Green mug rug, FO

Green mug rug FO
Originally uploaded by Dreaming Knitter

Finished this last weekend, and now I'm doing the magenta version, to balance the green energy of this mug rug. Pics to follow :-)

Update: Green mug rug after 10 more rows

I usually knit before I go to bed at night and soon after waking in the morning. It helps to relax me, and to ground my energy, since I view knitting as a form of active meditation.

Anyway, so last night after taking pics of the first three rows of my green mug rug, I went on to knit 6 more rows before calling it a night.

This morning (actually, around noon), I was able to knit some rows. My row counter is a major motivating factor, since I look forward to clicking it once I finish a row...it's such a tangible proof that I've accomplished something! I know, it's such a simple (babaw as we call it here, or "shallow") joy, but I still like it... :-)



I reached Row 13, where I was able to switch from dpns to my bamboo circulars that's got a length of sweet 16 inches. It nicely lays out the mug rug flat...here's a pic with the freed dpns, and the safety pin is my stitch marker, to know where a round begins.



And here's an up-close shot of the mug rug... I might still tweak the design later, or switch to US Size 5 needles for a looser knit.

Healing my heart: knitting with color therapy

Just started tonight, a round mug rug with my bamboo dpns, US size 4, using two strands of crochet thread in a very nice apple green shade... cool to the eyes yet warm to the heart, since green is the color of the heart chakra and has a balancing, healing effect.

And that is why i purposely chose to knit green tonight. I'm hoping to make a complete set of the 7 rainbow colors plus magenta, the color that shows up when you combine red and violet. These 8 colors comprise the basic color wheel.

As you see above, I've already got three rows, according to my very useful row counter. I used to just note down the row number I'm working on, but the notes have a way of disappearing on my messy workstation... the row counter is supposed to be worn like a pendant, but in our hot summer days, who'll want anything strung around the neck?

Here's another pic to show the two balls of mercerized cotton I'm using:



Not everyone likes to knit with dpns, but I do. Maybe it's because I have small fingers (small compared to my size!) and I don't mind working with 4 to 5 dpns.

Eventually I'll switch to my 16-inch long circulars, which are just perfect to get the 4-5 inch circumference.



And one last final group shot... the pattern is something I found from "Knitting for the Home" by Rita Weiss, and it's really a pattern for a round floor rug, I'm just adapting it for a smaller mug rug :-) basically it's a seed stitch pattern with increases after so many rows.



To balance the green effect, the next mug rug I'll work on is its complementary color, magenta. Then, let's see which color I'm gonna feel like doing next.

This is a combination of process and project knitting :-) I'm into the process but it must have an end, not just the means.

I am so glad I'm doing knitting for color therapy. If I need more green energy, I'm gonna make a triangular shawl next in my dark green and olive green tencel :-)

Just wanted to note my latest loot, which had arrived a few days from my SF-based sister, who had asked me what I wanted from San Fran, since we had a nephew who had just planed in from Manila and was gonna be there a couple of weeks for a Silicon Valley job interview, free plane ticket and all that. He finally came back recently and ta-dah, look what I got:



What I really wanted were those ArtFibers tussah silk yarn (my sister's office is near the ArtFibers shop), but being on a yarn diet, I chose to be practical and focus only on what I really needed: a row counter and size 6 needles. Besides, it's kinda hard to ask for something that costs $30 when you don't know if your sister will suffer from the worsening US economy or escape scot-free.



Since my sister's query had coincided at a time when I was kinda going through a tough time, she kindly threw in some comfort food I hadn't asked for (I had thought of Ghirardelli dark chocolates but somehow forgot to ask in the midst of my turmoil).

I am so gonna use that row counter tonight (and taste a bit of those goodies too). I'm knitting my first mug rug for color therapy purposes, and it's knit in the round and I need to keep track of the rows. Such perfect timing.

Tagged: Six things I like to do

I've been tagged by Monica Silva of A Knit Skinny Scarf and I have to tag 6 other knitting bloggers. As she said, it's a great way to know fellow knitting bloggers. I'm also doing this in honor of Ravelry's first anniversary, a.k.a. Bobmas Day :-)

Six things I like to do
(as of April 12 2008 anyway)

1. Knit. But of course :-)

2. Study astrology. I'm such a geek, really :-)

3. Change the theme of my Multiply website at least once a month :-) see the latest theme by clicking HERE.

4. Laughing at funny animal pics at the I Can Has Cheezburger website not just for comic relief but also to change the pic in my Multiply's homepage almost everyday.

