Knitting Lassie

Yasmine Shawl Version Test Knitting 雅思敏蕾絲披肩版測織

2011-10-18T14:00:00.000+08:00

Test knitting Yasmine by Marie-Adeline Boyer in shawl version with Malabrigo Lace Merino in Emerald. Yasmine shawl weights about 40g and measures approximately 160 cm wide and 70 cm long.

I gave myself two weeks to test knit Yasmine. For the scarf/sock yarn version that is. Since I finished it in two days, I couldn't help but also test knit the shawl/lace weight version, which was completed equally fast.

I am in LOVE with this pattern. It is really an easy knit. The design is so pure and simple and yet elegant and sophisticated. After knitting both scarf and shawl version with two very different yarn, it is needless to say that Yasmine is the most versatile accessory for this fall/winter. Should I say more? Want a Yasmine, or maybe two, anyone?

Now, some pics of me with my dear Yasmine, just to let you know what a marvel this is. I know I need to get outdoors and take some real pictures with my face visible, but before that please bear with these self-taken crappy pics a little longer!

Please look out for the publishing of Yasmine pattern on Marie-Adeline's Ravelry page. Besides Yasmine, we will be seeing more of Marie-Adeline's designs very soon!

Yasmine Scarf Version Test Knitting 雅思敏圍巾版測織

2011-10-17T09:47:00.002+08:00

Test knitting Marie-Adeline Boyer's latest scarf/shawl design: Yasmine.

The scarf version was knitted with Noro Kureyon Sock. Variegated yarn wasn't what I intended for Yasmine but I really wanted to try this pretty Noro Kureyon gifted by Mary L. I thought if I didn't like the color combination after a few rows, I could just rip and switch to lace weight and knit it double stranded, since I have plenty of solid lace weight yarn.

Surprisingly, I finished Yasmine scarf version in two days. Yes. Two. I myself was alarmed by the speed. This pic shows how it's being blocked.

Yasmine scarf version is about 120 cm wide and 60 cm deep. And used up way less than one skein of Noro Kureyon Sock.

I had some issues with Noro Kureyon Sock. First, I didn't like how it feels. It's kind of hard and not smooth. Second, the yarn goes thick and thin while you knit, and sometimes the thin part comes to be so thin that I think it would break while blocking. But after the scarf was removed after blocking, I couldn't find that assumed would be breaking part which I intended to reinforce by darning.

And third, I was afraid I wouldn't like the color combination of the famous Noro yarn and that it would compete with the design itself. Luckily, the yarn lives up to its reputation and it actually shows off elegantly the beautiful scarf Marie-Adeline designed.

Guess what? I'm in love with the marriage of this yarn and the design! Now I'm off to knit the shawl version of Yasmine. Will keep you posted!

Few pics of me wearing Yasmine scarf:

Alice 愛麗絲

2011-10-16T00:56:00.000+08:00

Alice was planned to be knitted up right after Cassandra, but Alice was busy with her life and so she didn't come out until a few days ago.

It was a very quick knit, even for me, who had a four-month knitting break. I could have finished it in two days, definitely less than three, but when I started the leaf border, my stitch count was off. I had more stitches on the first half of the triangle, and I couldn't fix it unless a visit to the frog pond. Besides, the garter stitch main body makes any fixes glaringly visible. So, I ripped back to row 10. Yes. 10. Row 10.

It took me another half day to re-knit the garter stitch body, but the leaf border was easy enough and it was finished in no time.

Alice used up almost a whole skein of cotton silk blend yarn. Only a little was left. No modifications were made, except the way I did the ssk: slip 1, place slipped stitch back to left needle, k2tog tbl. That way the stitch definition was great for it resembles exactly the k2tog.

Selbu Modern 色布配色貝雷帽

2011-10-14T17:32:00.000+08:00

Selbu Modern was 2011-1 KAL project of Taiwan Knit Along.

And that was way back in Jan or Feb.

Scarlett asked for a hat in pink and magenta and Selbu Modern was a perfect match. I knitted to around row 30 and found the whole knitting really miserable.

I used the tubular/invisible cast on featured in Interweave Knits Fall 2008, and tried to hide my float while knitting to avoid snag. I had had tension problem with stranded knitting, and thinking back now I wasn't really concentrating while working on it. Crappy results. Decided to rip. And then the weather got warm.

More than six months have past, with much cooler air, I started knitting again. Especially after two successful stranded berets, I thought, why not finish what I started? So, Selbu Modern was officially ripped and re-started.

This time I used tubular cast on with Judy's magic cast on. Way easier than IK Fall 2008 tubular cast on. No fuss at all. The only set back was the ripped yarn was so crinkled like ramen... but of course it got better after using up the quantity for the first 30 rows!

After finishing the pink Selbu Modern, I think I know why I was not able to concentrate the first time. The pattern has been updated and although I didn't compare the versions side by side, I was sure the newer version was better.

Delighted, a second Selbu Modern was cast on, for Sebastian. The yarns were the same type as the pink version but in yellow and blue. And I found that the newer version of the pattern was written and colored exactly like how I was going to knit Sebastian's Selbu Modern! Seriously, when I re-started Selbu Modern and before getting out the pattern, which I downloaded again from Ravelry instead of going through my hard drive, the color combination was already decided!

Seba and I really liked the colors, although it's kind of more Swedish than Norwegian!

Béret Généreux 大方配色貝雷帽

2011-10-13T16:14:00.000+08:00

Beret Genereux was the 2011 4th KAL for Taiwan Knit Along.

I With the permission of Isabelle Allard, had the beret in mind for quite while, but never got to pick up the needles and yarn. Even when I was helping on the translation, doubt was still lingering in here about whether or not I would knit it.

This was the first project I made after the four-month stop on knitting. And I ended up knitting two berets. One for Sebastian and one for Scarlett.

It's not my first stranded knitting, but I had always had a problem with the yarn float. Since the pattern called for worsted weight yarn, I figured it might also be a good project to destash all those fingering weight yarn I have. An off-white merino fingering was used double-stranded to pair with a blue jean/various colors variegated sport-dk weight wool yarn.

It was really interesting to knit for the brim was corrugated ribs and I tried a new tubular cast on: Tubular Cast On with Judy's Magic Cast On. The colorwork chart was so easy to follow that it took only one night and one morning to finish!

After a successful stranded come-back knitting, I cast on for a second beret, pairing the same off-white merino fingering double stranded with the same type of sport-dk weight wool yarn, but in magenta/various colors variegated.

The first beret was knitted during a weekend, but the second had to span into the week, but still, it just took two more nights after work and dinner & etc to finish.

Scarlett and Sebastian were impressed by the colorwork! And I have yet to take pictures with S&S wearing them!

Cookie A Socks Cookie A 設計的襪子

2011-10-12T16:43:00.001+08:00

Although it seems almost impossible but I have been abandoning my blog for six months!! Actually, I've been also kind of abandoning my knitting for about four months, only occasionally I continued to knit Mandala II for my aunt.

Before I went on a hiatus on updating the blog, I actually had three pairs of socks done, all of them were Cookie A's design: Hedera, Pomatomus and Marlene. And all of them were knitted with Knit Picks' yarn: Stroll and Stroll Tonal.

Marlene was the last project I worked on before the four-month break from knitting, but I still have to take pictures of them.

So, here they are: Hedera in Knit Picks Stroll Burgundy

The leg length was shortened, shorter than I used to like, for after wearing and washing the socks grow....

These are Pomatomus in Knit Picks Stroll Tidepool Heather:

Knit Picks Stroll are quite nice to work with. Stroll Tonal's even better! Really nice quality and equally nice price!

More Hermione's Every Socks 妙麗日常襪第二彈

2011-04-19T15:40:00.000+08:00

As promised, I knitted all 4 colorways of my Kertzer On Your Toes 4Ply with Aloe Vera leftovers into Hermione's Everyday Socks. And here they are!

Mother's Day 2011 100年母親節

2011-04-15T09:25:00.000+08:00

This is Cassandra. Marie Adeline Boyer's latest. It's not done yet, not quite, but it will be. Real soon. I promise.

MA's Cassandra is my saviour. I was suffering from a nasty cold and was too tired and weak to knit anything. When I saw MA modeling Cassandra on Raverly, my eyes widened immediately for I have just the yarn and cause for this pretty shawl. It is a real pick-me-up! Years ago I bought 2 cakes approximatley 250 grams of these hand-dyed fingering weight 80/20 cotton/silk in apple green and planned to knit into a summery top, which never happened, of course. And I'm almost sure it will not happen. For they are even better if knitted into this lovely Cassandra! So, I fished the cakes of out my yarn chest, assembled my Knit Picks Harmony Wood Interchangeables with US6 needle heads and cast on. I was so quick, even I haven't been knitting the same overall patterned shawl for quite some time. And I am now 7 reps out of the 8 reps chart B called for.

Leaf motif

Leaf motif, you can see the buds!

As to the yarn, I really don't know the brand and such. It was dyed by a local knitter here. She bought undyed yarns in bulk off eBay UK and hand painted herself. I don't even know the yardage. And I'm too lazy to calculate! Anyway, 2 cakes 250 grams is suffice to a simple short sleeve top. It is very loosely spun with 5 strands of 2 plies. Have to be very careful while knitting so as not to pick up any single 2 ply strands, which will then stick out real ugly. Although wet blocking does not change the size of the finishing shawl, but it will help smooth out uneveness and loose picked single strands. That is the single not so good thing I can say about this yarn.

Godric's Hollow 高錐客洞帽

2011-04-13T14:21:00.003+08:00

OK, remember I said I was so inspired and would like to knit everything I saw in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I? Well, after Hermione's Everyday Sock (which did not appear in the movie) it's this inspired beret/hat, imitating the one Hermione wore in the movie while accompanying Harry to visit Godric's Hollow on Chrsitmas Eve.

S&S in their coats and raincoat and Godric's Hollows ready to go to Kindergarten.

I picked up the mulberry colored leftover yarn from grandma's. My aunt was looking for odd balls to put together as a vest for her granddaughter, while helping her out, I picked out some leftovers: 2+ balls of worsted wool in mulberry, some variegated worsted wool in plum/salmon pink & etc., some variegated worsted wool/angora blend in pink/gray/yellow & etc., and 1+ball of purple angora/acrylic/cashmere blend. These can be knitted into berets or mittens or even both!

Recently I've been reading Kate Davies' blog and was so excited about corrugated ribs, so I decided to give the beret a twist. But these are pure wool yarn and they're itchy, so lining should be applied. I read about bi-color turn up hems on Ysolda's blog and brim lining on Kate's, and went to pick out some leftover lace yarn and cast on.

The berets were a quick knit using worsted weight yarn, but the brim aren't as elastic as I thought. No matter, the twins still love them a lot. I love them a lot, too!

I knitted the berets in adult sizes. I can wear them, too! So, they can wear them for a while!

Hermione's Everyday Sock 妙麗日常襪

2011-03-04T14:07:00.000+08:00

After seeing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I, I was so inspired and wanted to knit those garments and accessories they wore. Hermione's Everyday Sock wasn't in the movie but it was in my mind. Saw it a while ago and would like to knit it. I was motivated but projects kept coming up. When I finally had a break I saw Havanaise' ravel which made me cast-on the sock.

看完哈利波特死神的聖物上後, 受到很大的激勵想要把主角們在電影裡穿的毛衣和小物通通都打起來. 妙麗日常襪並不是電影裡出現的, 很久以前就看到想打, 不過一直有其他織物在產生, 好不容易空檔出線, 又看到 Havanais 的筆記, 就馬上開打這雙襪.

Like Havanaise, I have a high instep and often find shoes uncomfortable. I've been knitting socks for sometime but found them didn't fit as well as I would've liked. I thought it was because the elasticity of the cuffs. Hand-knitted wollen sock cuffs aren't like store bought ones. I've been knitting socks toe-up for whatever reason toe-up cuff was considered more elastic than cuff-down. Besides, back then grafting was my Achilles' Heel. Only last year I learned Jenny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-off, the twin of Judy's Magic Cast-on. So ashamed. Being a sock knitter and not know about JSSBO.

跟 Havanaise 一樣我的腳背高, 買鞋常碰到穿起來不舒服的狀況. 襪子也織了幾年, 始終覺得不那麼合腳好穿. 我以為是襪頭彈性的問題, 且由於不知名的原因一直打趾起襪, 覺得趾起的襪頭彈性會比襪頭起的好. 那時候也不會縫接, 襪頭起打的腳趾處要縫接, 是我的罩門. 又到了去年, 我才發現有珍妮超有彈性收針法, 是茱蒂魔術起針法的雙胞胎姊妹. 真是有夠遜. 號稱是襪子織女卻不知道有這種收針法.

After knowing JSSBO I thought my toe-up cuffs might be improved greatly. Well, not quite. It was a wee bit better, that's all. I only knit one pair of toe-up socks, Triton, before I decided to knit mainly cuff-downs. Since I've overcome my fear for grafting, I have no fear for cuff-downs. Besides, after consulting with Havanais about knitting the heel flap longer, I've a full-steam engine!

知道珍妮超有彈性收針法後心想我的趾起襪頭會更有彈性了. 並沒有. 只是感覺不那麼沒彈性罷了. 此後, 我只再織了一雙特里同襪, 就決定要多打襪頭起的襪子. 且現在會縫接了, 就沒有再怕襪頭起的襪子. 再請教 Havanaise 過後, 就全力織起來了.

Although Hermione's Everyday Sock's stitch pattern doesn't strike as breasthtaking assessing from its Ravelry pattern page, but one will grow on it. It has my new favorite Eye of Partridge heel, and it has a twist of garter edge. The stitch pattern is so simple and easy the hand can knit itself automatically without the brain proccessing on it. And it works very well with variegated yarn.

妙麗日常襪的織圖介紹頁上的照片看起來模樣並不驚為天人, 但是打了一定會喜歡的. 她有我現在最愛的鷓鴣眼模樣腳跟, 且還有起伏邊. 主體模樣超簡單根本不用記手就會自己打, 不需要經過大腦了. 這模樣蠻適合段染線的.

I have four colorways of On Your Toe 4 Ply with Aloe Vera. They were knitted into Floret Toe-Up Socks, Blackrose Inspired Toe-Up Socks, Triton, and Edwardian Boating Socks. They all have leftovers and each about 25~30 grams, only enough for one sock. So I decided to knit 4 socks and wear whichever 2 I pull out of the drawer! Call me crazy, I need to wear them at home, too, for this past winter was really cold. No one would mine if the socks aren't the same color. A pair can be two things SIMILAR. I usually wear my hand-knitted socks when I go out. Who knows, I might wear these out some day!

我有四組含蘆薈 On Your Toe 4 Ply 襪線, 分別打成了花苞趾起襪, 當作黑玫瑰趾起襪, 特里同, and 愛德華風划船襪. 每一組都有剩 25~30 克不等的線, 只夠打一隻短襪. 就這樣決定把它們都拿來打妙麗日常襪, 每次就穿隨手抓出來的兩隻吧! 很瘋狂是嗎? 這個冬天太冷了, 在家也要穿毛襪 (通常我的毛襪是出門時才穿). 誰會注意兩隻襪不同顏色呢? 再說, 一雙本來就可以不需要一模一樣啊! 誰曉得, 搞不好哪一天我就給她穿出門!

Eye of Partridge Heel with Garter Edge
鷓鴣眼起伏邊腳跟

Knitted 38 rows for the heel flap and picked up 20 stitches. They fit so much better. The stitch pattern on my ankle isn't distorted by stretching. I'm so happy!

腳跟打了 38 排, 挑 20 針. 腳跟加長後穿起來真的有差, 舒服多了. 而且腳踝上方的模樣不會因為緊而被拉扯得變形. 真開心!

I ran out of yarn, a few rows before toe-grafting, so I used some from another colorway to make up.

第一隻打到腳趾縫接前幾排沒線了, 拿另一組來補.

As for this colorway, I had less yarn, so it ran out much earlier, and I used some yellow fingering weight merino to finish the forefoot. Was going to combine a carrot color lace with it to mute the bright yellow and give the substitute yarn a more cohesive color tone. But eventually I scratched the idea. The color combo actually resulted better than I thought.

第二隻這組線本來就比較少, 打到腳前半就沒線了, 拿恒源祥黃色細線來補. 本想多拉一條橘色蕾絲線, 柔和亮黃, 也讓補的線色調較接近原線, 但最後作罷. 結果還不錯, 沒樣我想得那樣醜.

Now off to knit more Hermione's Everyday Sock!

好了, 要繼續織第三織襪了!

Honey Cowl 甜蜜蜜頸圍

2011-02-25T14:40:00.000+08:00

Remember I said about posting 1 of the 3 projects that were on going at the same time? Well, no more sneakpeeks for it is already finished: the Honey Cowl.

I've been eyeing this cowl for such a long time. I had the yarn, too. I was procrastinating. Until that little knit along group of ours decided on this as February's KAL. After making sure I really have the right weight and enough quantity to make the long version, I fished it out of my great aunt's camphor chest, cast on, and knitted away.

It was a quick knit. Really. I finished it in a little over 2 days, in little slots of time of waiting for the twins to finish breakfast, during lunch break, waiting for the twins to finish dinner, and after the kids finally go to bed/TV episode time with DH.

OK, maybe a few stitches in my cubicle. FINE, actually I bound off in the office. So in love with the FO and so satisfied with the result, although a few inches wider would be even better, but I only have 1.6 of Malabrigo Worsted Merino.

As I rolled the cowl up I was shocked: just spotted a dropped stitch!! I HAD to rip. Unfortunately, the dropped stitch situated at about the first 1/3 of the width. Rip. So upset with it, I started reknitting right there in the office cubicle and managed to knit enough wide, a few rows before BO. That night I finished the cowl, AGAIN, binding off the stitches but found the leftover a bit too much. Another visit to the frog pond, well, a very brief one. Knitted 1 more row and FINALLY I can bind off.

Maybe the Malabrigo knew I love it so much so it managed to make me confused during knitting so that I have to go to the pond a couple of times, prolonging knitting time, e.g. spending more time fondling the yarn.

The cowl measures 44 inches around and approximately 10 inches wide. It would be better if I had more yarn to make it 12 inches wide. I love this cowl, or should I say, this yarn, so much that I practicallly slept with it wrapped around my neck!

OK, ok, I know the pics are awful. I promise you that I've already clean the mirror and I WILL improve my poses. It's just not very easy for me to take pictures of the FO on me at the same time trying to leave my tree trunk like legs and my face out of the them!

Sneakpeek 偷看

2011-02-25T14:15:00.001+08:00

WIPs 進行中

2011-02-14T15:39:00.002+08:00

Sneak peak of what I have on my needles. I currently have 3 projects on going all at the same time. I don't usually do this, except I'm in kind of a state that I feel compelled to have knittings done. The third one has no photo yet. Will post it when I take some.

預覽一下我現在正在打的東西. 目前手上有三件編織品同時在進行. 通常我不會同時進行好幾個項目, 除非手閒不住又想要馬上有個成品出來才會如此. 第三項還沒拍照.

Sock 1 in progress
第一隻襪進行中

1st stranded pattern repeat
第一個配色花樣重複

My stash (partial) 我的 (部分) 庫存

2011-02-12T09:00:00.001+08:00

This is an antique camphor chest. My great aunt brought it to Taiwan with her from Shanghai more than 60 sixty years ago. And this is where I keep my yarn stash.

這隻樟木箱是六十幾年前姨婆從上海帶過來的, 也是我存放毛線的地方.

New lace yarns my mother bought from her visit to Beijing in summer 2010
老媽2010夏天去北京買的蕾絲線


Angelo Merino/Acrylic Lace
安吉列羔羊科絨澳毛晴綸蕾絲

One ball of gray heather lace was knitted into Lace Ribbon Scarf for Tina.

一球中灰夾花打了蕾絲緞帶圍巾給 Tina.

Alps Merino/Acrylic Lace
阿爾卑斯美麗諾晴綸

Nuan Nuan Merino/Cashmere Lace
暖暖牌澳毛山羊絨蕾絲


Hengyuanxiang Lace Merino
恆源祥澳毛蕾絲



Above 2 look really like sock yarns...but my mother specifically designated these to be knitted into garments for the twins...

這兩組真的很像襪線, 不過老媽指定要給兩小打衣服用.

From dear Kathy, my pal from ISE 6
國際圍巾交換 6 的密友 Kathy 送的

This might turn into a cowl...

可能會打成脖圍...

The 2 skeins of On Your Toes with Aloe Vera Margaret brought me. The blue/lavender turned into Triton Socks; the purple/navy blue Edwardian Boating Socks.

託瑪姐買的襪線. 藍子段染成了特里同襪, 紫蘭段染成了愛德華風划船襪.

Malabrigo Lace in Azul Profundo and Tuareg
Malabrigo 蕾絲深藍和圖瓦雷克

One skein of the Tuareg turned into Sur un petit nuage scarf.

一絞圖瓦雷克成了小小雲端上小披肩.

2 batches of Malabrigo Lace in Emerald
2 批不同缸號的 Malabrigo 蕾絲祖母綠


Malabrigo Lace in Natural and Marine
Malabrigo 蕾絲線自然色和海藍


The Henyuanxiang lace yarn DH bought
兩小爸買的恆源祥蕾絲線

The aubergine was knitted into Mandala for my grandmother and the red was knitted into Mandala II for my mother. Several balls were gifted to Heather and Margaret.

紫色的打了條曼陀羅給外婆, 紅色的打了給媽媽的曼陀羅二代. 另送了幾球紅的給 Heather 和瑪姐.

The burgundy was going to turn into Spiders Web Shawl but I frogged. The grayish blue was knitted into Seascape.

酒紅牧童牌絲毛海本來打蜘蛛網披肩, 前後打了一年 (中間有八九個月沒動), 最後拆了. 灰藍的打了條海景披肩.

Rowan Kidsilk Night
Rowan 銀蔥絲毛海

Celia gifted me these. I love them so much! She was so sweet for she knew I'd like to have some Rowan Kidsilk. These turned into Gossemar Garden Stole.

Celia 知道我想要 Rowan Kidsilk 想很久了. 這三球是貼心的她送我的. 這三球成了花園蕾絲披肩.

Kolka Pure Wool Lace in turquoise, olive and white
Kolka 純羊毛極細線藍綠, 秋香, 白

Knitted Serendipity Stole with turquoise and sent Heather several balls. Olive was knitted into Kanzashi Stole and several balls were gifted to Lan. White was knitted into Este Park Stole.

藍綠色的打了一條神祕的發現披肩, 又送了幾球給 Heather. 秋香的打了古簪披肩, 送了幾球給春藍姐. 白的打了條艾斯特斯公園披肩.

Cotton and silk blend fingering in blue, green and pink
80/20 棉絲中細線藍綠粉

Thought of knitting the above into summery tops. That never happened!

