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

6 Shawls in 3 Weeks 三星期六條披肩

From left to right: Swallowtail, Holden, Sur un petit nuage, Yasmine (shawl), Yasmine (scarf), Alice.

左到右: 燕尾, 霍爾登, 小小雲端上, 雅思敏 (披肩), 雅思敏 (圍巾), 愛麗絲.

After Swallowtail, I finally felt I could use a break. And when I look up I realized that I've knitted SIX shawls in... what?... THREE weeks?!

打完燕尾後, 終於覺得想要休息了, 然後赫然發現自己在三星期內打了六條披肩?!


Seriously, I didn't rush-knit any one of them. I just knitted, finished, went on to the next and so on... couldn't stop!

我沒有趕工打任何一條. 就是打一條, 完成後再接著打下一條... 就停不下來啦!

Swallowtail Pour Moi 我的燕尾

Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn A. Clarke

Handmaiden Fine Yarn Sea Silk in Rose Garden

3.75 mm needles 

2011/10/31 ~ 11/4

Finally had a chance to knit a Swallowtail for myself using the Sea Silk bought ages ago specifically for this shawl. No modifications were made. Knitted according to pattern. Love the outcome! The color Rose Garden and Swallowtail match perfectly!

終於有機會給自己打條燕尾, 且是用 n 年前為了打這條披肩買的 Sea Silk. 尺寸沒有加打, 完全照織圖做. 成品很令人滿意, 用的線顏色名為玫瑰園, 打成燕尾感覺很對!

Feels quite punky paired with leather jacket.

配皮衣感覺有點龐克.

Holden Shawlette 霍爾登小披肩

Holden Shawlette by Mindy Wilkes

Malabrigo Yarn Lace in Azul Profundo

4 mm circular needles

2011/10/23 ~ 26

I have been wanting to knit Holden since it was published, but somehow never got to do it. After knitting four Marie-Adeline shawlette, I couldn't seem to be able to stop, so I went on knitting Holden. 

自霍爾登被發表後就一直很想打, 但說也奇怪卻從來沒去打. 連打四條 MA 小披肩後手停不下來, 終於把或爾登也打了.

It's the edging that attracted my attention in the first place. Didn't do a nice blocking the first time. I was blocking four shawls at the same time and ran out of pins. Didn't pin every picot. Should do that to fully show the beauty of Holden.

就是這個豆豆邊引起我的注意. 定型的時候沒定好. 當時同時定型四條披肩大頭針不夠, 沒辦法每個豆豆都用一針去拉. 要霍爾登充分展現她的魅力記得每個豆豆都要一隻針去拉喔!

Sur un petit nuage pour moi 我的小小雲端上

Sur un petit nuage by Marie-Adeline Boyer

Malabrigo Yarm Lace in Tuareg

4 mm circular needles

2011/10/20 ~ 23

This SUPN is for me. I've knitted another one about a year ago for Christmas Exchange for a  friend using the exactly same color of yarn but with a smaller needle and used exactly one skein of yarn. This one, I followed every word in the pattern and only used 70% of a skein. A smaller shawl, a nice scarf. Perfect for me!

這條小小雲端上是打給自己的. 去年一個聖誕交換活動中打過一條給朋友. 那時也是用同一款線, 同一個顏色, 不過小一號針, 且把整絞蕾絲線通通用上. 這一條完全照織圖的指示打, 只用了 70% 絞. 因此, 是條比較小的披肩, 比較像圍巾, 很適合我.

I've always loved Marie-Adeline's designs. And I love this scarf, this yarn, this color, and above all, I love wearing it!

我一直都很喜歡 Marie-Adeline 設計的東西. 我喜歡這條蕾絲圍巾, 喜歡這款線, 喜歡這個顏色, 重點是我很喜歡圍小小雲端上!

I especially like to pair it with my leather jacket! Bisou a MA!

尤其我喜歡把它拿來配皮衣! 給 MA 親一個!

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

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

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

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.

Mother's Day 2011 100年母親節

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.

Sur un petit nuage 在小小雲端上

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

Carrot Percy 卡羅特珀西小披肩

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!

Teacher's Day Gifts 教師節禮物

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!