autumn skies

It's 2013!!

Visited a few touristy places during last autumn (mid to late November 2012). Enjoy the beautiful landscape coloured in red hues by autumn leaves.

Tsurumai Koen (park)

Open all year round, this lovely park displays a different view with each changing season which is a great feast for the eye ... and for photography.

 

 

 sunset over Suzuna Bridge (left).





Jokoji Temple

Walking up to the temple from the main road takes about 10-15 minutes, depending on your pace. But not to worry, the climb is easy with wide steps. Nearest train stop is Jokoji on the JR Chuo Line, northeast of Nagoya City.

Entrance to steps up the Jokoji Temple (located on top of the hill) (above).

                  

Paired stone statues like these dot the sides along the footsteps up the hill (left). 

Nearing the top (above).

 














 Jokoji Temple

 





more sights of Jokoji Temple (anti clockwise from top-left): ancient tombs of samurais who committed seppuku; palm-sized pine cone; more paired little stone statues.
















 forest aflame with autumn colours










kaki (persimmon) - peeled and hung out to dry in the bitter autumn breeze.





 

Osu Kannon Temple

Located south within the greater Nagoya City Area; in a straight direction south of Nagoya Jo (castle), and west of Tsurumai park.

a manikineko above a huge TV screen at a crossroad of Osu streets (above)

  

pigeon galore, Osu Kannon Temple square (above)

Todai-ji Temple

Located in Nara, west of Nagoya (fastest way to get there is by shinkansen).

Reportedly here is the site of the largest wooden structure in the world. Outside the gated temple, wild but tame deers roam freely and plentiful. If you want to pose for a picture with the deers, then you had better buy some ‘shika senbei’ (deer crackers) sold by peddlers along the narrow streets in the park!

 

Todai-ji Temple, Nara

 

 

 tame deers, Nara park

 The Five Storied Pagoda, Nara park

 ~end~

knitted panda strap

Here’s a knitting pattern for panda strap. This is a knitted in the round project, and incorporates short rows. The yarn I used is Daiso’s acrylic yarn in white and black. Approximately 19 m of white and 10 m of black colour yarn is required.

Materials

Needles: three pairs of 3.9 mm DPNs.

Yarn: 45 g (77m) of Daiso Acrylic medium thick yarn (100% acrylic) each colour;

Colour A: Black (Dye lot: 11 AN);

Colour B: White (Dye lot: 12 AG)

Stuffing: Polyester 100%.

Measurement

Gauge: 21 sts = 10 cm in Stst.

Finished measurements: approximately 8 x 7 cm after stuffed.

  

Instructions

With Colour A, co 7, divide sts over 3 DPNs as following: Needle 1 – 2, Needle 2 - 3, Needle 3 – 2; join-in-the-round, and be careful not to twist stitches.

Round (Rnd) 1: k2, kfb, k with Colour B, (change back to co colour) kfb, k2.

Rnd 2: k with Colour B, kfb, k5, kfb, k.

Rnd 3: k.

Rnd 4: k2, *(kfb, k2); rep * to end.

Rnd 5: k, kfb, *(kfb, k2); rep * 4 times, k.

Rnd 6: k2, (kfb)3, k2, kfb, k, (kfb)2, k, kfb, k2, (kfb)3, k2.

Rnd 7: k3, k3 with Colour A, (change back to Colour B) k, (kfb, k)3, k, (kfb)2, k2, (kfb, k)3, k3 with Colour A, (change back to Colour B) k3.

Place a marker at the beginning of the round, and maintain for subsequent rounds.

Rnd 8: k2, k with Colour A, (kfb)2, k2, (change back to Colour B) k2, (kfb, k)2, wrap & turn (W&T).

Short Row (SR) 1: p7, p8 with Colour A, (change back to Colour B) p4, p with Colour A, (pfb)2, p2, (change back to Colour B) p2, (pfb, p)2, W&T.

SR 2: k7, k8 with Colour A, (change back to Colour B) k2.

Rnd 9: k, kfb, k8, kfb, k4, W&T.

SR 1: p, pfb, p5, (pfb, p)4, p2, p, pfb, p8, pfb, p4, W&T.

SR 2: k, kfb, k5, (kfb, k)4, k2.

At this stage, divide sts on Needles 1 and 3 into to needles; live sts are now on 5 dps (see image)

Rnd 10: k5, (kfb, k)2, 2, W&T.

SR 1: p12, p5, (pfb, p)2, p, W&T.

SR 2: k12.

Rnd 11: k, (kfb, k)2, W&T.

SR 1: p8, (pfb, p)2, W&T.

SR 2: k7.

Inserting the ears

Rnd 12: k, (kfb, k)3, k3 with Colour A, (change back to Colour B) k, kfb, k, W&T.

SR 1: p3, p5 with Colour A, (change back to Colour B) p10, (pfb,p)3, p3 with Colour A, (change back to Colour B) p, pfb, p, W&T.

