Empire State 帝國配色頸圍 (TKA 2013-09)

The first knit along since TKA's move to facebook.
TKA 搬到臉書後第一個群織活動.

Empire State by Jill Zielinski

Start date: 2013/9/28

 Finish date:  2013/11/3

 

Lana Grossa Cool Wool 2000 Melange (sport) #101 Heather Pine Green 5 balls

 Lana Grossa Cool Wool Merino 2000 (sport)  #432 Ivory 5 balls

   Lana Grossa Cool Wool Merino Superfein 50克/160公尺 合太線

#101 夾花松綠 & #432 象牙白   各 5 球

Margaret and I picked this pattern for the first TKA project after its move to facebook. While browsing for patterns I wasn't very interested in joining this one for my knitting mojo hasn't really came back yet, but when we decided on Empire, I had to cast on. I had the yarn and color choices but needed to swatch. 
瑪姐和我選了帝國配色頸圍做為 TKA 搬到臉書後第一個群織活動項目. 選織圖時並沒有想要跟著織, 因為編織倦怠嚴重, 尚未恢復正常. 決定帝國頸圍後, 瑪姐因為忙, 加上時差, 我只得起針開打. 雖然這組 Lana Grossa 合太粗細的線用過很多次, 不過配色圈織的鬆緊度不一樣, 還是得測織. 最後照尺寸起 128 針, 共 8 個重複, 長度要 6 重複, 一整個比原作用極太粗細的線一圈 6 重複, 長度 4 重複多打很多.

 

First swatch was knitted with 3.5mm needles, although I thought it would be a little loose but as I haven't stranded for a while, it might smooth over the puckering. After 35 rounds, I really hated the stitch definition. It was all over the place and I forgot to take a picture to show how bad it was. Ripped and started over with 3.25mm.

一開始用 3.5mm 針測織 OK 後開打, 結果出來很酥鬆散, 而且除了編織倦怠, 配色手感也沒回來, 一整個亂七八糟. 打了 35 圈後, 實在是看不下去, 拆掉換 3.25mm 重織, 連照片都沒拍.

It all seemed well knitting with 3.25mm, but honestly, after 1 repeat, it looked bad. The knitting was really tight. It had to be stretched out to see well the color pattern. After some discussion with friends, I decided to rip and knit with 3.5mm.
用了 3.25mm 織, 針目似乎不再鬆散, 一個重複打完後, 看起來很醜. 太緊了. 如果不拉開, 感覺快要看不到白色的部分. 給惠芬和秀芬姐看過後, 最後我決定要拆掉重來. (秀芬姐叫我不要拆, 可是自己實在看不下去.)

Knitted with 3.25mm needles

用 3.25mm 打的

 

Knitted with 3.5mm

用 3.5mm 針織的

Knitting was quite smooth after switching to 3.5mm needles, but progress was slow for the warm weather we had. Took me a long time to finish. Finally, when the second knit along project was announced, I had to sew up the ends. When I reached the last few stitches, which didn't match up, a dropped stitch was found. After a few stitched at the BEGINNING. Unravel. Start over. Sigh.

換回 3.5mm 織後, 大致上算順利, 除了第 2 個重複大概是天氣太熱邊打邊睡織得有點緊不平外. 總之, 天氣熱, 織得很慢, 直到 TKA 第二個全織活動項目公告, 又拿出來趕快將兩頭縫合. 縫合到最後幾針時, 發現兩邊針數不對, 原來前面漏縫一針, 而且還是一開始沒幾針處掉了一針. 拆開重來. 唉.

Dropped a stitch while doing Kitchener Stitch

縫合時掉了一針

 Hot off the needles

熱呼呼剛縫合完的頸圍

 

All bundled up

實穿照

I actually quite like this cowl, especially the long version, which is versatility. It's a shame that we don't have much decent fingering weight yarn in Taiwan, and that I had to settle with sport weight. Usually, sport is fine by me, but stranded AND knitted in the round, that's 4 times the normal thickness. It might be a little too warm for the mild winter here, but I like to wear it indoors with a t-shirt.

我是蠻喜歡這條頸圍, 尤其長版, 很多功能. 只可惜台灣沒什麼 fingering weight 中細線的選擇 , 只好用 sport weight 合太線織. 通常, 對於用合太線織東西我是很滿意的, 只是這條頸圍是配色, 再加上圈織, 等於是一般的四倍厚, 對台灣溫和的冬天來說, 可能太溫暖了點. 不過, 我都在室內穿針織衫圍它.

Knittings in 2012 (1/2) 2012 年的編織 (1/2)

It's been way too long since the last update. Over a year and a half.
真的是太久沒更新部落格了. 超過一年半沒動.


