Girl Who Knits

Well, January is almost over and I have not really posted about knitting all month.  This would only be worse if I hadn't actually been knitting this whole month.  Which I have.  Been knitting that is.  I have my first FO of the year completed and done but waiting for it's intended recipient to come visit me and take some pictures.  That's right, I actually knit for someone other than myself.  Shocking I know but true.  For Christmas I decided to knit a sweater for my little non-knitting sister Bri.  I did not finish in time and due to jet lag I really didn't get much done until the second week of January.  Here is a preview of the finished sweater. 

Bet you can guess what it is...

Once I was finished with my gift knitting I decided before picking my next project, I should finish up a WIP I had on the needles.  Namely, Glee.  I started Glee last fall and got about half way, so I picked it up again and am now almost to the bottom ribbing.

Honestly, I am not sure how this is going to turn out.  It is one of those sweaters that I won't know if I like until I try it on.  The best thing about this sweater is the yarn I am using is a really soft alpaca that I want to pet all day.  It is also really really orange--yam to be exact.  I am crossing my fingers for this one.

I don't know what my next project is going to be but I am trying to make a decision now so I can get the yarn this week.  Maybe the Equestrian Blazer?  Exmoor Jacket? I don't know.  One project I know I want to do is Eunny's Entrelac Socks from the new Spring Interweave.  That woman is my hero.  But that pattern is not out until the end of February.  Seeing bloggers become amazing knit designers is really inspiring to me.  I would love to try my hand at design this year.  But I may not have any talent for it so you might not see it happen.  Either way, I think it is kind of exciting to not know what is going to make up my 2007 project queue. 

So there is the knitting update.  Now I am off to finish Glee...

The top ten list about my trip has been so much fun to do.  Hard too because there was plenty more I could have included.  However, it is time for my trip recap to come to a close and the list must conclude.  I know, sad.  Unless of course you only come here for the knitting and in that case yea for you--knitting content to return after this post. 

Before I unveil my number one pick lets recap the top ten list shall we?

Top ten best things about my way awesome Hong Kong/Thailand trip:

10. Really Big Buddhas

9. Eating Ice Cream/Gelato

8. Hong Kong Movie Theaters

7. Grand Palace, Bangkok

6. Victoria Harbor & The Star Ferry

5. Shopping

4. Jade Market

3. Thai Massage

2. Elephants

and now for the big reveal...

1. Family Time

I know what you are thinking...family time beat out elephants??!?  I was surprised too.  Actually, it is not that shocking to me and I hope you are not disappointed by my sentimental first place choice.  I can't help it though, family time was hands down the best part of this trip. Check us out...

Here we are proudly displaying the food we bought to feed to the elephants.  THAT was a great day.

Kara, Bri, and I are all wearing the shirts we bought at the Weekend Market in Bangkok. Trust me, we were thrilled we found shirts that fit us so we all had to wear them the next day.

Bri and I love the self-portraits.

My Dad mocking how my sister's and I "pose" for pictures.  Yes Dad, we pose.  And we immediately check the picture on the digital camera to see if we look cute.  We are girls.  And you love us.

Um, did I mention Bri and I really like self-portraits?

I got to cook Christmas brunch with my Dad.  And yes, my apron is super cool.

Christmas brunch with our family and our BFF's the Garns.  We love them.

Families that ride Gondolas together, stay together.

The trip was full of laughing, eating, playing, shopping, and just hanging out together.  Bri and I loved giving Haagen Dazs high fives and falling asleep on the couch, Kara and Dad got to practice their deflection skills and engage in a battle of wits, and Mom made everything beautiful and special with her decoration, thoughtful gift giving, and attentive mom skills.  I just feel very blessed to like my family as well as love them and to have the life that we lead.  It isn't perfect but I sure wouldn't change it. 

This is the kind of trip I will remember for the great places I visited and the new things I experienced but when it comes down to it, this trip was made ten times better because I was with my family.  It could only have been better if my brother and his family could have been there with us too.  I don't know how many more opportunities I will have to travel with my family like this so I will for sure cherish the memory of this one. 

For those who are just reading now, I am counting down my top favorite things about my holiday trip to Hong Kong and Thailand.  Because itemized lists are just plain fun...

4. Jade Market

Now I told you #5 was shopping and you may think that the Jade Market would roll under that heading but this place was so much fun that it gets its own slot on the countdown.  Kara called it her crack house and I tend to feel the same way.  Imagine stall after stall of all kinds of jewelry: necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, etc. many made of jade, something for every taste and style.  Or I should say, many somethings for every style.  I sure found plenty.  The downside is--like I mentioned before, the bargaining.  You have to bargain for EVERYTHING.  It is expected.  Kara was really good at it.  In fact she stayed at a booth after I left and got the same necklace I did for 40 Hong Kong dollars cheaper.  That really ticked me off.  But hey, all the prices are so reasonable that I can't feel too much pain over it.  In fact, I figured that they can't make that much money anyway so what if I pay 2 or 3 US dollars more for something?  Arguing over a dollar seems silly to me when I spend that much on a pack of gum. 

