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!