Yes, I'm still knitting, although only in the cooler/colder months, and I have been suffering the knitting fatigue during the warm/hot months, which is long here in Taiwan, especially this year. We have a record high of 39.3C in Taipei. The whole city is HOTHOTHOT with consecutive weeks of 35C+ without the usual summer afternoon thunder storms or typhoons that frequent the island from June to September.
還是有在打毛線, 只是都是天氣涼時打, 熱天就不打, 這兩年編織倦怠嚴重, 尤其今年. 台北都創紀錄到了39.3度. 連續高溫數週, 整個盆地烤得熱烘烘的, 既沒午後雷陣雨也沒颱風. 在冷氣房打毛線也提不起勁.


After checking out my Ravelry page,  actually, I've been knitting a LOT. All small projects though. Considering the period length and the number, I would still say it was quite amazing.
看了自己 R 站的紀錄發現, 其實去年我還打蠻多東西的, 雖然通通都是小物. 但以打的時間來看打的數量, 算不錯的.


I've decided to post a series of photo collections of my FOs of 2012 and showing them in chronological order (roughly).
我把 2012 年的成品照片通通拼圖起來, 比較容易秀. 照大約的編織時間順序.



Knitted 3 more Fugues after the first gray one for my cousin who was studying in Japan. Made 1 each for Scarlett & Sebastian and Tina (red).
第一頂給旅日表妹的灰賦格之後, 又打了三頂. 兩小每人各一頂, 一頂紅色的給緹.

Then, I participated in Liz Abinante's the Great Cowl KAL. #1 Flurries Cowl. I like the idea of this cowl but used the wrong yarn. Should use proper fingering weight yarn instead of trying to destash and use lace weight doubled. The yarn was alpaca and silk blend, which made the FO a bit too soft with no construction.
然後, 我加入了 Liz Abinante 的 the Great Cowl KAL  大脖圍群編. 大是指總共有 5 個脖圍可打, 織圖依序釋出, 下一次出來上一個就撤掉. 第一個脖圍織圖免費. 不需要每個都打, 但如果每一個脖圍都在規定時間內打完並上傳照片, 就可以免費拿到下一個脖圍織圖. 我並不是 5 個都喜歡, 最喜歡的是第 3 和第 5, 1 和 2 不錯, 可有可無. 所以, 為了那兩個最喜歡的, 前面要努力打. #1: 一團混亂脖圍. 叫這個名字是因為設計師住在冬天又長又冷的芝加哥, 天冷出門脖子一定要圍起來, 但一進地鐵站暖氣又熱得可以把人悶熟, 圍一般圍巾披肩的話, 進出地鐵就是一團混亂地圍上或解開, 很煩人. 這款脖圍有扣子, 可以調節鬆緊度, 也可以拉過頭當帽子擋風. 我還算喜歡這個設計, 只是線用錯了, 不該拉兩條蕾絲段染線打, 應該乖乖用 fingering weight 來織. 還有, 蕾絲線是羊駝和絲, 很軟, 導致最後成品太塌, 不成型的感覺.

Flurries Cowl

Start date: 2012/1/31

Finish date: 2012/2/3

#2 A Very Good Cowl Indeed. I like this one. It is Sebastian who is wearing it now though. The only one thing I would say about this cowl is that I might like it better if the front could be a little longer to cover the center part of the clavicle.

第 2 個: 真是條好脖圍. 我喜歡這條. 現在是兒子在戴. 對這條脖圍唯一可說的就是, 希望前面可以長一點, 剛好蓋到鎖骨中間那塊, 冬天那裡吹到風會咳嗽.

A Very Good Cowl Indeed

Start date: 2012/2/11

Finish date: 2012/2/12

Yes, finished in a day. 是啊, 一天就打完了.

#3 Weeble Wooble Cowl. I love the undulating design. Used fingering weight yarn but turned out kind of a disaster. Tosh Merino Light did not do well in this pattern. It rolled up too much on the edge, compromised the width and the undulating design, and made wearing it a nightmare. Should knit this again with other yarn.
第三個: 搖來晃去脖圍. 我喜歡這條下擺波浪狀的設計, 套圍起來會有特別的造型. 我乖乖用 fingering weight 線打, 但結果很不好. Tosh Merino Light 不適合這個織圖. 打完後邊捲得太厲害, 導致整條脖圍捲起來變很窄, 下擺波浪不顯型, 套圍後更難看. 下次要用別種線打這條.

