Yuzawaya!

Tokyo has amazing craft and sewing stores. One of the first ones Moggy and I went to was Yuzawaya, in Kichijoji.
Like everywhere in Japan, there is no easy way to find even an eight storey craft emporium, due to the (former) adorable custom of numbering buildings in the order they were built, rather than having regular street numbers. We knew it was near the train station, and it was eight storeys, how hard could it be?
Well, there are many eight storey buildings around most train stations in Tokyo, and surprise! most of their signs are written in Japanese! Who knew?
Fortunately, eagle-eye-Mogster spotted this knitting sheep logo, and we were there. Oh the notions! The fabric! The sewing machine feet! We both bought metal invisible zipper feet for our Janomes (they deserve gifts), and I bought a topstitching foot, which has a little guide to keep topstitching straight.
Topstitching, my nemesis, prepare for checkmate!

Cultural pursuits in Kyoto. And flea market shopping

We did Kyoto, oh yes we did. We may have bought several vintage kimonos from two fab flea markets. I'm not telling...yet. We even got us some culcha, going to see temples and all. This is the Golden Temple, Kinkoku-ji. Our guest house hostess told us there was also a Silver Temple, but not to bother to go there, because 'it's silver, this one is GOLD!' You can't go against advice like that.

and and and

We ate in vending machine restaurants (well, you ordered from a vending machine but real live people cook and bring you your food).

Oops, it was so nice I ate it before I had time to take a picture (Kitty may have the before shot). It was Tonkatsu, it was tasty, and it was only 680 Yen (about $7 I think).
Japan ain't as pricey as you think...

Back from Japan!

There was fabric purchased, there were cherry blossoms. It was fabulous.

Not a whole lot of craftin' goin' on

With Moggy's and my looming trip to JAPAN! there hasn't been much time for sewing at Chateau Le Dog Fluff. I have, however, completed another sock, and am most of the way through its little friend.

Physical Evidence:

M.O: Hot socks from Lincraft. Size 3 (US) Balene 11" circular needle. Magic loop with Boye Interchangeable for the toe. Knit from the top down, kitchenered the toe.

Suspect: The usual.

My first socks

Up until now I have avoided knitting socks, mainly because I don't like knitting with dpns, and I couldn't find any beginner's patterns written for magic loop.
Ebay to the rescue yet again! I found these 11" circular needles on ebay and thought I'd give them a go.
I used Silver's Sock Class, adapted the numbers for the Lincraft Hot Socks yarn and size 3 needles (the smallest I could find in the 11" circulars). They turned out cute! I wish it was cool enough to road test them, to find out if they're under foot scrunchers, or if they're droopers, and I need some hat elastic under a turned down cuff. Remember that? I always had welts from hat elastic under my knees. Elastane has sure changed the knee sock world.
I have now bought size 0, 1 and 2 addi turbo 12" needles on ebay so I can make socks with teeny stitches.

Wool Knit (not thick knit) TripFit

Tripfit #2 - another black knit skirt, but this one is in a lighter wool knit (I think it is wool; I got it from the Vietnamese lady on Smith St, and she didn't know what it was made of. I did a burn test and it smelt like burning hair and wouldn't keep a flame, so I think it is wool).

This is a super easy pattern - three pieces (one front, two backs) with a nice fishtail effect. It's meant to be cut on the bias, but I didn't because it was knit. It has an elastic waistband, but not one of those bunchy ones - it is nice and smooth. It is McCalls 3296, now out of print

Being black, it doesn't photograph well, but here is the best pic I could get of the back.

I like it. I might go back during the week and get some more of this to make a wrap top-jacket thing as this has a nice drape. For $3/m, I'm even happier!

Elvis lives, er, knits!

This is getting a little repetitive

Made a green one.
I rushed out and bought a loop turner at Spotlight after Moggy told me of their existence. Saved me many a curse word turning those thin straps.

Wanted!

Have you seen this beret?

Looks like a mug shot, no?

Yup. Made a grey one.

Same as the black one, went up a needle size so it's a bit slouchier. Cleckheaton country 12 ply, my Denise Interchangeable needles size 9 for the ribbing, size 10 for the stockinette and magic loop to finish.

Look, I knit a beret

Free pattern available from Knit and Tonic. It's called Le slouch, although mine didn't slouch very much. I'm not going to gauge swatch for a beret; I'm rebellious that way. I like it like this, and maybe I'll make a grey one and go up a needle size so it is more slouchy.

It's only a matter of time...

...before I start posting photos of myself in my smalls on the internet. I nearly did with this slip I made today, because it has given me faith that I can sew a flattering silk slip.
I looked through all my slip patterns (ie 4) and they were all cut on the straight grain. What the...?
This pattern sternly warns it is for "Knit Fabrics Only!" , but cutting view 1 on the bias did the trick. The magic of bias wins the day.
It's mauve 100% silk from Rathdowne Remnants in Melbourne, again. I think I'll make a green one too.