買的時候想拿來打夏天的上衣. 到目前為止都還收在樟木箱裡沒動!

Pure wool handpainted variegated sport
純羊毛手染卡其紫段染, 藍粉綠段染

They will turn into cardigans, as I planned years ago when they were bought. Still no idea what to knit for these are variegated yarns and I don't want to spoil a good design with noisy colors.

好多年前買時就打算好要拿來打開襟外套, 到現在還不知道要打哪件. 實在不想段染線花花的顏色壞了一個好設計.

Merino/angora/cashmere handpainted variegated DK
美麗諾/安哥拉/開司米爾手染

Those were knitted into cardigans and berets. Each color have yarn left for a vest.

這兩組各已被拿來打一件開襟外套和貝雷帽, 剩下的線還可以打件背心.

Baruffa Cashwool in pearly pink, morning sky blue and peach
Baruffa Cashwool 美麗諾蕾絲線珍珠粉, 晨空藍, 桃紅

The pearly pink has turned into Meandering Vines Scarf for Miss Su while the morning sky blue turned into Lace Ribbon Scarf for Miss Mini.

珍珠粉的打成蘇老師的彎彎藤蔓蕾絲圍巾, 晨空藍打成 mini 老師的蕾絲緞帶圍巾.

(L) 2 skeins of Silk Maiden in Paris (R) 1 skein of Sea Silk in Rose Garden
(左) 2 絞巴黎 Silk Maiden (右) 1 絞玫瑰園 Sea Silk

500g of Mondial Prima in Blue
一磅藍色 Mondial Prima

I planned to use this for Iced but figured I didn't have enough yarn and I didn't like the result either. Then, I tried to knit Shalom with it but ripped after a few rows. Now it's resting in my project bag waiting....

本來要拿這組來打 Iced 但打到一半發現線會不夠, 拆掉後打 Shalom, 打了幾排也拆掉. 現在躺在毛線袋中等待適合它的 project.

Hengyuanxiang fingering weight merinos in yellow and pink
恆源翔中細美麗諾金黃與粉紅

Hengyuanxiang fingering weight merinos in ivory
恆源翔中細美麗諾象牙白

The above three were used in knitting the Fair Isle vests for the twins.

以上三種有用在兩小的費爾島風背心.

Hengyuanxiang fingering weight merinos in spring green and pink
恆源翔中細美麗諾黃綠和粉紅

Edwardian Boating Socks 愛德華風划船襪

2011-02-11T09:00:00.008+08:00

This is my last skein of On Your Toes with Aloe Vera and the darkest in color. I didn't realize how dark it is until I start knitting but the colors are truly beautiful. And as the last pair of socks, I asked for pattern suggestions. This time I chose Mary's Edwardian Boating Socks, for its different pattern stitches.

這是最後一球含蘆薈的襪線, 也是顏色最深的一球. 本來不覺得深直到開打後, 但顏色很美. 這雙一樣是請眾姊妹建議, 本次採 Mary 建議的愛德華風划船襪. 選它是因為模樣非常與眾不同.

I was about to CO when I read about knitting the "arrow" from Ravelry. A fellow knitter's description almost made me give up the pattern. I CO anyway and soon found that I worried too much. The "arrow" was actually not fuss at all!

要開打時在 Ravelry 上看到一位織女說那個 "箭頭" 有多複雜多難打, 讓我差點打退堂鼓. 當然我已經先看過織圖了並不覺有甚麼難的. 所以還是開打了, 等打到 "箭頭" 時發現一切都水到渠成理所當然, 很容易的!

The pattern on the front (r) and back (l) of the leg is different. 襪筒前(左)後(右)模樣排列不同

It was the heel pattern that made me want to knit this sock. I like it a lot.

就是這個腳跟模樣讓我決定打這雙襪.

Linen stitch heel 麻布模樣腳跟

The toe was grafted but I think it wouldn't make too much of a difference if you just pull the yarn through all the remaining stitches.

襪子由襪筒開始往下打, 腳趾是縫收的, 不過看起來跟把線穿過剩下的活針目拉緊好像沒兩樣!

Grafted toe 縫收腳趾

The toe and partial instep 腳趾和腳背模樣

Reading Mitts 閱讀手套

2011-02-10T09:00:00.002+08:00

I absolutely loved these mitts when I first saw the pattern. The severe cold of this winter pushed me to make some mitts and finally, I own a pair of these.

第一次看到之圖時就很喜歡這雙手套. 今年冬天特冷逼得我不得不打幾雙手套來禦寒, 於是我終於有了這雙漂亮的手套.

I have more than 2 balls of yarns leftover from Un peu de chance Cardigan and Toasty mitts but in 2 dye lots. I wanted to use the darker lot which has more than 1 ball. So I CO with it and hoped I could make these mitts a one skein project.

一點好運開襟外套和暖融融手套剩了 2 球多的線, 但有 2 個不同缸號, 其中 1 球比較白. 本來想把這雙手套當作是一球可完成的作品, 所以用量多較深的線起針.

Unfortunately, I figured that on skein project wasn't possible, so I used the paler ball for the palm turn-down hem. When I was finising the second mitt, all of a sudden I felt relectant the way I knitted the mitts.

很不幸地, 第一隻快打完時發現想要只用一球線打完一雙手套是不可能的, 所以用了腳白的線打手掌的摺邊. 第二隻快完成時, 忽然覺得不喜歡這樣的配法.

I ripped both mitts, knitted the turn-down hems and lace bands with the paler ball, and the stockinette stitch main body with the darker one. They turned out beautifully.

我把兩隻手套都拆掉重打. 這次用較白的打手腕和手掌的摺邊和蕾絲部分, 主體平針的部分用深色的打. 最後效果很好.

The turn-down hems were meant to be sewn down after the mitts are done. I'm lazy and reluctant to sew, especially afterwards, so this is what I did: turned the wrist hem inside and knitted with the live mitt sts (1st row of the Lace Panel); turned the palm hem inside and BO the live sts with corresponding sts using a crochet hook.

摺邊應是手套完成後向內摺再縫起來. 我很懶, 又不喜歡縫, 尤其打完了才縫, 所以我的偷懶做法是: 打完手腕摺邊就先向內摺, 把針上的活目和對應的起針目打在一起 (剛好是蕾絲部分的第 1 圈); 手掌的摺邊打好也向內摺, 用鈎針把針上的活目和對應的織片目鈎在一起收針.

I also made some modifications: I used smaller needles knitting the turn-down hem and knitted 5 rows before and after the yo k2tog row for a longer, tighter, flater and neater hem.

同時還做了些修改: 用小號針打折邊, 且洞眼圈前後各打 5 圈平針 (原作是 4 圈). 這樣折邊稍長一點, 針目較緊實整齊, 摺起來較平不愛翹.

Triton Socks 特里同襪

2011-02-09T13:32:00.005+08:00

When I picked up this ball of sock yarn, I asked for pattern suggestions from my knitter friends, although I have saved lots of socks patterns. I chose this one suggested by Margaret for it's simple, no fuss, appealing pattern.

隨手從樟木箱中拿出這球襪線, 上來請眾姊妹建議織圖, 雖然自己已經收集了很多襪子織圖. 特里同是瑪姐推薦的幾個織圖之一. 很快就決定打這雙是看上它簡單大方易織的三叉戟蕾絲花. 特里同是希臘神話中海神波賽頓的兒子, 手持的武器就是三叉戟. 這雙襪子因蕾絲模樣形似三叉戟而命名為特里同.

What's different is that this is my first pair of socks with Eye of Partridge heel. I saw dear Marie Adeline did it on a pair of socks designed by herself and have been wanting to knit that heel. Actually, it was the heel that made me chose the pattern.

這雙襪與以往打的不同處是腳跟, 不是常見的滑針 + 下針而是鷓鴣眼模樣. 之前看到 Marie Adeline 自己設計的襪子上運用這種腳跟花, 就很想打來穿穿看. 其實, 會選這雙來打就是因為這個腳跟!

Eye of Partridge heel 鷓鴣眼腳跟

Eye of Partridge heel 鷓鴣眼腳跟

For unknow reasons, I CO with larger 2.25mm needles. Maybe I thought my feet would feel more comfortable around my protruding joins of thumb phalange and metatarsus. It does! And I changed back to smaller 2mm needles for knitting the remainder of the socks.

不知為何, 用了 2.25mm (而非 2mm) 起針. 也許我覺得這樣打出來會稍微鬆些, 穿在我突出的大拇指根部骨頭部位會舒服些. 真的也! 等過了那塊骨頭就換回 2mm 的針打.

The lace pattern was really nice and easy to knit. I don't think I've ever enjoyed knitting socks as much as this pair.

三叉戟蕾絲花簡單易織易記. 這雙襪子是我打得最愉快的一次.

The first half of the feet was knitted with larger needles 腳底前半是用較大號的針打的

Recently I learned that a longer heel flap can better fit higher instep. I've knitted quite some socks, more than a dozen so far, and I really want to try a longer heel flap and see how it fits. Actually, I think not only it might feel better but also easier to put on. I found pulling up knitted socks a little difficult, cuff-down or toe-up, all the same. At first I thought it was the elasticity of the cuff. Now I think it's the heel flap, for the socks kind of got stuck at the heel while being put on.

最近發現腳跟如果打長點對腳背高的人來說會比較好穿. 打了超過一打的襪子, 無論打鬆打緊, 趾起筒下, 在襪子要過腳跟時一定會卡一下. 以前一直認為是襪頭鬆緊度不夠的關係, 現在看來是因為我腳背高, 腳跟不夠長的關係. 下一雙要來打個長一點的腳跟...

It is obvious that the sock stretches/strains at the front of the ankles 腳踝前方的襪子撐得很黑厲害

Sur un petit nuage 在小小雲端上

2011-01-29T13:00:00.001+08:00

Malabrigo Lace Merino in Tuareg Malabrigo美麗諾蕾絲線(顏色)圖瓦雷克

First off, I'd like to say something about the yarn color. None of these photos are true to it. It's really hard to capture on camera. Maybe the yarn skein photo is closer but the actual color is much deeper and has a little more indigo hue. Tuareg is a beautiful and fascinating color, and I hope the receiver of this shawlette/scarf will appreciate it as much as I do.

首先, 關於毛線的顏色. 這裡的照片沒有一張是實際顏色. 這顏色很難拍. 大概只有毛線絞這張算接近. 但實品顏色深很多, 且帶點靛藍. 圖瓦雷克是個很漂亮且很迷人的顏色. 希望小披肩的主人會跟我一樣喜歡這個顏色.

The actual color is like Indigo Dye, with the following coordinates:
Hex triplet #00416A
RGB (0, 65, 106)
HSV (203°, 100%, 42%)

實品顏色跟很靛青染料色很接近:
網頁顏色 #1A5798
RGB (0, 65, 106)
HSV (203°, 100%, 42%)

Some info on Tuareg People (quoted from Wikipedia)

The Tuareg (also Twareg or Touareg, Berber: Imuhagh, besides regional ethnyms) are a Berber nomadic pastoralist people. They are the principal inhabitants of the Saharan interior of North Africa.

The Tuareg are sometimes called the "Blue People" because the indigo pigment in the cloth of their traditional robes and turbans stained their skin dark blue. Today, the traditional indigo turban is still preferred for celebrations, and generally Tuaregs wear clothing and turbans in a variety of colors.

關於圖瓦雷克人 (轉貼自維基百科)

圖瓦雷克人（Tuareg或Touareg）是一支主要分佈於非洲撒哈拉沙漠週邊地帶的遊牧民族，是散佈在非洲北部廣大地區的柏柏爾（Berber）部族中的一支。以迥異於周邊民族的文字、語言與獨特的遊牧生活出名，今日的圖瓦雷克主要分佈在包括馬利、尼日、阿爾及利亞、利比亞與布吉納法索在內，原本是法屬殖民地的北非與西非國家境內

圖瓦雷克是一個母系社會（matrilineal）的民族，但並非母權社會（matriarchal）。雖然主要是信奉伊斯蘭教，但是迥異於其他伊斯蘭文化，圖瓦雷克並沒有女性需要蒙面的傳統，相反的在圖瓦雷克社會中，年滿25歲的男性才需要配戴面紗。圖瓦雷克的男性傳統上佩帶著5 公尺長的藍紫色面紗，稱為Tagelmust，根據他們的信仰認為這面紗能替其阻擋所有的邪靈，因此縱使在女性家人的面前也不能拿下，但一般認為，佩帶面紗的傳統應該是起因於為了抵禦沙漠地區強大的風暴。由於深藍色面紗對於該民族的重要，使得其間接也變成圖瓦雷克民族的識別象徵，而往往又被稱為「沙漠中的藍人」。

Here are some links to photos that presents the color more closely to the yarn:
Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3

幾個顏色較接近毛線顏色的照片連結:
照片 1
照片 2
照片 3

Now, about Sur un petit nuage. It's a lovely lace shawl designed by Marie-Adeline Boyer. She herself made several of it in all sizes and different weights of yarn. One can easily adapt the pattern according to her liking: scarf, shawlette, shawl, big shawl etc. The lace patterns are easy to memorize. Le nuage - the feather and fan pattern is classic and one of my favorites and I'm never tired of it!

關於小小雲端上, 是 Marie-Adeline Boyer 設計的蕾絲披肩. 她自己用不同粗細的線打了好幾條不同尺寸的披肩. 編織者可以把織圖依自己的喜好打成想要的大小. 蕾絲模樣也很容易記, 雲的模樣 - 羽扇模樣是我最喜歡的蕾絲模樣之一呢!

A couple of months ago, Mary had an idea and suggested that we have a Christmas Gift Exchange. It wasn't specific to knitting, but looks like in the end, is it! People in this little circle of ours are all knitters. Actually, I was the one who said I would knit a shawlette/scarf for whoever draws up my name, but she had to wait a little longer for I couldn't make it before Christmas. So, the schedule was postponed until Chinese New Year.

去年某月瑪莉小姐起意說來個聖誕禮物交換. 這本只是禮物交換, 不過到了最後似乎變成編織品交換啦! 因為參加交換的這些人都是織女嘛! 其是, 是我先講自己要手作, 但聖誕節前是來不及完成的, 請抽到我的禮物的人等一下. 後來就變成過年前交換.

I already had specifics in mind that it would be either Holden, Echo Flower or Sur un petit nuage. After we made the draw and knew my recipient was wenzi, the decision was made immediately: Sur un petit nuage. And to fulfill her preference of the color blue, I have several blue lace yarns to choose from in the stash.

當時心裡已經想到要不是打霍爾登, 艾蔻花, 再不然就是小小雲端上. 抽籤結果出來知道是蚊子抽到我的禮物, 當下就決定打小小雲端上. 且庫存中有不少蚊子喜歡的藍色蕾絲線可供挑選.

The shawlette was intended to be a one skein project, a very practical accessory in this abnormally cold winter we're having here in Taiwan. Having a scarf in mind, I knitted the little hearts according to the scarf sizing in the pattern (8 repeats) and than started the cloud pattern.

一開始就設定好尺寸是小披肩/圍巾, 非常適合現在天氣異常冷得不得了的台灣, 更適合怕冷的蚊子! 因為設定是圍巾, 所以照織圖打了八個重複的愛心模樣, 然後開始雲模樣.

Like Spring Tulips Stole, I knitted with 3.25mm needles. I didn't want to at first for the last time I used 3.25mm with Malabrigo Lace Merino, it resulted in quite a tight knit lace. I did try with 3.5mm but oddly the lace was too loose and the heart pattern kind of broke down.

和春之鬱金香一樣, 我用 3.25mm 的打. 本來不想因為上次用 3.25mm 打 Malabrigo 蕾絲線結果蕾絲花太緊. 我有用 3.5mm 去測織, 很奇怪地蕾絲花比 3.25mm 織出來差很大, 小愛心的模樣一整個散掉, 根本看不出來是甚麼東西.

Not until I finished the repeats for scarf on the feather and fan pattern did I find the yarn left was plenty. So I kept on knitting f&f and regretted knitting too little repeats of the little hearts. When I BO after the 3rd f&f repeat on chart E 4th time, I have absolutely no yarn left. Seriously. All used up. There wasn't even much of a yarn tail to weave in (about 1cm)!

一直等到打完圍金大小的雲模樣重複數次數後, 發現線還剩很多, 於是, 繼續打雲模樣然後心裡邊抱怨早知道小愛心就打披肩尺寸的十二重複. 最後, 雲模樣打到表 E 第四次中第三次雲重複後收針. 一點線都沒剩. 真的. 根本沒甚麼線頭可收 (約一公分而已).

Blocking this shawlette was a little tricky. The undulating f&f couldn't be pulled into spikey points, so I had to lightly fan-pin out the fans and after a while when it's half dry but still a little damp, unpin and smooth them out. I stood the blocking mat against the wall to let gravity and moisture pull down the fans for me.

定型小披肩還有點傷腦筋, 因為羽扇模樣的邊是波浪狀, 不能定成尖角, 所以我先把扇形部分用幾枝針撐開, 待半乾時把針拆掉, 撫平整順扇形邊, 然後把定型的 EVA 墊立起來靠牆站, 讓水分和地心引力幫忙把扇形拉出來.

Little hearts on the cloud 心在雲端上

Toasty 暖融融

2011-01-28T11:13:00.000+08:00

I spent quite a lot of time searching for fingerless mitt patterns. One day I encountered Toast/Toasty and was enchanted. I had just the right yarn for it and I really needed long fingerless mitts to pair with my 1/2 and 3/4 sleeve pullovers/cardigans.

最近花了不少時間搜尋無指手套的織圖. 有一天忽然看到暖烘烘/暖融融, 頓時驚為天人. 手邊剛好有很適合的線可打, 太高興了, 因為我很需要一雙長的無指手套搭配五分和七分袖的毛衣和開襟外套.

The mitts are about 13", 2" longer than the pattern required. The palm and thumb are also longer, so that I can roll them down when I'm outdoors and roll them up indoors.

手套總共約 13 吋長, 比原作長 2 吋. 手掌和大拇指部分也有加長, 這樣在戶外可以攤平遮蓋住大部分的手, 在室內可捲起來露出多一點的手指頭.

Paired with Un peu de chance Cardigan, a 3/4-sleeve cardigan. 與七分袖一點好運開襟外套搭配

I followed napkinpeom's note and knitted gussets for thumbs to better accommodate my wide palms. And I really like the result. I increased until 13 sts for the thumb.

我採用 napkinpeom 的筆記建議以加針法打大拇指, 這樣我的寬手掌戴起來才比較服貼舒適. 加針法打出來的結果非常令人滿意. 大拇指部分我加針加到13針, 原作為 11 針.

Approximately 13" long. 總長約 13 吋, 比原作長 2 吋.

Gussets were used to make the thumbs, to better fit my wide palm. 拇指以加針法做, 我的寬手掌戴起來比較浮貼.

This can be counted as a one skein project.

這雙手套一球線就可以完成.

Mittens for S&S 兩小的手套

2011-01-28T11:05:00.000+08:00

Cold fronts have been hitting Taiwan consecutively for over a month, and it's getting colder and colder. We were having single digits suchs as 6C in the city. It's really harsh for houses in sub- tropical Taiwan are not equipped with central heating. Although the twins have cashmere berets to keep their heads warm, but the hands were like icicles. I needed to knit up 2 pairs of mitts FAST!

一個月多月來寒流不斷, 越來越冷. 兩小雖有 cashmere 的貝雷帽保護頭和耳朵, 但手還是露在外面, 到了幼稚園都變成冰棒手. 所以我得馬上生出兩雙手套來給兩小.

After searching through Ravelry, downloading and saving many patterns for mittens, I decided to knit Gifted by Kate Gilbert. It's easy to read, to knit and I happen to have some worsted weight leftovers. Scarlett's yarn is leftover from her Babydoll Tunic while Sebastian's yarn is leftover from my Oblique Cardigan.

花了不少時間在 Ravelry 上賴賴索, 抓了一堆手套織圖後決定打 Kate Gilbert 的 Gifted. 簡單好打且剛好有點的剩線可用. 若的是她泡泡袖娃娃裝剩的線, 謙的是我斜斜開襟外套剩的線.

They took me an afternoon and a night. Actully Scarlett's 1st mitt took me most of the afternoon, for I ripped 2 times. I wanted to make it right. Not to big but has to have a little room for growth, and not to tight then it could only be worn this season. After Scarlett's 1 st mitt, it was as easy as a breeze.

2 雙手套花了一下午 + 一晚上. 其實若的第一隻花了幾乎一下午, 拆了兩次, 我想把它弄對. 我想打有一點鬆分可以讓手掌大但又不能太大, 太小了就只能待這兩個月. 若的第一隻弄清楚後, 後面 3 織就很輕鬆了.

And I enjoyed knitting them! I wanted a pair for myself!

這手套打起來很好玩, 我自己也想要一雙!

The right hand thumb is 2 rows longer than the left. 若右手拇指比左手多兩排.

Sebastian's thumbs are 2 rows shorter than Scarlett's. She has longer fingers. 謙的拇指比若的少2排.若的手指比較長.

Actually, I wanted to knit stranded mittens or mittens with motif (Hello Kitty, Totoro etc.). But as it was emergency, so I had to knit with solid colors.

其實, 我是想打配色或是有花樣的 (Hello Kitty, 龍貓等等), 不過這次是急著要戴, 所以先打素色的囉!

Snow White and Goldilocks Sachets 白雪和金捲毛小包

2011-01-27T13:46:00.001+08:00

Goldilocks 金捲毛

Yarn for Goldilocks is leftover from Citron a la espanola. Actually it was 50g of sock yarn and I tried to use up all of it. Should have started eyelets rows earlier to make it prettier. Goldilocks Sachet is for Ms Mini's Carrot Percy.

金捲毛是用西班牙版香櫞打剩的金黃色線做的. 說是剩線其實有半球, 我盡線打, 把它用掉. 不過太晚打洞眼, 所以頭上不夠長, 看起來拙拙的. 金捲毛小袋是用來放 Mini 老師的卡羅特珀西小披肩的.

Snow White Sachet 白雪小包

Yarn for Snow White is pure wool lace yarn held doubled. This time I started eyelets earlier and trimmed the velvet ribbon. Snow White is for wenzi's Sur un petit nuage, X'mas exchange 2010.

白雪小包的線是 Kolka 純羊毛極細線兩股併織做的. 這次洞眼比較早做, 比例一整個變好, 絲絨緞帶也裁過, 之前 Mini 老師的太長了點. 白雪小包是裝蚊子的 2010 聖誕節交換禮物: 小小雲端上小披肩.