Weeble Wobble Cowl

Start date: 2012/2/17

Finish date: 2012/2/19

 #4 Perpetually Persistent Cowl. As I was trying to destash, and trying to get the same gauge, the cowl was knitted with 6 strands of worsted weight merino. It was a nightmare to handle 6 strands as the knitting was springy and tough. Really persistent. And heavy. So I had to shorten the length. 2 repeats and omitted rows 9-12 of the first. It's my least favorite cowl, for the yarn. At least here in Taiwan, knittings with too heavy a yarn is not practical: too warm. Besides, this cowl has the same issue with #2: wish the front is a little longer. But I guess because my yarn wasn't optimal, a suitable yarn should make this cowl stands up on its own, as its name, but also soft enough to be sculpted, to be pulled a little longer in the front to cover the clavicle.
#4 永遠執著的脖圍. 當時我正努力消庫存線, 又想要鬆緊度和織圖一樣, 拉了 6 條中粗線打. 有夠難織的. 因為美麗諾線很 Q, 打起來真的很難抓緊, 織片又蠻硬的. 真的是超執著的, 又好重. 所以我還把長度縮短了點, 只打兩個重複, 且第一個重複的 9 到 12 排沒打. 5 個脖圍中我最不喜歡這個. 一是台灣冬天不適合這麼粗的現打的東西, 不夠冷, 穿戴起來會熱死. 二是和 #2 脖圍同樣的問題, 我希望前面可以長一點. 不過因為我用的線不適合, 也許對的線不但可以讓脖圍自己如其名站得起來, 同時彈性也夠可以把前面拉長一點蓋住鎖骨中間.

Perpetually Persistent Cowl

Start date: 2012/1/31

Finish date: 2012/2/3

#5 Blueberry Scowl. This is my favorite one. I didn't have the best yarn I have in mind and I had to order online. But I needed to finish this one on time so that I could  received the 6th cowl pattern, which is free for those who knitted all 5 cowls and posted pics before designated time. I have worked so hard for this one, whether I wasn't very into the pattern, or I was not using the best yarn for the cowl, I endured it. I had this heather alpaca yarn in stash, so I decided to knit it for E. Still have to finish this on time to get the 6th pattern! And my perfect yarn needs time to get here. This scowl simply has a variety of ways to be worn: as a cowl (buttoned) or as a scarf (unbuttoned). I spent almost an hour over which buttons to choose in the button shop. As a cowl you can wear it untwisted, twist once or twice. There were leftovers from this scowl and I made a pair of fingerless mitts for E so that she could wear them together.
#5 藍莓脖圍圍巾. 脖圍 cowl, 圍巾 scarf, scowl = scarf + cowl --> 脖圍圍巾. 叫藍莓只是原作用的線是藍莓色. 除非找到相近的顏色, 或是用同組線並同款色, 其他的都不能叫藍莓吧? 這是我最喜歡的一條. 為了這條, 前面四條不管是設計不很愛, 或是用庫存中不是很適合的現打得很痛苦, 都忍住. 當時手上沒有心目中想要的線, 只好上網訂, 但這最後一個脖圍期限內完成上傳照片, 我又五條都打, 設計師會再送一條脖圍織圖. 為了要那第 6 個織圖, 就先拿手上有的這組羊駝線, 打給 E, 她一定會喜歡. 這條的設計可以扣上釦子當脖圍, 解開時可直接掛脖子上不怕掉. 或打開釦子當圍巾. 當脖圍時可直接掛, 或套圍一圈兩圈都可. 為了這條送給 E 的脖圍, 選釦子選了快一小時. 打完還有剩線, 後來又織了雙露指手套給 E 讓她可以和脖圍配成套.

 Blueberry Scowl

Start date: 2012/3/10

Finish date: 2012/3/16

My ideal yarn came later and I knitted one for myself.

訂的理想線後來才到, 這是織給自己的.

Blueberry Scowl

Start date: 2012/3/22

Finish date: 2012/3/27

Stockholm Scarf 斯德哥爾摩脖圍

 

Stockholm Scarf by knittedblissJC

Lana Grossa Alta Moda Alpaca in 022 medium heather gray

5.5 mm & 6 mm circular needles

2011/11/16 ~ 27

While shopping yarn for Fugue and Twisted Rid Neckwarmer, I spotted this alpaca yarn that is so warm and lofty, although it costs a lot but I really want to try it out. That was also why I recommended Stockholm Scarf to my aunt and Dolly in the first place. Actually, I bought 3 balls of this Lana Grossa Alta Moda Alpaca in medium heather gray along with the merino for TRN. I decided to knit Stockholm anyway. And I would let Dolly decide if she likes it or not. If she likes it she can have it, if not, I will keep it!

