Crochet Lacy Scarf (Joey群編2007年12月秀氣蕾絲圍巾)

Yarn: Lang Venezia Color (50% mohair 50% acrylic), color #0150 Blue/Purple Variegated - 2 balls (142yd [130m] / 50g)
Pattern: Joey's Knitting House KAL
Needles: Clover E 3.5 mm crochet hook
Size: 7 3/4" wide x 41 1/2" long
Duration: 2007/12/06 - 2007/12/08

線材: Lang Venezia Color (50% 毛海 50% 壓克力), 色號#0150 藍紫段染 - 2 球 (142yd [130m] / 50g)
圖樣: Joey編織の屋 96/12群編會活動-圈起來的愛
針號: 3.5 mm 鉤針
尺寸: 寬 20 cm, 長 105 cm
製作日期: 2007/12/06 - 2007/12/08



Finally, I was able to report this project as finished to the KAL in a timely fashion. For once. Both previous projects took me a while to complete, I was always near the bottom of the finish list. This project is quick and simple. It took me about 2 days (total of maybe about 6-7 hours). Crochet lace does work up much faster than knitting as far as the time it takes to cover the same surface area.

哈!這次是我最快交功課的一次. 前兩個作業都拖了好久才交, 每次都吊車尾. 這條圍巾織來簡單又快, 花了兩天的時間 (用帶小孩作家事的空檔, 共約6-7小時吧?). 鈎針蕾絲還是比棒針來得快, 同樣的大小, 用棒針可能需要多一倍的時間 (以我的龜速來算的話...)

I love the lace design of this scarf. So delicate and pretty.
我很喜歡這條圍巾的蕾絲圖樣, 很細緻的感覺.



For this project, I decided to find something from my stash to work with since the yarn requirement isn't as strict (well, it is a scarf, I don't have to worry about gauge too much) and I don't need a whole lot of yarn. I picked these two balls of Lang Venezia Color, originally intended for the Reading-in-Bed Shrug but didn't work out. I have had a hard time trying to use up these two balls of yarn ever since, and this project seemed to be the right fit. However, this yarn is scratchy. Although I love the colors, I did not enjoy working with it. I couldn't even get it to feed smoothly from my left hand while I crochet, and I have never had this kind of problems with other yarns. It is a bit itchy too on my neck, maybe not the best choice for a scarf.

這次用的線是我從庫存裡翻出來的, 反正是圍巾嘛, 大小尺寸可隨意, 密度就不需要太刻求, 用線量也不大. 這兩球線是以前打算用來織TKA的蕾絲小外套, 試了織片後發現效果不佳, 之後就擱著不知道怎麼把它消耗掉. 這次看到這條小圍巾, 我就想到了這組線. 顏色我是很喜歡, 不過呢, 這線的質感實在是不太好, 很澀的感覺, 在鈎的時候左手繞線常常有滑不動的情況, 卡卡的, 我用別的線時從來就沒有這種情況發生. 這組毛海圍在脖子上有點刺癢, 實在不太適合做圍巾.



The original design of this scarf is very short, only 84 cm (33 inches) long. Trying to use up the yarn, I made the scarf a bit longer. It was difficult to gauge how much yarn I would need for the lace edging. Not wanting to have to unravel (this is mohair after all, I had a really hard time trying to unravel just two rows when I made a mistake), I decided to stop the main body lace after I had gone into only 1/3 of the 2nd ball, and started the lace edging. It turned out I didn't need that much yarn after all. When it was all done, I still have about 1/4 of a ball left, enough for another 4 inches of the main body lace. Oh well. Right now, the length isn't too bad, it is enough to wrap around my neck and tie a knot in front. Another few inches would have been nice, but this works too. And the good thing is, I used up another set of yarn from my stash, yeah!

原設計的長度很短, 只有84cm長. 本來想儘量把這兩球線用完, 能織多長就織多長. 不過實在是不知道緣邊的蕾絲會用多少線, 很怕到最後不夠要拆. 這組毛海拆起來是很痛苦的, 我有一次小小織錯拆了兩段, 才短短兩段就拆的線打結連剪刀都出動了. 所以第二球只用了1/3, 我就決定開始織緣邊蕾絲. 結果其實不需要那麼多線, 整條圍巾織完還剩1/4球的線, 夠再織個10cm. 現在這個長度也還不錯, 夠脖子圍住前面打個結, 如果能再長一點點就很完美了! 最驕傲的是, 庫存裡又少了一組線啦!



I was also eyeing another design in this month's KAL - the white scarf with the spirals at the ends. Now this one is done, I am gonna try to see if I have suitable yarn in my stash to take on that project.

其實這個月的另ㄧ條捲捲/螺仔肉圍巾我也很喜歡呢, 有時間再去翻翻庫存看有沒有合適的線可用, 這次可要挑比較柔軟的線材了.

Turtleneck Shrug

Yarn: Rowan Kid Classic (70% lambswool, 26% kid mohair, 4% nylon), color #835 Royal - 4 balls (153yd [140m] / 50g)
Pattern: Scarf Style
Needles: Addi Turbo US size 7 (4.5mm) / 24" (60cm) & KnitPicks Options US size 7 (4.5mm) / 24" (60cm) circulars
Size: Sleeve to sleeve 61"
Duration: 2007/10/15 - 2007/12/05

線材: Rowan Kid Classic (70% 羊毛, 26% 毛海, 4%尼龍), 色號#835 深紫 - 4 球 (153yd [140m] / 50g)
圖樣: Scarf Style
針號: 兩組4.5mm/60cm輪針
尺寸: 兩袖緣之間長 155 cm
製作日期: 2007/10/15 - 2007/12/05

I had wanted to make this shrug for at least more than a year now. I bought the yarn from way back and just somehow forgot about it. Until recently when I was going through my stash, I rediscovered this project. I felt a bit guilty about it. I have been buying a lot of new pattern books and new yarn, while I have tons of projects waiting to be casted on in my stash. I made a promise that when and if I start a project with new yarn, I must also finish one of the older projects from my stash. I used to keep track of my projects in an Excel spreadsheet, but it got so big and cumbersome that I just gave up. I thought, I'll just knit whatever comes to mind. But this, could also be dangerous, I may never finish knitting my stash.

