Kaitkait Kopiah

WOW! I've certainly been a busy bee. After my previous project, I was pattern shopping and I discovered that I have not ventured into crochet hats. I found some lovely free patterns on Melody's Makings and loads more from pinterest. However, the one pattern which I found to be the "What you need to know about how to crochet a hat" is from http://littlemonkeyscrochet.com/hats-for-the-homeless-a-giveback-opportunity/ Thank you Rebecca for sharing this pattern. She has a beautiful story about this hat on her blog.

After I mastered the pattern, I was able to adapt by adding another colour, or changing stitches. For instance, the pattern uses half-dc, I used dc, or puff stitch, or cabled. It's quite versatile and challenges my creativity.

The hats were made using cotton yarn called Milk Cotton from  http://www.cottonhousestore.com/mcs. I used hook number 6 from Tulip and I found the the stitches were tight. I liked it this way. Than after working with a few more hats, I changed the hook to number 8. Of course the stitches were loose and I like it this way too.

I made one for my Dad who turned 75 years old. He looked so handsome wearing the blue jeans hat.

Then I continued making for my brother, my brother in-law, my cousins, my son and my children's teachers. It's fun to make and if you are learning a new stitch, make a hat or beanie or kopiah. It'll help you practice your skill. At the end of it you have a great gift to give for someone.

My Boyfriend's Sweater

After completing several big projects, I was looking forward to making simple, no-brain wrecking projects that I can complete over a period of two days. However, another big project landed on my lap and judging from the intricacy of the design and size, I knew that this will tie me up for the next five months.

True enough, at the end of my five month period, I finished it! I called it..... "My Boyfriend's Sweater". This is my first project for a man. I had a boyfriend once, about 24 years ago. If I was making sweaters back than, this will be his.

Of all yarns out there, I was given a cotton, fingering yarn. Can you make a sweater with this type of yarn, was the biggest question in my mind. I didn't think it would work but I went ahead with it. As I was working on it seemed that everything was going to be ok. I was confident that the end project this sweater will look good (even wearable!).

I didn't follow any pattern. I made it up and I had a clear picture in my mind what it would look like. However, I did follow this pattern for size from red heart. You can get the free pattern here: http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/father-pullover. I chose size S and I measured my piece according to the length and width set by this pattern, not by the number of stitches.I worked using trebles and double crochets.

The yarn is a good feel, not itchy or scratchy. It's cotton after all and machine washable. It can keep warm in cool weather and I like it that way. It means my "boyfriend" can also keep himself warm when he is working in an air conditioned room.

My only stumble with this pattern (from my mind) is the neck. I started out wanting to do it one way and ended up doing it another. If I had the time I would have made it differently.

I'm looking forward to making something simpler from now on. It's the simple things that keep my mind uncluttered.

DROPS jacket with fan pattern

I know it has been awhile since my last post. I was occupied making this cardigan. It took me a month to complete one and I made two! I found this pattern here http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/pattern.php?id=4405&lang=en. What caught my attention was the lace from the bodice downward and around the cuff of the sleeves. I knew I had to give a try.

Lace on part of sleeves and body.

The pattern was originally written in Swedish and looking at all the free patterns from the website, I wanted to try them all. You can view the pattern using US or UK terminology. One of the interesting part of this pattern is that it starts from the shoulder downwards for the back. You start by making a rectangle bit for one shoulder then put aside. You crochet another rectangle bit for the other shoulder and make a long chain and join with the first rectangle you made.

The back which starts from the shoulders.

I have never made a cardigan this way before. I find that the pattern is pretty straight forward and easy to comprehend. I added three fabric button as a finale to this project. I love these buttons. They add a personal touch to this cardigan.

Fabric buttons as a personal touch.

Before I sign off, I didn't use yarn from Garnstudio as specified in the pattern, as usual. In this project, I used a fingering yarn from Cotton House Store called Fine Cotton 100 in the colour Bokara Grey. I used five balls and needle number 5.

Apart from what I have mentioned above, I was struggling with the collar which is the last step in making this cardigan. I had to undo so many times that I have lost count. I blame it on my tension, tension and tension. I should have used a smaller needle or maybe I should have gotten the Garnstudio yarn. I don't know. Unfortunately this cardigan did not look like what I imagined it to be. Looking at this picture makes me want to undo the whole piece and start all over again! Hope I'll embark on a more fruitful journey in my next project.

Post Family Day - Om's Kaya

WOW! Ever since that Saturday, 6 December my brain was bombarded with memories from my past. I remembered those times I spent at Rapat Setia, Ipoh during my school holidays. Walking to the nearby shop to buy pickled mango, or playing "masak-masak" with my cousins in the hut which my grandfather built.

