Cream Lacy 1/2 Sleeve Bolero

Yarn: Crystal Palace Panda Silk (52% bamboo, 43% superwash merino wool, 5% combed silk), color #3204 natural ecru - 4 balls (204yd [188m] / 50g)
Pattern: Japanese pattern book ショール・ボレロ・小もの―太い糸のレース編み (ISBN: 978-4277261111)
Needles: Clover 2.0 mm crochet hook
Size: One size, length from sleeve to sleeve 35 1/2"
Duration: 2008/03/17 - 2008/04/04

線材: Crystal Palace Panda Silk (52% 竹纖, 43% 美麗諾，5% 絲), 色號#3204 米白 - 4 球 (204yd [188m] / 50g)
圖樣: 日文書 ショール・ボレロ・小もの―太い糸のレース編み (ISBN: 978-4277261111)
針號: 可樂 2/0 2.0 mm 鉤針　
尺寸: 兩袖間長 90 cm
製作日期: 2008/03/17 - 2008/04/04



I bought this Japanese pattern book thinking that it would make a nice addition to my library, full of beautiful lace work to look at, though not intending to actually make any of them since they are all so delicate (i.e. lots of work!) Especially if I didn't want to use crochet thread to make garments, I was pretty much out of options as the materials used in the book are all fine cotton threads. That changed when I picked up Panda Silk in a LYS. The image of this bolero jumped into my mind. This would be the perfect yarn for it!

當初買這本書的動機是純收集，裡面的蕾絲作品纖細精緻令人讚嘆，但是從沒想要真的動手去織，因為：“纖細精緻”等於“厚工”啊！而且又是細針細線，一件衣服不知道要兔瓦故﹝台語：織多久﹞，尤其在美國細線選擇較少，如果不想用一般鉤針專用細棉線﹝較硬挺，我老覺得會像是在穿桌布... :D﹞，能用的線實在寥寥無幾。所以當我在店裡看到這組今年剛出的新線，眼睛一亮，馬上想到這件肖想粉久的小外套，這組線用來織這件應該很合適吧！



This bolero has a very simple construction, you basically make a long rectangle, fold it in half, then add on sleeve edgings and a band that forms the collar and the edging for the rest of the body. The pattern was simple too, just endless repetitions of chain stitches and clusters. But the process got pretty boring and I was running out of patience toward the end. There were just too many chain stitches. Endless.

這件波雷若小外套結構很簡單﹝大多數波雷若做法都大同小異，簡單所以受歡迎吧？﹞織一塊長方形，對折後再加上袖口緣編及領子衣身緣編，就完成了。花樣也不難，很快就能背下來，不就是鎖針，鎖針，鎖針...玉編，鎖針，鎖針，鎖針...玉編... 不斷重複... 重複... 再重複... 無止無盡的鎖針... 天啊！怎麼這麼多鎖針啊！



Blocking this piece is also a lot of work. I chose to pin it down and then spray it with water and let it dry. But, did you notice all those little scallops (chain stitches) along the edge of the entire bolero? Yes, I stretched and pinned each and every one of them down! I did fold it in half to do it, but, still, it was a lot of work!

這件定型時也花了我不少工夫，我是先用T形針釘好然後噴水再等它乾。可是，你注意到整件衣服緣編的那些鎖針嗎？我可是一山一山的把它們拉出來然後一針一山的釘好，雖然這時衣服已對折，須要釘的數量減半，可是還是釘的很累人呢！



Although I got a bit testy toward the end of finishing this bolero, I must say, I love the end result! It came out just exactly as I expected. I enjoyed crocheting with Panda Silk. The generous yardage (204 yards per ball) means I only needed 4 balls for the bolero, so the entire piece is light weight and easy to wear. I will be going back to the store to get more of this stuff, I just wish it comes in more colors in deeper tones. Maybe I will try some variegated colors next time.

