Knitting on holidays

I am off to Japan soon again.

It is a long flight. Direct flights to Tokyo take minimum 12 hours.

Lots of knitting hours.

I don’t always bring my knitting to holidays. I try to do something different for a change, mostly reading. But when I decide to bring, my knitting kit is very small. Everything fits in a soft pencil case.

I pack my short DPNs, darning needle, tiny scissors and small amounts of wool.

Scissors are always tricky and many airline companies do not like them all together, but by law, we are allowed to take small scissors, those with a 4-inch or shorter blade.

I like these Clover thread clippers. Nail clippers, eyebrow trimmers are also good. Some say thread cutter pendants are prohibited. I have no clue why.

I was given this very cute sewing set last time when I visited Japan. I think I will take this one. These scissors are tiny.

If you want to take a large knitting, I recommend circular needles. You can knit flat with circular needles.I don’t normally do large knitting, but recently, I used circular needles to knit something with over 200 stitches. I started with long straight needles and found it quite difficult. I am a big fan of circular needles now. It is so easy to carry your knitting, too.

I have bought more circular needles. I am still using the original packages. I have to find a good way to keep them tidy.

Another must-have gadget; row counter.
I tried a smaller, slip-on-needle type before, but I like this clicking type much better.

My boys used to love playing with this. I do understand their temptations. You will need to keep it away from children when you are using it!

I like these stitch markers, too. You can hook them very easily. They come in a small soft case that you can keep them. How thoughtful!

It is fun to collect knitting and sewing accessories and I have quite a lot of them.
Another of my favorite; sewing thread set. Isn’t it pretty? I bought it years ago in Japan. I just wanted to have it.

My younger boy once said that he didn’t know there were so many gadgets involved in knitting. I inherited lots from my mum, too.

And they are my treasures with lots of my childhood memories.

All accessories except the mini sewing kit and sewing thread set are made by the Japanese company, Clover.
http://www.clover-mfg.com/en/index.html

Oh, bringing a magazine cover-mount knitting kit is another good idea! This one is out this month; Knit Now magazine. It is a kit to make three-in-one topsy-turvy Little Red Riding Hood. Enjoy!

Toy maker of the year

The UK knitting magazine, Let’s Get Crafting is running a competition again this year. Click the image to find out details.

As the web page says, you can knit or crochet any toy you like. It can be your own design, a pattern from a book or a magazine. It can be any shape or size and can be used with materials of your choice.

I am not at all competitive, but I like entering competitions. By participating, you get more opportunities to show your work. Even if you didn’t win anything, organizers and judges would certainly see your work and that is already worth trying. Entering became ever so easy these days thanks to email development; filling a form, attach photos and with just one click, you are in! It doesn’t cost you a penny, either.

I would be participating this LGC project if I wasn’t a judge!

Recently, I submitted one of my work to a Japanese hand craft competition. There were several categories; knitting, sewing, felting, jewelry making, and embroidery.

What I submitted is this one: A knitted Christmas wreath.

There was a theme; they wanted something flowery and cheerful. There was a restriction on the size. It must be smaller than 20cm.

I got through the first judging and my work will be displayed in a gallery in Tokyo this summer!

The show will be held at Ginza Seigetsudo Gallery between 29th August to 3rd September.
http://www.lintaro.com

I am telling all my friends and family in Tokyo.

I have a series of knitted wreath. This one is for summer and is one of my favorites.

I showed this photo to the organizer as well, but they preferred the Christmas one. The summer in Japan may be way too hot to appreciate a wooly decoration.

I am currently considering to enter two other competitions, one is in the UK and the other is in Japan. It motivates me to create. I still have many things I want to make.

If you knit or crochet and live in the UK, please enter the LGC Toy maker of the year competition. The winner gets to publish the pattern in December issue if it is original. This may become the start of your new career. You may find it a little daunting to write a pattern if you have never done this before, but the magazine has a professional technical editor who will be able to help you.

It is utterly fantastic to get your work published in print. I still treasure mine.

My first magazine job: