So why it became a mix of bamboo and aluminum? I first bought the aluminum / metal pair, an Aero brand. As a very first timer, I had a very hard time controlling the yarn and needles so the yarn would always slip off from the needles because metals are “slippier.” So an “auntie” advised me to get a bamboo/wooden pair, which did help with “slipping yarn” issue. So I got another pair, a bamboo knitting needle by Clover.
A friend / cousin-in-law, who was also a newbie, joined me later on of the day. So I mixed and matched the needles so that each of us would have not to suffer much with the “slippery” issue.
So for very first timer to learn knitting, get the wooden ones until your better at controlling. Then, later on, you might want to use the metal ones because you can go faster with it as you can just easily slide the yarns from one needle to the other. For the wooden ones, try to double check that it’s “finishing” is smooth enough — like no rough parts where yarn will get tangled to.
…Blue Bell Hill Scarf
Pattern by: Jocelyn J. Tunney
Source: o-wool.com
A lot of friends are traveling out of the country, and a few of them are staying there for good. And, they definitely kept my hands busy crocheting (and lately knitting) that the motivation to update this blog (and my other random blogs) has gone nil. Aside from crochet, coffee drowning, and a bit of running, I think “writing” is another thing that is a part of my life. It’s not really “writing,” but I do talk a lot (mostly in my head); they said this habit is an only-child thing (I’m an only child.). And, I tend to write a lot when I have a hard trying to make sense of things; I’m confused; or simply, I’m just that.
So on to this post… A friend is leaving for Europe for good. And every time a friend migrate for good, I always cannot make sense of my feelings. There’s happiness, and there’s melancholy. And, there’s that “is there something we could have done to make people stay instead? But then why would you want them to stay?”
Too many things in my head about this, and thus this post. I’m torn between should I be happy that I’ll be making a lot of crochet/knitting stuff because there are a lot of friends leaving or should I be melancholic about it? =)
But first let me #bloggerpose. And, I’m thankful that friends are just happy to accept my “labor of love.”
This is my very first knitting project that has a bit of pattern; I’m referring to the “chevron-ish” pattern of this scarf. Knitting the knockers in the past weeks made me more confident with my knitting skills. And, thankfully, the Blue Bell Hill pattern scarf is a perfect beginner scarf knitting pattern. The o-wool.com has a lot of beautiful free patterns that are perfect for beginners. So if you have been knitting for awhile, and wanted to get adventurous, check the patterns from o-wool.com.
Notes on my version of this project:
Knitting needle: 7mm
Yarn: Value Ball from Spotlight (I wish I had a fancier yarn but they’re the only available to me.)
Dimension of finished project: 12″x75″ up to 10 repeats of the pattern.
The other week, we were in Singapore. And the only thing that was in my mind on days leading to our trip was to go to as many yarn shops the google maps would allow me. @.@
Here are the yarn shops I was able to visit. It was really just more of “hopping” than shopping because, I believe, yarns do not really come cheap wherever we are in the world. (I reposted a list of yarn shops, which I got from a member of SG-based crochet group, way down below.)
NOTE: There’s a People’s Park Centre and People’s Park Complex which are just nearby each other. Golden Dragon Store is in “Centre.”
My first yarn store trip was to something familiar. I’d been to this place a few times in our last trip. This was where I learned to knit, and got my first sets of needles which were both 4mm (You can read more about this place in my previous post, Project Ugly Socks.). When we got home after that first visit of Golden Dragon, that’s when I got really hooked to crochet that you will never see me without a yarn or hook in hand after that. I guess the crafting vibes of the Titas of SG (huddled in a corner knitting or crocheting) was so strong, it followed me until Cebu. =)
I don’t think their yarns here are really that extensive but coming from an island without any legit yarn shop, it’s already heaven to me!!! I could just stare at their walls full of yarn display.
On their entrance is shelves of their discounted yarns.This is the cheapest yarn in the store. It seems to be the equivalent of our Monaco.
They have a lot of crochet hook brands, the popular ones, from Susan Bates to Hamanaka. Though, price-wise, you may score a better price from local fb sellers.
They also carry a lot of knitting needles from Clover, and Aero.
Either way, I think this is a good place to start your yarn shop hopping because it’s in Chinatown. They have a nice hawker station in this area though can be crowded because it’s a popular area.
Well, I think what I really love about this place is seeing the Titas of SG with their crafts, and eavesdropping to their chatters. It’s my kind of “tourist spot.”They also display some knitted / crocheted items.
The only thing I hoard from this place was this stitch markers, Clover and Hamanaka, because I have enough of the generic cheap stitch markers which break easily.
After doing some crocheting some rows done in Golden Dragon Store, I moved on to something “new” place. This was fairly near to Golden Dragon Store. According to Google maps, it was just less than 2KM away from Golden Dragon so I just walked it than trying to find a bus stop (I really have a bad sense of direction.). Though a friend said that it’s far but there were interesting places on my way; I passed by Clark Quay, Caning Fort. And, when you’re in 1st world, pedestrian life is really not that haggard. =)
Spotlight is like a home furnishing / decors, party supplies, and craft store. There was probably more to it. I just got stuck in the yarns area. There were probably 4 rows of yarns.
If you love acrylics and wool, you can find a lot in relatively low prices here. At that time, I think the cheapest I saw was 4 skeins for SGD15.
I got out of this place empty handed! YAY! =) (I actually planned to check all the yarn stores, and go back to each of them to buy yarns but plans changed, more of it on the later part.)
DAISO
Protip: There’s a Daiso store right beside Spotlight.
Because Daiso in Cebu does not have yarns, so it’s kind of fun to get inside a Daiso store and find yarns, and a bit of crochet and knitting notions. I think I got inside 2 Daiso stores in Singapore but I did not buy any thing. It was just for the fun of it.
All their stuff are priced at SGD2. It was so tempting to buy the crochet hooks but I stopped myself to save my chicken-rice-kopi-tiam money for the best. =)
ONDORI, Kewalram House, Bukit Merah
NOTE: They only accept cash. And, use Kewalram House to search it up in Google Maps as it’s easier that way.
Per Knitwerks’ recommendation, I ventured to this place. I made sure that husband was free to accompany me because it looks tricky on Google maps. But really, it’s not.
If you get intimidated with its location, don’t be. It’s located in a warehouse complex. If you’re in Cebu, it’s like you’re in MEPZA but only of warehouses. It’s an area full of buildings that are warehouses. You can find Ondori in one of the buildings.
Ondori is located inside Kewalram House. So I guess when you look it up on Google Maps, you search for Kewalram House. Once you reach Kewalram, you have to get inside the building.
They sale yarns by bulk, or as they say “peket” (packet). I think at least a packet may contain 6 pieces. They sell branded yarns: Katia, Schachenmayer, etc.
This shelf just looks so fluffy.
They have a specific shelves of yarns which are on SALE, where I got all my yarns. The lowest price I found was 20SGD for a packet but it was for some fancy yarns, which might just end up in your destash box. The nice ones were somewhere in 50SGD per packet (which consists of a minimum of 6 pieces).
They also have Tulip crochet hooks. I think they sell it at a relatively lower price. They also carry Addi knitting needles. I so wanted to get a set of the interchangeable knitting needles and Tulip crochet hooks; but it was a choice of needles, hooks, or yarns. So I picked yarns, then bought 2 circular needles. (The Addi needles really feel good.=))
This was a shelf of Addi knitting needles at SGD15.20
I don’t know what’s in that place but it gobbled up all my chicken-rice and kopi tiam money. So if you plan to go yarn store hopping in Singapore, you can probably have this as the last destination because it’s just so hard to resist the yarns here. =)
After Ondori, I dared not go to any yarn store any more. This is where my yarn shop / store hopping in Singapore ended.
My loot.
LAST PROTIP! If you ran out of money from yarns and such, visit one of their National Public Libraries. It’s so LIT!
Here’s a list of yarn shops that I got from a member of a Singapore-based crochet fb group. I’m just going to quote the member’s full reply:
“Found this list on a ravely forum but it is posted 9 yrs ago. Some of the shops may or may not still be ard.
1) Spotlight – Plaza Singapura
Description: Best for novelty yarns and Australian imports (also sells cheap plastic needles!) HUGE selection of other craft and home-making materials
Prices: Variable, mostly affordable (starting from ~$5 per ball)
2) Golden Dragon – People’s Park Centre http://goldendragon.com.sg/index.htm
Description: Huge handicraft store with one wall dedicated to yarn, with a few novelties
Prices: Variable
3) Yong Herng Co. – 211 Holland Avenue Holland Road Shopping Centre #02-12
(6468-3659)
Description: Tiny shop run by an approachable, friendly Chinese couple who don’t mind if you come in just to look. Small selection of plainer yarns, including Rowan, Butterfly…the shop also carries loads of ribbons and other fabric-craft-related items like buttons, zips, bells, cross-stitch etc.
Description: Wholesaler (sale by packs) selling needles dizzying array of imported yarn
Prices: Expect to pay at least $10 per ball x (number of balls in 1 pack) (CASH ONLY)
5) Ishida Craft – Great World City (across from Cold Storage)
Description: Small supply but very friendly and helpful staff. Also stocks Addi needles and Clover. Lots of baby cotton. Also sells cross-stitch supplies.
Prices: ?
6) Siew Lip
Address: Jurong Point Shopping Centre at boon lay mrt #03-01
Telephone: 68610020
Opening hours:??
7) Creative ______(CLOSED. I checked this, and it no longer exists.)
Address: 1st Floor Coronation Plaza, Bukit Timah
Description: Excellent prices and selection. Has addi and clover needles tons of patterns english and japanese friendly staff and good prices. Highly recommend!!”
I was once gifted (pasalubong) of knitted Tigger (my favorite at that time) socks from Baguio long time ago. And, I really love it! I still have them with me with all the holes on it already.
Fastforward 2 years ago, I started to learn to crochet. At that time, I just thought crochet and knitting are just one or similar. So that when after making a few dish cloths, I felt that I was already ready to dive into making socks.
To cut the story short, here’s the first pair of socks I crocheted. I tried making one or 2 more in the thought that I would improve, but they’re so ugly that I finally gave up. That’s why I called it Project Ugly Socks.
Fast-forward, I learned that crochet is different from knitting. And that the Baguio socks I got were knitted. That’s when I thought of learning how to knit. But I know now one in this city who knows how to knit. Yes, there is a lot of youtube tutorials but I just could not get video tutorials unless I see someone in person made a demo of it first.
I got lucky when I stumbled upon a craft store in SG last year, Golden Dragon Store. They have a knitting corner where “Titas of SG” tambay to knit or crochet. The craft store staff would teach you if you buy some stuff from them.
So there, I’m “internationally” educated in knitting from women with thick Singlish accent I hardly understand.
This was last year. And nothing happen to my knitting after that.
A post shared by Cebu, Philippines (@craftynanay) on
So last month (after a year), I decided to pick up the knitting needles. Thankfully, despite that Singlish instructions, I still have a vague memory of the steps. After watching a youtube tutorial, I realized that the SG Titas were actually teaching me knit and purl stitches. The way they pronounced “purl” was just so strange.
On to my knitting socks progress, the most I have now is that I stumbled upon an FB page hosting a socks KAL (Knit-along) which will start July, tomorrow. I got my yarns and colorful knitting needles. The only questions is if I can hold my attention long enough to get me through this? Hopefully, by december, I will have a decent enough looking knitted socks. For those interested, you can join the knitted socks KAL in Sari Sariy Yarnery’s page >>. They also sell knitting needles, yarns and other related stuff.
My first yarn store trip was to something familiar. I’d been to this place a few times in our last trip. This was where I learned to knit, and got my first sets of needles which were both 4mm (
I don’t think their yarns here are really that extensive but coming from an island without any legit yarn shop, it’s already heaven to me!!! I could just stare at their walls full of yarn display.
This is the cheapest yarn in the store. It seems to be the equivalent of our Monaco.
They also display some knitted / crocheted items.
After doing some crocheting some rows done in Golden Dragon Store, I moved on to something “new” place. This was fairly near to Golden Dragon Store. According to Google maps, it was just less than 2KM away from Golden Dragon so I just walked it than trying to find a bus stop (I really have a bad sense of direction.). Though a friend said that it’s far but there were interesting places on my way; I passed by Clark Quay, Caning Fort. And, when you’re in 1st world, pedestrian life is really not that haggard. =)
Per 
If you get intimidated with its location, don’t be. It’s located in a warehouse complex. If you’re in Cebu, it’s like you’re in MEPZA but only of warehouses. It’s an area full of buildings that are warehouses. You can find Ondori in one of the buildings.
Ondori is located inside Kewalram House. So I guess when you look it up on Google Maps, you search for Kewalram House. Once you reach Kewalram, you have to get inside the building.
They sale yarns by bulk, or as they say “peket” (packet). I think at least a packet may contain 6 pieces. They sell branded yarns: Katia, Schachenmayer, etc.