雖然耐心磨盡，可是這成品我好喜歡喔！這線很省又很輕，每球有188m/50g，這件才用了四球呢。打算再回店裡敗一些回家，只可惜這組線顏色不多，深色尤其少，也許下次可以買幾球段染的顏色來玩玩看。

VK Cabled Shrug

Yarn: Noro Silk Garden (45% silk, 45% kid mohair, 10% lambs wool), color #258 - 10 balls (108yd [100m] / 50g)
Pattern: Vogue Knitting Winter 2007/08
Needles: Addi Turbo US size 7 (4.5mm) / 24" (60cm) circular
Size: Length from sleeve cuff to center back neck 27", lower edge (chest) circumference 34"
Duration: 2008/02/10 - 2008/03/26

線材: 野呂英作 Silk Garden (45% 真絲, 45% 毛海, 10% 羊毛), 色號#258 - 10 球 (108yd [100m] / 50g)
圖樣: Vogue Knitting 雜誌 2007/08 冬季刊
針號: 美制7號 4.5mm/60cm 輪針
尺寸: 袖口至後領中央長 69 cm, (胸)下圍 87 cm
製作日期: 2008/02/10 - 2008/03/26



Hmmm... well, it's done. I was really excited and jumped at the chance to start this project despite the fact that I already have several other WIPs. But now that it is done, I am not sure how and when I will wear this. I love the design, the yarn, and the colors. I am just not sure that it is a winning combination when put together. The yarn is a gift from my sister Tracy. It is warm and soft, a very lovely yarn. The colors are amazing, vibrant and yet the transitions subtle. I truly enjoyed knitting with this yarn, the beautiful color transitions made the process so much more interesting. But you know, it's one thing to look at the yarn balls and love the colors, it's a different thing when you are to wear these colors on yourself and go about your daily business.

啊...終於完成了這件"彩虹衣"。拿到這期雜誌時一眼就選定了這件，不管手邊還有未成品，等線一到手就開打了。第一次用野呂英作的線，這還是老姐送的愛心線咧，粉貴的，要是我自掏腰包可能下不了手吧？ 線好，又暖又軟，顏色亮麗，每個顏色變化漸層微妙令人驚豔。編織時會想快快織到下個顏色，欣賞變化時的美。設計上也有我近來偏愛的麻花，也不難織。可是織好了，我卻不確定這件衣服什麼時候可以穿出門，這顏色實在是有點太花了... 我好像老愛幹這種事... 沒去想到顏色美在毛線上看是一回事，穿在身上又是一回事...



I don't know why I didn't think of it. I am not a "color" person when it comes to my wardrobe. Most of my store-bought stuff are shades of black, gray, cream, and blues, in single, solid colors. I would never think of wearing this "raindow-like" colors in a million years. In hindsight, I would probably wear it more if it is done in good old-fashion charcoal gray.

不知道為什麼就沒想到咧，我一向是不穿顏色太亮或太花的衣服，我自己買的衣服大多是黑，灰，米白，藍，以單色居多。如果在店裡看到這種色調的衣服，我大概連想都不會想吧。現在想想，這件如果用很安全的灰色來織應該實穿性會提高許多吧。



Anyway. It was fun knitting this project, nevertheless. I made it smaller by working only 4.5" from the upper sleeve to the back, instead of the 6" the pattern called for; and kept the sleeves exactly per pattern. I worked a few rows extra when working the back just so the cables would connect smoothly when I grafted the left and right pieces together. Everything else was pretty much per pattern.

不過，編織過程還是蠻好玩地。這件有刻意織小一點，袖子上方肩頭部位到後背把它從6英寸改成4.5英寸，袖子完全照圖織。為了讓左右片的麻花在縫合時看起來對稱，後背有各多織了幾段，除此之外完全照圖來。



I still have 1 1/3 balls of yarn left. Maybe one of these days I'll go shop for two balls of a different colorway, combine with these leftovers, and make the Noro Striped Scarf. A "rainbow-like" accessory, that, I can handle.

