UNDER CONSTRUCTION - Update 01

Over the past couple of days, I've been toying around with some ideas and concepts about branding my own name, getting my own domain and hosting my own site.  I think that I've got all that settled.  I've decided to stick with BOIKNIT, cuz I think that's the name that you guys are most familiar with - so that's my "brand" and domain name, and then I bought some space on to host the blog with WordPress instead of Blogger, apparently it's supposed to be a more powerful blogging tool than most.

However, I'm more worried about you guys out there.  I know that there are some posts that you all absolutely love, like my tutorials, and stories of how my knitting began etc.... I don't want you guys to lose the links to those.  I'm not quite sure how to forward that automatically yet.

Right now, I have to tell you that the site http://www.boiknit.com/ is up and running.  Go check it out and tell me what you think.  However, there is A LOT of cleaning up to do.  The biggest pain in the butt is transferring 400 posts worth of images and pictures to the new host site.  There is a plugin that will do that, but I tried it and it broke some things terribly - unreliable.  So, I've decided to manually download every single picture since the beginning of the blog and re post them into WordPress.  I plan to do maybe 4-10 posts a day..... this will take about a month or more.  But the pictures are still active, it will be seamless, and you really wouldn't be able to tell.

Then I would have to update my categories, the aesthetics of my page etc..... So, please don't expect a fully functional professional looking blog anytime soon.

I had it up ASAP because I wanted you guys to start rebookmarking and redirecting your subscriptions to the new domain.

So, please, take a moment, visit http://www.boiknit.com/ and tell me how it works.  If you like it better, if you can post comments easier etc.... All new content will be at the new site. (I can't stop knitting can I?)  So please leave all your new comments there.  And if there are any bugs, please write me or just comment and let me know.

Once again, thank you so much for all these years of support and I think it's time I take this to the next level for myself and for you.

Love
Kenny

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

THIS BLOG IS UNDERGOING A MAKE-OVER.

It's time as this is the 400th post!  Thank you all for supporting me and my knitting efforts.  I hope to comeback with a new site and my own domain.

Sampler Stole

For the record folks, post PV 03 IS NOT OF ME!!!!! It's a message from my buddy Chuck to his knitting girls at home in St. Louis, Missouri.

With that said, I interrupt my PV posts to bring you THE MOST DIFFICULT PROJECT THAT I'VE DONE IN MY LIFE - Hazel Carter's Sample Stole.

I had to blog right away because after 3 long years, it is finally off my needles!!! Since I don't really have the skill to take professional photographs anyways, I decided to take the pictures while it's blocking.

Franklin, maybe if you make it to MSKR 2010, may you take some professional pictures?

It really is quite magnificent I must say. Not that I'm so damn good or anything, but the pattern is amazing.

Pattern: Sampler Stole by Hazel Carter
Book: A Gathering of Lace

Yarn Brand: Jaggerspun
Yarn Name: Zephyr
Yarn Colorway: Red

Needle: Size 3 US (3.25 mm)
Dimensions: Long
Recipient: My sister ("was" for her wedding present, but "now" it's for a first born)

The shawl is broken up into 3 parts. This is the main pattern:

And then it's capped on top by lace samplers.

And the bottom:

So guys, when it dries, I might attempt to take some artistic shots, but if I fail, you should try and hunt me down if you want to see it in person. :)

Cheers.

MKRPV

Men's Knitting Retreat, Puerto Vallarta:

PV 03

Still having a wonderful time in Peurto Vallarta.

And Brooke, thanks to you, Chuck's head is protected from the sun!!!

PV 02

So. I have to say today that my goal of blogging a post a day is almost impossible. First of all, internet connection here is spotty, I don't have my computer with me and most the computers here are mac's and the mac's are not working with my camera.

So...... it's still fun here. I just have a little break right now cuz half the group went on a "Canopy Tour"..... which initially I thought that it was a little stroll through the forest and looking up on at the canapies of the rainforest. HELL NO!

It's freaking zip lining.

Enough said. That's why I'm here with a free non-mac computer and able to post this. So, not to be long winded, here are some PV pictures.

PV 01

Hello all from sunny Mexico. While I shouldn't be blogging or on a computer at all, I must at least say hi to ya'll.... post a day by day account of what's been going on.

Well, first of all, I won't blog much. I should be enjoying my vacation right? But what I am going to do is to check in using someone's machine and say briefly what's going on and post a picture or two.

So, day 1 in Peurto Vallarta.

Meet and greet 21 people.

Margarita's constantly being served and lots of good conversation and laughter.

What exactly is proper beachwear?

So, I've been told that I should blog more and as a mini 2010 resolution, I shall try. But since there is really nothing knitting related going on right now, I am going to go a little off topic.

