FO: Just a yellow beanie

This is the second project that I've knitted using DPNs. It is also the first project that I knitted using my new bamboo DPNs that I bought off eBay. The problem with knitting cable (or really, knitting anything at all) using bamboo needles is the fear of breaking them. Perhaps it's a self-fulfilling prophecy, but I really broke one of my needles. Damn. 

I was really excited to see how this beanie would turn out as I was knitting because I really love the cable patterns and the overall slouchy look of the original hat knitted by the writer of the pattern. To be honest, I am actually quite disappointed at the way the hat turned out. It was not slouchy at all. And then, to my horror, I realised that it was all my own fault because I forgot to change to bigger needles after knitting the ribbed edge. Whatever.

Close-up

So here's the story of the imperfect beanie. At least it helps to keep me warm and adds a dash a colour to dreary winter days. I wanted to knit a pair of matching fingerless mittens initially but right now I don't know if I still have the drive to do it. Perhaps I should do it after all, since I still have a bit of that yellow yarn left. 


Original pattern of the beanie


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Oh lord, what have I done?

The semester is drawing to an end and everything has been going fine (as in ok and only just ok) so far. So, last Saturday, I thought to myself, "what better way to celebrate the survival of another semester than spending money to fulfill my materialistic desires?" Behold, a picture featuring the full glory of my finds. Perhaps I have gone a tad too far.

Burnt orange wool hat with brim, Dotti, $9.95
Olive green wool bowler hat, Dotti, $5.95
Leopard print beret (with a furry texture *squeals*), Dotti, $.9.95
Black bag with gold bow detail, Dotti, $9.95
A set of 3 headbands, Factorie, $1
A set of bracelets in ethnic-inspired colours, Factorie, $4.95
Striped cotton jersey dress, Factorie, $4.95
Floral dress, Cotton On, $10
Faux fur coat, Cotton On, $20
Sunglasses for a DIY project, Cotton On, $2
Buckle bracelets in black and beige, Cotton On, $2 each
Faux leather brown laptop sleeve, Cotton On, $2
Burgundy Hi-top sneakers (*without* hidden heels, unfortunately), Rubi/Cotton On, $10

When I become an old spinster, I shall be known as the Hat Lady.

I am really really going to miss shopping in Sydney when I return to Singapore.


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DIY: Detachable Collar

DIY Detachable Collar

Finally, a DIY-related post. 

This detachable collar was inspired by a tutorial featured on Rookie here. If you're not reading Rookie then you are missing out on something good. Anyway, the collar is from the same XL chambray shirt that I thrifted eons ago. Oh yes, I used the shirt to make a skirt here and now I've made a fun collar from remains of the shirt. I'm very much like the hunter that utilises every single part of a kill - skin, meat, fats, bones and all. Waste not, want not.

The shirt-to-skirt DIY

So here's the skirt that I made from the same shirt. Ah, I looked so happy wearing it then. But just to let everyone know, I have a very fickle heart. I stopped loving the skirt a while ago and have given it to my friend. Perhaps it was partly due to the fact that it was part of the 30 X 30 wardrobe challenge I did last year. Wearing the same item repeatedly certainly has the tendency to make it fall out of favour.

The original shirt

I think I still have the sleeves and some other remnants of the shirt lying around... I can probably make a couple of bows and random stuff out of it. We'll see! :) 


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Sydney Trip 2011/2012 - Day Three

I must be the most lazy blogger in the world. It's been 6 months since the trip and I haven't blogged about all the days of the trip! Anyway, in case you missed it:
Sydney Trip 2011/2012 - Day One
Sydney Trip 2011/2012 - Day Two


DAY THREE (31/12/2011): Glebe Market and the City
Day 3 of the trip consisted of a walk around the Glebe Market, Broadway Shopping Centre and an attempt to countdown to the new year in the city...

Central Station

We waited for a bus to get to Glebe Market. The bus never came.
(from my friend's iPhone)

Here we are, finally at the Glebe Market and hungry for some food!(from my friend's iPhone)

Lunch was this delicious spicy chicken wrap.