想織這個作品想很久了, 線買好放了至少有一年多, 後來不經意地把它給忘了. 前一陣子整理毛線時看到, 小小的罪惡感了一下, 決定從現在開始, 每做一個新project, 也要同時消耗一個舊project. 我庫存裡的舊projects可多了, 本來還打進Excel裡做記錄, 後來實在是多到我自己都懶得整理懶得看. 就隨性一點吧, 想織什麼就織什麼.



The design of this shrug/scarf is very unique, but knitting it could be quite boring. The never-ending repeats of k3 and p3. I was just about running out of patience when I finished both sleeves. Good thing I got other projects on the needles to keep me going. Whenever I felt like I've had enough with this thing, I just switched to another project and then came back to this shrug later. But when I finished the Upside-Down Sweater and was waiting for it to dry on the blocking board (which took 4 days!) I had nothing else to play with except this, I had to try to stay focused to finish it.

這件shrug兼圍巾的設計是蠻特別的, 但織到後來實在是有點無趣, 三上三下不斷重複, 兩隻袖子織完我的耐心已經快磨光了, 還好有別的projects同時進行中, 每當我覺得快織不下去時, 就換個project來玩. 可是像前一件上下顛倒穿織完時, 光定型等它乾就等了4天, 這4天中只好乖乖地與這件shrug奮戰.



This shrug is very simple to knit. Even though it was simple, I did manage to visit the frog pond once. I followed the pattern and knitted both sleeves till 23", started decreasing for the shoulders, and then joined to knit the turtleneck. When I just finished the sleeves, they were too long for my arms. Not wanting to rip them out, I decided folding the sleeve cuffs after all is done would simply fix the length problem. Soon after I started knitting the turtleneck, I realized I would run out of yarn. One of the worst things when a project sits too long in a stash - if there's not enough yarn, most of the time it's next to impossible to find extra in the same dye lot. I really did not need too much more, maybe just 1/4 of a ball would suffice. Given Kid Classic is quite pricey, I did not want to shell out money to buy another ball. I decided to rip it back to where the sleeves were about 21" long, then restarted with the shoulders and the turtleneck. I was afraid that the yarn wouldn't stand up to the unraveling since it contains mohair, but other than some BO stitches where it got stuck, ripping it out was fast and easy. And the yarn still feels the same. I really enjoyed knitting with it.

這件織法很簡單, 可是我還是有小拆了一下. 原本是按照圖樣兩隻袖子各織了23英寸後, 減針織肩膀部位, 然後接合織高領. 袖子剛織好時有點訥悶, 我的手臂沒這麼長呀! 那時懶得拆, 打算袖子反摺就好了, 應該也不錯看. 領子開始織沒多久後, 我就後悔了, 很明顯地線不夠用啦! 這也是projects囤積太久的一個壞處, 一旦線不夠, 要再買到同缸號的線可是難上加難. 這次缺的線也不是那麼多, 再買一球也是有點浪費(更何況Kid Classic粉貴...) 想了想, 決定拆! 把兩隻袖子拆回到各21英寸處後, 再重織肩膀和領子. 原本以為這線帶毛海會很難拆, 結果還好, 除了有些收針的地方拆起來卡卡的, 其他的都拆的很快, 而且線的質感並沒有太大的影響, 這組線真的是不錯唷!



This is probably the only FO that I can wear right now, but I will spare you the sight of me actually wearing it. With a big belly, somehow nothing seems to look the way they should.

現在肚子越來越大, 這件作品好像是唯一還能穿的. 不過為了大家的眼睛著想, 還是不要穿上來嚇人... :D

Upside-Down Sweater (Joey群編2007年10月上下顛倒穿)

Yarn: Filatura di Crosa Brilla (58% rayon 42% cotton), color #385 Light Coffee - 9 balls (120yd [110m] / 50g)
Pattern: Joey's Knitting House KAL
Needles: Boye F/5 - 3.75 mm crochet hook, Addi Turbo US size 3 (3.25mm) / 32" (80cm) circular needles
Size: Sleeve to sleeve 41", length 17"
Duration: 2007/10/21 - 2007/11/27

線材: Filatura di Crosa Brilla (58% 人造絲 42% 棉), 色號#385 - 9 球 (120yd [110m] / 50g)
圖樣: Joey編織の屋 96/10群編會活動-百變造形秀
針號: 3.75 mm 鉤針, 3.25mm/80cm 輪針
尺寸: 兩袖緣之間長 104 cm, 衣長 44cm
製作日期: 2007/10/21 - 2007/11/27



This is the second time I joined Joey's KAL. Not that I didn't see projects I wanted to work on, it's just intimidating seeing how fast everyone else in the group is finishing their projects. Plus I have got tons of projects piling up in my stash... Feeling a bit guilty buying new yarn to start a new project when in fact I have got more than enough projects to last me through next year... But the temptation of new patterns and new designs are hard to resist, especially when there's only limited time when you can get your hands on them... And this is one of those cases.

這是第二次參加Joey的群編, 不是沒有喜歡的作品, 只是每次看到大家完工的速度實在是快的驚人, 而且我自己已累積了許多等著開工的projects... 我通常都是看好作品再買線, 所以我囤積的毛線大部份都是已想好作品了, 只等著開工, 算一算以我的龜速, 這些線夠我忙一整年喔! 可是每次看到新的作品圖樣, 還是有點忍不住, 這件上下顛倒穿設計簡單但特別, 看了實在很喜歡, 於是決定插個隊先織它嘍!



Choosing a suitable yarn and swatching for gauge turned out to be the challenge for this project. The pattern used a fine gauge cotton yarn with a larger crochet hook to achieve the airy look for the lace portion, while most of the FOs in the KAL group used worsted or DK weight yarn resulting in a heavier/chunkier fabric. I tried several options, seen below from left to right: Louisa Harding Grace Wool-Silk, Classic Elite Wool BamBoo, Patons Grace, and Filatura di Crosa Brilla (I did two swatches with Brilla using different size hooks, one in light blue and one in light coffee.) And of course, the one I liked the most is the one I don't have in my stash. A great excuse to visit the LYS and pick up new yarn, and I was glad that they had the exact color I wanted.