這線還剩下1 1/3球，在想那天有空去毛線店裡再挑兩球不同色系的線，加起來應該夠織我想了很久的Noro Striped Scarf。 衣服不敢太花，配件花一點倒是還可以接受。

Tweedy Diamond Cardigan

Yarn: Rowan Scottish Tweed DK (100% pure new wool), color #025 Oatmeal - 4 balls, color #019 Peat - 1 ball (123yd [113m] / 50g)
Pattern: Japanese Pattern Book ナチュラルテイストのこどもニット
Needles: Addi Turbo US size 6 (4.0mm) / 32" (80cm) for main body, Addi Turbo US size 4 (3.5mm) / 24" (60cm) for edging seedstitches
Size: For toddler height 39", chest circumference 30"
Duration: 2008/01/11 - 2008/02/29

線材: Rowan Scottish Tweed DK (100% 羊毛), 色號#025 燕麥 - 4 球, 色號#019 深褐 - 1 球 (123yd [113m] / 50g)
圖樣: ナチュラルテイストのこどもニット (舒適休閒的兒童毛衣作品集)
針號: 4.0mm/80cm 輪針織主體, 3.5mm/60cm 輪針織邊
尺寸: 身高 100 cm, 胸圍 76 cm
製作日期: 2008/01/11 - 2008/02/29



This is the second garment I knitted for Connor. I really should feel guilty, most of the stuff I knit are for myself. I spent all those time knitting, and so far I have only made two garments for my older son. I had originally bought the yarn for Phildar Swing Jacket more than a year ago, and changed my mind after swatching. I saved the yarn and thought one day I would make a Raglan Cardi for Connor. A few months ago I bought this Japanese pattern book for toddler knits, and I saw this jacket. It is so much more interesting than a simple raglan cardigan. So I decided to switch.

這是我為Connor織的第二件毛衣呢! 說來還有點不好意思，自己織了一堆衣服，寶貝兒子的才兩件。其實線早就買好了，一年多前在找線織Phildar Swing Jacket時，本來想用Rowan Scottish Tweed的，後來覺得不合適，便決定用這組線幫Connor織件外套。那時只想織個簡單的拉克蘭外套，後來買了這本兒童毛衣書，看到這件覺得樣式比較特別，織起來應該比較好玩，拉克蘭織久了會有點無聊呢!



I love the design of this cardigan. There are diamond shapes on both the front and back shoulders, along the bottom hem, and on the side of the sleeves. The collar, hem, and the sleeve hems are in seed stitches in darker color. Although I like this yarn, I realized it is probably not the best choice for this particular design. I really should not use a tweedy yarn for a design that emphasizes on stitch definitions. You can hardly see the diamonds unless you look closely. But I was more than half way done by the time I realized it, and was too lazy to frog and redo it.

很喜歡這件外套的設計，在肩頭(前,後),下擺和袖子有稜形的圖案，領子和袖口用深色線織桂花針。不過有點後悔用tweed的線來織這種有texture的衣服，稜形圖案顯現不出來，要仔細看才會注意到。發覺時已經織了過半了，懶得拆了。



I also like the buttons on the original design, but I couldn't find any suitable ones in the stores. The button holes are quite small too, they were done with only a yo. Most of the similar buttons I found are much larger and would not fit. So I picked out these acorn buttons to go with the cardigan. They are so cute, and I love how they look on the cardigan!

好喜歡原作用的大釦子，可惜找不到size合適的，釦洞只有小小一針寬一段高，釦子買太大還怕穿不過去呢! 找到很可愛的橡果釦子，大小剛好，搭配起來還蠻好看的。



This cardigan is a little too big for Connor right now. Hopefully he will get more wear out of it. You know how fast kids grow at this age.

這件外套對Connor來說還太大了，這樣也好，可以穿久一點。