 Anyway, the Jade Market...go there if you possibly can.

5. Thai Massage

One thing everyone should know about Thailand is that it is heaven on earth for those who enjoy a good massage.  I am serious about this.  For around 7 to 9 American dollars you can get an hour, yes, an HOUR long foot massage.  No need to hunt for a place or make a reservation, Thai massage parlors are everywhere.  On every commercial street.  I saw many right next to each other.  Most are open until late at night and so you really can go anytime.  And we did.  Three times.

The Thai style of massage is not for the faint of heart or the sensitive of foot.  It hurts.  It feels good too but you should know it can hurt.  After the foot massage is over you also get a neck and back message which is amazing.  It was pure bliss. 

2. Elephants

Dude.  We rode elephants. 

Here is my Mom and sister Bri in their perfectly perfect elephant riding picture taken by my Dad. 

Kara and I in our not-so-perfect riding picture taken by our chain smoking elephant guide.

We fed the elephants.

Bri and I laughing at our wimpy attempts to feed the elephants.

 I successfully although at a safe distance fed an elephant.

We chilled with the elephants.

"Um, maybe someone should take the picture now so I can get away from the elephants who are obviously trained to suffocate uncomfortable tourists."

We watched elephants do cool stuff.

like curtsy.

and paint pictures.

We visited baby elephants.

I am cute.

We even saw elephant gargoyles.

We are cute too. 

Fun right?  In case you didn't notice, we really liked the elephants.  In fact, they made our trip to Thailand. Well, the massage did too.  Yea for elephants!  Yea for really cheap but way better than any massage I have had in the US Thai massage!  Yea for Thailand!

Now, there is really only one thing that trumps the elephants in the countdown, the number one coolest thing about my trip...and for that you will have to wait until the weekend.  Can you stand it?

The top cool things about my trip countdown continues...

7. Grand Palace, Bangkok

We visited the Grand Palace in Bangkok on New Years Day.  I had no idea what to expect and was thrilled to step into a complex of beautiful and opulent buildings, statues, and temples.  There was so much to see and explore and I had a lot of fun doing just that.  Here are some pictures that show a sampling of this vast Royal place.

Cool right?

6. Victoria Harbor & the Star Ferry

There is just something about the ocean. Lakes.  Rivers.  Water masses make everything a little more romantic and beautiful.  While in Hong Kong I fell in love with the Victoria Harbor.  A harbor between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, you can take a cheap and quick ferry ride across it to travel back and forth.  I loved the ferry boat, the Star Ferry.  You get to sit and enjoy the movement of the boat and look out to the stunning Hong Kong skyline.

5. Shopping

Yes, shopping is number 5.  I can't help it, I love to shop and as I am sure you can imagine, Hong Kong is the place for shopping.  Of course, there are a couple drawbacks--apparently in Hong Kong I am anywhere from a XL to XXXL size.  Not so good for the ego.  Ah, Hong Kong sizes. 

The other drawback, at least in my estimation, is bargaining.  I can't stand bargaining.  Or should I say, I am really bad at bargaining.  It makes me uncomfortable to have to put on a uninterested face and talk someone down from a randomly chosen price they set for me.  I prefer items for sale to be offered at a set and reasonable price. Is that too much to ask?

Okay, so issues aside, shopping was FUN.  There are outdoor markets everywhere selling everything you can possibly imagine.  The shopping malls are nothing like most malls you see in the US--they are full of designer stores.  Not the kind of malls I can afford to shop in but it is fun to walk around and look.  The coolest store I went to was Shanghai Tang, a high-end store selling stunning Chinese style clothes and products.  Everything about this place is cool.  I bought a great red silk top there that I love.  The other cool shopping place we went to was Pauline's.  Actually, I don't think it is called Pauline's but Pauline works there and is the sole reason for the many dollars (Hong Kong dollars that is) I spent there. 

Here we all are with our favorite sales lady:

We all bought way more Chinese style jackets and shirts than we could ever need but we had so much fun doing it who really cares about practicality?  Pauline thought we were a bit crazy but I think she liked us.  Or at the very least she liked our business.  I can't wait to go back and buy more...urm...visit.

#'s 4-2 on Thursday...

First off, may I just say thank you to everyone who commented on my finished Venezia.  Every comment made me so happy and feel so great that I was filled with all kinds of blog love since I posted.  So thank you. 

I am finally getting back into the groove of things since I have been back about two weeks now.  My trip was so amazing that it is really hard for me to give a quick and dirty report on it.  So I decided instead to do a list.  A top ten list if you will.  With pictures.  This is the first of probably 4 installments about my trip.  So I hope you enjoy it even though there is no knitting content.  If not, well then I may have another FO for you by the end of next week so you can stay tuned for that...fun huh? 

Okay, on to the list...