選線和試織片密度花了我不少精神和時間, 原圖樣用的是細棉線, 可是看到大家用的好像都是比較粗一點的毛線, 所以一開始實在是不知如何下手, 就從囤積的毛線裡先開始找中細的毛線. 我試了四組線, 下面照片從左到右分別是 Louisa Harding Grace Wool-Silk (最粗的), Classic Elite Wool BamBoo, Patons Grace (織蕾絲洋裝的那組線), 和 Filatura di Crosa Brilla (最細的). Brilla 這組線我用不同大小鉤針試了兩個織片, 一個淺藍, 一個金黃. 結果最喜歡的還是細線, 偏偏Brilla囤積的不夠, 所以還是跑了一趟毛線店, 還好店裡正好有我喜歡的這個顏色.



Nine balls of yarn proved to be quite heavy for such a little sweater, and I have only a tiny bit of yarn left. The weight pulls down the sweater, making it more drapey, which I love. The one thing I did not anticipate is how the ribbing portion looks when I flip it and wear it as a collar. It is a bit too wide and hard to hold in place, I have to wear it more like a cowlneck for it to stay on my shoulders. I don't know how the more "conventional" way of wearing this sweater (i.e. ribbing at the waist) would fit, since I can't try it on right now. I think I will wear it more in the "conventional" way once I get my waist back, instead of the "upside-down/cowlneck" look.

這件衣服用了九球線, 頗有重量, 因為線本身重, 垂墜性不錯. 有一點沒想到的是, 倒過來穿的時候, 羅紋編的領口有點太寬了, 如果像原圖照片裡的穿法, 肩膀上掛不住會一直掉, 要不然就要把領口往下拉. 現在是無法試穿"正常"的穿法(肚子太大了), 不知道穿起來是什麼樣子. 不過我想, 等我生完哪一天真的可以穿這件衣服時, 應該"正常"的穿法會比較實在, 因為我不喜歡會跑位的衣服, 要常常喬來喬去的很麻煩.



I also love the buttons I picked up at Joann for this sweater. They added an even more contemporary look to the garment.

在布店Joann找到搭配的釦子, 更添加了時尚感.

VK Lacy Dress

Yarn: Patons Grace (100% mercerized cotton), color #61005 Snow - 16 balls (136yd [125m] / 50g)
Pattern: Vogue Knitting 2007 Spring/Summer Issue
Needles: Addi Turbo US size 6 (4mm) / 24" (60cm) & 32" (80cm) circulars
Size: Chest circumference 34"
Duration: 2007/03/30 - 2007/11/13

線材: Patons Grace (100% 棉), 色號#61005 雪白 - 16 球 (136yd [125m] / 50g)
圖樣: Vogue Knitting 雜誌 2007 春/夏季刊
針號: 4mm/60cm & 80cm 輪針
尺寸: 胸圍86cm
製作日期: 2007/03/30 - 2007/11/13

This project really tested my patience and determination. It took forever! Although the lacy bodice and acorn edging kept the knitting interesting, it's the sheer large surface area of it that wore me out. I chose to knit the bodice and the sleeves first, and then the bottom tier of the skirt. Looking back, I think it is the right decision. If I had to knit the bottom tier first, I probably would have given up half way through the 290-sts-per-row-for-54-rows-twice pieces. It was just too much of the same thing. And I could hardly hold all the stitches on the 32" long circular.

這個project真的是考驗耐心和毅力, 織的有夠久啦! 常常想自己是不是吃飽閒閒沒事找事做, 自討苦吃. 雖然蕾絲花樣織起來蠻有意思, 可是實在是太大片了, 織多了還是覺得無聊. 這件我是先織上身和袖子, 最下面也是最大片的裙擺留到最後才織. 那也是織來最痛苦的一段, 每段290針目織54段要織兩片, 針目多到我80cm輪針都快抓不住了, 實在很累人.



I did make one little mistake though. One of the notes in the pattern said to make sure all the acorns are pointed in the same directions. Well, since I took my time to make this dress, by the time I started the sleeves, two months had already passed since I finished the bodice. I actually started knitting the sleeves on the plane to Chicago in August. To keep my luggage light, I did not bring the finished bodice with me, so I couldn’t look up which way the acorns were pointing. I just thought, well, usually row 1 is the right/public side, and so I continued to finish both sleeves. It was not until I tried to put the pieces together that I realized, the acorns on the bodice were pointing in the wrong direction. I thought about just leaving the acorns in “insert 2” pointing one way, and all others pointing the opposite way, but it just looked too obvious to me. Finally I decided to have the acorns in the sleeves pointing one way, and all others pointing the opposite direction. I guess if I don’t say anything, people wouldn’t notice the difference, right?

這件洋裝有些小小的織錯. 本來所有花邊裡的橡果都應該朝同一個方向的, 可是我實在是擱下太久, 都不記得已經織好的上身裡橡果是朝哪邊. 袖子是八月去芝加哥時在飛機上開工的, 因為不想帶太多東西, 織好的兩個身片就沒帶著, 所以只好自己瞎猜繼續下去. 後來把所有的織片湊起來才發現方向不一樣, 有想過錯的”insert 2”就算了, 把其他的方向調成一樣就好, 後來自己看看還是覺得怪. 最後決定, 身體和裙子部位的橡果朝一邊, 袖子的橡果朝另一邊. 我想如果我不說, 應該不會有人看出來吧?



I also added acorn edging along the bottom panel. I think the original design looked great without it, but somehow my version just looked ‘”unfinished” (even after blocking). So I knitted two strips of acorn edging (80 repeats each) and sewed them along the bottom. This added quite a bit of weight to the dress. I used 1.5 balls of yarn just for this part. But I really like the effect.

裙子下擺也多加了一段蕾絲, 其實我覺得原設計裡沒有蕾絲也很好看, 可是我的織好後看起來就覺得好像少了什麼, 好像沒有完工的感覺, 於是決定滾個邊. 織了兩條橡果花邊(每條有80個花樣重複)後縫上去, 用了1.5球的線, 整件衣服也變重了, 不過我覺得效果還不錯.



I think I’ll like this dress. Well, since there’s no way I could squeeze my 7-month-pregnant tummy into this dress, I can only guess how it would have fit my pre-pregnancy body. Hopefully I will lose enough baby weight by next summer so I may actually be able to wear it.

