Lelah finished!

Here is Lelah in all her post-blocking glory. Don't mind the bunching on the side, that's just cos I didn't pull the ribbon through evenly. And I won't mention the hair. I must admit, I am happy with the way lelah turned out, even without straps (see previous post!). I don't think I could wear it in Japan without a cardigan or shrug, or something, I feel a little naked. And I don't really have anything in my wardrobe that is light enough... But when I arrive in Sydney, it will be cold, and I can wear it with my denim jacket.

And here is a close up of the ribbon, they are little purple roses. The colour isn't very good on this picture, the first one is much more accurate.

Well, off to Tokyo tomorrow morning, how exciting!

C'mon, c'mon

I really should be packing and tidying, I leave Japan in less than a week.

But instead I've been getting frustrated with Lelah, knitting a hat when procrastinating from lelah, then finishing Lelah in procrastinating from everything else I should be doing.

My problem with Lelah is that I didn't want it to be sleeveless, I wanted two straps. One of the girls on Craftster had done it, and gave instructions, so I thought I could do it too.

These were the problems:
1. The strap is in Stockinette, so kept curling.
2. I had put the two straps too far apart.
3. I tried to remedy this by moving one closer by frogging and binding off in different places.
4. They were still too far apart.
5. And they looked bad because of the curling.

So I left it for a few days. I knit this hat one night last week in Noro something (can't remember what, but I bought it at my LYS on sale, such beautiful colours!).


And then today, my second day of freedom, while reading blogs, I was inspired to just screw the straps, frog them, and make it a strapless top. And now it is blocking!

Actually, it is my first time to block, so I hope it's okay.

I have got a few things done today off my list, so that's good. And now I need to start a new project...

And I'll leave you a picture of me with some workmates from my leaving do. What a night of drunken debauchery that was!

BKH Aki, Suzuka, Tomatoro and Natsu

BKH Aki, Suzuka, Tomatoro and Natsu
Originally uploaded by GenkiLove.

Aren't they cute?

Just a quick post, but I had to show this photo of some of my bigger kids. I teach kids from 2-6 year olds, but mostly 2-4. These are some of my 4 year olds, except the little boy, Tomatoro, Natsu's brother, who is 2.

I'm really gonna miss the kids, especially as I don't think I'm going to teach again.

It's been a great experience, but a tough one, and I've learned a lot.

I've been really busy getting ready to go, and haven't even had time to knit. I hope I can finish Lelah this weekend, I've finished the body and just want to make some straps.

Hopefully I'll get some packing done, and tonight I am going to work farewell party. We are going to an Izakaya (drinking and eating place) with lots of yumy japanese food and all you can eat and drink! Then we'll probably go to karaoke. I get to wear a yukata (like a kimono, it's lighter and less formal), I'm so excited. I'll post some photos of us all wearing them, should be great.

I've been working on my Lelah during the week, and am now up to the plain stockinette at the top. I told the Boy I was nearly finished and he said "Oh, so are you starting something new, cos it's too boring?"

To be honest, it is boring just doing the stockinette on circulars, but there's not too much, and I really want to finish it! Yesterday I bought some gorgeous ribbon to use as the tie. It was a little expensive, but it was worth it, I really like it and think it will look really nice.

I sent out some RAK (mostly postcards, but a few packages) to people on the Knitty Board, it's been really nice to see the thankyous. But I am frustrated, I sent my Secret Pal (not so secret, it's Yorkshire Gal) over a week before I sent the RAKs, and she still hasn't got it. I spent a lot of time and thought on it, so I'm kinda annoyed it is taking so long. But I guess I should just be patient.

I'm really excited about returning home, mum rang this week and gave me some good news: I got a big tax refund! I'm really glad, cos I don't want to be stressing about money, I am taking 2 months off to relax and spend time with people, and I don't want to be worrying that I won't have enough money to join the Boy in England.

Starting to stress a little, but I shouldn't. Even if I don't get much done before I finish work, I have a week before I leave to pack, close bank accounts, etc.

I really want to make a shrug, but can't decide on a pattern. I think I want short or 3/4 sleeves, and fairly plain, but some kind of feature that makes it interesting and fun to knit (lace, cables or something new). Might try and decide soon so I can make it my plane knit. If I can't knit on the plane, I'll be sad. It is a 12 hour flight, with a 8 hour stopover (which I'll spend in the airport!) in Korea. I know I won't sleep much, I'll be too excited, nervous and upset. Anyway, I'll do some investigating, I know Knitty has a thread on knitting on planes.

lelah progress

lelah progress
Originally uploaded by GenkiLove.

This is my progress on lelah, I'm really enjoying it. The colour is a bit deeper than the picture shows, and the yarn is really nice, a Japanese yarn called Refine by Nikke Victor Yarn, 100% wool.

I've been knitting that, and have also changed my Knit the Classics project. I was going to do Branching Out, but have no real purpose for it at the moment, and it would take time away from lelah. So I've decided to make a hairband/small headscarf thing with a lace pattern from the Diamond Bookmark. Converting the pattern to have points at both ends is challenging, but fun, and I think I can do it! I'm using some Rowan Kid Classic that my SP from round 3 (glittergirl) sent me.

I still intend to do the Branching Out scarf, I have abeautiful yarn that would be perfect, but I'll wait till I finish Lelah.

Package, yay!

My package arrived from Amazon this morning (well, actually just now!). I came home last night from work to see that I had a failed delivery notice. This is a bit annoying, because I had to ring someone and have a conversation with them. But due to my amazingly fluent Japanese :) I could tell her my name, address and that I wanted the package to be delivered tomorrow morning. Which is now!

I've tried not to buy many books this year, since I already have a lot, and they are all sitting in boxes in Australia, it makes me sad. And they are so heavy and expensive to ship. And I don't know whether to take them to England, or whether to leave them all in ASustralia for my eventual return.

But since I joined the Knit the Classics Knitalong I needed to order Middlemarch by George Eliot. But that didn't make the minimum amount for free shipping, so I also ordered Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde, which I have wanted for AGES. And then, because I was making an order anyway, I ordered Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitting Without Tears. So I am very excited!

I have this whole weekend off. As usual there are hundreds of things I want to do. At least I don't have to worry about the gym anymore, I cancelled my membership, cos I won't be in Japan for the whole month, and knew I would be too busy in my last month to make it worth while. I'm going dancing tonight, hopefully that will burn off a few calories.

Riku, Riku

cable hat
Originally uploaded by GenkiLove.

This is the hat I made for Dad. It's almost the same as the one I made for Leon, except a different clour in the yarn, and one cable repeat shorter.


I'm really liking Lelah, which I started on Sunday night. It is my first time to do lace, and is so much fun. I'm neglecting poor Tempting, but I was just so bored of the 2X2 rib. Lace is so interesting, I can slowly see the pattern unfold, it's exciting! I'll post some progress shots this weekend.

I'm trying not to impose deadlines on my knitting, it is my hobby to relax, not something lese to stress about... but I would really like to finish it so I can wear it out on my farewell party night. Not that I've arranged that either!

Today I had an envelope stuck on my locker with my name on it. Inside was a couple of photos of me with Riku, one of the kids from my nursery, at our field trip. His mum had written a really sweet note (in English!) about how she appreciated my helping Riku, that he really loved me, and she hoped I would stay at our nursery for a long time. I feel kind of bad, cos it's only 3 weeks till I leave. But we are going to inform the parents (and children, I guess) from Monday. Anyway, it was really sweet (especially since Riku is one of my favourites, sssh!) and it re-inforced how much I will miss the kids.