曼陀羅 2 Mandala II

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

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

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

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

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

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