我猜這件穿起來應該還不錯看吧? 這件洋裝從沒懷孕織到現在懷孕七個多月, 近期內是不可能試穿了, 目測是覺得依照以前的身材應該是可以穿, 希望到明年夏天可以有機會穿.

Fiery Bolero

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cathay (50% cotton, 35% viscose microfibre, 15% silk), color #12011 - 6 balls (110yd [100m] / 50g)
Pattern: Interweave Knits 2005 Summer Issue
Needles: Addi Turbo US size 4 (3.5mm) / 24" (60cm) circular (for stockinette), US size 3 (3.25mm) / 24" (60cm) circular (for ribbing)
Size: Chest circumference 34" (pattern sized for 32 3/4")
Duration: 2007/09/19 - 2007/10/11

線材: Debbie Bliss Cathay (50% 棉, 35% 人造絲, 15% 真絲), 色號#12011 - 6 球 (110yd [100m] / 50g)
圖樣: Interweave Knits 雜誌 2005 夏季刊
針號: 3.5mm/60cm 輪針 (平針) 和 3.25mm/60cm 輪針 (緣邊)
尺寸: 胸圍86cm (原圖樣尺寸為83cm)
製作日期: 2007/09/19 - 2007/10/11

I had wanted to make this top since I first got the magazine. I bought the yarn during a clearance sale in a LYS last August, and didn't get around to it until this summer. Just have so many projects and so little time. Such is the dilemma for us knitters, isn't it? This is actually a very quick and easy knit. Obviously I didn't work on it full time during the three weeks it took for me to finish it. I picked this project to start in the midst of all those lace projects, to sort of give myself a break. Something straight forward and not fussy, something that I don't have to keep counting stitches and rows and looking at charts. I actually knitted the majority of this top on the road while we were driving around in Toronto, just a few rows at a time. Plain old stockinette is the best for in-the-car knitting.

當初一拿到雜誌時就想織這件, 去年八月碰到附近一家毛線店出清存貨折價時把線也買好了, 卻一直等到現在才織好. 實在是想織的東西太多, 時間太少. 我想愛編織的人都有同樣的難題吧? 這件織起來其實又簡單又快, 從頭到尾雖然拖了三個星期, 不過我也沒有全副精神地去做(之間還在玩別的projects). 這一陣子玩蕾絲玩的有點累, 持續地算針數和段數以及看圖表, 腦細胞死了不少, 覺得需要些較簡單淺顯的東西來放鬆一下. 這件小外套有一大部分是在多倫多時織的, 老公開車時, 我就織毛線. 在車上織毛線還是織平針比較輕鬆, 不像蕾絲要一直盯著免得出錯.



Originally I had wanted to make this top in the same shade of orange-y red as shown in the magazine, but when I saw the actual yarn color in a store, I changed my mind. Somehow it just doesn't seem to be the right color for me. I like purple, but I hardly knit with purple. This shade of purple is not appealing to everyone, I know. At first I hesitated on picking them up from the clearance bin. After another half hour of pacing in the store, I just couldn't leave without them. And the color kind of grew on me, I am liking it more and more. It would look striking on ivory, grey, brown, and black, which are the basics in my wardrobe.

本來是想要用雜誌上麻豆穿的那個帶橘的鮮紅色, 去到店裡一看便改變了主意. 顏色是還不錯, 只是覺得不太適合我. 紫色一直是我喜愛的顏色之一, 也不知為什麼很少織紫色的衣服. 這次挑的這個紫並不是很討喜, 可能很多人不會考慮. 可是當初在店裡看到時, 卻捨不得不買, 考慮了許久, 還是把它帶回家了. 不過這顏色我越看越順眼, 用來搭配中性色系如乳白, 灰, 褐, 或黑應該都不錯.



Now some knitting observations:
編織心得:

The pattern is easy and clear, I had no problems following it at all. But do check the corrections posted on Interweave Knits' website. The pattern as published was correct, but they posted a different way of describing how to do the short rows along the back neck ribbing which, I agree, is much easier to follow than the magazine.

這件的pattern很簡單也很詳細, 一路織來沒有遇到什麼問題. 不過想要織這件的朋友們, 記得看一下Interweave Knits雜誌社網站上登的圖樣修正. 雜誌上原圖樣並沒有錯誤, 只是在解說後領引返編織的部分有點不太容易懂. 網站上登的解說就清楚多了, 也不用算那麼多針目.

I deliberately used a larger gauge - 21 sts/4" instead of the suggested 22 sts/4". I wanted a 33 1/2" - 34" chest circumference, the closest size in the pattern is 32 3/4" and the next size up is 35". I decided to knit according to the 32 3/4" pattern, and hoped the larger gauge and blocking would give me a slightly larger garment. I think it turned out pretty well.

這件的密度我故意用的鬆一點, 圖樣是22針目/10公分, 我的密度是21. 圖樣上的尺寸要不就是太小(胸圍83公分), 要不就是太大(胸圍89公分). 想說密度弄鬆一點, 定型時再拉開, 應該會比較剛好. 結果還挺滿意的喔!

I used a little over 5 balls of yarn. For the size I made, the magazine called for 5 balls of yarn. It probably would have been enough if I watched carefully while I knitted and maybe ripped out my test swatches when I ran short, but I didn't. I bought 6 balls anyway, so I figured, why skimp on the few inches that I usually leave when changing to a new ball or the lengthy tail that I saved for seaming?

這件我用了五球多一點點的線. 根據雜誌上說的, 五球應該就夠了, 不過就要省著點用. 這組線我當初買了六球, 絕對不怕不夠, 所以用線時也沒有刻意去省, 線頭都留長長的. 五球用完時其實只剩下一隻袖子的緣邊還沒織, 如果把試密度的織片拆掉來用可能也夠了, 可是我就是懶得拆. 反正線夠嘛, 幹麼那麼麻煩?

Cathay knits up beautifully. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. But it also splits like crazy if you have to unravel. The yarn also splits during seaming, all those threading back and forth. My guess is - don't work it too much, and it will be fine. But I wonder if I will ever be able to rip this out and reuse the yarn for something else?