First, a little background. I might have failed to mention, I am FINALLY taking a nice long vacation! Thanks to my wonderful buddy Chuck, I get to go to Mexico for a week! I've never been away from work for A WHOLE WEEK before! This should be great.

But amidst all this, my anxiety is brewing. Without going into too much detail, it will be my buddy's 40th birthday and he is generous enough to invite 20+ something people to Mexico to celebrate with him. And thankfully, I could go this time.

To be exact, it's Puerto Vallarta.

But enough of the birthday and stuff. That's NOT WHAT IS IMPORTANT HERE! What's important right now is preparing for the beach. The question posed is, WHAT IS APPROPRIATE BEACHWEAR?

Actually, what I REALLY want to know is WHAT THE HELL ARE PEOPLE CALLING SPEEDO'S THESE DAYS?

So I know that THIS a Speedo for SURE. It is body hugging, made out of lycra material and has a bikini (V-shape) to it. Ok, unless in a week I magically become as hot as this guy.... (AND THIS GUY IS SOOO HOT), I don't think that I'll be able to get away with this..... just a feeling.


But what about this? Does THIS count as a Speedo? It's body hugging, made of lycra material, but it's not V-shaped, it's like a square cut boxer. I actually have 2 of these that I haven't worn in years and I must say I actually do not look too bad in them. But will people go, "EWWW you have a speedo on!!"??


WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
A lot of the time would be as I understand it, lounging around the pool, hanging out at the beach etc..... so should I do them in V shape Speedos or the square cut ones?

Or just shorts? But what kind of shorts?

Shorts like these?


Or shorter shorts like these?


As you can tell, this is thoroughly bugging me. It's eating at my nerves because let's just say, I MUST look good but NOT SILLY on this trip. It's 20+ something people I do not know, hot locals to impress and maybe a future spouse in the making. I got to give it my all.

And I haven't been to a beach in like 10 years!

As soon as we can solve this one problem.......I'll pose the next one. CLUBWEAR!

ARGHH!!!!! HELP?

A Late Resolute

Hello all, a little late, but a wonderful 2010 to you, and hopefully to me also. May all good things you wish for come to fruition for you, and also hopefully myself. LOL.

So, what do we always do at the beginning of each year? Yes, make resolutions!! I don't have a great deal of resolutions pouring out right now, just because I think that it should be made realistically, or else nothing will get done.

Well, I have some resolutions on getting fitter. I have a vacation (finally) trip planned for Peurto Vallarta in 2 weeks, and I need to loose the little pooch that I have that might fold over and cover the the speedo logo on my swimsuit. NO, JUST KIDDING! I will not wear a speedo, the day I wear a speedo is the day I look like Ryan Reynolds or something. So, back to more yoga, cardio and that sort of stuff.

But on the knitting front, I plan to finish all my unfinished projects since 1939. For example, do you remember this?

Well, it was originally supposed to be a present to my sister for a wedding, but 3 years later, she is now expecting her first new born. Uggh, I feel so horrible about this. This needs to be done ASAP. Cuz this year I plan to see her being and uncle and all.

All I have left is the darn edging on this peice. And edgings can take freaking forever..... one repeat after another all around this damn thing. I will come out very beautifully I think, but I have to finish it first!
Action plan: One edging repeat a day. Doable right? Cheer me on.

That's my lace project.

Then remember this?

This is my fair isle project. Slowly but surely, at least one round a day. Also doable.

Then this one, the Barclay scarf.

This is the easy peasy project where I will take with me wherever I go. To knit shops and meet ups and stuff where not much concentration is needed on the project.

Then in the future, the infamous Lyra:

But this will not be continued until the Sampler Stole is done for my sister first.

This should keep me busy for a while. Plus some on the side designing which will of course take precedent over all projects if I get another contract.

So, I guess that's about it. What are your resolutions?

Cascading Petal Scarf

Hi guys! My first 2010 post!! This is the last of my FO's for 2009 and it feels good finishing my "projects" and my regular projects and cleaning out the yarn room a little bit.

Here is the Cascading Petals Scarf from Runway Knits.

Pattern: Cascading Petal Scarf by Berta Karapetyan
Book: Runway Knits

Yarn Brand: Karabella
Yarn Name: Lace Mohair
Yarn Colorway: White

Needle: Size 8 US (5.0 mm)
Dimensions: 80" Long
Recipient: Nancy's Knits

Helical Hat

Finally folks, I write again! I present to you another hat! This was so fun to design and I personally think that Knitter's did a fantabulous job in showing it off!