SR 2: k3, k5 with Colour A, (change back to Colour B) k9.

Rnd 13: k, (kfb, k)2, W&T.

SR 1: p8, (pfb, p)2, W&T.

SR 2: k7.

Rnd 14: k8, W&T.

SR 1: p16, W&T.

SR 2: k8.

Rnd 15: k12, k3 with Colour A, W&T.

SR 1: p2 with Colour A, W&T.

SR 2: k with Colour A, W&T.

SR 3: p2 with Colour A, (change back to Colour B) p24, p3 with Colour A, W&T.

SR 4: k with Colour A, W&T.

SR 5: p with Colour A, W&T.

SR 6: k2 with Colour A, (change back to Colour B) k12.

Rnd 16: (k2tog,k)4 with Colour B, (k, k2tog)3, W&T.

SR 1: p16, (p2tog,p)4, (p2tog,p)3, W&T.

SR 2: k14.

Rnd 17: (k, k3tog)3, W&T.

SR 1: p6, (p,p3tog)3, W&T.

SR 2: k6.

Rnd 18: (k, k3tog)3, k, kfb, W&T.

SR 1: p9, (p,p2tog)3, p, pfb, W&T.

SR 2: k9.

Rnd 19: (k, k3tog)2, (k, k2tog), W&T.

SR 1: p8, (p,p3tog)2, (p, p2tog)2, W&T.

SR 2: k8.

Rnd 20: (k,k2tog)2, (k, k3tog)2, W&T.

SR 1: p8, (p, p2tog)2, (p,p3tog)2, W&T.

SR 2: k8.

Rnd 21: k2, W&T.

SR 1: p4, W&T.

SR 2: k2.

Rnd 22: k4, (k2tog, k)3, k, k2tog, k4.

Rnd 23: (k2tog)10.

Cut off yarn leaving a long tail. Stuff before running the tail through the remaining sts, pull tight. Weave in all loose ends.

Sew in strap.

diapittore wrist warmer

I recently discovered Heart Craft Tokai – a chain of craft shops – after being introduced by my Obachan and have signed up as a member. There are two outlets near my area – Kasugai and Kanayama.

Here’s a design for a pair of wrist warmers – a knit-in-the-round project - from yarn purchased at ‘Tokai’. The yarn I used is Diapittore. The yarn is basically in pastel colours, and the colours change gradually. What I like most is that each colour change is unique for the entire ball. The design incorporates the Pine Cone Lace Stitch.

I used two colour lots for this project. Each side of the pair are knitted simultaneously by knitting from both ends of one ball, and then joined with the next ball of yarn. For this project, I started off with Colour No. PT202.

Materials

Needles: two sets of four 3.3 mm DPNs.

Yarn: 30g (106m) of Diapittore (ダイヤピットーレ) Yarn (Colour No. PT202, Lot. 0; and Colour No. PT204, Lot. 0) (40% cotton; 56% acrylic; 4% nylon)

Measurement

Gauge: 30 sts and 40 rows = 10 cm in Stst.

Finished measurements: 11 x 23.5 cm laid flat.

Pine Cone Lace Stitch A

Rnd 1 and odd rnds: k.

Rnd 2: k.

Rnd 4: *(k5, k2tog, yo, k, yo, sl1, k, psso); rep from * to end.

Rnd 6: k, transfer first st from Left needle to Right needle, k3, *(k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k, psso, k3); rep from * to end.

Rnd 8: k4, k2tog, yo, k, yo, sl, k, psso, *( k5, k2tog, yo, k, yo, sl, k, psso) ; rep from * to last st, k.

Rnd 10: =Rnd 8.

Rnd 12: k.

Rnd 14: *(k2tog, yo, k, yo, sl, k, psso, k5); rep from * to end; transfer last two sts from Right needle to Left needle.

Rnd 16: k, *(k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k, psso, k3); rep from * to end (last two stitches of the rep are k2, instead of k3).

Rnd 18: k2, k2tog, yo, k, yo, sl1, k, psso, *(k5, k2tog, yo, k, yo, sl1, k, psso); rep from * to last 3 sts, k3.

Rnd 20: = Rnd 18.

Pine Cone Lace Stitch B

Rnd 1: k4, k2tog, yo, k, yo, sl1, k, psso, *(k9, k2tog, yo, k, yo, sl1, k, psso); rep from * to last 5 sts, k5.

Rnd 2 and even rnds: k.

Rnd 3: k3, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k, psso, *(k7, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k, psso); rep from * to last 4 sts, k4.

Rnds 5 & 7: Rnd 1.

Rnds 9 - 14: k

Rnd 15: *(yo, sl1, k, psso, k9, k2tog, yo, k); rep from * to end.

Rnd 17: k.

Rnd 19: k, *(yo, sl1, k, psso, k7, k2tog, yo, k3); rep from * to end (last two stitches of the rep are k2, instead of k3).