這組線Cathay織出來的針目清楚漂亮, 算是出乎我意料之外. 但是如果有需要拆掉重織, 或穿針用來縫合時, 這個線就分岔的很厲害. 想要它不分岔呢, 就不能太過操作. 不過這麼一來, 好像也不可能哪天把它拆了換織別的東西哦?

See those terribly splitty yarn ends?
線頭分岔的很厲害

Hello!

真的是太久沒發文了, 整整兩個月!! 這段時間內仍然忙著編織, 9月出了一趟遠門, 有三個多星期的時間不在家. 本想在8月底趕著完成一件作品後再走, 但旅行前一切繁瑣事務卻硬是讓我無法完成已寫了一半的文章. 現在只好重寫啦!

It's been too long since my last post, two months!! I was still busy knitting and crocheting during this time. I took a trip in September, was out of town for more than three weeks. Originally I was planning to finish a project by end of August and post it, but all the little things I had to do before the trip just kept me from even finishing the half-written posting. And now I am starting all over again.

9月回了一趟芝加哥看爸媽, 姊姊, 和新生姪兒. 小寶寶真的很可愛唷!! 這次因為自己還要照顧兒子, 也沒幫上忙, 每天去姊姊家報到, 就是陪著兩歲兒子和四歲姪子玩, 小baby反而沒抱到幾次呢! 這次回家的時間比較久, 也有機會和以前大學好友們聚會, 去年還和A聚了一次, 像J和B, 我們已經至少有三年多沒見了吧?! 老友重聚, 聊的都是孩子的事, 和以前的日子真的是不一樣了...

Early September I went back to Chicago to visit my parents, sister, and the newborn nephew. He is such a cutie! I didn't help out much this time around. Since it was an unfamiliar environment for Connor, he was very needy and got anxious everytime I left his sight. Thus even though we went over to my sister's house everyday, I didn't get too many chances to even hold the baby. Connor got more comfortable by the second week though, he started loosen up a bit and had lots of fun playing with his older cousin. This time I also got to spend time with my college buddies. Last year I had a chance to see A, but J and B, I haven't seen them for at least three years. It was a great time. All we talked about was our kids, exchanged experiences and advices. It was certainly different from our old college days.

待了兩個多星期後, 先生飛到芝加哥與我們會合, 便出發到多倫多去玩. 除了一些有名景點如CN塔, 尼加拉瓜瀑布, 多倫多動物園, 和半島上的酒廠, Markham的華人區也是讓我大開眼界. 自覺北加州的華人市場和餐廳已經不少, Markham, Scarborough等一帶的商店餐館卻讓我有像到了LA的Monterey Park的感覺, 超市, 書店, 服飾店, 麵包店, 奶茶店, ... 應有盡有. 不過這個發現的有點晚, 我們的旅館是在downtown市區(除了中國城以外, 不知那裡還有好吃的中國餐廳), 卻每天都想吃道地中國菜, 只好在Don Valley Expwy高速公路上跟大家塞車, 開到北邊去找餐廳.

After more than two weeks in Chicago, my husband flew in to meet with us, and then the three of us headed over to Toronto. We visited the usual touristy spots such as CN Tower, Niagara Falls, Toronto Zoo (this one was for Connor), and the wineries on the peninsula. I was really amazed by the Chinese communities in Markham and Scarborough. I thought we get pretty good access to Chinese goods and food in northern Cal, but the stores and restaurants I saw in Markham reminded me of Monterey Park in LA. There were so many Chinese markets, book stores, clothing stores, bakeries, and tea shops... And restaurants, oh, there were so many that looked authentic. We didn't know about these areas before the trip. Our hotel was in downtown (other than Chinatown, not sure where we could go for good Chinese food). Craving for good authentic Chinese food, we ended up driving north for dinner the last three days, stuck in traffic on Don Valley Expwy.

其實也怪自己事先準備不週, 對多倫多一帶地理毫無概念的我, 一直到最後三天才發現, 咦, 密西沙加Mississauga就在多倫多市區外圍耶! 如果沒記錯的話, 瑪姊好像就住在那附近哦?! 可惜剩下時間不多, 也不知道怎麼聯絡較好, 不然真想請瑪姊指點一下那裡有好餐廳, 最重要的是, 值得一逛的毛線店!!

Well, I guess I could have done more research before the trip. I did not realize until three days before heading home, that Mississauga was near Toronto. If I remember it right, Margaret lives near the area. Too bad that there wasn't enough time, and I didn't have means to get in touch with her, otherwise I could really use some tips on good restaurants, and most importantly, good yarn shops!!

出門這麼久, 回家後還是有點累, 懷孕五個多月的體力還是有差 (是的, 小卡比明年一月要當哥哥了! 到時可能有好一陣子沒時間碰毛線了>.<) 回來一個禮拜了, 還沒時間到各家拜訪, 我的Bloglines裡現有1459篇文章未讀, 夠嚇人吧?!

Being away for so long, coming home to try to get everything back to normal routine is still exhausting. I guess being 5-month pregnant didn't help (yes, Connor will be a big brother in January! I probably won't have time to play with yarn for a while... >.<) I have been back for a week now, still haven't caught up with my blog reading. I have now 1459 articles to read in my Bloglines, very intimidating...

言歸正傳. 這兩個月裡都織了些什麼呢? Vogue Knitting那件蕾絲洋裝在芝加哥時已經織好定型完畢, 只剩下縫合. 不過縫合也是大工程喔! 而且我決定下襬要再加一段蕾絲, 這段蕾絲才織了不到1/4 (然後我又分心開始另一個project, ;p) 我想還要再一個星期來完成吧?!

Anyway. So what have I worked on in these two months? I finished knitting the VK lacy dress in Chicago and blocked all the pieces. I just need to sew it up. But sewing will take some time too, cause there were so many pieces. I also decided to add another acorn lace edging along the bottom hem, and I have only managed to knit about 1/4 of it (before I got distracted and started something else ;P) I think another week should do it.



