Monday, July 09, 2007

Bonsai Tunic

Bonsai Tunic FO

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

Bonsai Tunic FO Top

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.

Bonsai Tunic FO Top Closeup

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)

Bonsai Tunic FO Bottom Closeup

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.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

織得很美! 用此 Embellish Knit machine, I-cord 只需10 minutes.
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog_old.jsp?CATID=82324&PRODID=82526

Delana said...

Your Bonsai Tunic turned out beautiful. I am almost finished with mine, and I know what you mean about the weight of the piece. I may try wearing mine now since my office is so chilly during the day, but I think this will be more of a fall/winter sweater.

handknit168 said...

There is why I seldom a cotton one. I usually use wool to knit a spring/summer pattern if I really like the pattern very much and wear it on fall/winter season.

Susan said...

That came out so beautiful. I'm sorry it's so heavy. I've used bamboo yarn before and I found it to be really light. It must be the small yardage. Still - that'll look great for fall!

Knitters-Delight

Anonymous said...

It looks just lovely - too bad about the weight!!

Saw your FO over on the IK KAL site and had to come tell you how much I liked it - Some of your other FO's are just beautiful also!!

PlumStitches said...

The tunic is gorgeous! Too bad about the weight, but perfect for a summer day in Golden Gate Park as the fog rolls in.

Elizabeth said...

Well, it looks great, even if you have to wait a few months to wear it a lot.

Tcknit said...

真是千呼萬喚使出來唷!很漂亮耶!我也同意這衣服太重了點,記得喔,別穿著它量體重捏,會很鬱卒咧!等妳的下一個PO喔!

妳確定不留下來參加Stitches Midwest???我需要個人來幫我提毛線咧!!!

Anonymous said...

真是美耶!就像櫥窗內的展示品,怎麼你的每個作品都那麼美哩!我也想要有這種功力.

Ann said...

I just saw your Bonsai Tunic on IK KAL & it's gorgeous - I have been thinking of knitting this pattern for a while. Thanks for your review of the yarn & the weight of the garment - that will help in my decision for the yarn as I am planning to use a 4ply handpainted merino. So happy to find your blog as it's the 1st that I have seen in Mandarin (altho I can't read Mandarin very well). Will definitely be visiting regularly.

Anonymous said...

哇~~好漂亮~~可惜太重了,要是我的話一定氣死了:p不過真的,我也會這樣太興奮或是心浮氣躁的沒有考慮到最後結果...真是羨慕,現在我還不能打衣服呢,沒空阿~~~

Anonymous said...

真的很好看
這本雜誌裡我也是一眼就看上這件,所以一直在等妳的成品,終於不負眾望啊
大家都很欣賞呢
讚讚讚!

Anonymous said...

很不錯的樣式耶~一定費了妳很長的時間..
好作品是值得等待的~很漂亮,穿在妳身上一定美呆了~

Anonymous said...

我是Linda~

Anonymous said...

這件好看啦~
當初雜誌剛拿到手時我就想打這件
結果最近都在玩鉤針, 也就沒空理他了~
妳這件雖然有點重量, 不過成品真的很美又好搭耶~
就像你說的, 搭襯衫.T恤.小可愛...都很贊喔~

Knitterella said...

Dispite your disappointment it sure is lovely!

I just discovered your blog and you sure are a beautiful knitter! I'll be back often to see what you've worked up.

Thanks for all the tips and inspiration!
Jill

Ashley said...

你消失好久~ 真高興看到你出現~^^

Anonymous said...

Hi!

Your Bonsai Tunic is beautiful! I also found your blog on the IK KAL. I'm planning on knitting the tunic w/Bonsai color Raku Brown. Good to know about the heaviness and weight of the garment. I think it will be perfect though for the Fall/Winter season.

Your crochet boleros are incredibly AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL!! I would love to learn how to crochet one!

I'm a new fan of your blog. THANKS for the inspiration :-)

Happy Knitting!

Debbie

Celia said...

Thank you all for stopping by!! Your kind words made me feel better about the tunic. I hope I will grow to like it more when I actually get to wear it. Although the yarn is heavy, it does produce a beautiful fabric with a nice sheen to it.

Debbie: My crochet boleros are from Japanese pattern books, as long as you know the basics, they are really not that hard to make. Let me know if you do make one, love to see it!

謝謝大家來坐啊! 看到大家都喜歡讓我心情好一點, 希望以後真的穿上身時能對它改觀. 我想是這組線看起來蠻有質感的, 使作品加分, 所以看起來還不錯吧.

Regina: 妳有兩個babies要照顧, 很忙的... 慢慢來... 等他們大一點, 妳慢慢地會有時間再開始打衣服的.

Unknown said...

這件很好看喔!
我之前也是打了一件,
發現“超重“卻為時已晚!!!
只好硬著頭皮繼續>.<
不過,最近想拆掉的念頭倒是越來越強烈了。。。

Anonymous said...

Your bonsai tunic looks really lovely. I knitted mine in different colors - thats not a good decision.
Greetings from Austria!
Die Spinne

Natalie B said...

gorgeous! I've been thinking about knitting the bonsai tunic. I will take into consideration your comment on the yarn.

btw: found you through the IK KAL

Anonymous said...

hi ..i like your tunic and i think to make its one too, but still looking for the magazine, but i love all your work..thanks for being inpiration..