Carrot Percy 卡羅特珀西小披肩

2011-01-25T07:37:00.000+08:00

One day some time last September, I wore Percy on a windy morning when I sent the twins to Kindergarten, Ms Mini saw it and marvelled it for quite a while. From her blog I found that she's a Capricorn, like the twins, so I secretly asked Ms Su when is Ms Mini's birthday (sometime in January). So I decided to knit her a Percy Shawlette in one of her favorite color orange.

九月一個風大的早上, 我圍著珀西小披肩(當圍巾用)送兩小去幼稚園, Mini 老師看到了喜歡得不的了. 從 Mini 老師的幼教部落格上知道老師和兩小一樣是魔羯座, 於是偷偷向蘇老師打聽 Mini 老師的生日, 是一月某日. 於是決定用 Mini 老師喜歡的橘色打條珀西小披肩給老師當生日禮物.

I ordered the yarn and sent it to dear Mary's sister's house before Mary went to the States. She was so sweet to bring it back for me, among other things.

親愛的瑪莉十月去美國前就下單買了線 (和其他東西) 寄到瑪莉的姊解家, 再請瑪莉帶回來.

So I had plenty of time to knit with this glorious Knit Picks Gloss Lace, and with previous experience, I know that knitting Percy slow is the key to success. I did not rip one row. Unravelled a few stitches only. YAY!

因此, 這次有充裕的時間用這組 KP 的 Gloss 蕾絲線慢慢打珀西. 根據上次經驗, 打珀西不能急. 這次都沒有拆, 頂多改幾針. 耶~

The shawlette was started and finished in December. I didn't block it right away and when I did, I found that 1 stith was dropped while binding off. It was really bizarre. I thought if a stitch was dropped the bind-off process would be interrupted. Anyway, I ripped the BO and redid it, making sure I got every stitch, and block it again.

小披肩十二月開打十二月完成, 不過沒有馬上定型. 定型時發現收針時有一針沒收到. 很奇怪. 如果沒收到, 後面的針也應該收不起來吧? 反正, 就是把針再打開重收一次, 再重新定型.

It was perfect!

這次結果很完美!

I was amazed how KP Gloss presented the pattern. It was so crisp and well-defined.

KP 的 Gloss 蕾絲線打作品真的很美, 充分展現蕾絲花, 且花樣分明清晰.

Ms. Mini was thrilled! She was going to show it off to her friends!

Mini 老師超開心的說要去跟朋友炫耀!

Babydoll Tunic 公主袖蕾絲娃娃裝

2011-01-24T13:54:00.001+08:00

Last November I learned that the twin's Kindergarten was going to hold a Christmas Party with a dress-up runway show. I'm really bad at this. I had no clue whatsoever about what to do. Luckily, Scarlett gave me some very specific requirements: mauve, puff sleeves, princess. Immediately, I decided to knit her a babydoll tunic. I was planning to knit her one this season.

去年十一月就知道兩小幼稚園要舉行聖誕嘉年華, 其中有親子變裝走秀的節目. 我最不會弄這種事情. 完全不知道該怎麼辦. 好在若給了很明確的需求: 紫色, 泡泡袖, 蓬蓬裙, 跟公主一樣. 這樣好辦, 馬上決定打件娃娃裝給她. 反正娃娃裝是計畫中要打給她的.

Went to LYS and picked up some bargain pure wool yarn in mauve and cast right on. I kind of develop the pattern along the way. There were two inspirations: Sourpatch and Minisweater.

某個週六去了宏昌行買了六球蘇菲雅純羊毛線, 主要是便宜, 粗細適宜, 打起來快又好看, 顏色選擇多. 娃娃裝的花樣是邊打邊想的, 不過基本上有兩個靈感來源: Sourpatch 和 Minisweater.

Used tubular/invisible cast-on for a thin 1x1 ribbing for collar. Ripped the first puff sleeve for I increased too fast and made it right the second time. Applied Feather and Fan lace pattern for the skirt and knitted long enough to make it tunic length. Between the yoke and skirt I made eyelet rows.

我用彈性起針打一條細窄的1x1羅紋邊在領口. 第一次打泡泡袖有拆, 因加針加太快, 第二次就 OK. 下襬用羽扇蕾絲花打到蓋住臀部. 胸部和下襬中間有打幾排作小洞眼.

The ribbon laced through the eyelet was the ribbon tied on Scarlett's first birthday cake.

穿在洞眼上的緞帶是若一歲生日蛋糕外盒上的緞帶.

Soft Feather Super Wool *5 蘇菲雅純羊毛 5 顆

Puff sleeve taking shape 蓬袖成型中

Puff sleeve 蓬袖

Thin 1x1 tublar ribbing at the collar 領口細窄1x1羅紋邊

Feather and Fan skirt 下襬羽扇花

Babydoll Tunic 公主娃娃裝.

Un peu de chance Cardigan 一點好運開襟外套

2010-12-16T15:59:00.004+08:00

Un peu de chance cardigan was finished in September, but the button hunting and picture taking took quite a while.

It is a test knit for dear Marie-Adeline started back in January/Febuary. The pattern was divided into several parts. I went through an ordeal on yarn selecting. Then was shocked by color lot difference. Ripped the whole thing and reknit with smaller needles for better gauge. When it was finally finished, went through some hard time hunting down the right buttons.

Quite an experience knitting this cardigan, but I enjoyed every minute of it, and it's my favorite cardigan now!!

@ Spot Cafe Taipei

Un peu de chance paired with Percy Shawl (scarf)

Layered over vest and t-shirt

The buttons were custom-dyed

One Day Berets 兩小之一日貝雷

2010-12-07T11:29:00.013+08:00

I started the berets at the same time on Friday night, late. I had an opportunity which came up quite unexpectedly to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 by myself! So I went to the cinema for the 19:50 session. It was great! When I came out of the theatre it was 22:30 and almost 23:00 when I got home. So it was even later when I CO the two berets while watching TV eps with DH.

週五晚上很晚兩頂貝雷一起開打. 週五晚忽然有個機會可以自己一個人去看哈利波特死神的聖物Part 1, 7:50 的場看完出來都快 10:30, 到家快 11 點了. 等洗好澡弄弄陪人看影集時, 才邊看邊開打.

12-row i-cord stalk 12排i-cord

The pattern didn't have the stalk but I like it on a beret so I made a 12-row i-cord then started the beret. I didn't finish them until Tuesday 1AM. Very little knitting were done on Sat, Sun but I managed to finish the increase part for both and finished the decrease for Scarlett's Monday morning before going to work. Seba's decrease was done suring lunch break and all I had to do Monday night were the brims and tubular bind-off.

織圖中並沒有頭上那個梗子, 但我喜歡貝雷帽有個梗子, 所以直接起 4 針打 12 排長的梗子再接著打帽子. 週六週日沒怎麼打到, 所以到週二凌晨 1 點才完成. 不過週日晚上把兩頂加針加完, 週一早上上班前把若的減針減完, 週一中午把謙的減完, 回家就打邊緣和收針.

The reason why I was rushing so much and got almost beyond myself was because we're going to have a severe cold front on Tuesday. I yet have to buy the twins new coats, prefereably with hoods. And since we're told that the winter's going to be very cold (houses here are not equipped with heating system), hats are needed.

之所以這麼趕是因為要趕在週二前完成, 因為週二有寒流要來. 趕死我了差點掛點! 今年要幫兩小買新的大衣, 但還沒買, 又聽說今年冬天冷的日子長, 所以本來就有計畫要打帽子.只是計畫都不能順利進行, 才會這麼趕哪.

This is a really nice pattern. It's knitting from the center top, unlike the conventional way of knitting from the brim up. Although the latter does have a gratifying feel when you get to the decreases and the stitches reamaning are getting less and less, I found that knitting from the top is like knitting a top-down sweater, you can try it on and see along the way. And I used tubular/sewn bind-off for the brim, the technique I applied quite a lot recently and have grown to like it very much and enjoy doing it.

這個織圖蠻好的, 與一般從帽沿往上打不同, 是從頂上往下打. 雖然一般的打法往上到減針部分針數越減越少很有成就感, 這個帽子跟上往下打的毛衣一樣, 可以邊打邊試戴, 且現在我都用縫收來收針很有彈性且越來越喜歡用, 所以我不介意最後針數還是很多.

I started to decrease once the center diameter is about 8.5". I didn't knit plain rows in between. I think I should've knitted 1"~2". Should I want to add those plain rows, I can easily undo the brim, rip and add! Nice!

帽頂加針打到直徑 8.5 吋時就直接開始減針, 中間沒有平織部分. 其實應該要打1~2吋平織. 不過這個織圖好在可以從帽沿拆上來加打, 一樣邊加邊試戴, 蠻不錯的.

Anyway, mission accomplished! I should be knitting more hats or hoods...

總之, 任務達成! 我該再多打幾頂帽子...

Top-down Cardigans for S&S 兩小的top-down拉克蘭開襟外套

2010-12-03T13:25:00.027+08:00

I've been planning to knit Scarlett and Sebastian several cardigans and vests this year, along with some hats and berets, and maybe a scarf for each. So the fair isle vests were started in mid-summer. But after that, nothing went on as planned. In a few words, the twins were sent to Kindergarten, got myself a job (restarting EXACTLY five years since I left the last), and was interrupted by many other projects (what else).

今年計畫要給兩小打好幾件外套背心, 可能還有帽子圍巾, 所以七八月就開始打費爾島風背心. 不過之後就沒有一計畫一件一件打...

My mother bought the twins each a pound of fingering weight merino in Beijing this summer. The color pattern was dyed like sock yarn and I strongly suspect that these are actually some renown sock yarn! I was attempted to knit socks with them! I was suggested to use these to knit new garments for the twins but had yet to make swatches. Curiously, the yarns came with a swatch card! It was machine swatched though... I was knitting the fair isle vests with fingering weight yarns and was a bit fed up with the weight so I really wanted to give it a pass.

兩小外婆今年暑假去北京給兩人各買了一磅 fingering weight 的毛線, 染的花跟襪線一樣, 我懷疑根本就是歐美某牌襪線, 很想拿來打雙襪子! 很好笑的是買線有附織片卡...還是機織的, 一點幫助都沒有因為還是要打織片. 兩小外婆說要用這線打衣服但織片沒做不能開工, 剛好那時打費爾島風背心打細線打得有點煩, 想要換換粗細.

From grandma: Sebastian's golden brown and stone 外婆買的線: 謙的咖啡金+石頭灰

From grandma: Scarlett's mauve 外婆買的線:若的紫紅



Anyway, I decided to use this wonderful luscious lambswool/cashmere/angora handpainted yarn bought a few years back in my stash to knit the twins cardigans. I used these same yarns to knit tow cardigans two years ago. I was supposed to ripped them and use that part of the yarn first but I was lazy so I cast-on with new balls. Each cardigan used less than 3 balls (150g).

最後決定用這組前幾年跟南萍姐買的羔羊毛/山羊絨/兔毛手染線, 手感很好, 又輕又暖, 線撚得實卻不硬, 不容易被針戳開岔. 兩年前用過同組線給兩小打外套, 本要先拆來打, 不過實在懶, 且沒打過的還好幾球, 就拿新球來打. 一件用不到三顆 150g.

As I used this yarn before and I made two swatches so I can CO right away, after calculating and get all the figures required, of course. I used tubular/invisible CO, as instructed in Interweave Knits Fal 2008. I like the rolled edge feel and decided to do an invisible/sewn BO for the hem and cuffs. I also wanted the button/buttonhole bands to be sewn to the collar band instead of knitting them all the way up to the collar, inspired by the lovely Marie-Adeline's Un peu de chance Cardigan. M1 increases were used to the raglan instead of my usual kfb.

因為之前打過做過織片所以馬上就起針了, 不過當然還是要先算針. 算針最麻煩了, 但不算開打不了啊! 尤其這次沒有織圖自己想著打, 更要算. 我用 IK 2008 秋季號中介紹的隱形/彈性起針法起領子, 且計畫用隱形/縫收針法收袖口下襬釦子和釦洞邊. 我喜歡那個圓滑的邊緣. 這次釦子釦洞邊不挑到領子邊, 只挑到前襟平針部份, 然後再和領子縫合. 從 Marie-Adeline 的 Un peu de chance 開襟外套來的靈感. 這次拉克蘭加針用的是扭加針, 和我一向用的打一前一後不同, 效果也不一樣.

The button/buttonhole bands were sewn to the collar band, inspired by Marie-Adeline's Un peu de chance Cardigan. 釦子釦洞邊與領子縫合是從 Marie-Adeline Un peu de chance 開襟外套來的靈感

M1 increases for the raglan instead of the usual kfb 拉克蘭用扭加針與以往一前一後不同

I planned the chest circumference to be about 25" but it came out almost smaller. The cardigans were only steamed to smooth and even out the stiches and hopefully it will relax a little more after wear. The cardigans were knitted Continental style while the swatches were made English style. Although I had that in mind and increased a few times more, the size didn't come out as large as I would've liked. But they're still fine. Really.

原計畫胸圍打 25 吋但打出來較小一點. 外套都有蒸氣定型讓針腳平順, 希望穿過後會大一些. 我想是因為衣服是左手掛線打的, 但織片確是又手線打的. 我是知道這個差別所以加針時有多加些, 但仍沒有我想要的大. 不過還好啦. 太大了很麻煩, 小孩衣服就是這樣, 太大了捲東捲西自己看了很窩囊, 太小的又可惜.

Scarlett's was CO first and 3.3mm (Japanese size 4) needles were used to CO the collar then switched to 3.6mm (JP5) for the body. Then I thought a smaller size needle would render an even better stitch definition so Seba's was CO with 3mm (JP3) and switched to 3.3mm for the body. The result was very good and I didn't have to worry and tug on the stitches.

若的先起針用日規4號起領子, 5號織身體. 後來覺得要再小一號針目會更漂亮, 所以謙的就用 3號起領子 4 號織身體, 果然不一樣! 如此我就不用擔心每一針都想要去多拉一下拉緊一點.

Sleeves should've been knitted first after dividing the body and the sleeves, but I went on knitting the body, anyway. 3.3mm and 3mm needles were used to knit Scarlett's and Seba's ribbing respectively and then invisibe/sewn bound off. The button bands were knitted next for I still had to calculate the spacings of the buttonhole bands. The buttonhole bands have a 2-stitch garter edge, inspired by Veronik Avery. After knitting Dollar and a Half Cardigan and Oblique, I found it her signature to keep 2 or 3 stitches at the bottom of the band in garter stitcht to keep them neat and easier to block into shape/measurement.

身體袖子分家後應先打袖子, 但我還是先把身體打好. 下襬的羅紋邊用 4 號和 3 號針打且用縫收收針. 接下來織的是扣子邊, 因為釦洞邊還沒算好間隔距離! 釦洞邊最下面 2 針打起伏針做邊, 這是打了 Veronik Avery 的一塊半開襟外套還有斜斜開襟外套得來的靈感和經驗. VA 喜歡將釦子釦洞邊最下面 2~3 針打起伏針做邊, 這樣比較平整且容易整型.

The 2-stitch garter edge on the buttonhole band, inspired by Veronik Avery 釦洞邊最下面 2 針打起輔針最邊 - 從VA那得來的靈感

2-stitch garter edge on the buttonhole band 釦洞邊的 2 針起伏邊

The cuffs were knitted with 2.5mm dpns. I don't have circulars in that size. Normally I don't used needles more than one size smaller than the body for cuffs for I don't like the cinched look. In Japanese patterns and many compatriot knitters, they do, and the latter most likely never block their finished sweaters so the cuffs, hems and collars are all scruffled up. I only lightly steam block the cardigans so that it is visible that needles more than one size smaller is used for the cuff. Had I blocked it the normal way, one might never tell that needles three sizes smaller were used. And because the needles were dpns, I got those horrifying ladder effect. I didn;t want to "aggravate" the cinched look so I knitted loosely and didn't tug when I carried the yarn over to the next needle. The invisible/sewn BO contributed the smooth rolled edge and neutralized the ladder effect shock.

袖口是用 2.5mm 的雙頭棒針打的, 因為我沒有 2.5mm 的輪針. 通常我不喜歡用比打身體的針小超過 1 號的針來打下襬袖口或領口. 那種束口的感覺我很不喜歡. 有些織圖和一些同好喜歡用至少小兩號的織, 且後者通常不將毛衣定型, 所以成品的袖口下襬領口通通縮起來, 一整個看起來很頹... 我還只有輕輕用蒸氣烘過定型, 如果照一般定型的力道, 整型完可能沒人會發現這是用小 2~3 號的針打的... 這次之所以用小這麼多號的針打是因為怕袖口開太大. 非常時候要用非常手段嘛. 不過為了不要更加強束口的感覺我還織得鬆鬆的, 所以換針帶線時沒有拉, 產生了樓梯效應. 還好縫收做出來的圓滑邊緣可以中和一下.

The ladder effect.... 樓梯效應

The small ladder... 小樓梯

The twins were excited when they saw me photographing the cardigans. Will post pictures of the twins wearing them!

兩小看到我在拍外套成品時很高興, 知道有新毛衣穿了. 穿了毛衣在拍照放上來.

Mandala II (2) 第二條曼陀羅II

2010-10-04T16:45:00.000+08:00

Back in 2008 I knitted my first Renee Leverington shawl: the Mandala. It was also one of the 3 shawl knit-alongs I participated, and it was also my first shawl knit-along outside Taiwan. I have always been a fan of Renee's but never really had the courage to start one of her designs, when the Anniversary Mystery Shawl Knit-along started, I just had to jump in! I used a cobweb deep purple merino lace yarn DH brought back from Beijing and casted on. I didn't designated the shawl to anyone while knitting it until a little before I was finishing it: my grandmother. It was her 80th birthday. What could be a better gift than this circlular lace shawl which took me 8 weeks to finish (TONS of effort, including spending ONE week unravelling 6 rounds 3456 stitches one by one for my son JUMPED on me and a stitch fell several rows...)? She loves it a lot.

Two years later, another Anniversary Mystery Shawl Knit-along had started and right from the beginning we knew that it was Mandala II. And again, I had to jump in! Right away I knew this shawl is for my mother's 60th birthday. I used the same yarn as my grandmother's but in the color deep red. I chose the most complicated pattern from each clue which I knew my mother would appreciate. She did! This time, with more lace knitting experience it took me about 5 weeks to finish.

My aunt likes my grandmother's Mandala a lot, and likes my mother's Mandala II even more! I did plan to knit her one for her 60th birthday in another 2 years, but seeing her yearning so much for hers, I decided to move up the schedule and knit hers now. I ordered yarn specifically for this project. The yarn is Knit Picks Gloss in Cyan. She likes bright colors and since she has lots of black in her wardrobe, the color would go with any piece she wears.

Choosing the pattern from each part is kind of tricky for I have to avoid knitting the same pattern in my mother's Mandala. But the remainning patterns left in each part sometimes don't meet with my liking. Anyway, I just started part 3, still a lot to go!

Clue 2 chart B
第二部分模樣B

Clue 2 chart B
第二部分模樣B

Clue 1 chart B
第一部分模樣B

Teacher's Day Gifts 教師節禮物

2010-09-29T09:22:00.007+08:00

At the end of August I was starting to plan to knit something for the twin's teachers and decided that some simple lace scarves would be nice. So I picked Lace Ribbon Scarf using Baruffa Cashwool in morning sky blue (a light blue with a light gray undertone) for Miss Mini and Mandering Vines Scarf also using Baruffa Cashwool but in light pearl pink (a light pink with a slight peach undertone) for Miss Su. Cashwool is a cobweb lace so I wound the yarn into 4 (for the blue) and 3 (for the pink) balls by dividing the weight of the skein.

八月底就開始想教師節該打個甚麼給兩小的老師, 覺得簡單大方的蕾絲圍巾應該不錯, 於是選了蕾絲緞帶圍巾給 mini 老師, 彎曲藤蔓圍巾給蘇老師. 兩條都是用 Baruffa Cashwool 來打, mini 老師是破曉藍 (帶一點點灰的淡藍色), 蘇老師的是珍珠粉 (帶一點點粉橘的淡粉紅). Baruffa Cashwool 線非常細是一般蕾絲線的一半, 所以一重量平分藍色的捲成四球, 粉紅色的捲成三球來打.

Top and botton left: Miss Mini's Lace Ribbon Scarf; top and bottom right: Miss Su's Meandering Vines Scarf.
左上與下: mini 老師的蕾絲緞帶圍巾; 右上與下: 蘇老師的彎曲藤蔓圍巾.

After the scarves were finishd, I started to fret over the packaging, for I forgot to go to the packaging store for pretty little paper bags! But I remembered the Little Ditty Bag I saw dear Linda made, which I was thinking about making one for Scarlett, so I made one for Scaralett first as a test knit to see the result. The little bag came our very nicely so I crocheted two, both two-colored, for packing the lace scarves. It is an easy and quite addictive pattern, so afterwards, I made another two, that's five in total and I had to stop. I didn't want to cause carpal tunnel syndrome for my right wrist was quite sore.

圍巾玩成後又開始為了禮物的包裝傷腦筋, 因為忘記去包裝材料行看漂亮的紙袋或紗網袋. 好在之前看到這個針線袋一直想鈎個給若玩, 於是先測試性鈎一個給若, 覺得效果不錯, 於是做了兩個裝蕾絲圍巾. 這小袋很可愛, 容易鈎也容易上癮, 所以後來又鈎了兩個, 前後共五個. 應該是不能再鈎了, 得休息, 因為手腕很痠, 不想腕隧道症候群發作.

Top left: Scarlett's tiny 7.5cm x 7.5cm ditty; top right: Miss Mini's 12.5cm x 14.5cm ditty in black and blue, Miss Su's 12cm x 12cm ditty in cherry and pink; bottom left: 10cm x 10cm ditty in black; bottom right: 8cm x 8cm ditty in orange.
左上: 若的桃紅小小袋 7.5 公分 x 7.5 公分; 右上: mini老師的藍黑雙色小袋 12.5 公分 x 14.5 公分, 蘇老師的櫻桃粉紅小袋 12 公分 x 12 公分; 左下: 黑色小袋 10 公分 x 10 公分; 右下: 粉橘段染小袋 8 公分 x 8 公分.

Left: Miss Mini's ditty with her Lace Ribbon Scarf; right: Miss Su's ditty with her Meandering Vines Scarf.
左: mini 老師的小袋與蕾絲緞帶圍巾; 右: 蘇老師的小袋與彎曲藤蔓圍巾

I haven't decided if I'm keeping the black one or gift it, for my Summer Flies shawlette was knitted using the same Lana Grossa Gala. The ditty was made from the leftover. As to the orange mohair ditty, it is being used as my notions bag now but I might gift it later. We'll see!

我還沒決定黑色小袋要送人還是自用, 因為是用與夏日飛逝小披肩同種線鈎的. 粉橘毛海小袋現在正裝著編織用的小物, 也還沒決定要送人還是自用, 看看吧!

