Green Mango Crochet Bolero (Joey群編2007年5月綠色情人果)

Yarn: Filatura di Crosa Brilla (58% rayon, 42% cotton), #305 Sky Blue - 6 balls (120yd [110m] / 50g)
Pattern: Joey's Knitting House KAL
Hooks: Boye D/3 - 3.25 mm
Size: chest circumference 34"
Duration: 2007/05/09 - 2007/05/21

線材: Filatura di Crosa Brilla (58% 人造絲 42% 棉), 色號#305 水藍 - 6 球 (120yd [110m] / 50g)
圖樣: Joey編織の屋 96/05群編會活動-屬於夏天的小外套
針號: 3.25 mm
尺寸: 胸圍86cm
製作日期: 2007/05/09 - 2007/05/21



This is my first project for Joey's Knitting House KAL. For this month there were four projects to choose from, and I had my eyes on the first one - the light yellow shrug and tank combo. However I couldn't find suitable yarn for it from my stash, and didn't have a whole lot of time to go shopping for yarn, I decided to start with the third one - the green lace crochet bolero. It just happened that I have an odd ball of Filatura di Crosa Brilla in my stash (rescued from one of the odd ball bins at a LYS), the gauge worked out perfectly. And thus I headed to a LYS, picked up more balls and started this project.

第一次參加Joey的群編會, 本來是想做第一件那個粉黃色棒針作品的, 可是手邊一時找不到合適的線, 便決定先挑戰第三件綠色情人果. 正好庫存裡有一球Filatura di Crosa Brilla, 試鉤織片後確定密度剛好, 就到毛線店裡把這件需要量買回家, 正式動工.


This photo is closest to the true color.
這張照片最接近原色.

I felt the front pieces have more difficulties (with the neckline and armhole shaping), so I started with the back piece, to get familiar with the pattern and hoped the front pieces would be smooth sailing. I was only about 2/3 of the way through the back piece when I realized this is not an easy and quick project as I first thought that it would be. There are so many 3-chain picots!! TOO MANY!! Picots slowed me down, especially I am a tight-hand crocheter/knitter. Another challenge is this yarn is splitty. There were countless times where my hook failed to catch the entire strand and had to retract and redo a stitch. Not fun at all.

因為覺得前片難度較高, 決定從後片開始鉤, 熟悉一下花樣, 這樣鉤前片的時候會比較順利. 後片還沒鉤完, 就有點後悔選了這個圖樣, 因為~ 它的小豆豆怎麼這麼多啦!!! 一碰到小豆豆我的速度就慢了下來, 越鉤越覺得自己這線也選錯了, 線分叉的很厲害, 常常無法鉤到整條線一個動作完成, 手勁緊要鉤小豆豆也是很辛苦, 常常要喬一下針頭才鉤的出來. 鉤這件進度很慢, 而且手常常會覺得快要抽筋了.


This photo has a bit too much flash in it, the color is too light.
這張照片裡閃光燈太強, 顏色有點太淺.

I made a small modification at the sleeves. Because the yarn felt a bit stiff when crocheted, the edges of the sleeves flared up so much that it almost felt like I had two flowers at my shoulders. The original pattern called for 12 pattern repeats, I changed it to 11. This reduced the flare a bit, and it looks better now. For a softer yarn, I think 12 pattern repeats would have been okay.

袖子的地方小改了一下, 因為這線比較硬挺, 照原圖樣鉤12朵花的話, 袖邊翹的很厲害, 穿起來覺得肩膀上像開了兩朵花一樣, 有點突兀. 所以拆了只鉤11朵花, 看起來好一點.

This yarn is also on the heavy side, 120 yards (110m) for 50 g. I used more than 5 balls for this bolero. The finished garment measured 260g, a bit too heavy for summer wear.

這組線蠻重的, 一球50g才110m, 鉤這件小外套用了5球多, 整件有260g了咧! 頗有份量, 穿起來有點重.



I love the buttons I found at the same LYS for this bolero, I think they work out well.

在同一家毛線店找到兩個很可愛的釦子, 搭配起來效果還不錯哩!

I Have Been "8 Things Meme" Tagged!

I was tagged by my Cyber-Knitting Friend, Andrea.
被網友 Andrea tag 到啦!

So, here are my 8 things:
1. I love both knitting and crochet. But if I have to pick one, I'd say I love knitting more.
2. I knit with circular needles only. I have a set of straight needles and some DPNs, but have stopped using them ever since I met Addi Turbos. Love Addi's. Although I just recently broke down and bought myself the Knit Picks Options. No verdicts yet, since I haven't used them...
3. I love coffee. And just coffee, with a bit of half-and-half. I am past the espresso and frothy drinks phase. I would bypass Starbucks and go for Peet's if there's one nearby.
4. I majored in computer science in college because it's easier to get a job. If I can start over, hmmm... is there a knitting major?
5. Chocolate for me used to be just okay. I liked it, but did not love it. But ever since I gave birth to my son, my love for extra dark chocolate is here to stay.
6. I love both dogs and cats. Unfortunately I am very allergic to cats - thus no cats for me... sob... sob... sob...
7. My all-time favorite Taiwanese snack/dim-sum would be "smelly tofu" (literally translated) - it's deep-fried fermented tofu served with soy sauce, hot sauce, and kimchee. It's an acquired taste, but boy! Do I wish I can have some now!
8. Since my son's birth, I quit my job and became a stay-at-home mom. Every Tuesday my MIL comes over to babysit, and I get to leave the house and do my things. After running errands, I go to a coffee shop or a cafe, find a nice spot, sit down, and knit till it's time to go home... (hence the title of this blog)

