Port Dickson

Yesterday, we went to Port Dickson (PD) which is located in the state of Negeri Sembilan in Peninsular Malaysia. The main purpose of our one day trip to Port Dickson was going to visit the Lukut Fort and Museum, the Army Museum, PD waterfront and took a look at the beaches there.

Our first destination was Lukut Fort and Museum. It is a notable historical site in Lukut, Port Dickson. Here we found the site of an old fort which  was built in 1847 by Raja Jumaat to protect the valuable tin trade. The Lukut museum is located at the foot of the hill, the admission is free. At the museum, we had an opportunity to learn more about the history of Lukut.

Lukut Fort and Museum

Later, we headed to PD waterfront. I liked this place. There were contemporary shop lots along the seafront boulevard, with recreational parks fronting the promenade walk. The scene and environment there looked very nice. We found McDonald, StarBucks, Kenny Roger and other fine dining restaurants were located there. Since my kids are fans of McDonald, we then had our lunch at McDonald.

PD Waterfront

Very soon, we headed to the Army Museum (known locally as Muzium Tentera Darat). That was the place where my kids never said bored. After all, this is one of the most renowned attractions in Port Dickson. My kids were more interested in the outdoor exhibits and the communist tunnel.

Outdoor exhibits of Army Museum

Communist Tunnel

After visiting the Army Museum, we were going for a drive along Jalan Pantai. We visited several beaches, but I especially loved a beach named Tanjung Biru (Blue Lagoon Beach). The beach was not crowded, and the beautiful scene formed a good environment  that we had a relaxing evening there.......

Blue Lagoon Beach ( Tanjung Biru )

How to make a sock owl

Sock owl !!! Oh, I have never tried to sew a sock owl ...... Anyway,  this should be no problem.

How to make a sock owl?  I have some ideas in mind now. Just follow the steps below.


Materials :
1. one stocking
2. poly-fill material
3. felt (blue, white & red)
4. two black buttons
5. matching threads

1. Turn the sock to the wrong side with the heel facing up. Draw the parts as shown in the photo. Sew the legs and wings follow the drawing line, leaving an opening at the top of each part. For the head, you just need to sew the upper part without leaving any opening. Now, cut out the body follow the straight line. Then, cut out the head follow the straight line and the sewing line. Remember to keep 1/4'' seam allowance when you cut out the pieces that you have sewn.

2. Turn all the pieces to the right side.

3. Stuff up the head. Run stitches along the raw edge.

4. Fold in the raw edge and pull the thread tightly to close the opening. Cut off the thread.

5. & 6.  Insert the needle at the bottom centre of the face (cream-colored area) and come out at the top centre of the head.

7. Once again, insert the needle from the bottom centre of the face and come out at the top, pull the thread tight. Repeat this step two to three times.

8. The result is shown at the photo.

9. Now, stuff the body and close the opening. The steps are the same as making the head.

10. Join the head and the body together with a slip stitch.

11 & 12. Sew the eyes and beak on the face with your felt pieces and buttons. Then sew the the wings to the both sides of the body. Don't stuff the wings, but you need to close up the openings. Just sew the upper part of the wings to the body respectively so that the wings can move freely.

13. & 14. This is the leg part. Start to make the feet now. Insert the needle from the inside and pull the thread through, then insert the needle at the point where 1/4"  right above the first insertion point.

15. Pull the thread tight and repeat this step two to there times.

16.  Pass the needle to the next with a space as shown in the photo. Pull the thread through. Then, insert the needle at the same point from the back side and pull the thread tight to create toes. Repeat this step two to there times.

17. Close the opening of the leg.

18. Fold the leg in half and sew both edges together. Don't sew until the feet (grey-colored area).

19. Sew the legs to the bottom of the body part with the joining edges of the legs facing to the bottom.

20. Sew a few "v" shapes to the belly of the owl. Done.

Chain stitch

Chain stitch is a sewing and embroidery technique. A series of looped stitches form a chain-like pattern. This is a decorative stitch, many beautiful projects have been carried out entirely using chain stitch. Usually, I use single thread to make chain stitches if I thought my desired pattern need a fine decorative outline or pattern. Instead,  I will use double thread to make a "bold-like" pattern.

1. Make a knot at the end of the thread. Insert the needle up through Point A from the back of the fabric and pull the thread through. Insert the needle at Point A again and bring it out through Point B. Don't push the needle out completely. Put the thread under the point of the needle to form a loop.

2.  Now, pull the thread out and tighten the loop. The first chain stitch is completed.

3.  To make the second stitch, insert the needle at Point B (inside the loop) and bring it out at Point C. Do the same as the first stitch, put the thread under the point of the needle, pull the thread out and tighten the loop.

4. A row of chain stitches is completed.

buttonhole stitch

A buttonhole stitch is used for sewing buttonholes and prevent fraying of the buttonhole. It can also be used as a firm edging stitch for cut-work. This stitch will form a small knot at the top of each stitch that gives a much sturdier stitch. It visually looks like the blanket stitch, but uses a different technique of sewing. Let me show you the way I do the buttonhole stitch now. Usually, I will use double thread for doing this stitch. If you use a thicker thread, then a single thread should be all right. This stitch can be done in any direction. Anyway, I will show you the way to get the buttonhole stitches done by working from left to right.