Citron is done! 香櫞第一彈完成!

2010-09-21T08:21:00.000+08:00

Finally, I finished Citron, the first one I casted on.

終於把第一條香櫞完成了.

This Citron has 7 sections instead of the original 5 for I used a thinner lace yarn. And to achieve the textural effect I had to use a smaller 3.5mm needle. Since I work mostly with merino, the cobweb/lace weight wool yarn was a bit hard to get along with at the beginning. Besides, I was practicing knitting Continental method with this project and it might also be a contribution to the slightly rough start. I knitted all the way to the start of section 7 and then was interrupted by other projects such a Citron a la española, Fair Isle vests for the twins, Summer Flies, and Scareltt's Ribbed Lace Bolero. I did managed to finish section 7 in between these projects but the beaded bind-off took ages. It took me maybe two or three weeks to finish but then I wasn't binding off everyday. I needed to work in a cool and quiet place for a bead had to be hooked up to every stitch I bind off, and there were 732 stitches... In the end, all the hard work paid off. The beads really complimented the shawlette, and the shawlette itself, although being wool, it quite exquisite in the texture and I love it. Perfect for summer inside air-conditioned spaces.

這條香櫞有七段比原作五段還要多, 因為我用了組極細純羊毛蕾絲線, 且為了要讓平針和皺皺部分的層次感明顯, 還用了較小的 3.5mm 針, 我又用這 project 練習左手掛線, 所以一開始有點慢, 主要是左手掛線鬆緊度的拿捏還有純羊毛較粗又細線磨手. 儘管如此, 我還是一口氣打到第七段, 才被其他 project 插隊: 西班牙版香櫞, 兩小的費爾島風背心, 夏日飛逝小披肩, 和若的蕾絲波麗路. 第七段是在個 project 中完成的, 是珠收針比較麻煩花了很多時間, 前後可能拖了兩三星期吧. 因為珠收針每一針都要掛珠子, 總共有 732 針要收, 且要在涼快的地方安靜地做才行. 不過最後的結果證明一切的辛苦都是值得的. 淡綠透明閃虹光的珠子很能襯托芹菜綠的小披肩, 披肩本身雖為純羊毛, 但因線極細打出來的質感輕薄, 平針與皺皺間的層次感分明, 很適合夏天冷氣房內用. 我喜歡!

The layering
皺皺與非皺皺間的層次感

The yarn is Cigno Nero 2/25 Pura Lana Vergine Irrestringibile, which I procured from my dear friend M. She bought this during a ayrn shopping spree in Milan. When I saw the many yarns she brought back during her visit in April, this one caught my eye for its color. I didn't have that in my stash and I was sure I could easily use this in any project and that the light, refreshing celery color would make any project delightful. It did!

這組線是瑪姐這次回來跟她買的. 它是瑪姐去米蘭血拼毛線的戰利品. 看瑪姐帶回的眾多毛線中就這組最吸引我注意, 主要是它的顏色, 我庫存中沒這種色. 我相信一定可以很容易就找到適合的織圖用它, 它清新的芹菜綠也可讓任何一個織圖打起來心曠神怡. 的確是! 只不過我自己龜毛, 打慣了美麗諾打純羊毛極細蕾絲就覺得粗硬, 哈!

The beaded bind-off
珠收針

The ruchings
皺皺

The beads: light green transparent iridescent
珠珠: 淺綠透明虹光

Ribbed Lace Bolero 若的蕾絲波麗路

2010-09-20T09:45:00.000+08:00

Scarlett posing happily in her new bolero
若很高興地真人示範展示她的蕾絲波麗路

The twins were sent to Kindergarten in August. As they're going to pre-school, clothes should be abundant. Mothercare was having a huge reduction sale, as usual, my mother had to go shopping. She was going to ask me to go along, but Scarlett was sick at home, so she had to change her plan to come see Scarlett first and then go shopping by herself. When Scarlett learned that grandma was going to buy her pretty clothes she had to tag along. So, eventually we had to bring this half-cured sick child to the sale. And as usual, grandma bought a LOT of clothes for them. Scarlett now has plently of spaghetti strap tops and vests, since the Kindergarten is air conditioned, she needs a bolero or shrug to go with those. Luckily, about the same time Margaret proposed the Ribbed Lace Bolero. I like it. Although I personally don't like this particular type of bolero, but I was sure it would be great on Scarlett.

話說兩小七月底就去試讀八月正式上幼稚園, 上學每天要換衣服, 衣服穿起來兇, 也有很多衣服都要穿不下了, 尤其若. 剛好 Mothercare 有特賣, 外婆依例是一定要去血拼的. 本是要約我一起去買, 但若那天生病在家休息, 外婆只好改變計畫先來看她然後自己去買, 若知道要買漂亮衣服怎麼都要跟去, 只好帶著一個病好一半的小孩去逛特賣會. 一如往常地, 買了很多衣服, 若有不少細肩帶和背心類的上衣, 幼稚園有冷氣, 所以她急需一件小外套. 又剛好那時瑪姐推薦這蕾絲波麗路, 我蠻喜歡的, 雖然我自己不喜歡這種形式的波麗路, 但給若穿一定很剛好.

I have to use yarn from my stash. There's this synthetic tape/ribbon contruction yarn that has a little elasticity, which I bought years ago, in the color of dusty heathery fleshy pink, or shall we say it's the color of the lotus root. I thought the color should go with all Scarlett's tops. So I cast-on double stranded.

線一定要從庫存中找, 想來想去只有一組幾前跟琦鋪買的藕色緞帶紗, 有點彈性. 我想顏色應該可以搭若所有的上衣, 因為藕得有點肉色. 我是拉雙線打.

The bolero is 20 inches wide (sleeve to sleeve) and 12 inches high. I figured the bolero should be snug and fit to achieve the effect but since Scarlett's tops are large enough for her to wear until at least next year or maybe even longer, so I added a little room in the bolero. I thought the elasticity would help in the shaping but I was wrong. The bolero started to droop a little after wearing but I hope next year when Scarlett has grown even bigger it will become very fitting. And I am still relying on the little elasticity in the yarn so that the bolero can be stretched!

小外套 20 吋寬 (袖口到袖口), 12 吋高. 這件波麗露我覺得要打得剛剛好, 穿起來才好看. 不過若的上衣都比較大件至少可以穿到明年甚至後年, 所以小外套我就沒有打得那麼緊. 本以為線中的彈性可以對衣服的塑型有幫助, 結果我錯了. 穿了以後開始有點垮. 不過明年等若長大點小外套應該就可以變比較合身了, 即使合身了, 我還是要仰賴線中的那一點點彈性, 希望到時可以被撐開, 可以再穿久一點!

Anyway, Scarlett's very happy with the bolero and she posed for me for the first time without making silly faces! The profile pics even look a little like Audrey Tautou!

若很喜歡這件波麗路, 這也是第一次她示範衣服拍照沒做鬼臉. 那兩張側面的看起來還有點像 Audrey Tautou呢!

The Twins' Fair Isle Vests 兩小的費爾島風背心

2010-09-15T09:41:00.007+08:00

Finally, at long last, I finished the two fair isle vests for the twins. This is my first attempt of fair isle on garment, and I must say it was quite an interesting experience. It won't be my last fair isle project for sure!

終於, 兩小的費爾島風背心都織好了. 這是第一次打費爾島風的衣服, 蠻有意思的. 可以確定的是這不會是最後一個費爾島風作品啦!

Sebastian's fair isle vest
小謙的費爾島風背心

Scarlett's fair isle vest
小若的費爾島風背心

The pattern is from Children's Knit Wardrobe (こどものニットワードローブ), a Fair Isle vest designed by Kazekobo (風工房). It is actually the first time I knit from a Japanese pattern, all I can say is that the experience is really interesting.

背心織圖是こどものニットワードローブ中風工房設計的費爾島風背心. 這是我第一次打日式織圖, 只能說這是個非常有意思的經驗.

Most female family members on my mother's side knit: my great aunt, my grandmother, my mother and my aunt. It was considered a necessity and virtue for a woman. I grew up watching them knit, but none of them thought I could ever manage to do it. For I was conisdered impatient and not skilled at hand as I was an outgoing girl. They didn't see the investment on me (teach me how to knit) would be worthwhile. There were no patterns and if there were they were from Japan. Japanese patterns were the only ones prevailing like many other things in Taiwan for Japan is the nearest advanced and developed country in our neighborhood. Few years ago, I picked up my crochet, which I coerced my grandmother to teach me when I was 9, to knit new garments for a crochet doll my mother made me when I was 5. And I went on to crochet a beret and a jacket for my newborn nephew (my cousin's son, my aunt's grandson). Then I found out that I had to learn to knit for knitting is more flexible and has a lot more choices. I coerced my mother to teach me how to knit when I was 11, just cast-on, knit, purl and cast-off, but I forgot how to cast-on so I googled and taught myself how to knit all over again. Of course, I encountered the splendid world of the pattern that is not Japanese, which suits me very well, so I never conisdered knitting a Japanese one. Besides, I know very well how the Japanese design. The designs are truely intricate, sometimes difficult and require advanced techniques and experiences, but I can't stand they overcomplicate things as they use variegated yarn to knit advanced lace on a complicatedly constructed garment. All I can see is a blur of texture mixed with colors. I don't like it. You will see the reason why I babble about this as you read on.

我媽那邊的女性長輩都會打毛線: 姨婆, 外婆, 我媽, 我阿姨. 我從小看她們打毛衣, 但她們沒有人認為我以後會打毛線, 因為我絕對學不會做不來. 在她們看, 講好聽點, 我是個外向的女孩子, 講難聽點, 我沒耐性三分鐘熱度且手很笨拙, 她們不做這種無謂的投資. 那時候記得好像也沒什麼織圖, 即使有絕大多數都是日本來的. 幾年前我又開始鈎織衣服給我的一個娃娃, 那個娃娃是我五歲時我媽鈎給我的. 鈎針是我小三時強迫我外婆教我的. 鈎了娃娃衣後就開始鈎了一頂貝雷帽和一件外套給我外甥 (表弟的兒子, 我阿姨的孫子). 然後發現我真的得學棒針, 因為棒針有更多的選擇. 小六時有逼我媽教我棒針, 就起針上下針和收針, 但後來我忘記如何起針, 就孤狗了一下, 重新自學棒針. 當然, 也發現美好的歐美織圖世界, 很符合我的喜好. 所以, 我怎麼會想到要去打日式織圖? 日式設計的確很精緻, 有的需要熟練複雜技巧, 或需要較多的經驗, 但我最受不了他們老是用段染線打版型複雜的蕾絲衣服. 漂亮的段染線, 精緻的設計, 美麗的蕾絲, 全攪在一起看起來就是一片模糊. 我不愛也. 至於我為何要在這碎碎念日式織圖如何又如何, 以下編織歷程中會慢慢呈現.

Two years ago when I was buying a ball winder and a yarn swift from a local seller, I saw some Japanese pattern books she carried and bought two from her. I did so because the patterns are actually a little less Japanese or at least it is the Japanese style that I can still tolerate.

兩年前我跟一個網拍賣家買捲線器和傘撐, 順便看了她代訂的日本織圖書, 就順便買了兩本小孩的織圖書. 那是因為那兩本裡面的織圖都比較不日本, 或即使很日本, 那個日本的程度是在我可接受的範圍內.

A few months ago, I had a batch of new yarn brought back from Beijing by my mother, I rearranged my stash chest and found I have more fingering weight yarn than lace yarn and the quantity is much more than I have imagined! So I immediately wanted to start destashing. And how was I going to bust these yarn as fast as possible? Color stranded knitting. Fair isle. Sounds scary! But my determination to destash overcame my uncertainty towards fair isle so I cast-on the vest.

數月前, 我媽從北京帶回一批新線, 多到我得重新整理我的毛線庫存樟木箱, 然後發現庫存中 fingering weight 的毛線竟然比蕾絲線多? 且數量多得超乎我想像! 馬上我就受不了要來清倉. 那要如何才能快速消耗掉這些 fingering weight 的線? 配色編織. 費爾島風編織. 聽起來很恐怖, 但是我要消線的決心畢竟比較強, 強到可以打敗配色編織的恐懼. 於是, 我就開打了這兩件背心.

Before knitting the vest, I have been learning how to knit Continental style and practiced on several projects, and it proved to be very useful on fair isle knitting: I can carry one color on each hand to avoid tangling and confusion. This is why I enjoyed the fair isle experience so much! I thought it was going to be difficult although I was ready for it. It was really fun! And it's a child's vest so it knitted up fast. Actually, I double stranded all my fingering weight yarns and I have a few sport weight ones that I used single stranded.

打背心前, 自學了左手掛線且利用之前幾個小作品練習, 這在配色編織上非常好用, 因為我可以一手掛一個顏色的線, 線不會纏在一起, 也不容易搞錯. 也許因為如此所以我覺得配色編織蠻好玩的. 本以為會很困難, 結果發現一點也不難, 且這是小孩背心, 打起來很快, 很有成就感. 不過所有的 fingering weight 毛線我都雙線編織, 有幾色是 sport weight, 就擔線編織 .

This time, before casting one, I did a swatch, to decide which size to knit. And luckily, the gauge I had was exactly the same as that of the pattern! One thing about Japanese pattern, usually you have to use the exact same yarn to get the same result and effect, not using one will have you end up in a unimaginable state. The pattern I used is a child's pattern and it was given in three sizes. Patterns for adults usually come in one size only and if you're not as thin as my thin-as-a-malnutritioned-model mother, you will have to rechart the pattern all over (Japanese patterns are charted rather than described and aided with shematics and charts): you rewrite the whole thing. Anyway, I conisdered myself very lucky that I think I didn't have to worry about the possible gauge related disaster.

開打前, 我乖乖地打了織片以確定要打的尺寸. 很幸運地, 織片鬆進度跟原織圖同! 日式織圖就是這樣, 要用一樣的線才能達到織圖中設計的效果, 如果不是就有可能會有不能想像的後果. 我打的是小孩織圖有三種尺寸, 如是大人的通常就一種尺寸, 又不是像我媽那紙片人的身材, 那個圖就要重畫. 重算事小, 還要懂得如何重畫版型, 不然做出來的尺寸圖打起來也是一樣有可能結果淒慘. 總之, 我覺得很幸運, 至少我應該不需要擔心因織片鬆緊度不同引起的淒慘後果.

Sebastian's vest was finished really fast. While I was knitting it, my grandmother, my mother and my aunt all had opinions on it. My aunt saw it first and said it is too thick, as I double stranded the fingering weight yarn, and said it would be too warm to wear. And she said the neck opening was small because she thought I knitted the whole thing too small. Knitters of my aunt's generation tend to knit garments sizes larger, especially garments for children, so that they can wear them longer, but misfit and unflattering, in my opinion. Then my grandmother saw it and commented to my mother that I "double stranded" it in a disapproving tone. My mother said it was too small. Now this is why they didn't want to teach me how to knit because I always think differently and I almost certainly wouldn't accord with them. It was also why, with all these skilled and experienced knitters at home, I still chose to teach myself instead of going to them. Anyway, I came face to face with the neck opening problem real soon. I assure you that it was not because I didn't knit 3 sizes larger, it's the design. As you can see it in the original picture that the neck opening isn't very deep. And I was, should I say, stupid enough to choose to trust the pattern and not to change it. Well, changing it requires recalculation and I was lazy. There, I said it.

謙的背心很快就打好了. 這中間阿姨看到了就說, 這太厚了吧, 穿了會熱死, 還有領子太小了, 妳打太小件了. 大家都知道長輩喜歡把衣服打很大件, 尤其小孩的, 這樣才可穿久一點, 不然很浪費不划算. 後來外婆看到了就跟我媽說, 她用雙線打, 一副很不苟同的口氣, 好像用雙線打是犯大忌. 我媽說好小件. 這就是她們為何從沒想過要教我編織的原因, 因為我不會乖乖聽她們的, 不會乖乖地完全照她們講的做. 這也是為何家裡有這麼多厲害的編織長輩, 我卻還是選擇自學編織. 無論如何, 我很快就必須面對領口太小的問題. 基本上, 不是因為我打太小號所以領口小, 是因為原設計中的比例就是如此, 照片中可以看得出來. 它的 V 領本來就開得不深, 即使打大三號, 領子是會大了, 但是比例還是不對. 所以我應該說是笨吧, 選擇相信織圖沒有把領口改大. 要改要重算, 我懶啦!

The proportion of the neck opening is small as shown in the original photo. Seba tried on the vest without the neckband and it was just fit for his head to go through it.
原照片中領子的開口的比利本來就小. 謙試穿尚未加邊的背心時領口就只是剛好可以套過頭.

After trying on, the neck opening was proved to be small. I think that at this moment, neither my grandmother, my mother, or my aunt knew what to do about it. I think they would say that I should finish it and give it to some younger child to wear. I honestly don't think they know steeks can be applied. They might never even heard of steeks, maybe my mother have. I'm sure none of them have ever cut open a knitted garment before in order to fix a problem nor will they suggest it to me. Cutting open a knitted garment is like committing a crime. When I first started knitting I tried steeks on a mohair cardigan. Before steeking it I took the knitting to a LYS for buttons. When I told the owner what I was going to do, she was appalled and felt offended that I was going to cut it open. I told her that the Norwegians do their knittings with steeks. Obviously, she'd never heard of it. Well, I'm sorry to say that many knitter's here still don't know about this, although many newer generation knitters might have now.

試穿的結果就是領口的確小. 我想到此時, 我外婆我媽跟我阿姨一定也不知道該怎麼辦了. 可能會說, 把它打好送給其他更小的小朋友穿吧! 她們一定沒想到可以用steek. 她們可能從來沒聽過 steek, 也可能從來沒有為了解決問題把毛衣剪開, 我媽是唯一一個可能有聽過 steek 的吧. 即使她們有想到可剪開做開襟背心, 也不會建議我這樣做, 她們覺得把織好的衣服剪開是件冒犯的事. 幾年前我剛會打毛衣時, 就用一件毛海開襟外套做 steek. 我還沒剪開時就拿去配扣子. 當毛線店老闆娘聽到我要幹嘛時她簡直不敢相信嚇壞了覺得我冒犯了甚麼. 我告訴她挪威人的配色編織毛衣都這樣打的, 顯然她從來沒聽過. 台灣很多織友還是沒聽過這種技巧, 不過我相信年輕一代的織友有不少應該有聽過了.

Another thing is that I was a little nervous and knitted the blue vest a bit tight. I was double stranding so I thought I should tug a little and it effected the size. Although it fits Sebastian fine. So, when I knitted my the red one I relaxed my hands and the sizing immediately changed. Since Scarlett is almost 2 inches taller and more than 1 kilo heavier than Sebastian, her vest, which is a bit longer and wider than Seba's actually fits her well and not too oversized.

打完謙的背心後發現, 可能我擔心雙線編織不拉緊點針目會不好, 結果發現其實不需要, 拉緊反而影響背心大小, 好在試穿後並不會小, 只是台灣人習慣給小孩穿寬寬大大的. 所以開打若的背心時手就放鬆點, 馬上在尺寸上就可出差異, 不過若較謙高近 5 公分, 又重一公斤多, 背心長一點稍寬一點穿起來其實也剛好不會過大.

The two vests in comparison. The blue vest was wet blocked after it was finished but not the red one.
兩件背心比較. 藍背心完成後又下水重新定型, 紅背心沒有, 由此可見差異.

There is one other thing that I didn't follow the original pattern: the ribbed hem. It is common in Japanese pattern that the body is knitted first using a provisional cast-on and then the stitchs are picked up later to knit the ribbed hem using a needle 2 sizes smaller than the one used to knit the main body. I personally don't like to apply provisional cast-on this way, although the result is a pretty and smooth hem. Besides, the half-a-stitch difference needs to be adjusted and I'm lazy! So I used invisible cast-on for the ribbed hem and knitted with the same size needle for the main body.

兩件背心還有一個地方沒照原圖打, 就是下擺的羅紋邊. 日式織圖中都是別線起針打身體, 下擺羅紋邊是最後挑起別線上的針目用小兩號的針打. 別線起針後挑回打邊的結果事非常平整漂亮, 可我個人並不喜歡這個方法來打這樣的下擺, 總覺差半針要橋有點煩有點懶, 所以用彈性起針法起羅紋邊用打主體的同好針來織.

Now, the biggest difference from the original pattern are the steeks. I've done it once before knitting the vests and I studied carefully the tutorial on Eunny Jang's blog, and went for it. When I cut open Sebastian's vests I was a little confused for it was not as I remembered, the stitches were fraying like hell! I frogged the first button and buttonband, redid the reinforcement and picked up the bands again, but still...So I applied another reinforcement on the edge: heavily whip stitched the while thing. Very ugly, but it secured the stitches. This took me days for I worked slowly and carfully not to pull or tug on the knitting. After finishing the blue vest, I stopped for a few days, and then it hit me: the inicial reinforcement - the crochet reinforcement - I applied was WRONG! It should be single crochet stitches but I did chain stitches instead. No wonder the stitches frayed like hell! It never crossed my mind that I did the stitch wrong! Well, I was sick at the time and maybe it was effecting my head! Now I can do Scarlett's vest the right way and this time, it was just fine!

與原織圖最大不同處就是我把它變成開襟背心了. 我做過 steeks, 也把 Eunny Jang 的教學再看過, 然後就動手了. 剪開後挑扣洞邊時覺得很奇怪怎麼跟以前做得看起來不一樣, 一直要脫線的樣子. 只好把邊拆掉, 重做一次強化再挑邊. 另外還把剪開的地方用毛線緊緊纏住, 這才沒有繼續要脫線. 這裡邊實在是很醜不過也沒辦法了. 打完謙的休息了一陣才又繼續開始若的. 然後我終於恍然大悟: 會脫線是因為謙的強化我用錯針! 應該是用短針而不是鎖針! 謙的背心我做到完都沒想到, 鎖針當然沒有強化作用所以當然會脫線! 若的背心就沒問題, 短針加強剪開挑邊都很順利.

The chain stitch reinforcement I did on the blue vest and the correct single crochet stitch reinforcement on the red vest.
謙背心上的鎖針加強是錯的, 應該是若背心上的短針加強才對!

I had to whip stitch the whole edging heavily to prevent further fraying.
因為用錯針所以剪開後織片邊因為鎖針不夠強會脫線, 只好另外用縫的把邊纏住, 終於不再脫線.穿過洗過毛線會因為摩擦有點毛氈化就會"黏"在一起,更不會鬆開了.