My brain was also bombarded with the memories I had of my aunt, Om. One of her lifetime legacies was her kaya (coconut jam) which I enjoyed eating on toast with butter. Sometimes I would sneak into the kitchen just to have a scoop of kaya on a teaspoon (only recommended for children not adults).

I thought I could share Om's kaya on the Family Day. After making several batches I learned that there is a reason to the name kaya. Not just having rich ingredients, it is also a labour of love. The cook should be willing to give and not and not expect anything in return. Unconditional love, which was what Om was "kaya" (rich) with.

Kaya needs time to cook on slow fire. You have to focus on making the kaya and do nothing else. I was not able to invest in the hours involved in cooking the kaya. I was not able to keep stirring and stirring and stirring and stirring. To make my life simple, I decided to use a very useful machine called the Thermomix. Without sweat, I was able to produce delicious kaya in two hours!. No mess, no pain and very fast. But was I able to duplicate Om's kaya?

I was deluded into thinking that I can enjoy that kaya I had many years ago on toast with butter made by Om. Kaya needs time to be kaya. Kaya needs love and attention from the maker, not by a machine. You can't get Om's kaya from the supermarket simply because they're made by her hands. Machines can't give love.

I'm not sure if I want to try to make kaya in the future after his experience. I hope I'm not all "kaya-out" because I want to share the good feeling of eating kaya with my kids. Om left a lifetime legacy when she looked after us. She will always be part of us and that part of us we share want to share with our families.

Om (centre) with my Mom (left), my sister (right) and my cousin (bottom left)

Please try the recipe below, either with a machine like the Thermomix or on double boiler to see if you can reproduce Om's kaya and let me know if you stick to the recipe or made your own alteration. 

Om's Kaya

5 eggs
150 g gula kabung
250 ml coconut milk
3 pandan leaves - tie in a knot
A pinch of salt

Mix all ingredients in the machine. It takes about two hours to cook in the machine but please check the consistency after one hour and a half.

Family Day 2014

Crochet has always been close to my heart just like my family. I see my family like a granny square. The centre is my family and link to this are my projects.

Next weekend, my family on my mother' side will be organising a Family Day. There are almost 500 members. We're taking this opportunity to raise money for our family fund. The fund is very usefull rain or shine. Never know when there is a sudden need to use money out of the blue for medical bill or any emergencies.

Members have the chance to shop, engage in outdoor activities like futsal, playing golf at the driving range, driving go cart, telematch, treasure hunt. At the same time indoor activities should be exciting for those who like to take it easy with their kids like rainbow loom, decorating shopping bags, batik painting, making balloon monsters and accordian fish. All money spent will go to the fund.

About six years ago were a family in need. Our son, Ali was born with a conginetal condition called fistula. An operation needed to be done immediately after he was born to connect his oesophagus. The operation was necessary or he would not survive.

If it weren't for the family fund, we would be one of the people asking the public for donation on television to help save our son. Thank you so much for your prayers and kind gestures. with the help from our family members, Ali's operation was a success. He is now healthy, alhamdulillah and all he is talking about is now going to school.

Now, the chance for us to replenish the family fund has come. My kids and I are all geared to get our hands dirty (so to speak) to make this event a success. Come one, come all. Let's join hands and remember the spirit of our mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers. Their sacrifice and unconditional love for us. Let's share our heritage with the younger generation. See you all there!

Ali as you see him now

Summer Circle

WOW! This is my first attempt to make an adult size cardigan and it's....... wearable! The free pattern is on this link http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/pattern.php?id=5501&lang=en

I was a bit hesitant in the beginning thinking that the project would be too big for me to handle. Last thing I need is an unfinished project stashed away.

Thankfully I did not walk away. Besides, I had 3 balls of Fine Cotton from Cotton House Store that I could not wait to get my hook around them.


The pattern starts from the back, worked in circle. From there the sleeve holes were made. I crochet the two sleeves and attached them to the holes. The border was made and the project was done!


















Lastly, I added a button. The pattern uses DROPS yarn but I could not find a supplier who can ship to Malaysia. So, I used Fine Cotton 184 Blush. Check it out at http://www.cottonhousestore.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=73_146

I'm already working on another cardigan. Will post it soon.

Barefoot Sandals

I loved making these barefoot sandals for kids. It's a wonderful project for little feet. I got the pattern from Inside Crochet magazine. The pattern was meant for adults but I used fingering yarn and a smaller needle here. I was able to come up with these sandals for kids.

The best part about this pattern is that the kids can watch me making them their sandals. Within 30 minutes Their sandal is ready.

I would love to make them again but in my business, I misplaced my magazine. I am still looking for it in my house.