 1. Make a knot at one end if you use single thread. Insert the needle through Point A from the back of the fabric. Loop the thread clockwise. Then insert the needle at Point B and come out at Point C. The needle should be placed above the looped thread as shown in the photo.

2. Pull the thread out towards the top, this will create a knot at point B.

3. Now, make the second stitch by inserting the needle at Point D and come out at Point E. Repeat this step until a desired length.

4. A row of buttonhole stitches is completed.

note:
For buttonhole place the stitches close together with no fabric showing between them.

Catch stitch

Catch stitch is one of  the hemming stitches, it looks nearly invisible. This method helps to keep layers flat against another, such as a hem or seam allowances. It is worked from left to right or from the top to the bottom and forming a row of small "Xs" at the hem and the under section layer. If you wanted the stitches not being very visible on the right side, then using single thread will give a good result. Usually, I will sew catch stitches by holding the hem of the fabric and work from the top to the bottom.

1. Make a knot at one end of your thread. First, insert the needle from the backside of the hem and pull the thread through.

2. Move your needle downwards about 1/4" from the first insertion point and make a small stitch (pick up 3-5 threads) in the under section by inserting the needle upwards as shown in the photo.  

3. Pull the thread through, don't pull the thread too tightly.

4. Again, move your needle downwards about 1/4" from the previous insertion point and sew another small stitch in the hem by inserting the needle upwards as shown in the photo.

5. Repeat these steps until the end.

6. A row of catch stitches is completed.




Note :
You can vary the length of the stitch according to your taste.

knitted flower headband

 I knitted this headband with a basic knitting stitch -Garter stitch (knit every row). This time I get my knitting piece done by holding yarn double. It might sound very hard to do so, it's actually not that difficult. This pattern calls for two skeins of yarn (pink & white), use a strand of each skein at the same time and you have to treat these two strands as if they were a single strand while knitting.

This simple knitted headband might be a token of your regard to someone you love. A high value gift is not always the best regard, as long as your heart is full of sincerity, a simple gift would be valuable and it is generous by any standard....




materials :
1. yarn     : pink and white (100% acrylic, weight 40g)
2. needle  : a pair of single-pointed needle size 4.5mm and yarn needle.
3. one knitted flower [click here to find out the pattern of knitted flower].

1. Cast on 20 stitches with the double-yarn. Just cast on as if you cast on with single piece of yarn, the difference is you need to hold two strands of  yarn together.

2. Knit the double-yarn stitches every row until you reach your desired length. I have knitted a 17 inches long knitting piece for this project. Knit bind-off after you finished knitting the last row. Then, cut the yarns, leaving the both yarn tails about 2 inches long and weave them in the piece.

3. Bind the two short edges with mattress stitch. You can either use the cast on tails that you left to get start or use a piece of new yarn.

4. Fold the part as shown in the photo. Place the right side of the joining edges facing together. Tie a firm knot at the position where 1/3 of the folded part (right on the joining edges) from the top.

5. & 6. Press to shape pleats and then sew a knitted flower on it. A simple headband is done!

If you find that the width of the headband is too wide. Just fold any part of your piece where you like in half with the two sides meeting at the centre. You can either sew both sides together now or fold any part when necessary. The photo at the right side shows the way how I fold the headband piece at the lower part of my daughter's head.

Knitted flowers

If you find yourself craving for some knitted flowers to adorn your projects, there is a simple pattern here that might suits your requirements. To create a floral embellishment, you can either sew them onto your projects singly or in groups.

Some kinds of fancy yarns work extremely well .....get some and try.... It can be a fashionable accessory!


  





materials:

1. yarn     :  pink and yellow (100%  acrylic, weight 40g )

2. needle :  a pair of single-pointed needle size 2mm and yarn needle.

3. one bead
4. matching thread


 Knitting pattern for a knitted flower

row 1 : Cast on 65 stitches
row 2 : Purl one row
row 3 : Knit two, *(knit one stitch and slip this stitch back to the left needle, pass the next 10 stitches one by one over the top of this stitch and off the needle, knit again the stitch which you slipped it to the left needle just now, knit two.) repeat from*---do this step 4 times, knit one and slip this stitch back to the left needle, pass over 10 stitches, knit again the slipped stitch.
row 4 : *(Purl one, Purl two together), repeat from * until the end
row 5 : *(Knit two together), *repeat this step until the end
row 6 : Purl one row

1.  Follow the knitting pattern above and start your knitting. The photo no.1 shows the result after you have finished knitting row 3.

2. Cut the yarn after you have finished knitting the last row, leaving about a 5 inches end. Thread the yarn tail into a yarn needle and pass the yarn needle through the remaining stitches.

3. & 4.  Slip the stitches off the straight needle and insert the yarn needle to the fist stitch. Pull the yarn to tighten and tie a knot.

5. Cut yellow yarn into a few short strands. Bunch the yarn strands up tightly (tie a firm knot at the middle part) with another piece of yarn.

6. Don't cut the yarn tails, bring both tails through the centre of the flower from the purl side with a crochet hook.

7. Trim the bundle of yarn strands.

8. Unfurl the bunch of the yarn strands and sew a bead at the centre with matching thread. See, the stamens and the stigma of the flower are done. If you plan to tie this flower to your project, don't cut the remaining yarn tails.

The knitted flower shown in the photo is knitted with the same knitting pattern. The differences are changing the color for the cast on row and sew a matching bead on the knit side. That's all. See, just with some small changes and you can get another type of knitted flower.