買要打賦格和紐羅文脖圍的毛線時, 有瞄到一組駝羊毛的線, 看起來又輕又暖, 值趕超讚但貴鬆鬆的線, 很想買來試. 這也是當初我會推斯德哥爾摩脖圍的原因之一.  而且在買扭羅文脖圍要用得線時, 就買了 3 球這線, 打定主意就是要打斯德哥爾摩. 打好後如果表妹喜歡, 就給她, 如果不喜歡, 就我自己留著囉!

Working with larger needle and the airy cable-tube construction yarn slowed me down a little. But I totally enjoyed knitting it. In November Taipei was still quite warm, and when Stockholm grew wider and wider, my lap felt warmer and warmer. Even my hands got extremely warm knitting it.

這條脖圍用得針碼比較大, 且這組線比較特別, 是空心管繩索狀, 打起來比較慢, 但是這線高即打起來感覺超讚. 十一月的台北天氣還不冷, 脖圍越織越大的時候我的腿也越來越熱, 因為駝羊毛真的很暖, 連手都熱呼呼.

Me trying on Stockholm Scarf and fooling around a bit.

試圍斯德哥爾摩脖圍然後做搞笑動作...

Dolly wearing Stockholm Scarf. She said since January she was wearing Stockholm for it is one of the coldest months in Japan, and that it is very, very warm!

表妹圍斯德哥爾摩脖圍. 她說年底後她都一直圍斯德哥爾摩, 因為一二月才是日本最冷的時候, 而且斯德哥爾摩超暖的!

Twisted Rib Neckwarmer 扭羅紋脖圍

 

Twisted Rib Neckwarmer by Michelle Johnston

Lana Grossa Cool Wool Merino Print Superfein in 766 (blue-green-gray variegated)

4.5 mm circular needles

2011/11/13 ~ 20

 

Besides tam and mittens, my aunt also commissioned me a scarf for Dolly. The scarves she knitted wasn't thick enough. Dolly felt that they weren't warm enough for she walks 30 minutes to class everyday. After a discussion with my aunt, I decided to knit a cowl for her.

除了帽子和手套外, 阿姨還託我打條圍巾給表妹. 因為她打的那幾條都不夠厚, 表妹走路走半小時去上課, 有點凍不住. 經過討論, 決定打條脖圍給她.

Unlike the tam and mittens, I spent days searching for the cowl pattern and eventually came down to three: Stockholm, Twisted Rib Neckwarmer and a third whose name I can't recall. Dolly and my aunt liked TRN while I recommended Stockholm. But Dolly is the receiver of the cowl so I have to knit what she likes.

脖圍的織圖花了我好幾天時間, 最後篩選成三個: 斯德哥爾摩, 扭羅文, 還有一個忘記叫啥名字. 阿姨表妹都喜歡扭羅文, 我是推薦斯德哥爾摩. 不過畢竟表妹是最後要帶的人, 還是要打她喜歡的樣子.

After finishing the Fugue set, I went yarn shopping again for the cowl. Since I had a great experience knitting with Lana Grossa Cool Wool Merino Superfein, and I knew the LYS carries variegated ones, so I thought I should give it a try. This colorway immediately caught my eyes, and very fortunately it is consisted of the colors Dolly likes. Although I wanted to knit a wider cowl for more coverage and easy wearing, I only bought 3 balls according to the pattern, and would like to see how it would go before deciding how many more I would need. In the end, I bought 1 additional ball, and used up all 4 on the cowl.

打完賦格後, 我又去買毛線. 打賦格用的 Lana Grossa Cool Wool Merino Superfein 感覺很不錯, 還有賣段染的, 就想說來試試看. 第一眼就看上這個顏色組合, 剛好都是表妹喜歡的藍綠灰. 一開始已經計畫好要打一條高一點的脖圍, 覆蓋性比較好, 但是我還是照織圖說明先買了 3 球, 先打下去在看最後要再加買多少線. 最後只加買了 1 球, 且 4 球通通都用上了.

I actually like to wear it like this indoor.

其實在室內這樣圍蠻不錯的.

Dolly with TRN. It's barely visible though for she didn't turn on the light. Her roommate was still asleep.

表妹圍扭羅文脖圍. 幾乎看不見因為她沒開燈. 室友還在睡覺.

 When I finished TRN it was very already very cold in Japan, so I sent the Fugue set and TRN via airmail, along with Dolly's favorite chocolate.

扭羅文脖圍打好時日本已經很冷了, 我就把賦格帽, 賦格手套和紐羅文脖唯一起空運去東京給表妹. 還有幾盒她最愛的巧克力.

Honey Cowl 甜蜜蜜頸圍

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!

東風西風 Vent d'est vent d'ouest

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!