Baby pants and boxing mitten

Today I less and less doing knitting 100% from free patterns. But I definitely still seek inspirations from many free patterns that being shared by so many kind knitters out there.

and here i am, knitting a baby pants and baby mitten that inspired from crocheted pieces which had similar form.

And here where i got inspirations from =

short pants = Braided Longies free knitting pattern by Raya Budrevich
I only change the pattern into more simple one by turn the cable part into stockinette and made it into shorts. After i finished the piece, i knit two simple i-cord which then i seamed to both side of the pants to add a nice texture.

Mitten = Miittens free knitting pattern by not an artist

This mitten already had an interesting shape. But thank God, I kind of person who like to see the samples of finished project when i browse a pattern on Ravelry, there i found one thumb modification of this pattern! And yes this modification is not written by the creator for you to read, but you can recreate it by see her progress photo.

Overall, you have to be an intermediate knitter to knit these patterns. Either for follow it as the pattern wrote it, or to doing your modification as i did. But, just dare yourself I think ;)

Happy Knitting!! 

@Ajeng_Poyeng

Book Review : Woodland Knits

Book tittle : Woodland Knits - over 20 enchanting tales from the heart of forest

author : Stephanie Dosen

Publisher : Quadrille Publishing 2013

I first interested in this book, because at that time I browsed at online book store, I want to make something unusual. And you can see, just from the cover, you will may make deer antlers and deer ears!
And (as always) after i peeking some of the inside pages by browsing at Google image, I decided to buy this book.

I quite happy with the book. It has nice layout design.. And the feeling i got was like peeking to somebody personal project diary. Someone who like something unique and like fairy tale and woods so much. And like earth color also so much. :D

see how beautiful the pages... like open your own diary!

Maybe I will not knit some of the designs in this book, since I live in tropical country (which make me do not need any thick and warm sweater), but I will like to try some of these unique designs. I found that her explanation very easy to follow and very clear. I already tried Mr. Fox Stole My Heart knitting pattern, and want to make again!

Happy Knitting! :D

@ajeng_poyeng

my version of "Mr.Fox stole my heart"

*book review i made at this blog are not for promoting the book. I made simply because i like it and i actually have a copy of it at my hand :)