8月時花了不少時間鉤了一件小外套. 本來希望在8月底可以完成的, 按照圖樣鉤好後, 自己不太滿意, 覺得實在是太短了, 就自己翻書找合適的花邊想要加長下襬, 結果花邊還沒鉤完, 線沒了. 那時心想, 沒關係, 線當初是在芝加哥買的, 我很快又要回去, 再買一球應該就夠了. 回到芝加哥後, 想了很久, 試穿了好幾次, 還是決定忍痛拆掉. 因為實在是有點小, 是能穿啦, 只是總覺得有點勉強. 而且下襬加了花邊後, 雖然不錯看, 可是整件衣服的味道感覺都和原作不同了, 跟我想要的樣子還是差了一點. 拆掉換大一號針重織應該會好一點, 等蕾絲洋裝完成後就來動工.

In between working on the lacy dress, just so I wouldn't fall asleep at the needles, I made this crochet shruken cardi in August. I was really hoping to finish it before the trip and post it. But after I finished it according to the pattern, I realized that it was too short. I decided to add some lace edging to the bottom hem and the sleeves. And then I ran out of yarn. Thinking that I would be back to Chicago soon (where I got the yarn), I brought it back to Chicago with me, planning to buy one more ball, and then finish it. After I got to Chicago, I thought about it long and hard, tried it on several times, and asked my sister and my mom for opinions, I finally decided to rip it all out. It is really too small for me, I can wear it, but it is really tight. And also the lace edging I added to the hem and sleeves changed the whole look of the garment, it was really different from the original design. I decided ripping it out and starting over with a larger hook should do the job and really make something that I wanted in the first place. I will probably start after the lacy dress is done.



下面照片裡的是人馬星座披肩, 從7月底就沒再動過 - 歹勢唷!! 實在是織起來很累人, 眼睛離不開圖樣, 怕織錯. 也是這次挑的線是我用過的線裡最細的, 跟縫衣線已經差不多了, 織來眼睛很容易累, 手也酸. 自從看到這篇文章後, 更是信心動搖, 我用的雖然不是同一組線, 但也是Yarn Place出的細線, 很怕它禁不起定型時的拉扯, 如果像照片裡的作品一樣定型時跑出破洞來, 那我會哭死... 現在不知道是應該換線呢, 還是織一小塊織片來試試定型看.

Below is the Sagittaria Shawl, which I haven't touched since end of July. I really felt bad, but knitting this project was really tiring. I had to look at the chart constantly, afraid of making a mistake. The yarn is also the finest I have ever worked with, it almost felt like sewing threads. Knitting with such fine yarn tires my eyes and hands. After reading this posting, I am really worried. Although the yarn I am using is not Graceful, it is from Yarn Place. Will I have the same problems, since I tend to block my shawls rather severely? I am not sure if I should switch yarn, or maybe I should test block a swatch and find out for sure.



好啦, 寫了落落長囉哩叭唆的一大篇, 下篇應該會有成品與大家分享, 再等幾天哦!

Wow, this is a really long posting. I shall have a FO to share with you in my next posting, should be ready in a few days. See you then!

Shimmer Shrug

Yarn: Filati Lame SinFlex (60% Tactel, 40% Sinflex), color #006 - 2 balls (163yd [150m] / 20g)
Pattern: Japanese Pattern Book すてきなミセス Spring&Summer (Let’s Knit series 手編み大好き)
Needles: Addi Turbo US size 10 1/2 (6.5mm) / 24" (60cm) circular
Size: Sleeve to sleeve across the back 23"
Duration: 2007/07/20 - 2007/07/31

線材: Filati Lame SinFlex (人造纖維 60% Tactel, 40% Sinflex), 色號#006 - 2 球 (163yd [150m] / 20g)
圖樣: 美麗優雅風編織服飾設計26款 / すてきなミセス Spring&Summer (Let’s Knit series 手編み大好き)
針號: 6.5mm/60cm 輪針
尺寸: 背寬兩袖距離58cm
製作日期: 2007/07/20 - 2007/07/31



This Sunday I will be attending my cousin Vivian's wedding reception in Chicago. Since nothing in my closet seemed to work (or look appealing at the moment...:D), two weeks ago I went out and bought a new dress. And to go with this dress, I decided to knit a shimmering shrug to glam it up a bit. This pattern is really simple, with only one easy lace pattern going throughout the whole garment. The difficulty lied with trying to knit slippery fingering-weight yarn with slippery chunky needles. I had such a hard time trying to do p2tog's and ssk's with the blunt tips of the regular Addi Turbo's. I basically had to break the p2tog's into a two step process similar to how you would do a ssk (i.e. slip the stitches over to the right needles so to loosen them up a bit, then insert the left needle into the stitches to do the p2tog.) It was so slow going, I almost regretted that I picked this yarn (or this project? Not sure...)

這個週末要到芝加哥參加堂妹維媛的婚宴. 看了看衣櫥, 實在是沒衣服可穿(或“想“穿... :D), 所以兩個禮拜前便買了一件新洋裝, 黑色細肩帶的. 買回家後想想, 覺得如果有條披肩來搭配應該不錯, 可是手邊有的顏色都不太適合. 翻書時看到這件小外套, 好啦, 就是它了! 圖樣非常簡單, 從頭到尾就是一個蕾絲花樣重複. 難在要用滑溜溜的粗針來織滑溜溜的細線, 要把那胖胖的針頭戳進兩個幾乎靠在一起, 緊貼著針的針目打併針, 實在是非常困難. 簡單的二上併一針也要分成幾個步驟來做 (先把兩針目滑到右針, 把針目弄鬆一點, 然後把左針插入兩針目來完成二上併針) 這樣織起來速度像龜爬一樣. 有幾次有點後悔, 不知是選錯線還是選錯樣子?...





This yarn is also stretchy and hard to keep shape. I blocked the pieces before seaming, and it still looks like it hasn't been blocked. The bottom edge of the hem still rolls inward although I stretched it out during blocking. I thought about adding either a ruffle edge or crochet one or two rows of sc border, but decided not to do anything yet. Well, first, I may not have enough time to finish it before Sunday. Second, I may not have enough yarn and I know I will be quite busy in the next few days that I won't be able to make a stop at the yarn store. So, this is it, for now. Although I wish the border/hem is more prominent, I think it looks okay this way too.