The horrible afterthought whip stitch reinforcement vs the correct crochet reinforcement
藍背心超醜加強邊 vs 紅背心的正常steek加強邊

I don't know why I didn't knit these fair isle vests in the round but chose to follow the pattern and knit them in pieces and then sew together. The ends are so many! I weaved in all the ends on the blue vest and it took me AGES! So I braided the ends on the red vest which was not too bad, and it took me a lot of time, too. Kazekobo specializes in Fair Isle designs, I just don't understand why isn't the vest designed as knitted in the round? I did give it a thought of doing it in the round but eventually didn't because I saw the color chart was charted somewhat differently and I was afriad the pattern wouldn't match up at the join. Although, luckily the color pattern of the size I knitted did match when I sew them together. I'm not too sure about the larger sizes. Alright, I was lazy and didn't adjust the color chart to suit my plan.

通常配色編織都是圓編, 最後再剪開, 我不知道我為何當初沒有圓編. 風工房專長費爾島風設計, 更令我費解的是, 既然是專長怎麼會設計成前後兩片編織再縫合呢? 這樣會有多少線頭要藏阿?! 謙的背心我就是用藏的, 弄了我非常的久. 若的背心我就不幹這種事了, 用編的綁成辮子, 結果也還好啦, 只是也花了不少時間. 早知道我就圓型編織, 結果我就是太相信織圖! 尤其日式織圖...我是有想過圓編, 但是看到配色圖表, 怕如果圓編接頭處花樣對不起來怎麼辦? 好在我打得這個尺寸縫合時發現花接得起來, 兩外兩個尺寸我就不知道了. 好啦, 我懶啦沒有去橋, 就只好忍受這種令人幾乎無法忍受的後果.

The braided ends
辮子編起來的線頭

Maybe I shouldn't be complaining about Japanese patterns when I was being lazy. But, seriously, I haven't seen an American or European pattern that can cause this much trouble! Now I think I really made myself clear why I didn't and don't care for Japanese patterns. And mind you, there are many free patterns that are so well written and designed than these paid Japanese patterns! Like I said at the very begining, this is not my last fair isle knitting, but next time, I'm using non-Japanese pattern for fair isle!

也許我不應該因為自己懶而抱怨日式織圖, 但是說真的, 我沒見過哪個歐美織圖可以把人家搞得這麼糟的. 這下我應該是表達得很清楚為何我不喜歡日式織圖了. 說難聽一點, 有很多免費的歐美織圖寫得設計得比這要錢的日式織圖好太多了, 我幹嘛為難自己? 如前面所說, 這不會是我最後一個費爾島風作品, 但是下次我不再用日式織圖了!

夏日飛逝小披肩 Summer Flies

2010-08-19T16:36:00.006+08:00

Several months ago while surfing Ravelry, I encountered several shawls/shawlettes/scarves that I wanted to knit, but at the time wasn't motivated to cast-on right away for I didn't know what yarn in my stash to use. I used to like my shawls to be large: long enough to cover almost the whole of my back for a triangel shawl, or wide enough to do the same for a rectangular one. Recently, however, and strangely enough, I'm only interested in shawlettes, shawls that were designed not to be too large and could be used as a not-to0-bulky scarf. Percy, Citron and Summer Flies.

I started Percy first, for it was tigergirl who suggested that TKA make it a project. And then I started on the celery green Citron, which is still being beaded bind-off (I knitted SEVEN sections), and when the celery was half way done I started another Citron the a la española one, knitted Vent d'Est Vent d'Ouest cowl, and went back to Citron #1. I was bored by the beaded bind-off and one time when I opened the camphor chest where I stash my yarn, I spotted Lana Grossa Gala.

Lana Grossa Gala

I bought a pack of four Lana Grossa Gala in black three years ago for knitting the Reading in Bed Shrug to go with a Mango dress. I was never satisfied with the shrug and vowed to rip it and knit a bolero instead. And now I decided a shawlette would be nice, too!

The Mango dress, a bit wrinkled I'm afraid!

3.75mm needles were used to test knit the shawlette and what was I thinking? The knitting was definitely too small! Yes, I was afraid that I would run out of yarn, although according to the pattern the Gala I have should be enough for one Summer Flies. So I frogged and used US8. It was a very quick knit, I finished it in 2 nights and 1 day! I couldn't belive it myself! And strangely, I have almost one ball (95m) of Gala left!

Really love the result!

費爾島風背心 Fair Isle Vests

2010-08-03T12:02:00.003+08:00

My dear mother bought me some new yarn from Beijing during her visit in July, and bringing the yarn, together with some other yarn that were reserved for the twins that were still at my mother's, made me rearrange my yarn stash, which was stored in an antique camphor chest. While rearranging all the yarn, I found out that the largest percentage of my stash wasn't lace yarn as I thought but fingering weight yarn! They were mostly bought from Shanghai by my grandmother during her annual visits and recently from Beijing by my mother, and they are for the twins. Most of them were kept at my mother's house, for it was mainly her who was knitting for the twins since they were babies. But this time I decided to bring them all home, and to my shock: the camphor chest is FULL!

I used to keep all knitting things in the chest: yarn, needles, notions, buttons, beads, yarn swift, ball winder, leftovers, odd balls etc. I do keep the stuff I use frequently somewhere with easy and fast access but now, besides the yarn swift and ball winder, I keep only intact yarn or balls of yarn that are still enough to make a garment in the chest, the leftovers are in a big plastic bag in my walk-in closet, and the tools in a small plastic storgae box.

Then I started to have this urge to destash: knit something quick! And use up as much fingering weight yarn a possible! For the twins are now sent off to Kindergarten and knitting new garment should start anyway! So, I decided to knit some fair isle vests for the twins, to use up first the odd balls/leftovers. I've never knitted fair isle, except some Super Mario mushrooms that has white spots on the top. And I chose a pattern from a Japanese pattern book. I can't stand Japanese patterns, I don't read Japanese although I can understand what it says after some help from my dear friend Margaret.

And off I went, started to knit. Strangley, it was FUN! And it was FAST! Although I did unravel a couple of times but it was quick fix, too. So in a week or so I finished Sebastian's front and back pieces. The only thing is that the knitting curled up so badly that I had to wet block it first so that I can sew up the seams and knit the neck and armhole bands.

I rested for a few days and started Scarlett's vest. Which was even faster! This time, I loosen up my hand more while knitting the vest so the knitting wouldn't end up too tight or feel too bulky and the color stitches could show up better. I cheated while knitting Sebastian's vest. The yellow row in the middle of the navy blue background stripe should be consisted of two colors, as in fair isle knitting no one color is used knitting more than 3 stitches. I corrected that in Scarlett's vest using yellow and green in the fuchsia stripe. Most of the colors are merino except the navy blue in Sebastian's vest is pure lambswool.

My mother and aunt thought the knitting was thick, that was because I was knitting double stranded. Two colors in Sebastian's vest were actually sport weight, and the rest were fingering double stranded. And I carried yarn on both hands. I was practicing knitting Continental style and it paid off. So far I think not knitting double stranded would have better color-stitch presentation but I'm trying to make double stranding work as good as possible.

Anyway, I'm not perfect but I learn from my knittings. And these vests are learning/destashing/loving projects!

香櫞們 My Citrons

2010-07-29T11:39:00.006+08:00

Citron a la española was finished almost a week ago. It took 5 days to knit, 1 day to block, and almost another week to take a modelled pic for it was really too hot!

Citron a la española was knitted entirely Conitnental style, I did it to practice the style. With fingering weight yarn is much easier to get my hand in than an almost cobweb lace. Towards the end, I decided to apply beaded bind-off. I have some size 8 silver lined yellow Japanese round seed beads in stash and thought they would light a bit the shawlette/scarf. If they were size 6 it would've been even better. I really like the result.

As to my first Citron, the celery-color one, I stopped knitting it for a week to knit the Spanish one, and resumed knitting afterwards. It has 7 sections and I'm on the ruffle edging now. Last Saturday I took it with me to a bead store near my parents house in hopes of finding some beads that will match the celery/mint green. Luckily, the shop owner showed me some size 8 light green transparent AB beads which nicely compliment my Citron. I bought 1 tael (approx. 37.5g) of them, which should be more than enough for my edging.

Just when I thought I could finish the first Citron in no time, something happened. I will explain it in another post. Anyway, due to that "something", I started another project right away! And the Citron is once again put aside! Here's a little sneak peak:

西班牙版香櫞 Citron a la española

2010-07-20T18:06:00.006+08:00

I have always been supporting Spanish National Football Team since I started watching football nearly 20 years ago. They have won, finally, the 201o FIFA World Cup! Since they enter the semi-finals, I've been wanting to knit an accessary - scarf or shawl - in the Spanish flag color. I've been eyeing Citron then, so I decided it would be very nice to knit one a la española. When they won the final, I was hilarious! I HAVE to have one! But I didn't have the colors. Dear friend MaryL has a huge and beautiful stash of fingering weight yarns that she couldn't part with but decided to offer up some for she could never finish knitting them fast enough. So, she rummaged through her stash and offered me two fabulicous yarns: Brooklyn Handspun Soft Spun Plus in Marigold and Fiberspates K1 Sock Yarn in Deep Cherry Red. She had other two colors from Malabrigo Worsted which are much brighter and more closely resemble the Spanish flag colors, but I didn't know what to knit with them and a worsted weight scarf wouldn't be as practical for me nor the climate here.

(L) Brooklyn Handspun Soft Spun Plus Marigold (R) Fiberspates K1 Sock Yarn Deep Cherry Red

After I got the yarn last Saturday, I started knitting the next day. All of a sudden I didn't want to my original Citron, the celery-colored one which was starting on the sixth section. So I wound p the skeins and knitted away. This is my progress as per Sunday evening. I'm on the fourth section now! Soon I will change back to the cherry red and finish this thing!

香櫞 Citron

2010-07-16T09:02:00.008+08:00

I saw Citron when it was published but the idea of knitting it didn't cross my mind until recently I saw Linda's Citron. And then a knitter friend also mentioned it. Since I was looking for simple, stylish projects, Citron could be a great one.

Problem is, again, the choosing of the yarn. It doesn't have to be a citrusy color really but I couldn't shake the idea. Frankly, I don't have colors in that category in my stash except for a hank of Cigno Nero 2/25 Lana Pura Vergine Irristrigibile recently procured from Margaret. She brought quite some stash with her while visiting Taiwan in April. This hank caught my eye for its celery-like color and the cool freshness of the color. Besides, I didn't have any yarn of this color. So, although it's pure wool, which means harder to the touch and less drapey, I used the yarn. Cigno Nero 2/25 is about 2/3 the thickness of Malabrigo Lace and due to the characteristic of a plied pure wool lace, the knitting would be loose and airy, but I thought it would be nice for warm weather A/C indoors use.

The true color is between these two

I cast-on with 4mm needles and knitted one section. I wasn't sure about the result and asked for suggestions from my knitter friends. Then it was decided that I change to smaller needles. For the whole knitting was very loose, the garter stitch borders were almost sloppy and the contrast between the ruching and stockinette stitch section was almost none.

First section knitted with 4mm needles

I ripped and recast-on with 3.75mm and knitted the setup section. Still I wasn't quite satisfied. The garter stitch border still looked sloppy although a little better now. So I cast-on again with 3.5mm and finally got a acceptable result.

First section with 3.5mm needles

And knitting went on for two sections. Then it came to me that I could knit the ruchings Continental style which I've been learning/practicing recently and the stockinette stitch part English style. My gauge is tighter if knitted Continental style and thus I thought the ruchings would look more gathered and less airy, more contrast to the plain knitting strips. I have to say that I like the result.

Citron up to 7th row of fifth section. Note the difference between the first two and the last two ruchings. The last two are definitely tighter.

東風西風 Vent d'est vent d'ouest

2010-07-15T13:30:00.010+08:00

When knitting the last project Percy Shawl, I thought I could use up the remaining Malabrigo Lace Holly Hock, but a little over a half skein was leftover. Immediately I have the perfect project for it, a lovely design from my dear friend MarieAdeline: Vent d'est vent d'ouest.

She used exactly Malabrigo Lace, and since I wanted a not too wide nor too long cowl (I don't need to pull it over my head), after some homework doing and research on Ravelry, I was sure that the little over a half skein is definitely enough for VEVO, I cast on.

But, I had a bit of struggle at the beginning. I wasn't sure if the knit cast-on indicated in the pattern was going to be elastic enough. I had this struggle before when I was knitting Mystery Stole 4 Serendipity. But that was a stole and this is a cowl which my head has to be able to go through it. I sent MarieAdeline a message asking for advice but I knew she was very, very busy swamped with work, so I decided to go knit cast-on and not try out the stupid lace cast-ons I was thinking about to use. The cast-on was elastic enough, but I twisted the stitches several times. Very rare for me. I figured it was the COMBINATION of the yarn AND the circular needle...First time, I cast-on for lace weight, knitted one or two rounds and found out somehow I twisted it. Ripped and started second time, still casting on for lace weight, and twisted again! After 2 lace weight cast-ons I decided that it was a but wide so I went on and cast-on for the third time for fingering weight, knitted one or two rounds...twisted AGAIN! Started the forth cast-on, this time I cast-on more loosely, thus giving me a little more give to move the stitches around the 60cm circular. Actually I do have 40cm circulars from Clover but the sizing is different, since I was determined to use my new Knit Picks Harmony Wood Interchangeables, I had to put up with whatever inconveniences that come my way. After the forth cast-on, it was all breeze from there. Whew!

So, my advice on lace knitting, regarding cast-on in this case: TRUST THE DESIGNER!

Chart A + Chart B 1 repeat

The Chinese Lace pattern

I had about 27g of yarn and I weighed after every Chart B repeat to determine how many more Chart B repeats I could do. I figured about 4.5g of yarn is used for every Chart B repeat, and after the initial Chart A + Chart B I had 17g left, meaning I could do a little less than 4 repeats, that is: I have to bind-off a row or two before completing the fourth repeat. And so it was. I bound off one row before the last and have about 1m of yarn left!

The cowl measured about 22 inches at the bottom 18 inches at the top, exactly 2 inches narrower that the original size intended for the lace weight version. I didn't block my cowl for after trying on the top automatically loosen up a bit and I like the drape as it is. I thought blocking would make it even looser. I might soak it, pat it over, lay flat and let dry.

As we were at 36 degrees C everyday when knitting VEVO, a modelled picture would be a torture. But somehow the morning after VEVO was finished, I washed my face and neck thoroughly with cold water (actually quite warm for the sun "cooked" the water in the tank on the roof top of our apartment), powdered my neck with baby powder that has cooling ingredients, and put the cowl on. I have to show MarieAdeline how it looks like on a real live neck! As you can see in the photo below I was wearing a spaghetti strap tank self-portraiting in the master bedroom's adjacent bathroom. I didn't realize how strange the combo was until I uploaded the photos to flickr. Should do another wearing cooler weather clothes, 5 months from now!

And now for some really silly photos! I was just trying to see if it can be pulled over my head and yes, it was just make. Anyway, I looked like Arny in South Park, the one that got killed in every episode. LOL

I love VEVO. I've been holding it at night while watching TV with A/C on. Malabrigo feels so good and the pattern so pretty! Thank you MarieAdeline for such a gorgeous design. Bisou!

珀西披肩 Percy Shawl

2010-07-13T10:23:00.010+08:00

Percy Shawl was brought up by a dear friend while browsing Ravelry. She loved the frost flower motif and suggested that we make it TKA's next project. Most of us agreed, fascinated by the frost flower, too.

Actually, I've been wanting to knit frost flower since I saw Frost Flowers and Leaves, but I was a novice knitter, very new to lace, and knitting lace on both sides was very intimidating.

I had recently finished a very big project Mandala II for my mother's birthday, which she loves very much, thank God, and I was knitting a bunch of roses just for the heck of it. What I really need was a new project. Something not too big, not too complicated for it's summer in Taiwan and we're at 36 degrees C everyday with NO afternoon thunderstorms, strangely, which should happen as it's a typical sub-tropical summer weather, which means no knitting or no advanced knitting during the day. Anyway, I had to start Percy for we're having it as a KAL and I want a shawlette and I think I have just the yarn for it: Malabrigo Lace.

I have quite a few colors in my stash, blue color family mostly and a little of the color Holly Hock, with which I knitted a Spring Tulips Stole for my trip to Paris last June. I had 4 skeins and used about 2.24 on STS. Although I preferred to use a new color, but eventually settled with Holly Hock. Kind of get-it-out-of-my-sight plus destash-y decision, not that I dislike the color. I LOVE it!

Usually I use a swift and ball winder to wind my yarn, but this time, due to laziness (of taking out the gadgets and setting up), I hand wound it. I was actually quite proud of myself for finally managed to make quite a nice ball!

A Malabrigo hand-wound yarn ball, looks equally nice and soft and fluffy in a ball as it is in a skein or knitting.

Set up rows of Percy

Chart A went on smoothly and I liked the pattern. I thought it a different one until I saw it in knitting, and I liked this better than the one I thought I was knitting! There's a curvy shape outside the little leaves or diamonds, which gives the pattern a softer look and enhanced by the red-purple color it looks even more romantic.

Set-up rows +Chart A

I was very careful while knitting Chart B. Experiences told me that knitting lace both sides requires concentration and good knitting environment. Chart B was knitted mostly at night when the air conditioning was on. I did knit a little during the day but almost everytime I did I ended up unravelling what I knit. Too darn hot. Stuffy mind. There weren't big errors but just...errors. I was knitting quite tightly with 4mm needles and unravelling was a bitch for the unravelled stitches were so tight and very difficult to move on the needles. I had to be very patient not to break the Malabrigo and everytime I finished unravelling a row, I had to take a shower. Somewhere halfway throught the first Chart B repeat, things got better and knitting went on much smoother and I was starting to enjoy knitting frost flowers. I decided to add one more repeat of frost flower before going on to Chart C. Knitting Chart B once doesn't do justice to this shawlette nor the frost flowers. I would've done two more repeats but I wanted a shawlette so one was suffice.

Chart B + 1 repeat

Nupps, strangely enough I hated them before. They gave me a hard time on the two Swallowtails I knitted a couple of years ago. The first one was hell for the yarn I used was too thin too slippery and as a novice lace knitter I knitted double stranded. Bad choice. The second one was better for I googled and searched and found some advice from other knitters and applied a slip 2 purlwise p3tog psso alternative for the nupps. I was quite pleased with the result but I certainly wanted to do it the "proper" way this time. I should say that I can appreciate nupps more for I was reading about Estonian lace knitting recently and discussion have been carried on among knitter friends. I also watched the demo Nancy Bush made on Knitting Daily regarding the nupps and decided to do it exactly as she did. And what do you know? Nupps and I are best friends now! Didn't know why I made such a fuss about it years ago...well, I have much more lace experiences now of course!

Chart C + Edging

Blocking was fun. Come to think of it, I haven't made a triangle shawl for quite a while! And I have more experiences with blocking now and hopefully I can block Percy beautifully. This is how it turned out:

I love the yos on both sides of the center stitch

I like how the frost flowers emerge from the center stitch...

I really love these nupps! I used to hate them, for they were a nightmare for me to make.

This shot gives the evidence of the nice and hot weather we're having here: bright blue sky,fiery sun (hiding behind my Percy) with a stifling breeze...

I really love this shawlette. Too bad I have to wait another 5 months to wrap it around my neck. That's why I don't have a modelled picture! I did, however, wrapped it around my neck in a air conditioned room, just to feel the Malabrigo, the frost flowers and the nupps! <3

一堆玫瑰花 A Bunch of Roses

2010-07-07T18:10:00.002+08:00

After completing the grand task of Mandala II and test knitted 2 lace socks, I thought I'd take a break. But, honestly, my hands couldn't just stay idled. I needed some light project, not too big not too smal not too boring, and seriously, it was hard for me to decide under the hot and humid everyday 34+ degrees summer weather of Taipei.

And then it hit me.

Knitted flowers!

I had to knit up something for Scarlett to put on her backpack for identification. She and Sebastian has the same kind of backpack. There were two little knitted bears attached to the zipper but they were torn. So, I fished out some leftover yarn and the Bouquet 2009 diary calendar I got from ISE7 Kathy, and started to knit some roses .

Cabbage Rose. This is for Scarlett's backpack.

Ruffle Rose

Cabbage Roses

Florets

A bunch of roses

The above roses took me an afternoon to make. And then I remembered the two skeins of pure mohair tonals which should be very nice for knitting roses. So, more roses were produced. Roses are really easy to knit and really gratifying. Although I suck at sewing, all these roses required sewing to set the spiral shape, still they are pretty to look at.

Cabbage Rose, Scallop Rose, Ruffle Rose and American Beauty Rose (twisted).

American Beauty Rose, Ruffle Rose, Scallop Rose, Cabbage Rose

I was going to knit a draw string bag with the a little over a skein gray heather wool yarn leftover from Oblique and felt it and then sew the mohair roses on. Eventually, I got over the rose bug. Anyway, next time when I got stuck between projects, maybe I can knit up the drawstring bag!

曼陀羅 2 Mandala II

2010-07-06T20:33:00.007+08:00

Mandala II was intended for my mother's birthday. The original Mandala was for my grandmother's 80th birthday.

Mandala II took me a little more than 5 weeks to finish. I knitted slowly according to the experiences I had with the original Mandala. Although the original Mandala took me 8 weeks to complete, I was knitting 3 shawl-knit-alongs at the time, my twins were a little over a year old, and I had less advanced lace knitting experiences.

I started late actually, about 10 days after the first clue was given out. I cast on after the second clue was up. I finished in a day or two the first two clues but forgot to knit the set-up rounds in the middle. After a few days, right before the third clue was up, I ripped and started over, knitting correctly this time.

Another reason I intentionally knitted slowly was because of the yarn I used: Hengyuanxiang Knitting Wool. It's the same one as the original Mandala in the color deep red. The weight is between lace and cobweb/gossamer but closer to cobweb. It gave me a hard time while knitting the original Mandala. I used Clover light-weight metal circs and the yarn was so thin and slippery, my hands went numb very quick very easily after a little knitting. I had very tired hands after giving birth to the twins. I didn't knit for a year to tend to the babies. I realized the change in my hands when I picked up knitting again a year later, so I bought a whole set of Clover bamboo circs, which were warmer to my hands. This time, however, I used Knit Picks Harmony Wood Interchangeable Needles, even better! The cables don't have memories and I can start from the very beginning with Magic Loop! Wooden needles definitely have a better grip at the yarn, and I knitted quite tightly, for the smallest needle size I have is US4 3.5mm. Maybe US3 3.25mm would render a better lace definition for this yarn but I thought the finished size knitted with US4 3.5mm is just fine and if I went down a size it would be a little too small. I should've relax a bit and not knit as tight! Anyway, I was pleased with the final lace presentation.

