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 (2/2) 2012 的編織 (2/2)

I usually knit something for my mom for Mother's Day and her birthday. As I was so obsessed with Color Affection by Veera Välimäki, I decided to knit as many as I can for my mom, my aunt, and myself.
通常我會打一件東西給老媽當母親節和生日禮物. 當時我很著迷 Veera Välimäki 的 Color Affection, 決定要打很多條, 給老媽給阿姨給自己, 打到吐為止.


The colors chosen were brights, something my mom didn't have, and I thought she would appreciate that. She did. She wore this a lot.
這條披肩故意選亮色, 因為老媽沒有這樣的顏色組合, 應該會喜歡. 果然. 一整個秋冬都是披它.

 

 Color Affection

Start date: 2012/4/8

Finish date: 2012/5/10

I spent more time on this shawl then I expected. Actually, I finished it but almost ripped and started over right away for (1) I didn't like how I did with the first stitch. It was too tight. I was knitting Color Affection for my aunt and applied another way and it was good. So I decided to re-knit my mom's (2) I didn't have enough yarn for bind off the second time. The cast off edge was tight and ugly. Very mad about it. Bought more yarn, undo the cast off and re-cast off. All good.

老媽這條我花了比預期多很多的時間. 事實上, 我是打了兩次. 原因是 (1) 我不喜歡第一次頭上一針的處理方式. 太緊. 那時已經在打阿姨的, 用的是另一種處理方式, 效果很好, 所以又把老媽的拆掉重打, 變成兩條同時進行, 又要趕母親節前, 手都快抽筋了 (2) 第二次打的時候線不太夠, 收針的地方太緊, 很醜, 看了很不爽. 乖乖去買線, 拆開重收. 好多了.

Bright blues, teals & turquoises are my aunt's favorites. I've knitted her quite a few items in those colors over the years. Since I'm knitting her something for Mother's Day, I went for another direction in color choosing: bright pink and orange.

阿姨最喜歡亮麗的藍綠色系, 以前也打過幾件這種色系的, 這次就要選一個完全不同的亮粉紅和亮橘.

  Color Affection

Start date: 2012/4/16

Finish date: 2012/4/28

After Mother's Day gifts were finished, I had to resume working on my mom's birthday shawl. I've been wanting to knit Rock Island, but never could quite decide what lace yarn to use. I wanted a real lace weight yarn so that I wouldn't have to struggle should I have to frog a little, but ordering yarn is a nasty business, and with all that lace yarn stash I have, I really shouldn't be ordering new yarns. So I picked a cocoa colored cobweb for the project. I was very, very careful when I knit, so that I wouldn't have to frog too much or too often. I had luck on that. BUT, the construction of the shawl was special, my first time knitting a shawl like that. The lace edge was actually knitted first, and then pick up stitches on the side and then knit across decreasing the way to the center top. Theoretically, it should be getting easier and easier while knitting, but no, it was really taxing. The FO was really beautiful. Ethereal. My mom LOVED it. She wore it right away the next day while meeting her friends.
母親節禮物完成後, 還不能休息, 得馬上繼續打老媽的生日禮物. Rock Island 披肩想打很久了, 是要付費的織圖. 當初看了沒買圖打, 是因為不能決定要用什麼線. 應該要用規規矩矩的蕾絲線, 那又要上網買, 明明一大箱的蕾絲線, 只是很多都是標準蕾絲線一半粗細的蜘蛛網紗...  實在不應該再上網買, 最後選了一組可可色的蜘蛛網紗來打. 這下可好, 打的時候得非常小心, 最好不要拆或退針. 這點這次很幸運, 沒怎麼拆或退針, 到是這條披肩的打法很累人. 第一次打這樣的. 下擺的蕾絲邊先打一條長長長的, 然後再從旁邊挑針起來打中間, 邊打邊減針到披肩上緣中間. 照理說這應該是越打越輕鬆, 其實是越打越累. 不過, 成品很美, 很輕盈, 老媽很愛. 第二天飯局就穿出去了.

  Rock Island

Start date: 2012/3/17

Finish date: 2012/5/23

At this point of the year, my knitting fatigue should had kicked in, but still I managed to crochet 2 bunnies, for they are too cute not to make. Sadly, my crochet technique is really bad, so the bunnies aren't as cute as they should be.

在這個時間點, 老媽生日過後, 天氣熱了, 我的編織倦怠也要發了, 不過, 還是鈎了兩隻兔子給兩小, 因為原作實在太可愛啦! 只可惜我的鈎針功力不夠, 小兔子們沒有我想要的可愛. 兩小到是愛得很, 天天抱著睡覺.

  Boxy Skirt/Shorts Bunny

Start date: 2012/6/30

Finish date: 2012/7/8

And then there was a hiatus until October. Before the end of the year, I made 6 pairs of fingerless mitts: 4 Cute as a Button, 1 Susie's Reading Mitts, and 1 Camp Out Fingerless Mitts.
然後就休針到十月. 年底前打了 6 雙露指手套: 4 雙可愛豆豆露指手到, 1 雙閱讀露指手套, 1 雙露營露指手套.

Also made more than a dozen hats. Some of them I didn't take pictures for most of them were commissioned: 3 Gwen Stacey, 1 Regina, 5+ One Day Berets, 1 Godric's Hollow, 3 Knit Night Hats.
打了超過 12 頂帽子. 有的還沒拍照, 因大部分都是人家託織的, 趕著給人呢: 3 頂關史黛西, 1 頂蕾吉娜, 5+ 頂一日貝雷, 1 頂高錐客洞, 3 頂編織夜.