這組線蠻能撐的, 垂墜性很高, 但是織片的樣子儘管整型後仍不持久. 照片中是已經定型過了, 看起來還是像沒定型一樣. 定型時特意拉過了, 下襬的邊還是一直往內捲. 本來在考慮加個花邊或鉤個短針的邊, 想想還是暫時這樣就好. 一來, 我這幾天要準備打包出門, 很多事情要做, 要趕在星期六上飛機前做好, 不太可能. 二來, 剩下的線可能不太夠, 而我實在沒時間再跑一趟毛線店. 就先這樣吧. 本來希望緣邊寬一點, 花樣才看的清楚, 不過現在這個樣子也不賴啦.

Cheeky Pineapple Cap-Sleeve Bolero

Yarn: Rowan 4-ply Cotton (100% cotton), #133 Cheeky - 3 balls (185yd [170m] / 50g)
Pattern: Courtesy of Margaret
Hooks: Boye D/3 - 3.25 mm
Size: chest circumference 34"
Duration: 2007/06/20 - 2007/07/07

線材: Rowan 4-ply Cotton (100% 棉), 色號#133 桃紅 - 3 球 (185yd [170m] / 50g)
圖樣: 感謝瑪格慷慨賜圖
針號: 3.25 mm
尺寸: 胸圍86cm
製作日期: 2007/06/20 - 2007/07/07



I finally managed to finish this popular bolero. Huge thanks to Margaret for sharing the pattern!! I felt bad for the long delay in finishing this project. Margaret sent me the pattern a long time ago, and I have just now finished it. Sorry! I first tried to make it in white, and ran out of yarn. I searched all LYS's in the area, and couldn't find the extra ball of yarn I needed. I could have ordered it online, but I just don't feel like paying shipping for a $6.50 ball of yarn. Thus I decided to switch color. Fuchsia is usually not my top pick when it comes to colors. But several weeks ago when I was going through my closets, I realized that I have several sleeveless dresses in white or cream with pink/fuchsia/burgundy prints, that would look great with a fuchsia bolero. In the photos is one of the dresses, and I think the dress and the bolero look perfect as an outfit!

這件超人氣的小外套終於被我完成了! 感謝瑪格慷慨分享織圖, 讓我也能擁有這件美美小外套. 在此還要特地和瑪格説聲歹勢, 圖很早就拿到了, 拖到現在才完成, 不好意思捏! 之前本來是用白色線鉤的, 主體還沒鉤完線卻沒了, 後來在附近的毛線店找了一陣子也沒找到, 而我實在不想為了一球$6.50的線, 網購付$4-$6的運費, 於是決定換個顏色. 我通常是不會挑這麼鮮艷的桃紅色, 這次是因為整理衣櫃時突然發覺, 我有好幾件無袖洋裝都是乳白色的底, 上面印了粉紅, 桃紅, 或酒紅的花, 想説有件桃紅小外套來搭配應該是很不錯地, 個人覺得效果很好耶! :D



The pattern for this bolero is probably one of the most confusing I have seen. I started studying it as soon as I got it in the mail, and just wasn't sure how to start. At that time there were not yet any discussions in Margaret's blog about the starting instructions. I thought about it long and hard, and decided to just go ahead and do it the way I think it should be done (based on what I could decipher from the diagrams.) Hehe... what's the worst that could happen? Right?! If it was a mistake, then I'd just rip it out and start over. Maybe I would learn something new in the process. Actually my first attempt (the white UFO) was somewhat a mistake - it was too small! I used a 2.75mm hook to get gauge, but it was too narrow and tight at the shoulders (the original pattern was sized for young girls). The size was too big for a little girl, I think it would fit a teenage girl better. But I don't know any teenage girls. I may just have to rip it out and save the yarn for something else.

這件大概是目前為止看過織圖看來最霧沙沙的, 收到圖後就馬上開始研究, 真的是有點不太確定如何開始, 那時瑪格家還沒有大家的留言討論. 想了很久後決定照自己的想法動工, 反正照圖看它也只能往一個方向進行, 就鉤鉤看吧! 嘻嘻... 反正大不了織錯就拆嘛... 在織錯拆的過程裡也可以學到新東西哦! (至少知道下次不要犯同樣的錯誤... :D) 其實我原先沒鉤完的那件白色的就是錯誤的示範, 那時為了配合織片密度用了2.75mm的鉤針, 結果太小啦! 那個size給小女孩穿還太大, 給十幾歲的美少女可能剛好, 可惜身邊周圍沒有這種人物. 我想我應該會把它拆了吧?!

Bonsai Tunic

Yarn: Berroco Bonsai (97% bamboo, 3% nylon), #4110 Shibui Clay - 9 skeins (77yd [71m] / 50g)
Pattern: Interweave Knits Spring 2007
Needles: Addi Turbo US size 4 (3.5mm) / 32" (80cm) circular, Addi Turbo US size 6 (4mm) / 32" (80cm) circular
Size: chest circumference 34"
Duration: 2007/05/29 - 2007/07/04

線材: Berroco Bonsai (97% 竹纖維, 3% 尼龍), 色號#4110 Shibui Clay - 9 綑 (77yd [71m] / 50g)
圖樣: Interweave Knits 2007 春季版
針號: 3.5mm/80cm 和 4mm/80cm 輪針
尺寸: 胸圍86cm
製作日期: 2007/05/29 - 2007/07/04



I guess I am not quite happy with this FO. The pattern was clear, I had no problems following it. The knitting went smoothly as well. But I came to realize when I was knitting the front piece, that the finished garment would be quite heavy. The yarn itself is heavy, each skein has only 77 yards and weighs 50g. The size small I made required 9 skeins. I just weighed the garment, the whole thing is 428g. It felt thick and heavy when I tried it on, for which I am quite disappointed. One of the reasons why I decided to knit this project is the potential versatility, a garment that you could possibly wear all year long. Now that it is so heavy, wearing it during the summer is out of the question. I may have to wait till late fall to actually wear it. Well, another lesson learned. This is something I could have foreseen when I chose the yarn. I just got too excited in the midst of a yarn sale, you understand.