The pattern, as usual, was divided into 5 clues: 4 parts and an edging, one piece per week. And as usual, I had difficulty choosing the pattern for the first 4 sections. This is a shawl for my mother, the pickiest advanced and experienced knitter, so it was not like knitting the original Mandala for my grandmother, if I like it she likes it. In the end, I picked the most complicated pattern from each section et voilà! I knew I succeeded for the moment my mother opened up the shawl she was fascinated by the section 4 lace, which required knitting lace every round. Her comments were: Wow! Look at that! What elaborate and exquisite lace! And than later when I held open the shawl for everyone to see she saw the first 3 sections and said: Hey! There are those complicated little lacey motifs! I didn't see them the first time! They're so pretty! The conclusion: she loves it! She loves the color, too!

1C

1C2D

I thought if I knitted with a 2 ply lace 2D would have had a much better presentation. With this yarn and knitting stretched out, the pattern doesn't show well.

1C2D3C

3C is my favorite pattern. I really love it!

1C2D3C from another angle.

1C2D3C4B

4B took me 2.5 weeks to complete. I knitted very carefully so that I don't make mistakes for it was knitting lace every round, one error would be disastrous. When knitting the last section of the original Mandala, my son jumped on me, one stitch was dropped, as the yarn was so slippery it went down several rows...in the end, I had to unravel stitch by stitch for 6 rounds--that was 576x6=3456 stitches!! It took me a week salvage the shawl.

1C2D3C4B in black and white to show off more clearly the lace patterns.

Blocking reference

To ensure I get an even length from all points, I drew a circle with my twin's Crayola water soluable crayon, place the soaked shawl over it and blocked.

Blocking in progress.

Note that there was a small gap at the southwest corner of the shawl. That was the beginning/end of the round for edging. Closed it up after blocking. The edging, however, took me much longer than I thought. It should be easy for me but I often made mistakes knitting it for I was usually very tired when I was knitting the edging!

The finished Mandala II with edging.

Introducing: Regina's Mandala II

兩雙趾起蕾絲襪 Two Toe-Up Lace Socks

2010-06-28T12:16:00.007+08:00

I know I haven't been updating my blog for quite a while. Usually, or should I say, when I started blogging, I used to post several times on a project. If I posted only once, that was because I was a fast and fierce knitter and hadn't the time to post about the progress before the project was already finished! Anyway, I should keep this blog updated for I really have quite some FOs queued up. I've been blogging bilingually for quite some time, and although I live in Taiwan, I found blogging in English faster! So, English first for now and I promise I will get the Chinese ready in no time!

Floret Socks (left) and Blackrose Wanna Be Socks (right) both by Margaret Edelson.

Floret Socks is the first pair of lace socks I test knitted for Margaret. I used 2.25mm needles and the result is a little bit loose for me (another reason is lace is knitted all around). I didn't use 2mm needles as the pattern for I already snapped one of the set of six Knit Picks Harmony Wood sock needles. I decided to buy KP's nickel plated fixed circular and for the time being, I knitted with 2.25mm needles and tug a little more on every stitch. But, by doing so, I bent one of the 2.25mm needles. Very nerve wrecking now knitting with these needles.

Bind-off edge and 1x1 ribbing.

Actually, I was a little reluctant to knit another toe-up sock. I've been knitting several pairs of toe-ups and worn them frequently during winter and no matter which kind of bind-off I used, they weren't as stretchy as I would've liked them to be. I knitted toe-up because I couldn't graft and couldn't get myself to learn it right. But things took quite a turn last year: I know how to graft! I had two shawls/stoles that were knitted in two halves and required grafting. So, I HAD to learn how to graft for I really didn't want to leave UFOs lying around just because I couldn't master a technique. Since I grafted a mohair/silk shawl, grafting a toe for a sock should be no problem at all.

So, while knitting Floret, I was looking for a REALLY stretchy bind-off for toe-up socks. And I found Jeny's surprisingly stretchy bind-off. Very strange and very stupid of me, that I knew Judy's magic cast-on but not know its twin?! I gave it a try right away and I LIKED IT! Whew! Looks like I don't have to give up on toe-ups now!

Gusset increases (left) and toe increases (right).

I test knitted Blackrose Wanna Be Socks for Margaret. It was inspired by Blackrose, a cuff-down sock which my dear friend still feels intimidated to knit, so she reversed the direction and turned it into a toe-up sock. Only 1/4 of the sock is knitted in lace and you can wear it with the lace on the inside or outside!

Since I was test knitting, I intended to have two identical socks. But look what happened: the color didn't match up from the ankle! Then I remembered when knitting the second sock, there was a knot. I didn't even think about it, I untied the knot and felt join, and knitted on. Not until I finished the second sock and put both socks on to take pictures did I realize that the color sequence was off! The first 100g skein I used to knit Floret Socks didn't have knot(s), but a friend of mine who had an exactly same color skein did have knot(s) and her socks' color sequence didn't match up either. I happen to like On Your Toes 4 ply, so it's a pity the quality seems not quite consistent. Well, if anyone's knitting with this, please keep in mind to watch out for the knot(s) and rearrange for the color sequence to match.

I used 2.25mm needles for these, and the result is a bit tight, for only 1/4 of the round is in lace. I haven't washed them yet, but if one prefers a less snug sock, I personally suggest a larger needle, unless one's a loose knitter.

2x2 ribbing and the elastic bind-off.

The gusset increases.

The lace pattern.

Sock knitting can be soothing for me, when I don't know what to knit but really need something on my hands. Well, of course, I need to have sock yarn and a nice pattern to go with at hand. We don't have sock yarns here in Taiwan, so I have to order them elsewhere. As to the pattern, I have quite a few and many times just can't decide which to knit! So, if a friend asks me to test knit a sock pattern, it would be perfect me!

Another thing that have been bugging me for a while is that most of the toe-ups I knitted were worn and broke at the heels. Is there anyway of reinforcing the bottom of the heel? The back of the heel is already strong enough with the slip stitch pattern. Or is it really I should go back to the regime of sloughing the heels weekly as I used to when I didn't haven't kids? When I didn't have kids--that is the point! I'll try though to do keep a smoother heel this year!

Kanzashi Stole 古簪披肩

2010-05-07T15:48:00.011+08:00

古簪披肩
開始日期: 2010/4/7
完成日期: 2010/5/5
織圖: 古簪披肩 by Margaret Edelson
線材: KOLKA 極細羊毛線 25 g/250 m
顏色: #6 橄欖綠
線量: 約 3.5 球 (870 m)
針碼: 日規 4 號 (3.3 mm)
尺寸: 70 吋 x 22 吋
珠子: 568 顆 6 號中管銀橄欖綠/咖啡雙色日本圓珠

Kanzashi Stole
Start date: 2010/4/7
Finish date: 2010/5/5
Pattern: Kanzashi Stole by Magaret Edelson
Yarn: KOLKA Series M 100% Peruvian Highland Wool 25 g/250 m
Color: #6 Olive
Quantity: about 3.5 balls (approx. 870 m)
Needle size: 3.3 mm (Japenese #4)
Size: 70 in x 22 in
Beads: 568 size 6 silver lined two-tone olive and brown Japanese seed bead

早在三月就開始找織圖要來打母親節的禮物. 手上不少蕾絲披肩織圖, 就是找不到滿意的. 覺得夠好看夠複雜的難度都很高, 正反兩面都要做蕾絲, 因為可以專心織的時間不多, 每次織的時間也不長, 所以不能選太難的. 偏偏符合我編織時間品質的織圖, 感覺上又都太簡單, 不夠令人嘆為觀止, 怕老母不會滿意. 一天與瑪姐聊天, 想到手上有不少需要幫瑪姐測織的披肩織圖, 於是瑪姐說要不要測織古簪披肩啊? 想想也好, 因為是長型的, 我可以加珠珠增添點華麗感.

Early in March I started pattern hunting for Mother's Day. I have lots of lace shawl patterns in my collection but couldn't find one satisfying enough. Because this is for my mother, a very skilled knitter, and a picky one, thus, tough time on decisions. I don't have much time for knitting nowadays, and the time available for it isn't long, either, so I wouldn't want to over exert myself on a challenging lace shawl, but the shawls that wouldn't tire me too much simply weren't complicated enough for my mother's taste. Then, I had a talk with my dear friend Maragret, and the several patterns she designed that I have still to test-knit, she suggested why not test-knit Kanzashi Stole (originally called Antique Filigree)? I thought it a good idea, for it's rectangular shaped and I happen to have some beads to add some glamour to it.

為符合此披肩的設計精神, 蕾絲線顏色選擇讓我很傷腦筋, 因為庫存中唯一符合古董的顏色就只有這組橄欖綠的純羊毛極細線, 又剛好有買珠子配, 雖然我不是很情願用這色, 但還是硬給他用下去.

In order to concorde with the philisophy of the design, I had a hard time deciding the yarn color, too. The only color in my stash that fits the antique feel is this pure wool olive color lace yarn, and I do have beads to go with it. Although reluctantly, I chose the color anyway.

正式開打前, 還打了塊織片加上兩種不同大小的珠子, 好決定用那種大小和顏色, 也好計算披肩完成候大約呎吋, 起針數, 幾個花樣重複等等.

Before casting on officially, I made a swatch with 2 different sizes of beads to decide definitely bead size and color, number of stitches to cast on, approximate size of the finished stole, and numbers of repeat of the kanzashi pattern.

織片中兩種大小的珠子, 左邊 8 號, 右邊 6 號.
2 different sizes of beads in the swatch, 8 on the left, 6 on the right.

8 號中管銀黃色日本圓珠
Size 8 silver lined yellow Japanese seed bead

6 號中管銀橄欖/咖啡雙色日本圓珠
Size 6 silver lined 2-tone olive and brown Japanese seed bead

披肩由正中央向兩端打, 完成第一半時, 很不滿意, 因為覺得左右的邊和尾端的邊搭不起來, 還有中間別線起針解開挑針時出錯, 再加上這純羊毛線沒啥彈性, 很難搞, 所以心情特差, 想要拆掉. 但是測織還是要有交代, 還是要把打好的部份拉開看看, 好給設計師瑪姐建議.

The stole in knitted fron the center out. When I finished the first half I was very upset for I wasn't convinced by the combination of the side and end borders. To make matters worse, I messed up picking up the stitches from the provisional cast-on, and the yarn being pure wool lack elasticity, gave a me even harder time fixing the problem. I really wanted to rip it out, but as I was test knitting, I need to have feedbacks, so I pinned out the half, took some pictures, and wrote down some suggestions.

暫時拉開部分第一半
Partially stretched first half

尾端邊讀蕾絲和珠子, 因為拉開的關係, 三排珠子呈波浪狀.
The end border and beads. The 3-row beads turn into an undulating shape when stretched.

本來很鬱悶想拆掉, 但看到尾端蕾絲和三排珠子因為拉開成波浪狀, 覺得很好看, 最後決定繼續打完它.

I was so frustrated and wanted to rip, but when I saw the end border and the 3-row beads pulled into an undulated shape I thought it looked beautiful. And then I decided to finish the second half.

定型後的髮簪花樣
The kanzashi pattern after blocking

兩端邊和波浪三排珠
The end border and the 3-row undulated beads

左右邊與兩端邊, 最後決定將左右邊拉平.
Side and end borders. I decided to keep the side border flat.

過節當天讓小若拿給老母, 感覺上好像有喜歡, 因為老母說了句這花跟他打的某條蕾絲披肩花很像. 我很肯定地告訴她: 不, 絕對不一樣. 而且這條是世界上第一條完成的古簪披肩, 要有一樣的花, 都是後來才打出來的.

I had Scarlett delivered the shawl on Mother's Day and seemed like my mother was quite fond of it. For she said something that the kanzashi pattern look like a lace shawl she knitted (the Bleeding Heart Stole by Anne Hanson). I told her that it was definitely not the same. Besides, this is the FIRST Kanzashi Stole in the WORLD, any other kanzashi or kanzashi-alike stoles/shawls come AFTER yours.

老母沒批評我就很高興了.

Well, I'm glad she didn't criticize.

Un peu de chance Cardigan Progress 一點好運開襟外套進度

2010-05-06T11:27:00.003+08:00

一點好運開襟外套身體完成後, 過了五週才收到袖子的織圖, 又要開始繼續織. 這件開襟外套設計的重點織一就是它的袖子: 澎澎袖, 或詩人袖, 澎澎的部分跟身體羅紋邊上方一樣的一些幸運草蕾絲花, 所以取名一點好運, 就是這個意思吧! 袖子從袖口起針向上做環狀編織, 不需要縫合喔! 一個晚上就打到下圖, 半個詩人袖, 當作是 project 進度好第二天網聚拿去交待.

About five weeks after I finished the body, the sleeve pattern arrived. The sleeves are actually the focus of the cardigan, they're puffy and lacey poet sleeves! Like the body, they have some clover leaf pattern on the puffy part, hence the name un peu de chance I suppose! The sleeves are knitted form the cuff, no seaming! I finished half a poet sleeve in one night so I could show off a little in the knitting meet-up the next day.

半個詩人袖
Half a poet sleeve

網聚時大家看到詩人袖都好喜歡, 還有人愛不釋手, 等織圖正式發表時, 每個人都可以打一件!

My knitting friends LOVE the sleeves! They simply ADORE the design. Some of them couldn't even get their hands off my poet sleeve! I guess they can all knit one for themselves when the pattern is published!

網聚回來, 詩人袖也打好了, 卻發現袖子很寬. 把打好的身體部分穿在託瑪姐買的 Knit Picks 可換頭輪針組 120 公分的 cable 上試穿, 真的是太大了! 雖然開打前有打測織片計算鬆緊度, 且確定打 38 的尺寸會在原織圖 34 和 38 的中間, 對我來說是剛好的 (因為我的鬆緊度比原織圖小), 不管怎樣, 就是太大了, 勢必要重打. 也許我沒有自己想像中的那麼身軀龐大吧!

After the meet-up, I finished the puffy part, tried it on and found it too large. Just to be sure, I transferred the body onto the Knit Picks 120 cm cable for interchangeable circulars I asked Margaret to brought me, tried it on and found, seriously, it's WAY too large! I did knit a swatch and calculated that I should knit size 38 and with my gauge smaller than that stated in the pattern, the actual size will come out between 34 and 38, which should be just right for me. Anywaym for whatever reason, it was really too big, reknitting seemed to be the solution. Or, maybe I'm not as large as I imagined myself to be! 34 IS my size!

詩人袖完成 (背景是小若的 IKEA 椅子, 右邊是小謙的手)
Poet sleeve (it's Scarlett's IKEA chair and that's Sebastian's arm and leg on the right)

因為這是幫 Marie-Adeline 測織她將要發表的第一個開襟外套織圖, 所以一定要謹慎, 且我已經決定要把袖子拆掉重打, 所以連身體也拆掉重來. 重打時就選 34 的尺寸, 用新的 Knit Picks 美規 4 號 3.5 mm 的針, 比原來可樂牌日規 5 號 3.6 mm 不過小 0.1 mm, 但打起來差好多, 鬆緊度更佳.

I am test knitting for Maire-Adeline's first to-be-published cardigan, I must be cautious, so I decided to rip out the sleeve and the body and reknit then. I reknitted with size 34, and with Knit Picks US4 3.5mm circs, which is only 0.1 mm smaller than the Clover Japanese5 3.6mm circs, but the gauge is so much better and also the result.

袖口是別線起針打的羅紋邊, 我很喜歡, 而且挑起別線上的針目時沒有出錯! 重打袖子是用 80 公分可換頭輪針 + Magic Loop 的打法, 很順很好織喔!

The cuff is knitted with provisional cast-on and I like this one, and I didn't mess up for the first time picking up stitches from the waste yarn! Also I used Magic Loop method with 80 cm circs to knit the sleeves.

袖子口
Sleeve cuff

第一隻袖子完成
Sleeve 1 done

套在手上
Sleeve on the arm

打這件開襟外套我買了 11 球線, 原來打 38 尺寸時一直怕線會不夠, 好在發現太大重打, 打完一隻袖子發線才用了一顆半, 兩隻袖子用三顆, 原來身體用掉四顆多, 重打小一號會用更少線, 估計線量夠打完這件外套. 即使不夠還是可以回士林毛線超市買, 上次去換線時知道還有一些同缸號的線, 只是我很不想為了這線再去一次, 感覺不好.

I bought 11 balls of yarn for this cardigan. When I was knitting the size 38 I was worried that I might ran out of yarn. But then it was too large and I had to reknit down one size. Sleeve 1 used up 1.5 balls, so 3 balls for two sleeves, and the body originally used up a little over 4 balls but reknitting a size smaller would use up less yarn. So I figure that it would be enough to finish the cardigan. I could go back to Shilin Yarn Supermarket for more if I ran out for I know there are still some balls of yarn from the same lot, but I really don't want to go there again for this unless it's absolutely necessary.

重打中的身體羅紋邊 + 一次幸運草花樣
Reknitting of the body, ribbing + cloverleaf pattern

結果重打身體進度很快, 兩天就完成了! 第二隻袖子也兩天完成, 本來可以更快些, 但打詩人袖時編織邊打瞌睡一直打錯, 所以慢了.

The reknitting actually progressed very fast, I finished the body in two days! And sleeve two in two days, too. I could be faster but I dozed off knitting the second sleeve so some unravelling was done.

身體 + 兩隻袖子
Body and sleeves

當初就是看上這個袖子才打的, 織友們都說好可愛, 只是可愛這個形容詞好像很難跟我連在一起! 但 Marie-Adeline 的設計很特別, 也許我也能穿可愛的衣服囉!

It was for these adorable cute puffy poet sleeves that made me want to knit this cardigan. It's just that it's hard to related the adjective cute/adorable to me, but Marie-Adeline is an incredible designer and maybe for that I can finally wear cute and adorable cardigans!

Replacing One Mauresque Sock 重織一隻摩爾襪

2010-04-08T12:23:00.004+08:00

摩爾襪 (一隻)
開始日期: 2010/4/5
完成日期: 2010/4/7
圖樣: Mauresque Socks by Nicole Masson
線材: Grignasco Bambi Meino Extrafine 芭比細毛線
顏色: #178 粉紅色
針號: 2.25mm (美規 1 號)
尺寸: 美國鞋號 7 號

Mauresque Socks (ONE sock)
Start date: 2010/4/5
Finish date: 2010/4/7
Pattern: Mauresque Socks by Nicole Masson
Yarn: Grignasco Bambi Meino Extrafine
Color色: #178 粉紅色
Needle size: 2.25mm (US 1)
Size: US shoe size 7

去年四月打了一雙摩爾襪, 完成時天氣已熱, 就收起來沒有穿, 去年底寒流來拿出來時, 發現其中一隻襪頭竟然破了一個洞!

Last April I knitted a pair of Mauresque socks, my first cuff-downs. By the time I finished it was getting warm so I put them away until the end of last year when cold fronts hit, I foshed them out only to find that one of the socks has a HOLE at the cuff!

簡直不可思議! 想了想, 依稀記得打第一隻襪頭時, 毛線好像有一段忽然變得很細, 當時沒覺得應該拆掉, 把那段毛線減掉重打, 沒想到打好只穿過一次拍照, 收起來幾個月後竟然就給我斷線破成一個洞!

It's unbelievable! After some recalling, I think I remembered while knitting the cuff the yarn suddenly turned up very thin. I didn't do anything at the time, such as rip out the sock, cut away the yarn and start again. Who knows that after wearing it once for taking FO pics and storing it for several months, it comes up with a gaping hole.

最近剛好不是很想打甚麼打的複雜的東西, 就來重織一隻襪. 這次織感覺比第一次簡單容易許多, 頗有趣!

I wasn't up to knitting anything too ambitious recently so I decided to knit a new sock to replace it. It was quite simple and easy this time than the last!

Un peu de chance 開襟外套

2010-03-16T13:08:00.030+08:00

這件開襟外套的設計者 Marie-Adeline 還在打它的時候就被我看上, Marie-Adeline 是位氣質出眾的年輕法國小姐, 她的作品多是自己設計的, 跟本人一樣漂亮優雅, 這大概就是法國人所說的 chic 吧! 因為喜歡她的半成品所以問她是不是會發表織圖, 如果會我一定會織或是買, 她回信邀請我當她的測織者, 讓我受寵若驚!

I've been wanting to knit this cardigan when it was still being knitted by Marie-Adeline. Marie-Adeline is a beautiful and elegant French lady who designed most of her knitting projects which are as pretty and adorable as their designer. They have this special vibe I think the French call chic. I adored this cardigan so much so I asked if the pattern would be published and that I will definitely buy it. In response, Marie-Adeline invited me to be her test knitter which was a great honor!

二月初, 過年前一週, 搬完家的第二天, 收到了測織織圖的第一部分(身體). 當時時實在忙到不行, 要趕快把東西通通拆箱放好, 再整理清潔把兩小接回家, 準備過年. 過年那一週也是天天行程排滿滿, 過年後所有的人一個個開始感冒生病, 等到大家都好差不多時, 已經二月底三月初了.

The first week of February, a week before the Chinese New Year, one day after I moved back to our apartment (which underwent refurnishment), I received the first part of the pattern for test knitting. I started thinking right away about which yarn to use but I was so swamped with unpacking, tidying up, settling down, getting ready for the CNY, so I didn't have a chance to go through my stash or visit a yarn shop. The schedule was also full the whole week of the New Year holidays. Afterwards, everyone in the family started to get sick from the common cold. When we finally started to get well, March was already on its way.

三月初時, 想了很久, 覺得現有庫存中實在沒有適合的線打這件外套, 有適合粗細的線是段染的, 有素色的線但太細或太粗, 最後決定跑一趟士林毛線超市買素色中細線來打. 到了毛線超市, 本以為可以很快選好線買了回家, 因為帶著兩小在毛線店不宜久留. 偏偏, 就是找不到理想的, 因為預算關係想盡量不要買太貴的, 可是便宜的成份就不滿意, 成分滿意的就貴. 看了半個多小時最後買了一磅 1800 的純美麗諾, 就是我用過很多次的熊貓牌金牌美麗諾, 顏色應該是 731, 但去過士林毛線超市的都知道, 她們都會把掛牌換掉, 價錢也比外面用原掛牌的便宜. 花這麼久時間挑的另一個原因是選顏色, 因為不想選常打的紫色紫紅色藍色系, 連果綠色家裡都有一件舊的外套已經計畫要拆來重打, 且又找不到其他好看的綠 (只有果綠和淺綠兩種) , 最後買了一組拿鐵色的, 很不像是我會選的顏色, 不過這組顏色很不錯看, 感覺很溫柔舒服, 覺得應該很適合打這件外套. 這顏色跟 Marie-Adeline 的有些類似, 不過她的比較金, 而且還有其他對比色的小毛球.