10 really cool reasons my Hong Kong/Thailand trip rocked:

10. Really Big Buddhas:

You might think I am joking.  I am not.  First, there was Tian Tan in Hong Kong:

The cool features of this temple/attraction are the long stairs going up to the Buddha and the gondola ride to get to the "village."  I say "village" because it is totally commercialized and manufactured to look like an authentic old Chinese village but despite its tourist trappings it is still fun.  The Buddha itself is quite a thing to see.  It is the world's largest outdoor seated bronze Buddha.  For real.

But just when you think you have seen all the big Buddhas you are going to see...then comes Thailand with the largest reclining Buddha I have ever seen. 

Crazy right?  We visited this Buddha on New Years day which was probably a bad idea due to the crowds but I am glad we waited in line.  I mean look at it?  Just gorgeous. 

Honestly, I had no idea I would enjoy visiting really large statues of Buddha so much.  Know what might be a fun vacation...a tour of all the big Buddhas in the world.  I will be you would see some amazing places.  Just a thought.

9. Eating Ice Cream/Gelato:

Most of you don't know my family.  For those who do you know one thing...we love the ice cream.  We mostly managed to control ourselves while we were in Hong Kong but for our last 5 days in Thailand, all bets were off.  It was impossible to resist really.  I don't know what it is about Asia but there were Haagen Dazs stores EVERYWHERE.  That is where it started, divine Haagen Dazs.  Where there was not a Haagen Daz store, there was a gelato cart.  And then, on a particularly draining day we literally stumbled across...a Baskin Robbins cafe.  That is right, a CAFE.  Who even knew that existed.  They had menus and a waitress who came to your table and everything.

We ordered sundaes and banana splits and stuff.  It was awesome.

8. Hong Kong Movie Theaters

I know, I know.  You are not supposed to go to movies when visiting exotic locales on the other side of the world.  I mean, going to a movie is the same experience wherever you go.  Right?  Oh no, this is very very wrong.  Hong Kong movie theaters were like nothing I have experienced before.  First, the chairs are wide, reclined and leather.  Then there is the leg room, tons of it.  The popcorn...three different flavors, caramel, salty, and sweet.  And then there is the crowd.  Remember the last time you went to the movies and no one talked or a cell phone didn't ring and no one kicked the back of your chair?  Yeah, I don't either.  Well, my fellow movie goers in Hong Kong were silent.  It was a beautiful thing.

So there are the first three.  Wednesday...#'s 7 - 5.

What better way to launch the Venezia Pullover into society than high tea at the famous Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong.

(and yes, I know--the head turned to the side is my go-to model shot--I can't help myself) 

I got home from my trip tonight (which was so amazing although that seems like an insufficient word to describe it) and since this post was long overdue, here I am staying up past my bed time to bring it to you.  That's just the kind of girl I am.

It has been quite a journey since I had the bulk of the sweater finished in November.  A crazy December and a trip half-way around the world stalled the completion of Venezia but in a way I am glad I didn't finish before my trip because now I get to have this great memory of high tea at this unforgettable hotel tied with such an unique knit. 

The night before I was up late finishing and blocking so I could wear the sweater to the Peninsula.  It just seemed like the perfect place to show off all my hard work.  Not that anyone other than my party knew I made it but I knew and that is enough for me. 

This pattern is truly amazing.  It was clear to follow and while following the chart and managing the color changes can be difficult--I really do believe it is a sweater knitters should not be afraid of tackling...if you want to.  Really the difficulty lies in patience and commitment.  If you are the type that gets distracted or bored easily than maybe this is not the sweater for you. It is not boring to knit, only it is fair isle on size 2 needles with 10 colors and if you are not relentless and a tad obsessive then it might get taxing.

One of the things I LOVE about this design is how the pattern on the sleeve matches up with the body of the sweater.  A perfect detail to a impeccably designed sweater.  Although, the sleeves are the only thing about the sweater that I am not perfectly happy with.  I think my row gauge ended up being off a bit and so the armholes are a little bigger than I normally like.  But I think the sweater still works well regardless.  Just as a heads up, if you attempt the sweater, remember to pay attention to row gauge as well as stitch. Also, check your gauge as you are knitting, I was on gauge when I swatched but it changed a little as I got into the knitting.

All in all, I love the sweater.  Starting it was spontaneous and impulsive, knitting was fun and intense, and now that I am done I am left feeling a little sad and lost.  What will be my next big project?  What will I take on next? I am kind of excited to find out...and a little scared. 

Project stats:

Pattern: Venezia Pullover by Eunny Jang

Source: Interweave Knits, Winter 2006

Yarn: Jamieson's and Jamieson & Smith 2-ply Spindrift (see this post for colors)

Needles: 32 inch addi turbo circs--size 2, 1, 0

Mods: none

Notes: I started knitting the first sleeve using double pointed needles in the round but switched to using 2 circs for the second sleeve.  For fair isle, I found knitting with 2 circs to be MUCH easier, more slick, and better for tension purposes.