我的八樣事情:
1. 棒針, 鉤針我都喜歡. 如要選一, 我想我還是比較喜歡棒針吧.
2. 現在棒針作品我一律用輪針來織. 直棒針和雙頭針我都有, 可是自從試了Addi Turbo輪針後, 其他的針我就再也不去碰了. Addi實在是好用. 不過最近三心二意地又敗了一組Knit Picks Options回家, 還沒用, 不知道用起來怎麼樣...
3. 咖啡是我的最愛. 黑咖啡, 加一點點奶精就好. 以前常喝的拿鐵, 卡布奇諾等等現在都不喝了. 喜歡純咖啡的簡單. 最喜歡的是Peet's coffee, 如果鄰近有Peet's的店, Starbucks我是絕對不去的.
4. 大學時唸的是資訊, 因為好找工作. 如果能重來, 嗯, 有毛線編織系嗎?
5. 以前對巧克力的感覺是還好, 喜歡但不狂熱. 自從生了小孩後, 口味改變, 酷愛超黑巧克力. :)
6. 狗狗貓貓都愛. 可惜我對貓嚴重過敏, 這輩子是別想養了, 唉!
7. 最愛的台灣小吃是臭豆腐. 在這裡要吃到道地的可不簡單唷! 現在就好想來一盤...
8. 兒子出生後, 我辭了工作當全職媽媽. 每個禮拜二我婆婆會過來看小孩, 這是我唯一完全屬於自己的時間, 可以出門購物, 做自己的事. 我喜歡找個咖啡屋, 坐下來織毛線, 一坐至少2-3個小時, 直到該回家的時間 ... (所以才叫cafe knitter嘛!)

Given that you probably came here to see some knitting/crochet pictures, I share with you my current WIP - yet another crochet bolero:

來了就看看照片再走吧, 這是現在在勾的小外套, 快做好了唷!

Green Crochet Bolero

Yarn: Phildar Phil Crochet (100% cotton), #0017 Anise - 3 balls (201yd [185m] / 50g)
Pattern: Japanese Pattern Book かぎ針あみ春夏ニットこもの
Hooks: Boye D/3 - 3.25 mm
Size: chest circumference 32.5"
Duration: 2007/05/01 - 2007/05/07

線材: Phildar Phil Crochet (100% 棉), 色號#0017 - 3 球 (201yd [185m] / 50g)
圖樣: かぎ針あみ春夏ニットこもの (春夏鉤針小物魅力巧手織)
針號: 3.25 mm
尺寸: 胸圍83cm
製作日期: 2007/05/01 - 2007/05/07



This crochet bolero is really quite simple. It would probably take about 3 days (3-4 hours per day) for an experienced crocheter, I think. Crochet for me is still a bit challenging. I think I tend to put too much pressure on my left thumb when I crochet, thus my left hand gets tired very easily. My right hand, although holding the hook, has no problems. I don't seem to get tired with knitting needles though. When I crochet, I have to take short breaks every few rows. It just slows the whole process down. That's one of the reasons why I don't crochet as much. But recently I have been tempted by all the beautiful crochet work in the blog world, I have added a few crochet boleros and shrugs to my wishlist. This bolero is from a Japanese pattern book I bought at San Jose's Kinokuniya. The content of the book is mostly small decorative items such as bags, doily, coasters, slippers, necklaces, ...etc., which usually are not my cup of tea. But when I saw this bolero, I just had to get the book. Let's hope my interests for the other designs in this book will grow with time.

這件小外套鉤起來很簡單. 鉤針高手們大概3天就可以完成了吧? 鉤針對我來說還是比較累, 不知道為什麼, 鉤針拿久了手會酸, 而且是勾線的左手酸, 不是拿鉤針的右手. 拿棒針就不會耶! 所以碰到鉤針的作品, 速度就慢了下來, 鉤幾段就要休息一下, 這也是我比較少碰鉤針的原因之一. 不過最近受到網路上鉤針高手們美美的作品影響, 也計劃了來鉤幾件夏日小外套. 這件是"かぎ針あみ春夏ニットこもの"裡的作品之一, 書是最近在聖荷西的紀伊國屋敗回來的其中之一. 其實這本書內容大多是小物, 我一向對小物興趣缺缺, 買這本書算是為了這件小外套吧.



The construction was simple, I did not have any problems. The cumbersome 3-chain picots along the edgings of the entire garment slowed me down though, just the 4-row edging took me 3 days. But it is still faster than to knit a lace bolero, I think!

這件樣式簡單, 製作過程沒有遇到什麼問題. 只有緣編花樣裡的三鎖針小豆豆比較討厭, 光是袖口和整件衣服的緣編就花了三天. 不過比起棒針作品來, 鉤針還是比較快唷!



5/23/2007 Photo of me wearing the bolero. 補上麻豆照囉!



8/2/2007 Photo of yarn used for this bolero. 所用的毛線.