Rnd 21 & 23: *(yo, sl1, k, psso, k9, k2tog, yo, k); rep from * to end.

Rnd 25: k.

Rnd 26: k.

  

Instructions (Left and Right sides)

co 70, divide sts over 3 DPNs, join-in-the-round.

Ribbing

Round (Rnd) 1: *k,p; rep from * to end.

Rnds 2-4: rep Rnd 1.

Continue with Pine Cone Lace Stitch A (Rnds 1-20).

k for next 6 rnds.

Continue with Pine Cone Lace Stitch B (Rnds 1-26).

k for next 6 rnds.

Rep patt B.

k for next 6 rnds.

Rep patt B.

k,p ribbing for next 5 rnds.

Cut the yarn equal length between the two sides. Bo in k1,p1 ribbing. Weave in ends.

Alternative pattern for cuff – Cabled ribbing using 2 mm dpns.

After first rep of patt B, k for 2 rounds (instead of 6).

Rnd 1: k, (*p2,k2); rep * to last 2 sts, k, p.

Rnds 2-4: rep rnd 1.  

Rnd 5: k, *(p2,k2,p2,C2F, CB, p2, k2); rep * to last 3 sts, k, p, k.

Rnd 6: k, *(p2,k2,p3,k4,p3,k2); rep * to last 3 sts, k, p, k.

Rnd 7: k, *(p2,k2,p3,C2B,p3,k2); rep * to last 5 sts, p2, k, p, k.

Rnd 8: rep rnd 6.

Rnd 9: k, *(p2,k2,p2,CB,C2F,p2,k2); rep * to last 5 sts, p2, k, p, k.

Rnd 10: k, *(p2,k2); rep * to last 5 sts, p2, k, p, k.

Rnds 11-14: rep rnd 10.

Rep rnds 5-14 three times. BO in patt loosely.

C2F: move next 2 k sts on left needle onto cable needle (CN), place the CN in front of the work, p the next st on the left needle, k the 2 sts off the CN.

CB: move next p st on left needle onto cable needle (CN), place the CN at the back of the work, k the next 2 sts on the left needle, p the st off the CN.

C2B: move next 2 k sts on left needle onto cable needle (CN), place the CN at the back of the work, k the next 2 sts on the left needle, k the 2 sts off the CN.

 

barbar beret

Another knit-in-the-round project… here is a beret design to fit head size 56-59 cm circumference. 

The yarn I used is Richmore Tundra (リッチモア。ツンドラ) brand yarn (Hamanaka co. ltd.)  in light brown. Although the yarn looks coarse, it is oh so smooth, and very easy to knit with! I have 3 balls of 100 g of yarn, and used approximately 1 ball for this project:

Materials

Needles: four 5.1 mm DPNs for ribbing; four 6.6 cm DPNs for the body.

Yarn: 100g (90m) of Richmore Tundra Spongeish Barbar Yarn in Light Brown (Colour No.4, Lot. 13) (93% wool, 7% hemp)

Measurement

Gauge: 15 sts = 10 cm in Stst with larger needle, after washing.

Finished measurements: 16 cm (opening; flat co diameter); 28 cm (flat body diameter).

Instructions

co 112 loosely, divide sts over 3 DPNs, join-in-the-round.

Ribbing

Round (Rnd) 1: *k,p; rep from * to end.

Rnds 2-8: rep Rnd 1.

Body

Increase round:

Rnd 1: *k3,M1; rep from * to end. (140 sts)

Decrease rounds:

Rnd 1: *k12,k2tog; rep from * to end [130 sts]

Rnd 2-4: k across.

Rnd 5: *k11,k2tog; rep from * to end [120 sts]

Rnd 6-8: k across.

Rnd 9: *k10,k2tog; rep from * to end [110 sts]

Rnd 10-11: k across.

Rnd 12: *k9,k2tog; rep from * to end [100 sts]

Rnd 13-14: k across.

Rnd 15: *k8,k2tog; rep from * to end [90 sts]

Rnd 16: k across.

Rnd 17: *k7,k2tog; rep from * to end [80 sts]

Rnd 18: k across.

Rnd 19: *k6,k2tog; rep from * to end [70 sts]

Rnd 20: k across.

Continue decreasing in this manner until 10 sts left. Leave a long tail, thread through remaining sts, and weave in ends.

Nagoya matsuri

Every weekend this October, Nagoya has something to celebrate about, from its rich cultural history to contemporary art. Nagoya Matsuri (=festival) 2012 was celebrated over two days last weekend (Oct 20-21), with street processions of Aichi’s feudal characters on foot, horses and dashi’s (decorated floats). Side events such as stage performances were also simultaneously held. This weekend, the Showa Ward Citizens Festival is being held at nearby Tsuruma Koen. Here are some pics of the autumn festivities.

 

Central Park, Sakae, Nagoya City. An impressive all-male choir group led by a female conductor. The sole English song they belted out was Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge over troubled water.

sorry, except for one, no captions for the rest of the photos.