After some long thought, I decided to go to Shilin Yarn Supermarket, a yarn shop in Taipei known for its variety, quantity and price, for there are no suitable yarns in my stash for the project. I thought I could pick out the yarn in very little time and go home for I was taking the twins with me, but to my dismay it took over half an hour to accomplish the mission. I had a budget, but the yarns within it didn't meet my material composition requirement, the ones that did were over it. And the choice of color was also delaying me. I didn't want to pick my usual color families (blues, purples) nor apple green for I have an old cardigan by that color which I plan to rip and reknit, and the shop has very little pretty greens. In the end, I bought a latte heather merino over the budget, not my usual or favorite, but the color has a soft and tender feel which I thought should be great for knitting the cardigan.

開打時一直不順利, 因為是圓形編織, 起的針目多, 連續兩次都扭到, 打了好多圈才發現. 還有一開始用的是 80 公分的輪針, 織片被撐開剛剛好反而不好打, 必須邊打邊推很累, 第三次就換 60 公分的打好多了. 這線的鬆緊度目數比織圖要求的小一點, 段數一樣. 我要打的是 36 吋, 織圖最接近的兩個尺寸是 34 和 38 吋, 就選打 38 吋的, 因為我的目數鬆緊度小一點, 起原織圖 38 吋的目數打出來大概 35 吋, 最後再蒸氣定型穿起來應該是很合身的.

It wasn't very smooth at the beginning for it is knitted in the round, and with large numbers of stitchs on the needle, I twisted the knitting twice in a row. Then I found out I should be using a shorter circular (60cm) instead of the longer one (80cm), which kind of stretch the knitting out a bit and I had to push very often while knitting and it was tiring. My gauge is a little smaller in stitches than the gauge stated in the pattern while the row gauge is the same. I chose to knit size 38 and with my gauge the knitting should come out a 35. Hopefully after blocking it will be very fitting on my 36 figure!

打完第一部分五片幸運草要接打第二部分另五片幸運草 (每段只有第一部分的一半數量)
5 repeats of Cloverleaf Pattern Part 1 + 1 repeat of Part 2

拍完照要繼續努力時發現, 6 段一重複的幸運草我打成 7 段一重複! 我得拆掉四片幸運草, 到回第一部分第二片幸運草要接第三片幸運草的地方, 重新打. 因為打熟了所以這部分重打多花了一晚上. 自此之後編織順利直到身體部分完成.

After taking the photos, I was ready to continue knitting and found that I knitted 7 rounds instead of 6 for the Cloverleaf pattern! So I ripped out 4 repeats and reknitted as fast as I could and the knitting went on smoothly to the end of the body part.

身體部分完成 (正面)
Body of the cardigan (front)

身體部分完成 (背面)
Body of the cardigan (back)

下襬羅紋邊
Ribbing

幸運草模樣編
Cloverleaf pattern

就這樣打完了在室內拍照後, 剛好天氣好洗拿到外面去拍, 拍了結果發現: 幸運掉二部分最後一片之後現的顏色明顯變白!

The knitting was done indoor and mostly at night so I took it outdoor to take the final picture for the body part and was terrified by what I saw: there was a section at the top of the knitting distinguishly paler than the bottom!

上面明顯有一截比較白
Very visible color difference under natural light

這三顆仔細看上面那一顆真的比較白
The ball on top's really paler after a second look

惶恐之餘把毛線掛牌拿出來看, 發現一包裡面竟然有兩個不同缸號的線!! 更慘的是, 比較白的數量比較多! 我趕緊打電話去士林毛線超市問, 老闆問也不問是啥線就說有貨可以換, 在我再三堅持下才問我是多少錢一磅的甚麼線, 又沒問顏色, 還是我自己報上, 他還是說有得換沒問題.

I went to check the label bands and confirmed that the yarn shop packed yarn from different lots in one bag! What's worse is that most of the balls left were of the paler lot. I called the shop and the owner said they could be replaced, without even asking which kind and color of the yarn. I did tell him the details and he assured me there were stock in store for replacement.

今天早上趕緊去士林毛線超市換線. 到了那裏, 店裡小姐說那組線, 好像都剩比較白的那缸, 讓我當場很想抓狂, 說你們老闆保證有得換, 我幫人測織衣服打到一半要拆掉重打嗎? 我已經進度落後大家都在等我, 再說架上一包包不就應該是同缸號的才能包一起嗎? 小姐說應該是客人自己拿單球的線然後又自己包回去才會這樣, 毛線這麼貴他們店家不可能把不同缸號的包一包啦. 沒打的線都換過來了, 那球不小心打到的不給換, 得要再花錢買一顆, 也沒折扣. 我是不想吵, 也盡量站在店家立場想, 我不是那種喜歡佔便宜的人, 如果是我自己沒看清楚亂拿打了還要回來硬ㄠ店家免費換那是我不對, 但那包毛線外袋整齊漂亮, 明明就是沒拆過的樣子, 再說, 打印上去的缸號 208 和 209 看起來很像, 就是 209 的 9 左下應該是空的, 它卻有點印子, 看起來就像 8. 所以我認為這是店家的問題, 不是客人弄的. 我只是覺得這麼大間歷史悠久有名的店, 處理這一顆線的問題應該可以更大方聰明點, 當然你可以說我這客人小氣, 一顆純美麗諾毛線不過 180, 但奇蒙子老實講不會太好啦, 尤其如果碰到其它比較厲害的客人, 就不知道會怎麼樣了.

This morning I went to the shop fro replacement and learned that the stock they have of the yarn I bought were all of the paler lot. I was really going crazy and told her the owner kind of ignored the information about the yarn and assured me replacement and that I was test knitting on a schedule which I was already very late. Besides, isn't the yarn bagged should be of the same lot? The lady in the shop said it might be the doing of some customer who likes to pick the yarn from the packed bags and put the odd balls back together again and reseal it, for the yarn I bought wasn't cheap and they (the shop) wouldn't do such a careless thing. Luckily, after rummaging through the bags we found enough balls for my replacement. They let me replace the 5 unknitted balls but not the 1 ball I accidentally knitted (because of their carelessness), so I had to pay for another ball, without any discount. I'm not a person who likes to take advantage of the others. If I were the one who picked from different bags, knitted the yarn, came back and forced the shop for replacement, then shame on me. I tell you that the yarn bag was intact, not a sign of being opened and resealed. Moreover, the lot number printed on the label was really blurred, the 9 in the number 209 was kind of smudged and looked like an 8 in the 208 lot I wanted. This is why I think it's the shop's responsibility. I just thought they could have handle the matter of my 1 ball of accidentally knitted yarn much better. You can always say that I'm a stingy customer for it's only NTD 180 a ball (about USD 5.62), but their customer service policy really sucks! And this is probably the largest and most famous yarn shop in Taipei, and it has been in the business for over 30 years!

抱怨了這麼多毛線的事, 要來說說打這件外套到目前為止的心得. 這是我第一次幫人測織毛衣, 主要就是要幫設計者看織圖寫得如何, 給建議, 我不是甚麼厲害的編織者, 我想我提出來的建議其它的測織者應該也都提過了, 只是很高興受邀參與這樣的事. 這件毛衣的打法跟一般的很不同, 不需要縫脇邊和袖子, 扣洞邊的打法我想很多人沒試過, 我也只玩過一次, 讓你們看照片猜猜看怎麼打的. 打毛線就是要好玩有趣還可以學點新花招, 真是很不錯的. 這件外套很好打, 不難, 樣式又好看, 附上 Marie-Adeline 自己的打的成品部落格 po 文和照片, 給大家看一下:

Un peu de chance 開襟外套 po 文一
Un peu de chance 開襟外套 po 文二
Un peu de chance 開襟外套 po 文三

Enough compliants about the yarn, now somethings to share on test knitting the cardigan. This is the first time I test knit a cardigan, I'm not a superb knitter and the suggestions I made regarding the pattern I am sure the other test knitter must have also proposed. But I still feel honored and exhilerated to be invited to participate in this project. This cardigan is not knitted in the usual way, it requires no seaming and the making of the button band is really exiciting. I've only tried that technique once, I'll let you look at the pictures and guess how it is going to be made. Knitting is all about fun and learning new things. The garment itself is easy to knit but with a lot of style and the end result beautiful. Here are some links to Marie-Adeline's original version of the cardigan:

Un peu de chance Cardigan posting 1
Un peu de chance Cardigan posting 2
Un peu de chance Cardigan posting 3

五雙襪 5 Pairs of Socks

2010-03-09T11:32:00.014+08:00

太久沒有更新網誌, 趕快來吧前幾個月打的五雙襪子 po 上來. I've been neglecting my blog for quite a while and now, posting some 5 pairs of socks I've knited in the past few months.

小若的下往上襪
開始日期: 2009/12/30
完成日期: 2010/1/9
圖樣: Toe-Up Socks with a Difference by Wendy Johnson
線材: 恒源祥來真德歌爾登羊絨型高級珍品絨線 (2217)
色號: 205 (粉紅色)
針碼: 2mm 尺寸: 17公分 (腳底)

Toe-Up Socks with a Difference for Scarlett
Start date: 2009/12/30
Finish date: 2010/1/9
Pattern: Toe-Up Socks with a Difference by Wendy Johnson
Yarn: 恒源祥來真德歌爾登羊絨型高級珍品絨線 (2217)
Color: 205 (pink)
Needle size: 2mm S
ize: 17cm (sole)

打完第一隻襪時發現太大, 打完第二隻襪厚重打第一隻. 這純毛較無彈性所以不能打太大襪子才不會容易滑落.

After finishing sock 1 the sock was way too large and I had to reknit it after finishing sock 2. This wool yarn has little give so I had to knit it exactly the size of the foot for a better fit.

小謙的下往上襪
開始日期: 2010/1/6
完成日期: 2010/1/11
圖樣: Toe-Up Socks with a Difference by Wendy Johnson
線材: 恒源祥來真德歌爾登羊絨型高級珍品絨線 (2217)
色號: 105 (黃色)
針碼: 2mm
尺寸: 16公分 (腳底)

Toe-Up Socks with a Difference for Sebastian
Start date: 2010/1/6 F
inish date: 2010/1/11
Pattern: Toe-Up Socks with a Difference by Wendy Johnson
Yarn: 恒源祥來真德歌爾登羊絨型高級珍品絨線 (2217)
Color: 105 (yellow)
Needle size: 2mm
Size: 16cm (sole)

有了小若的經驗小謙這雙打起來快多了, 且小謙的襪比小若的短, 打起來也比較輕鬆.

Smoother progress and knitting for this pair after having the experiences with Scarlett's pair.

外婆的毛襪
開始日期: 2010/1/11
完成日期: 2010/1/12
圖樣: Basic Ribbed Socks by Kate Atherley
線材: 恒源祥小囡牌澳洲美麗諾白羊毛絨線 (3AA216)
色號: 96143 (紅黑段染)
針碼: 2.5mm
尺寸: 美國鞋號 6 號

Wool Socks for Grandma
Start date: 2010/1/11
Finish date: 2010/1/12
Pattern: Basic Ribbed Socks by Kate Atherley
Yarn: Green Life Australia White Wool (3AA216)
Color: 96143 (red/black variegated)
Needle size: 2.5mm Size: US6

外婆有高血壓且近來鼻子也對溫度變化敏感起來, 所以保暖很重要, 尤其要穿襪子, 腳溫暖了就比較不會覺得冷. 偏偏外婆對於襪子的認定跟一般人有所不同. 每次她喊冷, 我們都會告訴她還是要穿襪子, 她會回答說穿了, 等妳仔細一看, 腳上穿的是一雙短筒絲襪...這樣可能保暖嗎?! 她也不是沒有厚的棉襪或毛襪, 但就是不肯拿出來穿. 我為了讓她心甘情願穿毛襪, 乾脆打一雙給她. 記得是星期一開打星期二完成, 晚上拿去叫她穿上, 因為星期三開始溫度會很低. 星期三傍晚她上樓來, 一看她還穿雙短筒絲襪, 我就問她為何不穿我剛打好的毛襪, 她說等冷一點再穿, 我跟老媽都說, 現在就是最冷的時候, 現在不穿要甚麼時候穿? 我只好下樓去把襪子拿上來叫她穿上, 還說襪子打了就要穿, 跟她八十歲生日我打的那條披肩一樣要圍, 不要想甚麼很高級高貴要出客上餐廳館子才穿戴, 這些機會現在非常少, 不趁天冷多穿戴, 難道要等到上路的時候帶去? 我打得這麼用力就是要給她現在穿戴的!

Grandma has hypertension and recently her nose became sensitive to temperature change and wearing socks could keep her warmer. You see grandma's definition of socks is quite different from ours, everytime she says she's cold we would always tell to her to put on some socks and she would answer that she did, put on a pair of short polyester stockings. How's that for keeping yhour feet warm?! It's not that she doesn't own any thick cotton or woollen socks, it's that she never wears them, a;ways saving them for some other time. So I decided to knit her a pair of wool socks in hope that she would finally wear them willingly. I CO on a Monday and BO on Tuesday and had her wear them Tuesday night for starting that Wednesday the temp will hit single digit. When she came upstairs Wednesday evening, I found her still wearing short polyster stockings and sked her why didn't wear those socks I just knitted her? She said she's saving it for colder weather. Mom and I told her it WAS the coldest weather now if she wasn't going to wear them when exactly did she plan to wear those socks? So I went downstairs to fetch the socks and had her put them on and told her that these socks and her 80th birthday Mandala Shawl were hard work of mine and I knitted them for her to wear them NOW, not to save them for going out to banquets/restaurant, which she has very little opportunities nowadays, or some other colder weather or bring them with her when she was called back to God's side.

小謙的上往下襪
開始日期: 2010/1/13
完成日期: 2010/1/14
圖樣: Basic Child's Pattern for Regia Jacquard by Leah Falana
線材: 恒源祥來真德歌爾登羊絨型高級珍品絨線 (2217)
色號: 105 (黃色)
針碼: 2.25mm
尺寸: 16公分 (腳底)

Basic Cuff-Down Socks for Sebastian
Start date: 2010/1/13
Finish date: 2010/1/14
Pattern: Basic Child's Pattern for Regia Jacquard by Leah Falana Y
arn: 恒源祥來真德歌爾登羊絨型高級珍品絨線 (2217)
Color: 105 (yellow)
Needle size: 2.25mm
Size: 16cm (sole)

本來很怕上往下織的襪子, 因為最後要縫接 (grafting) 是我的罩門, 不過最近看到不少上往下織的襪子最後腳指收尾時不需縫接, 所以更想要多打上往下織的襪子. 另外還有一個原因是, 去年打的那些下往上織襪也穿了兩季, 發現襪頭不管用甚麼方式使它有彈性, 還是不夠好穿. 尤其剛又打好兩小兩雙下往上織襪, 又再次證明真的沒有上網下織襪好穿.

I was quite intimidated by cuff-down socks because I couldn't graft. Lately I found quite a few cuff-down sock patterns that actually don't require grafting which made me want to really try knitting cuff-down socks. Another reason for trying to knit cuff-down socks if that after two seasons of wearing those toe-up socks I knitted last year, I found that no matter how elastic I tried to make the cuff, they're still not as comfy. Especially I just knitted another two toe-up socks for the twins, the toe-up cuffs are really not as good as the cuff- down's.

小若的上往下襪
開始日期: 2010/1/14
完成日期: 2010/1/16
圖樣: Basic Child's Pattern for Regia Jacquard by Leah Falana
線材: 恒源祥來真德歌爾登羊絨型高級珍品絨線 (2217)
色號: 205 (粉紅色)
針碼: 2.25mm
尺寸: 17公分 (腳底)

Basic Cuff-Down Socks for Scarlett
Start date: 2010/1/14
Finish date: 2010/1/16
Pattern: Basic Child's Pattern for Regia Jacquard by Leah Falana
Yarn: 恒源祥來真德歌爾登羊絨型高級珍品絨線 (2217)
Color: 205 (pink)
Needle size: 2.25mm
Size: 17cm (sole)

連打了三雙上往下織襪, 有點小上癮, 因為已經習慣它的基本織法, 成品又好穿, 決定自己也來一雙, 指不過到目前為止只打好了一隻, 另一隻過年期間也才織到腳跟處, 離完成還有段距離, 而且也還沒有拍照呢!

After 3 pairs of cuff-down socks, I was a little addicted! I've grown accustomed to its way of formation and the FOs are comfy and I decided to knit myself a pair. Only that one sock was finished and the other one's at the heel turn, still some way to go before finishing.

Lace Vest for Sebastian 小謙的蕾絲背心

2010-01-11T14:45:00.004+08:00

蕾絲背心
開始日期: 2009/12/18
完成日期: 2009/12/23
圖樣: 採一塊半開襟外套右前片花樣
線材: Mondial Prima 100% 美麗諾
顏色: 116 果綠色
針碼: 4mm (日規 6 號)

Lace Vest
Start date: 2009/12/18
Finish date: 2009/12/23
Pattern: Adapted from the right front of Dollar and a Half Cardigan by Veronik Avery
Yarn: Mondial Prima 100% merino
Color: 116 Apple Green
Needle: 4mm (JAP 6)

打完小若的蕾絲背心, 知道鬆緊度可能不對, 打小謙的背心時要多算幾針, 且要多幾個重複, 畢竟小謙穿那麼合身會很好笑! 兩件背心打的長度一樣, 但小謙比小若矮 4~5 公分, 所以小謙的背心穿起來感覺長很多, 不過, 誰曉得這一年他會不會忽然找很高很快呢?

Experience from knitting Scarlett's lace vest is that the gauge was off, that I have to add a few more stitches and thus several more pattern repeats in Sebastian's vest, for Seba will certainly look very funny if wearing a fitted vest like Scarlett's. The two vests are of the same length, but Seba's 4~5 cm shorter than Scarlett so the vest looks like a tunic on him. But who knows? Maybe Seba will grow faster and taller than his sister this year!

小謙今年對試穿媽媽打的衣服這件事非常熱衷, 每次先打小若的在試穿時他也要求要試穿, 小若就會叫他不准試她的. 打小謙的要他試穿時, 他都好高興, 穿起來還會擺 pose 呢! 當他穿著完成品去給 (嫌小若的蕾絲背心嫌得很的) 外婆看時, 外婆竟然沒再多嫌, 跟小謙說: 好漂亮好漂亮, 小謙穿起來好帥唷!

Unlike the previous years, Seba's very keen on fitting. Everytime when Scarlett's fitting, he would come around and ask me to give him a fitting too, with Scarlett's garment, but Scarlett would prohibit him from doing so. Everytime I ask Seba to come for a fitting while knitting his vest, he was always very very happy and always posed in it. Surprisingly, when Seba showed grandma his finished vest, grandma didn't express anyore dislike and said to him: it's very pretty and you look very handsome in it!

小謙高興極了!
Seba was very, very happy!

正面
Front

側面
Side

背面
Back

Lace Vest for Scarlett 小若的蕾絲背心

2010-01-08T11:56:00.007+08:00

蕾絲背心
開始日期: 2009/12/18
完成日期: 2009/12/23
圖樣: 採一塊半開襟外套右前片花樣
線材: Mondial Prima 100% 美麗諾
顏色: 103 粉紅色
針碼: 4mm (日規 6 號)

Lace Vest
Start date: 2009/12/18
Finish date: 2009/12/23
Pattern: Adapted from the right front of Dollar and a Half Cardigan by Veronik Avery
Yarn: Mondial Prima 100% merino
Color: 103 Pink
Needle: 4mm (JAP 6)

線是前年 (2008) 打的麻花格子開襟外套拆下來的, 照圖打結果身體寬度剛好, 長度太短, 袖子卻超長, 被老媽嫌到不行. 我還蠻喜歡這組粗線, 奇怪的是這顏色剛好鬆緊度很難抓,織片打出來跟衣服打出來差很多, 結果比織片硬很多...

The yarn for this project was recycled from Trellis I knitted in 2008. It was knitted following the pattern instructions, but the body was just fit, the length too short, and the sleeves way too long. My mother disliked it. I like Mondial Prima, one of my favorite aran weight yarns, but the gauge from the knitting was very differnet from the swatch, and the knitting was stiff...I worked with other colors of Mondial Prima, all was nice except this pink one. Very strange.

背心打起來不難, 只是先打小若的, 進度比較慢, 得邊打邊調整, 即使針數長度事先算好. 剛打好試穿時發現袖口領口羅紋邊收得不夠緊, 感覺很鬆垮, 被嫌...拆開重收後好多了. 這組線粉紅色打成衣服很硬且鬆緊度差, 所以背心變得不夠寬, 穿起來很合身, 加上小若的大肚子, 看起來就更緊, 又被嫌...(去年打的小小短短, 今年打的小小長長), 但是小若非常喜歡, 穿上去捨不得脫下來, 老媽只好加一句: 很漂亮很漂亮啦~

The vest was easy to knit, but it progressed slowly for I was knitting it the first time, although I had taken notes of all the stitch counts and measurement before hand. I had to modify a little here and there along the progress. When the vest was finished, the bind-offs of the armholes and collar weren't tight and neat enough, thus left the vest looking untidy and loose, my mother disliked it a lot. It was much better after redoing. This pink Mondial Prima knits up stiff and has less give than other colors, which resulted in a less roomy vest, or a fitted one, as Scarlett has a tummy, it looked smaller and tighter than it should, my mother disliked it even more, (...you knitted small and short last year and small and long this year...), but Scarlett loves it and didn't want to take it off, so my mother had to add: yes, yes, very pretty, very pretty indeed.

這件背心花樣來自一塊半開襟外套的右前片, 原織圖所用毛線粗細與這組雷同, 只是一塊半開襟外套是長外套, 如用粗線打穿在我上看起來會再肥十公斤, 所以當初用細一級的美麗諾真絲混紡線打, 效果很不錯, 只是那組線很會起毛, 前年 (2008) 還是新線時就邊打就邊起毛, 更何況去年拆掉重打一次, 打完衣服就已經有一片毛球層...拆兩小格子麻花開襟外套時, 就想不出來要打甚麼花樣的背心, 看到一塊半開襟外套, 忽然想合步將右前片的蕾絲+麻花樣用在背心上? 不過麻花我打在兩側, 因為想要在大面積展示那個蕾絲花, 效果很不錯.

The pattern for this vest comes from the right front of Dollar and a Half Cardigan by Veronik Avery. The yarn used in the original pattern is close to Mondial Prima, only that Dollar and a Half Cardigan is quite long at length and if knitted in aran weight, I would look like I'd put on another 20 punds wearing it. So I used a silk/merino blend DK weight yarn and the result was nice. The down side of that yarn is that it piles up very easily. It piled already as new yarn while knitting it for the first time (2008), so when I ripped and reknit it last year, the finished cardigan has a rough layer of piling on the surface. When I was ripping out the twins' Trellis, I didn't know what kind of vest to knit, and then I thought the right front pattern and design of Dollar and a Half Cardigan might make a nice one. I decided to put the cables at the sides for I wanted to demonstrate the texture and pattern of the lace on a larger knitting, and it looked good!

