What's Next?

紫紅色半圓背心已經鉤好了，現在正在定型中，該準備下一個 project 啦！

I finished the Purple Crochet Bolero Vest, it is now drying on the blocking board. So, what am I going to work on next?



本來想按照清單開始打這件想了很久的斜線麻花背心，把準備好的線拿出來試打織片，可是這線太細了，打起來織片太ㄌㄤ，換小一號針的話織圖針目就要重算 (實在有點懶的算...) 當初買這個線就是打算拿來織這件背心，線是50% 美麗諾羊毛，50% 麻，摸起來是有點硬 (一般麻料的線都是有點硬，不太好織，不過織好下水過後會好很多)，顏色我好喜歡呢，覺得很適合這件背心說... 看來還是要換線，這個用 DK weight (密度約 22針 = 10cm) 的線應該會比較剛好，我想用美麗諾羊毛和棉或絲(或竹纖維)混紡的線來織，純棉的樣子容易"走鐘"，可是我庫存裡大部分 DK weight 的都是純棉的... (那沒事純棉的線買那麼多幹什麼啊？...)

I thought maybe I should stick to my queue and start this Diagonal Cable Sleeveless Top that I have had my eyes on for a long long time. I was planning to use Louet Sales MerLin (50% merino and 50% linen) for it. As it turned out, the yarn is too fine, the stitches on the gauge swatch (I didn't even want to finish the swatch) were too loose. Well, I could use a smaller size needle, but then I'll have to recalculate all the stitch count. With all those cables, I just don't feel like doing it. So, I guess I'll need to switch yarn. That's too bad, I bought this MerLin specifically with this top in mind, and I love this color! It is perfect for this design. I guess a DK weight yarn would be more suitable, in a merino blend with either cotton or silk (or bamboo would be nice too.) Pure cotton tends to lose its shape after a while, but somehow most of the DK weight yarns in my stash are cotton... (then why did I buy so many cotton yarns?...)



既然想不到適合的線，那就先擺著吧。往下看我的清單裡，再來已經有線的就是 Rusted Root 啦！昨晚試了一下織片，下了水現在還在等它乾，不過看起來應該可以，希望晚上就能開打啦！

Well, since I couldn't think of anything suitable for the cable top, I'd move on to the next one in my queue, which is Rusted Root. The yarn has been sitting in my stash for a long time. I finished the gauge swatch last night, it is still drying on the blocking board, but it looks promising. Hopefully I can cast on tonight!

嗯，還有 Joey 那邊還欠著一件鳳梨花對稱上衣，在想去跟柳屋訂原織圖用的線，這樣我就不用傷腦筋找線啦！

Hmmm... there's also the Crochet Pineapple Boatneck Top (#2) from Joey's August Crochet-Along projects... I have been thinking maybe I'll try ordering the yarn called for in the pattern from Yanagiya, then I won't have to worry if my yarn choices won't work!

Seascape Stole TKA#28 海景披肩

線材: Rowan Kidsilk Night (67% 超柔毛海, 18% 真絲, 10% 聚酯纖維，5% 尼龍), 色號#612 粉紫 - 2.5 球 (227yd [208m] / 25g)
圖樣: Knitty 2008 夏季刊
針號: 美制4號 3.5mm 輪針
尺寸: 寬 38 cm/15 英吋, 長 160 cm/63 英吋
製作日期: 2008/07/28 - 2008/08/25

Yarn: Rowan Kidsilk Night (67% super kid mohair, 18% silk, 10% polyester, 5% nylon), color #612 Fountain - 2.5 balls (227yd [208m] / 25g)
Pattern: Knitty Summer 2008
Needles: Addi Turbo Lace US size 4 (3.5mm) / 32" (80cm)
Size: 15" x 63"
Duration: 2008/07/28 - 2008/08/25



星期一晚上就收針完工了，一直到星期三下午才有空把它定型。這次定型沒下水，用鋼條(blocking wires)撐開釘住後，噴濕等它風乾。這兩天天氣超熱，本來以為可能隔天才會乾，結果星期三晚上去摸已經乾了。昨天幫它拍照，這麼長一條實在很難拍全景，折起來拍還比較好看。沒時間，就不拍真人照了，這麼美的披肩我還是不要進去破壞畫面的好 (明明就是懶...)

I finished it on Monday night, but had to wait till Wednesday afternoon for a block of free time to block it. This time I just used the blocking wires to open it up, sprayed it with water, and waited for it to dry. It has been really hot these last couple days. I had thought that it would take till the following day to dry, but it was ready by Wednesday night. Yesterday was the photo shoot. It was difficult to get a full shot of the stole, it being so long. And I actually like it folded better, the color looked more saturated this way. No modeling this time though - I did not have the time, plus I was too lazy...