Oh hey, red lips.(from my friend's iPhone)

We also had some refreshing drink after lunch whilst on our way to Broadway Shopping Centre.

I love bubbletea and drinks such as this.

Spoilt for choice

I spent such a loooong time at a cosmetic counter in Broadway Shopping Centre umm-ing and ah-ing over what lipstick colour to buy.

Dinner was Mexican food at Mad Mex!(from my friend's iPhone)

Waiting to usher in the new year.

Squeezed like sardines in a can.(from my friend's iPhone)

Fall/Winter Nail Inspirations

Winter has arrived a lot earlier in Sydney this year. In addition to making my jackets and blazers more accessible in my room (i.e. piling them up on a single chair), I have also been playing around with my growing collection of nail polishes and dreaming up of colours to wear on my nails for winter. 


Unfortunately, as I have mentioned before, I don't really have the chance to wear nail polish for a large part of the year because of the nature of my course. Of course, people in my course still wear nail polish but my Asian mentality/upbringing makes me believe that wearing nail polish is not very professional. Anyway, the point is that I actually love wearing nail polish. If I could, I would even wear a different colour every week. 


When I bought an OPI Shatter nail polish during a sale a few days ago, I decided to test it with various nail colours that I have in my stash and... decided to come up with a Fall/Winter nail colour palette as well! So here are the colours that I wish I could wear this winter...

Fall/Winter Nail Palette 2012 

1. Citrus, Ulta
2. Siw, Make Up Store ($1, thrifted = win!)
3. Random Korean nail colour
4. Midnight Fever, Ulta
5. Silver Glitter, Ulta
6. Earl Grey, Ulta
7. Twilight Fever, Ulta
8. Precious, Ulta


I mostly only buy Ulta nail polishes because they're cheap. Just to be clear, the picture above doesn't really do justice to the colours because I took the picture under the light in my room. 


Here's the colours with OPI Shatter nail polish on top. This tiny experiment has allowed me to come to the conclusion that black shatter nail polish only looks good with glittery or bright neon colours underneath. Like, duh huh?

Surprisingly, black shatter nail polish doesn't look great with holographic nail polish...

My favourite combination

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DIY: Pom Pom Cardigan

This is what happens when one feels the sudden urge to add more colours to one's life (and sees a pack of craft pom pom lying on the table).

Materials:
1 pack of craft pom poms
1 plain cardigan
Needle and thread

Steps:

1. Decide where you want to place your pom poms

2. Sew them on!

I've worn this cardigan to uni a couple of times and someone commented that this cardigan reminded her of Dorothy the Dinosaur. =_= I just want to be clear - that was not my intention...............

Dorothy the Dinosaur (via)

Anyway, I still have a couple of the pom poms left and I'm thinking of using them to dress up some plain hair accessories or something. We'll see! 

Because I'm a greenhorn

Knitted Neon Green Jumper: Attempt #1

This is a picture of my first attempt at knitting my neon green jumper. I frogged the entire piece and started from scratch after taking this photo because it was not the size that I wanted. Yes, I followed the gauge but for some reason, there did not seem to be any no positive ease, as the pattern promised. I also didn't like the loose stitches, so I switched to using smaller needles (i.e. 4mm) to knit a larger size (i.e. S). During my second attempt at knitting the jumper, my stitches became very uneven for some reason. Perhaps it was a reflection of the stress that I was undergoing at uni. 


Over the weeks, I have knitted, frogged, knitted, frogged and knitted the jumper from scratch. I am currently on my third attempt (knitting in size M with 4mm needles) and everything is looking good so far. I'm keeping my fingers crossed in the hope that everything stays this way. If I had to frog the entire piece again, I'm probably turn green like The Hulk and chuck everything in the bin... 


P.S.: Oh yeah, that Butterick pattern happened to be lying on the table because it's a sewing project that I recently completed... Hopefully I'll be able to write a blog post on it soon...


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