這件織來不太滿意... 其實過程很順利, 織法寫的也算詳細, 沒有遇到什麼大問題. 後片織完時還沒有什麼特別感覺, 前片織到一半時忽然驚覺 ~ ㄟ 這件衣服很重耶! 線本身就重, 一綑才71m就50g, 整件衣服要用9綑耶!! 剛剛量了一下, 整件成品是428g, 穿著身上只覺得好厚重, 非常失望... 當初會想要織這件就是覺得它應該春夏秋冬都合穿, 就看裡面怎麼搭配 (小可愛, 短袖T恤, 長袖襯衫... ). 現在這個樣子, 夏天是不可能穿它了, 會熱死... 秋天嗎, 也要等到晚秋... 只能怪自己後知後覺, 這種事應該買線時就要想到. 誰叫我那時遇到線線特價, 興奮過度, 只想著把它搬回家, 卻忽視了這線本身的缺點.



I made modifications to the length of the garment. I felt the original length would be too much for me. The waist ribbing was reduced from 3 1/2" to 3". The lower body was reduced from 10" to 8 3/4". Everything else is pretty much per pattern.

這件衣服的長度我改了一點, 覺得原來的樣子對我來説太長了. 腰部的鬆緊編我從3 1/2英寸改成3英寸. 下半身從10英寸改成8 3/4英寸, 這樣比較剛好(也是偷懶, 少織一點... :D)



With all that said, I still like the lace patterns and the color of the yarn. If I can start over, I think a lightweight cotton-blend yarn would have been a better choice. The pattern is not difficult, it's just the hot weather making me impatient. I spent only about 1 hour, sometimes 2, everyday on this project. Even the 64" I-cord belt, which is so easy yet so boring, took me one week to finish. To get myself to finish it, I decided not to publish another posting until I am done with this project... haha... it still took me more than a month. Although in the meantime, I finished another crochet bolero, just haven't had time to block it yet, it will be the next posting.

不過這花樣和顏色我是都還蠻喜歡的啦! 如果能重來(哈哈... 不可能的事), 挑個輕的棉線應該就很好了. 花樣不難織, 只是天氣實在太熱, 心情浮躁, 再加上已可預料的結果(不滿意), 每天都織一點點就丟到一旁去了. 這段期間為了激勵自己來完成它, 決定沒有成品不發文... 哈哈, 還是被我拖了一個多月. 你們相信嗎? 光是那條64英寸長的I-cord腰帶, 我硬是花了一個星期才打好. 打到後來實在很無聊, 強強要睏去... 當然, 這期間為了不讓自己無聊至死, 也是我三心二意的壞習慣, 又鉤了一件小外套. 已經鉤好了, 還沒整燙, 過兩天再給大家看喔.

Just Being Lazy

It's been almost two weeks since my last post, and I have to still bring myself to write this one. I must have caught the thing called "laziness", or the warmer weather is just making me want to lay back and do nothing at all. Other than a short trip to San Diego (Sea World and San Diego Zoo) over the Memorial weekend, which Connor enjoyed tremendously, nothing much is happening. Knitting is going slowly. I haven't reduced my WIP pile, and I managed to add another one. I have been working on Bonsai Tunic, from IK spring issue, for a few days now. The back piece is finished, and I have just cast on for the front piece. It's easy knitting so far, although the yarn is a bit annoying. It's very twisty, and keeps tangling up all by themselves.

已經快兩個星期沒發文了, 今天這篇居然還是覺得有點懶得寫. 我一定是得了懶病, 要不就是這天氣令人覺得懶洋洋地, 什麼都不想做. 上星期的四天週末假日帶兒子去了聖地牙哥(海洋世界和聖地牙哥動物園), 卡比玩的很開心, 我們可是累慘了. 其他也沒做什麼... 懶嘛! 手邊已有三個未成品, 嘻嘻... 我又開始了另一個project - 是Interweave Knits春季版裡的一件背心. 後片已經織好, 今天剛開始打前片. 蠻簡單的, 只是這線有點討厭, 捲曲的很厲害.



I have also managed to finish the collar on Phildar Swing Jacket. What's left to be knitted are the four pocket pieces, and then I still have to decide on what to do with the trim. I have made up my mind not to use the bias binding tape, and will probably either knit or crochet the border. But I haven't decided on exactly what to do. It has been very easy to get distracted from this project. Not sure why. I guess especially now I won't get to wear it until fall, there's less incentive to get it done right away. And handling wool in this summer weather is just not very enjoyable. But I am anxious to get it off the WIP status though, maybe I will work on it when we have the AC on. :D

另外, Phildar七分袖外套的領子也織好了. 再來就剩下四個口袋織片要織, 原圖樣毛織的部分就算完成了. 我還沒有決定那淺紫的邊要怎麼做. 已經確定的是, 不用原設計裡的bias binding tape, 我打算另用毛線用棒針或鉤針來做邊, 只是還沒想好要怎麼做. 做這個project很容易分心耶, 尤其現在天氣越來越熱, 這件外套就算做好也要等到秋天才會穿, 就不太想去動它哩. 這種天氣實在是不想碰羊毛線, 但又覺得這件拖了有夠久, 也許等天氣熱到非開冷氣不可時, 再來躲在冷氣房裡織, 哈! :D



And I want to thank you all for stopping by and for your kind compliments. They were always received with deep appreciations. I wish I have time to go around and chat, but the truth is I am getting less and less computer time these days, as my 2-year-old is already fighting with me over the computer. Well, not exactly "fighting", he just needs to pull at my shirt (hard!) and I will have to get off the computer and let him use it. And this happens whenever he sees me sitting down in front of the computer. He would tap at the keyboard and giggle when he saw those dots in the password box of the login screen. He has also figured out how to insert a DVD and the key sequences to start playing his favorite Teletubbies episodes on the laptop. Truly scary!

感謝大家有空過來逛逛, 留言, 和讚美(是大家不嫌棄啦!) 能在網路上遇到這麼多編織同好, 高手如雲, 實在是很令人開心. 我很希望能有更多時間也到大家的部落格看看串門子, 可惜現在用電腦時間越來越少. 卡比只要看到我坐在電腦前, 就會跑過來把我拉起來, 然後自己爬上椅子, 在鍵盤上東按按西敲敲. 他喜歡看登入時密碼格裡的黑豆豆, 一按出黑豆豆來他就笑的很高興. 他也知道如何將DVD拿出和放進電腦裡, 然後要按那些鍵來播放他最愛看的Teletubbies, 兩歲的小孩耶, 連話都還不會說... 實在是恐怖!