Mittens for S&S 兩小的手套

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.