Friday, January 22, 2010

New Home!!!!

Hello Everyone...

I just want to inform you that I have a new site setup for better organize my project and design pattern as well as my blog. This site has been working out very well; however, there is something that I would like to do and unfortunately I was not able to do it here...

I will not update this site anymore and please come to my new site and get the updated news about me!!!

Thanks so much for your support and looking forwards to see all of you to my new home!!!!!

http://silkaburgoyne.weebly.com/

Thanks me see u soon!

Silka B.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!

I am not sure anyone has some kind of new year resoluations. As for me, I don't usually have any... ok the statement is not exactly true because I always told myself to lose 10 pounds and be more active for the last few years; however, I broke it every single year. So for myself this year, I figured that it might be nice to set some goals and should try to measure them at the end of the year to see whether I actually succeed my goals at the end of the year. Hopefully by setting goals for myself the year will help me organize my priorities better.

So Here is my lists:
  1. Lose 10 pounds and be more active and eat better. For the fact that I have a gym membership and not utilizing it. It is just not making whole lot of sense and waste money, so I will start hitting the gym.
  2. Spend time with family. I don't think I need any explanation with this goal.
  3. Keep up with my knitting blog! I admit that I am not very good at keeping up with my blog. I always can find excuse to be lazy. But this year, I wanted to be more involve to show more of my designs and ideas on my knitting blog.
  4. Keep up with my Allergy blog. I wanted to share more finding about allergy and Celiac Disease and yummy recipes to the blog.
  5. Try to sit down and write my previous design patterns. I have so many designs that I have actually created the final product but without the actual patterns. I wanted to write down the patterns and post it online.
  6. To learn more on garment construction. I realized that I often have issue with written pattern for sizes that are not my sizes. I think it will be helpful for me to learn more about garment construction so that I can design garment that will be situable for different body type.
  7. Start designing for man. I have always avoided design male garment. Partly because my husband and man surrounding me don't like knitted garment; however, I always wanted to design for man. So this year I would serously try to do it.
  8. Keep track of deadline better. In the past year, I am not good at keeping track of submission deadline; hence, I caught myself missing quite a few deadlines last year.
  9. Adopt a better way of design. I am a very visual person so often time, I would like to actually knit what I design before moving on to next design. Therefore, I was not able to produce more design. This year, my friend annette is will to be my sample knitter; so hopefully, I can do more designing.
  10. Create a collection of babies and kids design. I wanted to try to publish a collection of kids pattern.
  11. Try to clean out some of my yarn stash.
  12. To keep better track of my spending.
  13. To be happy all the time!
I think it's a pretty big list. I am sure I can think of more items to be added to the list later on. Finally, I would love to share latest pictures of my lovely kids!

Kimimae
Isaac




Channah



Again, wish everyone a wonderful year ahead.

Happy Knitting!!!

Silkie B!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Little Beaded Purse / Clutch






Little Beaded Purse / Clutch
Degree of Difficulty: Advance Beginner

I designed this purse for a Christmas Party. I was wearing a little black dress with ruby red necklace. I wanted to design a purse that would match my outfit. The handle of the purse is handbeaded by me and the handle can be removed and carry this little beauty as a clutch.

MATERIALS
MC Worsted Weight yarn – 150 yards
CC Worsted Weight yarn – 80 yards
CC2 Novelty yarns – choose one that is shiny and matches the CC color – 50 yards

The purse shown is knit in Ella Rae Classic in colors Black and Cherry.

Notions required:

• 1 set US #8/5.00 mm double-point needles
• A pair of size US 11/6.50 mm needles or circular
• Tapestry Needle
• One 7” zipper (Red)
• Fabric
• Sewing needle and thread
• Beading wire and beads in various colors and sizes

GAUGE
14 sts/16 rows = 4” in stockinette stitch using size 11 needle

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Approximated Size after Felting: 8 inches W * 5.5 inches H

PATTERN NOTES
This purse is knit in one piece using one strand of yarn in St st. When working in CC and CC2 combined, work in rev St st. This purse edging is knit in attached I-cord. The handle of the purse is hand beaded.

This pattern is available for free to download via ravelry or clicking this link below:

download now

If you have any problem downloading the pattern, you can also send me an email and I will send the pattern via email.
Thanks for interested in the pattern and let me know if you have any comment.

Happy Knitting!!!!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Retro Crop




My Retro Crop design is now available in Creative Knitting march issue which is on the newstand now. This is a really fun pattern to work with; very easy to memorize. I use cable fabric motif pair with 1 x 1 twisted rib. Since the cardi is meant to wear close to the body, and there is no shaping involve for the waist; hence, if you want to lengthy the cardi is just as easy as simple add a few inches to the body length. The sleeves are worked from top down; hence, to add length the sleeves just simply by continue knitting to the desire length in the cable fabric motif before switching to a smaller needle to work the ribbing. I do recommend to work decrease every 6 or 8 rounds to provide a more polish look.

If you have any question about the pattern, please feel free to contact me!

Happy Knitting!!!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

My Inner Baking Goddess?

Happy New Year Everyone!!!


In a new year, I caught myself pick up a new habit - Baking!! I started baking because my husband has been dignosed with Celiac Disease and he has been a little depressed about it. The reason why he is not too happy because he loves bread and BEER! It's been hard for him because there is gluten free products in the store; unfortunately, some of the them are good, some are OK but quite a lot of them are simply not too good. Because of this reason, I decided to start explore Gluten Free cooking, mainly baking. I started looking online resources on gluten free recipes and ordered a few cookbook for gluten free cooking. I experimenting some of the recipes and started modifying them. In addition, due to the dietary restriction of my daughter, she has dairy allergy, I started baking with dairy and egg free as well.


I have stared a new blog : http://silkiecook.blogspot.com/ to record my baking journey and provide recipes that I invented or modify for gluten free, dairy free cooking.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Where did the time goes?

Can someone tell me why times goes by so fast? I often started knitting all the holiday gifts since september but this year... i have just started about a week ago.. so I am way behind... I did only manage to finish 2 pair of mittens and working on my 1st pair of socks... I need to work on a couple more socks and a couple beanies... and I am afraid that I am not going to finish it all. Nevermind that the new round of submission at the beginning of Jan. I would need some HELP!!!!! Can someone out there help me knit???? I guessed I am wishful thinking at this point.

HELP! HELP! HELP!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Information About my Purse Patterns

For those of you that are interested in my purse patterns. All of them are available through Ravelry.com:

http://www.ravelry.com/designers/silka-burgoyne

If you are already a member of Ravelry.com you can search my designs by going to the above link or search my name under designers. Once you are there, you can also see my other published designs. You can also search me under my username 'Kaleido'.

All my purse patterns are $4.00 each. If you are interested in all 4 of my patterns currently available (I am on the process of adding more), I will bundle them and sell it for $12.00 or 3 patterns for $10.00. All you would need to do is to email me at silkiebee@gmail.com to acquire more information and I will send you payment information.





I am constantly trying to improve my design so any comments, good or bad, are welcome.

Silkie B.