Well howdy there. Long time no post. There's been so much summer fun and entertainment going on that I just don't have time to blog. That's not true really about the not having time thing....just never got around to it. So I'll share some of those fun summer photos later, but first here's my latest knitting FO.
I used this 'unusual' Avril yarn, which consists of nylon thread with bits of washi paper attached.......
To make this top
The fabric up close looks like this...
The pattern was designed by one of the ladies at the store. It's a really simple design, which is perfect considering the yarn is so weird. The original pattern was an a-line top but when I tried it on in the store, the shape was unflattering so I ended up knitting the top straight in the round with no shaping right up until the armholes. It would have been a boring knit if the yarn wasn't so mesmerizing. The original design also called for some different yarn to be threaded around the entire neckline so it could be tied and cinched, but I think it looks much better without the cinching on me anyway. Mine I'm sure is a much tighter fit than a Japanese person would have made.
Overall I love the effect this top creates when worn over a tank. It's super light and not as scratchy as you might think. The lady at the store also said that you can wash it....
If that's not enough photos for you, click here for some more (ps you will be rewarded with a cute guinea pig video if you click)
So in the last couple of weeks, we made it to Yuigihama Beach in Kamakura. We bought some take-out Kua Aina burgers at the store near the beach because the line-up to dine in was crazy. Sorry my eyes are closed in this photo but we wanted to show everyone how silly the packaging is for the burgers. It looked like we'd been shoe shopping the bags/boxes were so big!!
Here's daz and I in Kamakura after our lazy day at the beach (photo courtesy of Tyler)
And here's a pic of our good friend, Tyler wearing some sunglasses he found in his parents' basement in Wisconsin - nice find Ty Ty!! He looks sort of pissed off in the photo, but he wasn't he was really happy considering some Japanese guy had tried to pick a fight with him earlier in the day (more details here)
And if you still haven't had enough entertainment, I offer you this video of our guinea pigs, Sugar and Loretta. I took it while they were feeding on some fresh grass that we bought for them. Yep you know you love your guinea pigs when your tiny fridge is filled with grass instead of human food. Try and watch the video with sound - Darin added some appropriate music! Oh and if your heart doesn't melt, then I'm afraid that your heart may be made of stone.
I can't believe it! I bought this jap knitting book in Kinokynia in Sydney (ISBN 4277430686) and there's all these weird English comments about Avril. I thought it was the 'name' of the attractive model in the book but it's actually a yarn brand?!! Hahaha.
Posted by: princesspumpkin | August 18, 2006 at 05:37 PM
hard rock guinea pigs! yeah!
the top is super cute; it looks great over the yellow tank. looks like a right pain to knit, though - can you even see your stitches? i like the picture of the yarn, it looks like a creeper or a herb or something.
Posted by: kris | August 18, 2006 at 07:06 PM
ah, avril! i love that place :) the top looks really cute and perfect for the summer. what cool yarn to use!
man, those piggies are really rockin' the grass hard. very cute :)
Posted by: gleek | August 18, 2006 at 10:16 PM
Very cute top.
Posted by: Jenn | August 18, 2006 at 11:31 PM
That top is SO. rockin'.
Posted by: Carrie | August 19, 2006 at 01:21 AM
Very pretty. I love that yarn
Posted by: Gina | August 19, 2006 at 01:38 AM
Very cool top! The nice thing is you just KNOW no one else will have something like that. Cute piggy movie ;-)
Posted by: Niki | August 19, 2006 at 03:02 AM
Wow, fab, sooo fab!!
Posted by: Annarella | August 19, 2006 at 06:09 AM
Slayer is indeed perfect dinner music! If you look real close, you can actually see those piggies head-banging - aids in digestion I hear.
Posted by: Peach Tree | August 20, 2006 at 03:54 AM
Oh yeah, and love the top!
Posted by: Peach Tree | August 20, 2006 at 03:57 AM
Hello. A parenthesis is better than a former pattern and is wonderful! I want to imitate it!
I think that I met you in avril kichijouji shop in summer. Do you remember me who had a pattern of "hemp for knitting?" ?
In addition, I come to play.
Posted by: ayako | August 21, 2006 at 03:43 PM
that yarn is too cool. i LOVE that top, looks hot on you, hottie!
Posted by: Sandra | August 22, 2006 at 01:07 AM
Those are some rockin' GP's you have there.
Posted by: Bel | August 22, 2006 at 01:55 PM
Wow... weird yarn! Was it hard on your hands to knit with? Looks all spikey.
The top turned out super cool- love it above the tank!
Hehe... love those piggies.
Posted by: frecklegirl jess | August 24, 2006 at 12:10 AM
The top is so beautiful and trendy.
Posted by: handknit168 | August 24, 2006 at 12:41 PM
those look very nice! I like that whole idea with your outfit. well... summer in Japan especially around aug. is quite a bit fun. you can usually smell the season changes so... I could understand you not having time for a blog!
Posted by: RisingSunOfNihon | August 27, 2006 at 05:25 AM
Hi
I absolute love this yarn.Searched the web for it,but found only a japanese site,which I don't understand.Will you be so kind to tell me an online source where I could buy some,please.
Thank you very much in advance
Reiny from Luxembourg
Posted by: reiny rizzi | September 05, 2006 at 06:01 AM
very cool top, i would love to be able to feel that stuff.
Posted by: lily | September 15, 2006 at 12:39 PM
я стала финалисткой конкурса Мисс Санкт-Петербург и теперь мне очень нужна ваш поддержка
если вам не сложно проголосуйте за меня и попросите своих друзей тоже проголосовать
голосование тут - missspb.ru/2007/girls.asp?id=101
Posted by: catherine | June 02, 2007 at 05:37 AM