Suyin Things

check out the knitted toy

I started a blog called Suyin Things some time ago, probably 3-4 years ago, when I restarted knitting in earnest and wanted somewhere to post pics of my projects. Those were the days when I did not have an FB account!

Corsages I made

Knitting, knitting,  knitting.... crochet, cross stitch, hook rug, embroidery ...... card making, stamping, you name it, I have tried it. I am drawn to craft making. I must add here that I am rubbish at dress making, no good at curtain making - it seems I cannot sew in a straight line using a sewing machine!

Yummy colours

I have been knitting for more than 30 years. I started when I was about 8-10 years old. My mum could knit and crochet too, but she preferred crochet and used to crochet the most amazing ponchos. I was taught to knit by my dad's colleague, Lucy Goh. This was back in Malaysia. Knitting in Malaysia? But it's so hot there... yes, hot but freezing in the air conditioned offices, and people needed knitwear.

mobile/cell sock

Dad would drop me off on a Saturday morning, she did not have any kids when I started going, and think she rather liked having me around. So, I started knitting my first cardigan, a rather huge project for a 10 year old I know, and you're right, I never finished LOL. It was 4 ply yarn and no 12 needles, which is about 2.75mm I think. There were so many stitches, about 122 for the back and I made many holes, dropped many stitches. It was too big a project.

Two more

I persevered, though I never finished the cardi, I made smaller items, firstly a headband, then a pencil case and also a little baby jacket for my piano teacher's new born baby. I was always drawn to wool shops in malls. I could spend hours browsing, spending my pocket money on needles, yarn and accessories. It was something about all those soft balls of colour, like the rainbow, they made me feel happy and content. I know, I'm weird!

So, on and off, I have been knitting since I was about 10, with a bit of crochet and cross stitching thrown in. I started knitting again in England when I was expecting Mitchell and then knitted him several items - a baby blanket, several jumpers, hats and later, a lovely jacket for Jasmine as well as more hats and scarves.

Mitch's baby blanket

just showing off the detail, lol

Life took over, knitting took a back seat. Then we moved to Beeston, and a yarn shop opened near us, about 4 years ago. The resurgence began. I was in there almost every day, I'm sure the owners Sarah and Alison must have thought I was stalking them. My wool hill slowly grew and became a mountain! I had accumulated a huge supply of needles, yarns, stitch markers, buttons, beads, crochet hooks, and yarn -miles and miles of yarn of all sorts; wool, fancy, ribbon, felting, etc etc. "Yarn" in Beeston is a great shop, drop in if you are nearby.

Yarn, Beeston

Check out their website too - www.yarn-in-notts.co.uk
I went to their knit and chat sessions, met many other knit mates and had a lovely time, knitting together, sharing stories about life, knitting techniques. It was great. Fantastic times.

I met Claire there. She was then a knitwear design student who was so creative and amazing. She was a spinner as well. No, not the kind of spinning you do in a gym, but one that could spin raw wool into yarn. She dyed her yarn and had her own business selling it as well as hat that she knitted. Check out her website; missbell.webeden.co.uk.

Had a spinning wheel like this one

Claire got me into spinning and I got myself a spinning wheel and started spinning. I sold her my spinning wheel when we left for Trinidad. Dave used to have a colleague who had sheep and we got some sheared wool from him one year. Claire and I spun wool from these fleeces and I managed to spin enough to make a beanie for Dave! That was my best project, I had made something out of the raw fleece, from a sheep! (It even smelled of sheep as it still had some of the protective lanolin in it's fibres).

Hand spun beanie

Sarah and Alison were passionate about their craft and business and were never too busy to help if I got stuck on a pattern.  They ran workshops and invited the likes of Emma King, Debbie Bliss and Louisa Harding to come and teach us some great techniques, and the vegetarian lunch that was served was worth going for... yummy.

My knitting took off. I learned how to knit and full (felt) and items from fabric that were firm and robust. I used this technique to make bags, toys, corsages and even slippers too. Here are some pics of some of my bags that I made.

some of my bags that sold

I love making baby things, and these shoes were made for a friend's niece. I made a matching beanie too. Through Yarn, I was put in touch with a knitwear designer who needed some samples knitting for hats. She also got me to design her some booties, all made from organic yarn. Finally, my craft was paying off. The reality though is that hand knitting is so time consuming, and it's difficult to make a living out of it, but a side line is ok, I called it my yarn fund.

At the height of my knitting career, some of my bags, corsages, scraves and mobile phone socks were at 2 art galleries in Nottingham.

These days I make things for friends and family. I am still learning, and my finishes could do with a lot of work! I have made garments too, but unfortunately not photographed them!

My latest projects have been a poncho, some tea cosies, my fair isle cushion that I am so pleased about. Will finish with pics of those here.
Oh, and I love making toys!

Domo on Xmas tree

Amigurumi- crocheted Domo

Eco Eddy