See, I'm still here.....knitting away.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Pattern: Helical Hat by Kenny Chua
Magazine: Knitter's Magazine 97, Winter 2009

Yarn Brand: Mountain Colors
Yarn Name: 4/8's Wool
Yarn Name: Twizzle
Yarn Name: River Twist

Yarn Colorway (Brown): 1 ball each MOUNTAIN COLORS 4/8's Wool in Copper, Twizzle in Red Tail Hawk, River Twist in Trout Creek
Yarn Colorway (Red): 1 ball each MOUNTAIN COLORS 4/8's Wool in Brick, Twizzle in Wilderness, River Twist in Pine Creek

Needle: Size 6 US (4.0 mm) and Size 4 US (3.5 mm)
Dimensions: 19" and 21"
Recipient: Knitter's Magazine

Here is the Ravelry Button for it too!

Quiet

Hello my friends. I hope everyone is getting busy for Turkey Day! I know I'm NOT!

So, I've received many nice "What's up Kenny, you're so quiet these days." e-mails from concerned readers and friends. Thank you for your concern.

I just want to report out that these days, I HAVE to be a little quieter than usual. Like I've said before, the Knitting Powers That Be have been nice to me and given me many opportunities, such that I can't blog about. :(

I know, I'm sorry.......

With less knitting to blog about, my blog becomes less interesting with less pictures, with less talk of technique and less questions of opinions. I have to spice it up again some how...

I'll have to think about this one...... maybe I'll write about some knitting conspiracy, or make one up. I don't know.

So, for those who are out there wondering, I'm fine, I'm quiet, but I am still getting a lot of knitting done.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

K

DEADlines

Arrgh! I'm sitting here at work, waiting for instruction and have done most of what I can do. Sitting at home, are projects that have deadlines......

If only I could knit at work....

How are you guys doing?

New Horizons

Talk about hectic! Life has been throwing all sorts of things at me these couple of months, some good and some bad.

Well, we shall not talk about the bad, like polyps and a leak in the ceiling and finances and relationships..... these are the minor inconvenient and irritating things that I am not so pleased with.

However, we shall try and stay on the positive note. I've been busy at work. Twirling dizzy busy. But in a good way. Pays the bills and keeps me behaving good.

But good things are happening in the knitting world. The Knitting Goddesses have been keeping an eye on me. And I'm talking along the lines of my Sculptured Lace Scarf, Lyerka and my Doubled Chullo. You got that right. My designing. That's why you don't see much of my WIP's anymore, but more of my FO's. It's all a big secret until it's out!

But overall, I'm very excited! The Knitting Goddesses have been good to me. And that's all I can say.

But I'll leave you with an abstract of what might be coming. I'm sure you can figure out what it is, but not what it's for. :0)

Have a great day.

Doubled Chullo

Pattern: Doubled Chullo by Kenny Chua

Magazine: Interweave Knits, Holiday Gifts 2009

Yarn Brand: Misti International
Yarn Name: Alpaca Worsted
Yarn Colorway: #M600 autumn woods mélange (A); #2105 moss gray mélange (B); #7912 forest green worsted (C). Size 20": Color B (MC), 3 skeins; colors A and C, 1 skein each. Size 22": color A (MC), 3 skeins; colors B and C, 1 skein each.

Yarn Content: 100% alpaca
Yardage: 1 ball = 109 yd [118 m]/50 g
Quantity: 4 balls = 436 yards (472 m)

Needle: Size 6 US (4.0 mm) and Size 4 US (3.5 mm)
Dimensions: 20" and 22"
Recipient: Interweave Knits and Sergio Sosa

Here is the Ravelry Button for it too!

The Purl Ridge

Ya know..... sometimes you just gotta take matters into your own hands. I've always not trusted myself, doubted myself, but this time I'm pretty sure.

I started a new project..... (I know, startitis...) Don's Vest by Joyce Williams in Latvian Dreams.

So this wonderful looking project asks for some ribbing and then increase into the fair isle pattern. Sounds normal enough right? But here's the kicker.... notice the difference?

Now please tell me that you like the one on the right better.

So, I was just wondering, why would Joyce ask to purl a whole round before beginning the color pattern? I really don't know. I think removing the purl round (I know....I ripped and ripped) was a good decision. It makes it look prettier in my opinion, but let's just hope it doesn't come back and bite me in the ass.

Can anyone of you think of a reason for the purl round?

Not me....

Off topic. I've been recovering from a GI procedure this week. Everything is ok, but ugggh I DO NOT WANT to prepare for a colonoscopy or an endoscopy again. It's HORRIBLE. They found some stuff, removed them, but I'm still waiting on the results. I'm not too too worried right now, but everything happens as they happen. We shall see.

Have a great weekend everyone.