Lacy Babydoll Tunic

Yarn: Hemp for Knitting Hempton (30% hemp, 30% modal, 40% cotton), color #064 Pewter - 6.2 balls (130yd [120m] / 50g)
Pattern: Japanese pattern book かんたんニットワードローブはる・なつ (ISBN: 978-4529045230)
Needles: Clover 6/0 3.5 mm crochet hook (for main body and hem edging), Clover 5/0 3.0 mm crochet hook (for top edging)
Size: Chest circumference 34"
Duration: 2008/04/19 - 2008/04/30

線材: Hemp for Knitting Hempton (30% 麻, 30% 櫸木纖維，40% 棉), 色號#064 紫褐 - 6.2 球 (130yd [120m] / 50g)
圖樣: 日文書 かんたんニットワードローブはる・なつ (ISBN: 978-4529045230)
針號: 可樂 6/0 3.5 mm 鉤針(織主體與裙緣編)，可樂 5/0 3.0 mm 鉤針(織上身緣編)
尺寸: 胸圍 86 cm
製作日期: 2008/04/19 - 2008/04/30



This FO was finished one month ago. This is also one of the projects from Joey's Knit/Crochet-Alongs for the month of March. Since I have already bought the pattern book, I decided not to join the group this time. So that I can work on it at a more relaxed pace. This one actually took a bit longer than necessary. I ran out of yarn twice. I had to make two special trips to Yarndogs to pick up more yarn. I kind of had a feeling that it wasn't going to be enough when I first picked up the yarn, since I was not sure at all how many to get. After I started, I calculated based on my progress at the time and the target length, I thought one more ball should be enough. So I made a trip back to buy one more ball. Well, I tried it on after all was done according to the original pattern, it was too short and I didn't have enough yarn to make it the length I want. Thus a second trip back to the store to pick up just one more ball of yarn. And actually I have only used about 1/5 of the last ball, still have quite a bit left.

又是一件四月的作品，這件也是Joey群編三月的作品之一（扇形娃娃裝），因為買了書，所以就沒報名，想說這樣比較沒壓力。這件其實鉤了有點久，中間缺線缺了兩次，偏偏這線又是在離我家較遠的Yarndogs買的，要特地跑一趟補線還得喬時間。第一次是真的沒買夠，按照鉤的進度來算預定長度，心想再補一球應該夠了。沒想到，全部鉤好後試穿，感覺就是短了一點，只好再跑一趟再補一球，最後這一球只用了1/5呢。



I feel like every time I crochet, I could never accurately estimate the amount of yarn and the length of the garment. I always make a swatch and calculate the target size based on my gauge. But my problem is that I tend to tighten the yarn as I crochet, so my stitches actually get shorter as I go. The original pattern has 8 repeats of the stitch pattern for the skirt. Based on my swatch gauge, I should get the same size as the pattern. But when I actually finished the whole thing, mine was just short. I decided to add two more repeats. I also changed the skirt edging from two chain stitches to three chain stitches to make the scallops more visible.

我覺得我每次做鉤針作品，線的用量和作品長度總是抓不準，每次都很按照規矩地鉤織片算密度，可是我的毛病就是手勁會越鉤越緊，長針會越鉤越短。本來裙子是按照原圖做了八次重複，依織片密度來算應該與原圖尺寸一樣，可是我真正織起來硬是短了一截，試穿後確定太短，於是決定加長。成品有十次模樣編A重複，最後裙裾緣編A裡的二鎖針我把它改成三鎖針，感覺花邊比較明顯。



This last picture of the yarn ball is closest to the true color.
這張毛線顏色最正確。

Ruffle A-Line Tank

Yarn: Rowan/RYC Luxury Cotton DK (50% cotton, 45% viscose, 5% silk), color #257 Char - 5.54 balls (104yd [95m] / 50g)
Pattern: Japanese pattern book hand*madeわたしのニット (ISBN: 978-4277172066)
Needles: Addi Turbo US size 8 (5.0mm) / 24" (60cm) circular for body & hem ruffle, Addi Turbo US size 6 (4.0mm) / 24" (60cm) & 32" (80cm) circulars for sleeve ruffles & rolled neckline
Size: Chest circumference 34", length 22"
Duration: 2008/04/07 - 2008/04/19

線材: Rowan/RYC Luxury Cotton DK (50% 棉, 45% 人造絲, 5% 真絲), 色號#257 - 5.54 球 (104yd [95m] / 50g)
圖樣: 日文書 hand*madeわたしのニット (ISBN: 978-4277172066)
針號: 美制8號 5.0mm/60cm 輪針 (主體和下擺荷葉邊), 美制6號 4.0mm 輪針 (袖口荷葉邊和領口)
尺寸: 胸圍 87 cm, 身長 56 cm
製作日期: 2008/04/07 - 2008/04/19



It was exactly one month ago I finished this tank. Look how long it has taken me to actually sit down and write about it. Not that I have been so busy I couldn't find time, I have just been plain lazy. I still knit and crochet like crazy. Not sure what it is, it's just that when I have a spare moment, I would much rather knit than sit in front of a computer. And so, blogging activities have been minimal. I hope this is just a passing bug, and I'll get over it soon.

這件織好整整一個月了，現在才PO上來。說忙也沒那麼忙，就是懶病上身。每天還是織織織，可是就是懶得碰電腦，有空時只想坐下來打毛線，真的要寫東西時腦筋一片空白，連訂閱的部落格都少去逛了。希望這只是暫時性的發懶，過一陣子會好吧。



Anyway. I had high expectations when I started this tank. Jayden is almost 5 months old now, but my tummy still looks like a 5-month-pregnant tummy... >"<... And the sad thing is I am still wearing maternity clothes, which I am so sick of. Since this tank has a A-line shape, I was hoping that this would be one of the very few FO's that I would be able to wear now. Haha!! Wrong again! Although this tank has enough room for the tummy area, the shoulders and the arm holes are still a bit too tight. Sigh...

當初想織這件是覺得樣子簡單好搭，A字型的身形可以遮小肚肚，我們家弟弟已經快5個月大，我的肚子看起來還是像懷孕5個月... >"<... 生完這麼久了還在穿孕婦裝，實在是令人沮喪。 想說這件下襬寬鬆，應該不是問題吧。哈！ 結果下擺不是問題，是肩膀上臂肉肉還是太多，穿起來還是太緊，唉...



One other thing that I screwed up - I probably blocked the sleeve ruffles a bit too severely, they don't look like ruffles any more, but like two stiff flaps... Maybe another bath and drying on a towel without pins would correct it, I hope?

另外袖口的荷葉邊也被我定型定壞了，拉的太過火了，波浪都被我拉平了，也許再下水一次重新整型可以修正？



Although I probably need to lose 10 pounds before I'd look good in it, knitting this tank has been fun and effortless. I deliberately knit it in a larger size needle (US size 8 for a DK weight) so the fabric would be more drape-y. And I love this color! Strands of dark taupe plied together with strands of gray, two of my favorite colors. The yarn itself is yummy too. I still have two balls left in this color, I will probably pick up some more to make another top.

這件現在穿起來雖然還是顯胖，織起來真的是快又簡單。我特意用了大兩號針來織，所以成品的垂墜性很好。還有，我好喜歡這個顏色喔！這線是由深紫褐和灰兩色相捻而成，兩個都是我鍾愛的顏色。這組線質感也不錯，這個顏色我還剩下兩球，我想我會再去多買幾球再織一件衣服。