正面
Front

側面
Side

背面
Back

February Gentleman Sweater for Sebastian 小謙的二月先生

2009-12-30T14:14:00.004+08:00

二月先生
開始日期: 2009/11/22
完成日期: 2009/12/13
圖樣: February Lady Sweater by Pamela Wynne
線材: 恒源祥來真德歌爾登羊絨型高級珍品絨線 (2217)
顏色: 105 黃色
針碼: 3mm (身體), 2.75mm (袖子), 2.5mm (袖子), 2.25mm (袖子)

小謙的二月先生用的現是從下面那張照片中的開襟外套來的. 他生的那年外婆去上海買的, 我媽照我挑的樣式打成那件外套, 穿了兩個冬季, 今年一定要拆掉重打了. 照面裡那件外套的釦子是木質的, 我特別指定要的種類.

有了打小若的二月小姐經驗, 打小謙的二月先生領子就小了 10 公分, 整體上感覺好很多. 身體寬度少 1 個花樣重複, 袖子最寬處少 2 個花樣重複, 如此收針可收少一點, 也不用一職換小號針, 小謙的袖子只換到 2.25mm, 但長度少了 2 個花樣重複. 釦子用和之前那件外套一樣的木質釦子, 當初買一包有 6 顆.

照片中的二月先生沒有蒸氣定型, 感覺上蕾絲花比較不開闊, 要找時間給它蒸一下. 小謙很喜歡這件二月先生, 打的時後三不五時就過來要求要"試試"!

February Lady Sweater for Scarlett 小若的二月小姐

2009-12-14T13:50:00.007+08:00

二月小姐
開始日期: 2009/11/1
完成日期: 2009/11/19
圖樣: February Lady Sweater by Pamela Wynne
線材: 恒源祥來真德歌爾登羊絨型高級珍品絨線 (2217)
顏色: 205 粉紅色
針碼: 3mm (身體), 2.75mm (袖子), 2.5mm (袖子), 2.25mm (袖子), 2mm (袖子)

這組線是我生兩小那年外婆去上海買的, 一磅粉紅色給小若, 一磅黃色給小謙. 後來我沒時間打毛線, 是我媽給兩人一人打了一件開襟外套, 樣式我挑的. 小若的外套就是下圖中的那件. 那兩顆粉紅色釦子是古董, 是我媽不知從哪件衣服上剪下來的.

那件開襟外套穿了兩個冬季, 今年是真的穿不下了, 所以拆掉, 過熱水弄直, 重新繞成球, 想要打成另一件開襟外套. 當時一直想不出來該打甚麼樣好, 剛好自己打了一件二月小姐, 就決定打這個樣子. 有趣的是, 二月小姐的設計師靈感來自一件二月幼童毛衣, 現在我又把它倒回去!

這組線本來就細, 拆過處理後更細, 用 3mm 針打, 所以打了很久才打好. 與我的二月小姐不同處是, 小若的身體整排都有扣子, 袖子是全長, 有減針, 且邊打邊換小號針, 一直換到 2mm. 釦子是從我媽的舊釦子罐中挑的, 沒有一種釦子有五顆, 剛好有相同樣式但顏色不同的釦子, 就挑粉紅色 2 顆橘色 3 顆來縫.

小若的二月小姐打得蠻大的, 可以穿到五歲! 領子起太大, 可以小一點, 外婆說要再挑打個領子, 我拒絕, 那樣會完全破壞美感, 我寧可把毛衣拿去用溫水跟牛仔褲洗, 就會縮小一點, 也不要再上面亂搞一通把衣服弄得醜不拉機的誰要穿? 重點是, 小若很喜歡就好啦!

February Lady Sweater Partially Reknitted 重織部分二月小姐

2009-10-26T20:52:00.004+08:00

本來沒有想要重織二月小姐, 原來身上蕾絲部份有 3 個重複織錯, 多織兩段, 以前遠看以為是因為沒有蒸氣定型織片不平, 後來越看越礙眼, 拆掉重織身體蕾絲部分. 身體蕾絲原本有 27 個蕾絲重複, 第 1 個織錯的蕾絲重複是第 5 個, 所以幾乎全拆. 不過還好, 打得算快, 三天就完成. 身體重織後蕾絲重複有 28 個, 打錯的三個重覆有多 6 段的線, 至少可以多打一個蕾絲重複, 最後還有剩線說, 應該打到 29 個...

I wasn't thinking about reknitting some parts of my February Lady. I had mistakes in 3 Gull Lace pattern repeats which I thought weren't visible at a distance but now I found them standing out so I ripped out the Gull Lace part and reknitted it. There were 27 lace pattern repeats and my first mistake was repeat no. 5. So, litterally, yes, I ripped out almost ALL the lace part. I finished reknitting the body part in 3 days, and had enough yarn to knit 1 more repeat, 28 repeats now on my February Lady.

身體重織完, 接著重織袖子下半. 本來我就不喜歡七分袖的毛衣外套, 尤其二月小姐又是用較粗的線打. 再加上二月小姐的袖子沒有減針, 所以衣穿上去袖子下半就會自然呈現喇叭袖的感覺. 原本隻袖子就故意織得比較長, 希望越長它越長. 不過想想覺得即使變長袖口也會變更大, 於是拆掉後面 12 個重複 (原有 26 個重複), 用小一號日規 7 號針 (4.2mm) 來織, 結果效果沒不錯, 袖口小多了.

Then I started to reknitted the lower havles of the sleeves. I'm not a big fan of 3/4 length sleeves cardigans especially those knitted with heavier weight yarns. Besides, the sleeves of February Lady do not have decreases so when wearing the cardigan the lower half of the sleeves will have a bell-shaped effect which I don't like. So I ripped out the last 12 pattern repeats (there were 26) and reknitted with 4.2mm needles (Japanese size 7, February Lady was knitted in 4.5mm Japanese size 8 needles) and I was quite pleased with the result: the sleeves are narrower and not so bell shapey.

最後用蒸氣定型, 定過型的外套比較合穿, 長度也算適中, 重織一些部分是對的!

I steam blocked the cardigan this time and it became more comfortable for wearing, the width, the length are all better. So partial reknitting was a right decision!

Oblique 斜斜開襟外套

2009-10-19T21:32:00.003+08:00

真人示範正面
Modelled front

斜斜開襟外套
開始日期: 2009/4/16
完成日期: 2009/8/31
圖樣: Oblique by Véronik Avery
線材: CLS Pure Wools
顏色: #66 中麻灰
針碼: 4.5mm (日規 8 號)

Oblique
Start date: 2009/4/16
Finish date: 2009/8/31
Pattern: Oblique by Véronik Avery
Yarn: CLS Pure Wools
Color: #66 Medium Heather Gray
Needle size: 4.5mm (JAP #8)

真人示範側面
Modelled profile

本來以為這外套可以在六月中去巴黎前打完, 但是近端午時天氣已經開始熱, 外套打不下去, 開始打去巴黎要用的春之鬱金香披肩 , 所以到出發前還剩一隻袖子. 回來後毛線都不想碰, 直到搬到暫住處才又把剩下的袖子打完.

I thought I could finished the cardigan before my trip to Paris in mid June. By the end of May the weather was getting warmer and warmer and I couldn't stand knitting a cardigan any more, and I wanted to knit a stole for the Paris trip so badly, by the time I was leaving for Paris, there was still one sleeve left to knit. After returning from Paris, I didn't even want to touch yarn, until we moved out of the apartment, which was going to be refurnished, then did I managed to finished the sleeve.

第一次縫接織片時是用勾針以鎖針縫合, 結果太緊了點, 接縫不漂亮. 等道領子也打好時, 就把接縫拆開, 第二次就用隱型縫的方式, 結果好多了. 但是, 我縫得不夠密, 只要用一點力拉接縫就會看到縫隙, 只好再把四邊拉克蘭的部分再拆開重新縫密一些, 就好多了. 至於脇邊和袖下就沒有縫第三次, 不知是否因為接縫兩邊是桂花針, 雖然縫得不夠密但是用點力拉開接縫好像沒有縫那麼大. 這件外套剛打好時覺得結果還算可以, 只是織片縫接前我沒有各別把它們定型到應有的尺寸, 因為暫住處不方便所致.

I crocheted the pieces together the first time sewing up and it turned out bad for I crocheted too tight. After I finished the collar, I ripped out the seams and used matress seam which had a much better result. BUT, I sewn loosely, so when pulled on the seams were gaping. So I ripped out the raglan seams and sewn them a little tighter. I didn't ripped out the sleeves and sides the third time, for the Moss Stitch pattern seems to pull the seams tight together somehow...Anyway, the gap wasn't as large. When the cardigan was finished, I felt fine with the outcome, although I didn't really block the pieces to measurement before sewing together, because it wasn't very convenient where we're staying during the refurnishment.

縫接好後又擱置了好久, 直到綠牛仔先生完成需要配扣子, 才順便把斜斜也帶去配. 終於可以票漂亮亮見人了. 配扣子前, 我用蒸氣重新定型斜斜, 前後差很多...第二次定型有用濕手怕蓋在上面烘, 且有用定型鋼線好好拉開, 第一次定型拉不開說. 也許有第一次直接在織片上蒸氣烘過, 所以第二次比較拉得開? 總之, 現在的結果比之前的結果令人滿意太多啦!

After the seaming, it was left along for another while until Mr. Greenjeans was finished and needed a button, then did I took Oblique along for button shopping. Before sewing on the button I re-steam-blocked it. It made a GREAT difference, this time. This time I put a damp handkerchief on top of the knitting while steaming, and I used blocking wires to really block the garment into measurement. I couldn't block into measurement the first time, maybe because I steamed directly over the knitting the first time which facilitate the second blocking? Anyway, I am so pleased with the result!

第二次定型
Second blocking

第一次定型
First blocking

扣子
Buttons

Mr. Greenjeans a.k.a. Mrs. Burgundy 綠牛仔先生 (又名勃根地女士)

2009-10-19T13:26:00.008+08:00

真人示範正面自拍
Modelled front

綠牛仔先生/勃根地女士
開始日期: 2009/10/1
完成日期: 2009/10/14
圖樣: 綠牛仔先生 by Amy Swenson
尺碼: S
線材: Ornaghi Filati Merino Kind
顏色: #1208
針碼: 日規 5 (3.6mm), 4 (3.3mm), 3 (3mm), 2 (2.7mm) 號

Mr. Greenjeans/Mrs. Burgundy
Start date: 2009/10/1
Finish date: 2009/10/14
Pattern: Mr. Greenjeans by Amy Swenson
Size: S
Yarn: Ornaghi Filati Merino Kind
Color: #1208
Needle size: JAP #5 (3.6mm), #4 (3.3mm), #3 (3mm), #2 (2.7mm)

真人示範側面自拍
Modelled profile

本來並沒有很想打這件, 但是當時剛把以前打的一件毛衣拿來回收 (拆掉), 想要打成另一件外套, 不過加上一些其他的誘因催化, 就開打這件綠牛仔先生.

I wasn't planning on knitting this cardigan in the first place, but I just recycled some yarn from an old cardigan and was going to reknit into another one, then there were some other factors which acted as a catalyst and before I knew it I was starting Mr. Greenjeans.

正面
Front

背面
Back

使用的線比織圖所用細很多, 因為這線本來就細一級, 加上是之前打過拆下來過熱水處理過, 會再細半級, 得乖乖打織片量鬆緊度, 重新計算針數. 好在我可以用織圖中的 2X 尺碼針數為標準來打.

The yarn used was sport-DK weight yarn, and it was recycled which made it even thinner, much thinner than the aran weight yarn used in the pattern. So I had to swatch to get new gauge and recalculate the stitches. Luckily, I can adapt the size 2X of the pattern for my gauge.

由於拆下來的線到底有多長無法確定, 只能從重量去粗估, 所以一開始就決定綠牛仔先生要打合身的, 不要像織圖上那樣鬆鬆的, 且袖子要打全長, 且袖子上的羅紋與麻花樣要跟身體上的同一高度開始, 也因為如此心裡總是有不安全感怕線不夠.

Exactly how much yardage I have from the recycled yarn was never determined, I can only estimate through the weight, so I decided to knit a very fit Mr. Greenjeans, unlike the looser fit in the pattern, and I would like full length sleeves and the Ribs and Cables pattern had to start at the same height as that on the body. So I was feeling very insecured that I would ran out yarn before finishing the cardigan.

身體和袖子上半用日規 5 號針打, 身體和袖子分開後, 依照尺碼 S 要繼續平針編織 4 吋, 但我打了 4.5 吋, 確定包住整個胸部, 因為不想到時扣子縫上去後感覺跑到胸部上面去. 到了身體下半羅紋和麻花樣時換用日規 3 號針, 因為我打羅紋和麻花手會鬆, 為了花樣平整好看, 也為了省一點線, 所以用小兩號針. 不過其實對照織圖, 美規小一號針是小 0.5mm, 換成日規針碼大約就是小兩號囉! 最後套收時換用日規 4 號針, 為了蒸氣定型時有鬆份可以撐開.

I used 3.6mm (Japanese size 5) needles for the upper half of the body and sleeves, after dividing the sleeves from the body, I continued to knit for 4.5 inches instead of the 4 inches designed for size S, to make sure the yoke indeed covered all of my bust and thus the button wouldn't show up above the bust. I changed to 3mm (Japanese size 3) needles for the Ribs and Cables pattern for the lower body for I tend to knit ribs and cables looser thus using needles 2 sizes down. Actually, 1 needle size (0.5mm) down for US size is about 2 needle sizes (0.6mm) down for Japanese size. But I changed again to 3.3mm while binding off Ribs and Cables to create more give for later blocking.

身體完成後通常接著打袖子, 但是我怕線不夠, 所以先打扣洞邊, 把身體全部定案, 再將剩下的線平今到兩隻袖子上, 能打多長就打多長, 不過要兩隻袖子同時進行就是了. 扣洞邊織圖是說, 羅紋與麻花樣的部分 3 段挑 2 針, 平針部份也是 3 段挑 2 針, 領子後面起針處 1 目挑 1 針, 不過在 Ravelry 上看到有些人覺得羅紋與麻花樣部分應該改為 1 段挑 1 針比較平整. 當時我沒多想, 看了就馬上決定照做, 挑完針打下去後發現, 可能是因為織圖用的線粗, 要 1 段挑 1 針才不會皺起來, 定型起來比較好看, 我用的線細應該可以照原來的 3 段挑 2 針結果應該會比1 段挑 1 針來得漂亮, 不過已經挑好快打完了, 就算了.

Generally, after the body is finished, sleeves are the next part to knit. However, fearing that I might run out of yarn, I knitted the button band first, just to get it over with the whole body part, and then I can move on to knitting the sleeves peacefully, dividing the remaining yarn between them, and knit them as long as the yarn allowed, although I had to knit them at the same time. As to the button hole, it was designed to pick up 2 stitches every 3 rows on the Ribs and Cables part, also 2 sts every 3 rows for the stockinette stitch part, and 1 st every cast on st for the back of collar. I saw a note which quite a few knitters adapted is to pick up 1 st every row for the Ribs and Cables part. I didn't think and decided I would do the same. Later on I realized that the suggested yarn weight was aran and picking up 1 st per row might render a neater and smoother button band than the original 2 sts every 3 rows. The yarn I used was sport~DK weight which might not have that kind of problem and if I had picked up 2 sts every 3 rows the button band might have looked better. But I was almost done with the button band so I stuck to it.

扣洞邊
Button band

身體下襬部分羅紋與麻花樣
Ribs and Cables on the lower body

身體全部完成後, 終於可以安心打兩隻袖子了! 一直覺得線只夠打到七分袖, 為了能打長一點的袖子, 袖子部分的針是用日規 4 號針來挑回, 且一開始就做減針, 因為身體合身, 希望袖子也配合做成比較合的細長袖型. 當兩隻袖子平針部分打到和身體部分平針和羅紋與麻花樣交接處, 就換日規 3 號針來打羅紋與麻花樣. 接著每打幾段麻花, 就要換隻袖子, 兩邊同步, 平均分配線量. 打到超過七分袖長度時心裡鬆了一口氣, 不過發現線還有一點, 可是不確定到底還能打多少長度, 就這樣一隻袖子打一段麻花, 換隻袖子再打一段麻花...結果最後袖子共有 32 段麻花, 袖長剛好到我想要的手掌邊, 線只剩幾公尺. 真的是剛剛好, 打其他樣式的開襟外套可能還不行也!

After finished for good the body, I started the sleeves by using 3.3mm (Japanese size 4) needles to pick up the held stitches and started to decrease after a few stockinette st rounds. I knitted the body snuggly so the sleeves must be done the same way and I's like the sleeves to be as long as possible. When the stockinette part measured as long as the body's before the Ribs and Cables pattern, I changed to 3mm (Japanese size 3) needles for the R&C. I switched sleeve every few cables, trying to divide evenly the remaining yarn. I was relieved when the sleeves reached more than 3/4 sleeve length. There were still some yarn left but I wasn't sure how much longer I could make the sleeves so I swtiched sleeve every cable and at last I have 32 cables on the sleeves with the length right up to the bottom of my palm. Only a few meters of yarn left. It was perfect! I don't think it would be sufficient if I were to knit another style of cardigan.

袖子下半羅紋與麻花樣
Ribs and Cables on the lower sleeve

綠牛仔先生, 或是如我的織女朋友 M 說的: 勃根地女士, 是在一個不太愉悅的情況下開始打的, 但是結果卻是非常令人滿意, 沒有後悔打這件開襟外套!

I started knitting Mr. Greenjeans, a.k.a. Mrs. Burgundy, as my friend M said, under a not so pleasant circumstances, but the result is suprisingly satisfying, and I did not regret knitting it!

Gossamer Garden Stole - finished at long last 花園蕾絲披肩- 終於完成!

2009-09-17T12:37:00.008+08:00

花園蕾絲披肩
開始日期: 2008/10/1
完成日期: 2009/9/10
織圖: Gossamer Garden Stole by Lia Liang
線材: Rowan Kidsilk Night (絲毛海)
顏色: 612 (紫紅)
針碼: 3.6mm (日規 5 號)
尺寸: 143cm x 54cm

Gossamer Garden Stole
Start date: 2008/10/1
Finish date: 2009/9/10
Pattern: Gossamer Garden Stole by Lia W. Liang
Yarn: Rowan Kidsilk Night
Color: 612 (dusty magenta)
Needle size: 3.6mm (JP #5)
Size: 143cm x 54cm

蜘蛛網與鑽石花樣 (自然光)
Spider web and diamond motif (natural light)

蜘蛛網與鑽石花樣 (室內)
Spider web and diamond motif (light bulb)

荊棘葉花樣 (自然光)
Bramble leaf motif (natural light)

荊棘葉花樣 (室內)
Bramble leaf motif (light bulb)

由小若小姐真人示範
Modelled by Scarlett

這條披肩打了快一年, 終於完成了. 不知為何之前打得那麼慢, 可能覺得要小心打以免出錯, 因為這件是正反兩面都要做蕾絲花樣的, 所以慢慢打. 不過即使如此, 過了很久也只打到第一半的 94 排. 花園蕾絲跟意外的發現一樣, 分兩半打再接起來. 花園蕾絲特別的是它的扇貝邊. 為了這個扇貝邊, 去年我研究了很久, 做了一個教學, 還把之途盡量重畫得清楚, 希望更多編織同好能打花園蕾斯支持台灣的設計師 Lia Liang. 也許就是前面花太多精神研究, 又幫幾位熱血織女看她們織花園蕾絲, 自己的倒沒力氣一口氣織到完了.

It took almost a year to finish. I don't why why it progressed so slowly when I started, maybe it was because it also requires lace knitting on the wrong side and I tried not to make many mistakes, so after a few months I was only at row 94 of the first half. Like MS4 - Serendipity, the stole was knitted into two halves and then grafted together. What's special about GGS is her scallop edging. I studied it for a very long time and made a tutorial on my own version and recharted the charts as clearly as possible hoping that more Taiwanese knitters would knit this stole as a gesture of showing our support to its Taiwanese designer Lia Liang. Maybe I spent too much time on the studies and helped several knitters on their GGS and I didn't have enough stamina to go through with it then.

最近想把幾件半成品完成, 其中又以花園蕾絲完成度最低, 只能算 1/4 完成品! 原本還在想不知何時能完成, 因為之前打的進度很慢, 可是不知怎麼一下子第一半就打好了, 且出錯率低很多! 於是趕快繼續第二半, 竟然四五天就完成扇貝邊和主體.

Lately I wanted to finish a few UFOs, and GGS was actually 25% done. I wasn't sure when I could really finish it when I continued knitting but somehow I was knitting much faster then before and surprisingly didn't make many mistakes so before I knew it the first half was done. I started the second half right away and finished it in 4 or 5 days.

儘管如此, 接下來的才是重點: 平針縫接. 那可是我的罩門哪! 有多少漂亮的蕾絲披肩就是因為要平針縫接, 無奈之下被我捨棄不打, 去年開打花園蕾絲前打意外的發現, 一樣要縫接, 不管看多少次分解步驟圖片教學, 還是不敢動手. 說也奇怪, 在努力完成花園蕾絲時, 忽然覺得自己可以縫接了. 於是就這樣縫接起來. 天才的是, 我竟然接起來了, 雖然接成了上針, 但是這總是個開始啊! 拆掉縫接部分, 好好把 knitty.com 上平針縫接教學看完, 再接一起就 OK.

Nevertheless, it was the next step which mattered: grafting. It was my Achille's heel! I had to give up and not knit many beautiful shawls just because they need grafting! When I was knitting MS4 - Serendipity last year, no matter how many times I studied the step by step tutorial, I still couldn't get myslef to do it. This time, however, oddly enough, while finishing GGS, all of a sudden I felt I could do it. And I did. Although I grafted them into garter stitch, but it was a start! Anyway, I tore up the grafting, read the grafting tutorial by Theresa Vinson Stenerson on knitty.com , redid it and it was fine!

第一次縫接接成上針...
The first graft was grafted into garter stitch....

兩半因為時間上的差異, 打得鬆緊度不同, 後來打得這一半比較緊, 不知道是不是這個原因, 下水定型後長度幾乎沒變. 絲毛海的彈性應該不錯, 不過因為加了條銀蔥, 可能會影響, 還有針碼, 也許用日規 6 號會比較好些. 這個織圖因為中間蜘蛛網與鑽石花樣和兩邊的荊棘葉花樣模樣編的排數不同 (前者 32 排一重複, 後者 10 排一重複), 一打就要 180 排兩模樣才會剛好對到一起結束, 因此想要加長有點不可能, 會太長了, 所以想要長一點針碼就要換大, 或是用粗一點的線, 如襪線粗細的線材.