5. Visiting the Lagoon at the nearby university campus where I commune with Nature and I listen to the birds and the trees.

6. Take pictures of my cats, especially when His Royaleness harks back to his previous incarnation as a yogi :-) here are his latest poses (giving me an excuse to post cat pics in my knitting blog!)







I'm tagging the following fellow bloggers:

Gene of gene + experiments

Mimi of Crochet and Other Stuff

Jinky of Life as a Stitcher

Kim of Craft ni kim

Lyra of Odd Little Lyra: Crocheting, Knitting and Other Things

Pamela at Multiply

P.S. What a nice Bobmas Day gift, Google has unblocked my Hand-Knit Dreams blog! It had been reported as a spam blog and now it seems they've reviewed it and decided it's not so...

Learn to Knit for Color Therapy

I've decided to make a unique offer nobody else in the Philippines (I assume) can do: teach knitting for color therapy!

Actually, I've been into color therapy longer than knitting. I've offered it in one-on-one and group sessions and I've talked about it with groups, on radio and TV...

This time, I see the benefit of learning how to knit according to color therapy purposes. This involves concretely connecting with colors that one needs to feel better, to get insights and basically, to achieve balance.

This is different from learning just to knit for knitting's sake. Why?

1. Knitting for color therapy will take at least 2 sessions. In the first, I introduce both color therapy and explain why I'm teaching knitting with it. Then we initially explore where the learner would most need color therapy and I teach the basics of knitting too. Overall, first session would take two hours. Second session would be a follow-up and lets learner give feedback, and I teach more techniques and principles to let him/her continue to use knitting for color therapy. It would take one to two hours. Follow-ups may also be scheduled.

2. Because knitting for color therapy is primarily counselling, the session can only be one-on-one. Everything shared will be kept private and confidential. The modality for using color therapy is through knitting. Before, I use meditation, visualization and drawing/sculpting for color therapy. This time, I'm using knitting too.

3. Knitting for color therapy would be most helpful to those who are seeking ways not just to relax and relieve stress (which knitting by itself can accomplish), but also want to learn more about themselves and face important life issues, e.g. heartbreak, confusion, etc.

4. My rates are lower for knitting for color therapy. I just charge P300 for one session lasting 2 hours maximum. To teach knitting to one learner I charge P400 for a 60-90 minute session. (Fee does NOT include knitting materials).

Sessions are by appointment only. Venue can be my apartment in Sikatuna Village or somewhere public. Please PM or email me at soulsearchgroup AT yahoo.com for inquiries.

Wanna join Pinoy Knitters?

I've just started a yahoogroup for knitters who are Filipinos in the Philippines and abroad, or are non-Filipinos in the Philippines or who have a connection to Filipinos and/or the Philippines.

This is our venue for discussing all about knitting in the Philippine setting--projects, techniques, sourcing, patterns, knit-alongs, etc.

I'd especially want this group to have charity projects, and to spread the craft in the country.

To join, you must have a love for knitting and the Philippines. Application for membership is moderated.

Click HERE to get to the Pinoy Knitters website :-) or just go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pinoyknitters

It's baaack! Sort of

Am I glad my knitting groove is back, albeit in a restrained manner. I only have energy to knit the hemp blanket I'm making for someone really special. That, and trying to finish the green-and-blue striped place mat I'm using as a sample for my classes.

I have a growing list of knitting projects for family once more, specifically a hat for my inaanak (godson) Anthony, shawls for his sister and mother, my cousin. I'm thinking of making place mats and coasters for my sister in Connecticut, since she likes to entertain, and I want it to be sort of a Filipiniana motif, like maybe having small shells at the borders.

In short, most of my knitting groove this time is for family once more. I think I know the astrological energy for this... but I won't bother you with the details. Let's just say, I probably need to balance my knitting, some for strangers and some for loved ones.

I'll soon post a pic of the hemp blanket strip, which is my 3rd attempt. I think third time's the charm, since I'm happy with how it's turning out.