這次偷懶沒先打密度織片，直接開工，想説這種披肩尺寸密度不用抓的太準也沒關係。打完圖B 6次重複後，試披一下再加上圖C的長度，就算定型時再拉一拉，好像還是不太夠咧... 以為已經快織完了説... 只好圖B再加一次重複。還好，雖然天氣熱，這條毛海打起來沒有我想像中的難以忍受，大部分是晚上邊看奧運邊打的，可是因為打圖B要很專心盯著圖表打，很多時候奧運是用"聽"的。不過現在有DVR/instant replay很方便，遇到精彩好看的馬上倒回去重看，也算是節省時間。

I was also too lazy to work a gauge swatch before I cast on, since sizing is really not that critical for a stole. After I finished 6 repeats of chart B, I tried it on. Anticipated the length of chart C plus possible growth during blocking, it still seemed a bit too short. And I thought I was so close to the finish line... So I added one more repeat of chart B. I thought working with mohair in this hot summer weather would be unbearable, but it actually turned out okay. I knitted most of this stole during night time, while the Olympic games were on. But working chart B requires focus, I needed to constantly look at the chart. And so most of the time, I "listened" to the broadcast. And it's good that we have DVR/instant replay, I could always rewind if there was something good and exciting on the program.



這條披肩我準備了三球線，第三球只用了不到一半。希望還夠用來打一條小領巾，加上珠珠一定很美，或是加一條美麗諾線來打帽子不知道夠不夠？

I prepared three balls of yarn for this stole, the 3rd ball has a little more than half left. I was thinking maybe I can use it for a short scarf, it would be gorgeous with beads. Or maybe I can pair it with a merino yarn, would it be enough for a hat perhaps?

Seascape Stole Progress 海景披肩進度報告

耶！終於織到一半了。照片裡是剛織完圖B第三次重複，雖然皺皺的，但是可以清楚看出花樣。

Yeah! Finally I am at the half point mark. I just finished 3rd repeats of chart B. It's a bit wrinkly, but you can clearly see the patterns.



用線是Rowan Kidsilk Night，其實大約兩年前就買了這個顏色，那時只買了一球，想拿來打 Branching Out，後來一直讓別的 projects 插隊，結果就放到現在。當初一看到海景時，就想用 Kidsilk Haze 來做，去了店裡看，偏偏我想要的顏色不是沒有就是不夠。在店裡還看到銀灰色的 Kidsilk Night，也好喜歡，可惜只剩下一球，也不夠。於是想到我庫存裡的紫色，可是已經買了兩年，還能補到同缸號的嗎？心裡想覺得不可能，但是還是找了時間去當初買線的那家店。嘻嘻，還真的有，而且就剩兩球，這是冥冥之中註定的嗎？

I am knitting with Rowan Kidsilk Night. I bought this lovely lavender color about two years ago, intended to make Branching Out scarf so I only bought 1 ball. Then other projects happened, and this has been sitting in my stash since. When I first saw Seascape, I wanted to use Kidsilk Haze. I went to the stores, and they either didn't have the colors I wanted or didn't have enough. I also saw a gorgeous silver gray Kidsilk Night (totally my color), but there's only one ball left. And then I remembered this lavender ball in my stash. Totally thought that it was impossible to get more of the same dye lot, I made a trip anyway to the store where I bought the original ball. And to my luck, they still had it, and only two balls left. Is this meant to be all along?



昨天受不了了，跑去敗了 Addi Turbo Lace Needles 回來。哇！真的好用，原先用 Regular Addi Turbo 來織，遇到 S2KP, M1L, M1R 時，就要左拉右扯把針目弄大一點，還要戳好幾次才能把針頭戳進去，織的很慢，弄得我快抓狂。現在用 lace needles 只要一次就完成，快多了。

Yesterday, I gave in and bought the Addi Turbo Lace Needles. And WOW! What a difference! With the regular Addi, I had to tug at the adjacent stitches and yarn strands to insert the needle when I need to make a S2KP, M1L, or M1R. And it would take several tries before I could successfully insert the needle. Now with the lace needle, I can insert the needle at the first attempt. I still need to tug at the stitches at some tight spots, but much much less frequently, and so I am making progress a bit faster too.

左邊金黃色的是 Addi Lace, 右邊銀色的是 regular Addi。 Lace 針頭比較尖。

On the left is the yellow Addi Lace, on the right is the regular Addi. The Lace is bit pointier.