2 pairs of leg warmers. Only took Scarlett's picture, mine hasn't been photographed, they're dark gray in the same pattern.
2 雙襪套, 只拍了若的, 我的沒拍, 是雙深灰色同花樣的.

 Some Cloudy Day

Start date: 2012/12/5

Finish date: 2012/12/7

Last but not least, 10 pairs of socks: Hermione's Everyday Sock (aunt), By the Seine (mom & K & me), Hedera (mom), Monkey (mom), Maelstrom (mom), Lateral (mom & me), Vanilla Latte (mom, not photographed).
最後是 10 雙襪子: 妙麗日常襪 (阿姨), 塞納河畔 (媽, K, 我), 赫德拉 (媽), 漩渦 (媽), 側邊 (媽 & 我), 香草拿鐵 (媽, 還沒拍照).

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

Toasty 暖烘烘

 

Toasty by Leslie Friend

Lana Grossa Cool Wool Merino Superfein in 412 (medium heather gray)

3.25 mm needles

2011/12/2 ~ 5

Dolly was quite content with the Fugue set and the Twisted Rib Cowl but there was only one tiny problem: she couldn't touch her iPhone screen with the mitts on. So, a pair of fingerless mitts were to be knitted. Knowing Dolly, a simple stylish design will do, hence, Toasty. Well, she did mention my Toasty during the conversation. They were knitted with the Lana Grossa Cool Wool Merino Superfein leftover from the Fugue set. The amount was just right for a pair of Toasty.

表妹對賦格帽, 賦格手套和扭羅文脖圍很滿意, 一直說好漂亮好漂亮, 但是有一個小問題: 戴了手套就沒辦法用 iPhone. 於是, 要打一雙露指手套. 我知道表妹喜歡簡單有型的款式, 所以就暖烘烘手套囉! 其實, 表妹是有提到我的那雙暖烘烘啦! 打賦格帽和賦格手套剩下的中灰色線, 剛好打一雙暖烘烘, 一點都不浪費!

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.

Fugue 賦格

Fugue by Kate Davies

Lana Grossa Cool Wool Merino Superfein in 444 (dark heather gray) & 412 (medium heather gray)

3.25 mm & 3.5 mm needles

Tam: 2011/11/5~7

Mittens: 2011/8~13

My cousin Dolly went to Tokyo to fulfill her dream: study Japanese in Japan.  She left Taiwan in late September when the weather was still warm. I was thinking about knitting her something to keep her toasty up there in winter. She has plenty of scarves already knitted by her mother, my aunt. So I thought a tam would be nice to keep her head warm but wasn't sure she would wear one. 

表妹到東京去念日文了. 九月底過去十天氣還熱. 那時我有在想是否要打個什麼東西給她,日本東天很冷的. 圍巾她已經有很多條, 都是阿姨打給她的, 所以當時想帽子應該是不錯的選擇, 只是不知道她戴不戴帽子而已.

After she settled down and started her classes the weather changed. My aunt commissioned me to knit a tam for her, preferably  a stranded one. Exactly what I had in mind! And Fugue almost came up immediately after mu aunt and I had the conversation. I sent the picture to both my aunt and cousin, to make sure she likes it (more on that later), and bought the pattern. Then went shopping for yarn, which was easier than most of the time for Dolly likes gray scale colors, and these Lana Grossa Cool Wool Merino Superfein grays were calling out to me!

表妹到東京一陣子後, 天氣開始冷了. 阿姨就請我幫她打個帽子, 因為她走路上課, 東京冬天風大, 吹得頭很痛. 真是剛好, 我就想打帽子給她. 打的帽子還希望是配色的. 一說到配色馬上想到賦格. 我還先把賦格的照片給阿姨和表妹看, 確認她有喜歡, 才下單買織圖. 再來就是去買毛線. 這次買毛線輕鬆多了, 因為表妹喜歡灰色系, 且這組 Grossa Cool Wool Merino Superfein 的線看起來不錯, 也有好幾種灰色可選.

I followed the pattern religiously. Really. I listened to Bach's Fugue while knitting the tam and mittens as suggested by Kate Davies. Seriously, it calmed me down almost immediately and I didn't make any mistakes on the stranded work! The stranded work looks way more difficult then it really is, and it was a joy to knit listening to Bach's Fugue.

我完全依照織圖打, 甚至遵從設計師 Kate 的建議, 打的時候要聽巴哈的賦格. 因為設計賦格的靈感證是來自巴哈的賦格. 真的, 一聽賦格馬上就可以靜下心來打, 且這個配色花樣看起來很複雜, 但打起來一點都不困難, 也許跟聽了賦格心靜有關係? 總之, 聽巴哈賦格打賦格真的是件很享受的事.

 

 

I even like the inside of the tam. The stranded work looks equally fascinating.

連反面我都喜歡. 這個配色花樣即使在反面也是一樣的令人覺得讚嘆.

 

 

 

When knitting the second mitt, I totally forgot to do the stranded work by reversing the chart, and didn't realize that until both mitts were finished. Luckily it wasn't too obvious when they are worn. 

打第二隻手套時完全忘記花樣要反過來看, 兩隻手才會對稱. 等到打完以後才發現, 還好帶起來沒有很明顯不對稱.

Introducing Dolly with Fugue in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

表妹戴賦格帽於東京新宿街頭.




*** Dolly is very specific with her things. If you bought her something without making sure it was her style, her color, she would not even touch it. That's why I had to send her the picture of the pattern.

表妹對東西有很明確的要求. 如果妳買個東西給她沒有事先確認是她喜歡的樣式或顏色, 她連碰都不會碰的.

Béret Généreux 大方配色貝雷帽

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!

My stash (partial) 我的 (部分) 庫存

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