Sahara Finished!!

Yarn/線材: Tilli Tomas Pure & Simple (100% silk) - color Aqua Zing - 4 skeins

Pattern/圖樣: Stitch Diva Sahara by Wendy Bernard
Size/尺寸: small (Bust size/胸圍 33")

Needle/針號: KP Option #7, #5, Boye Balene 11" #5

Start/開始: 1/1/07

Finish/完成: 4/10/07

I feel so guilty that it took me this long to finish Sahara. I love this sweater first time I saw the pictures. When the pattern first became available, I bought it right away. It did took me quite some time to decide what "style" to make (short sleeves or long sleeves) and what yarn to use; I mean this Tilli Tomas really is so expensive, so far I haven't invest that much money on one sweater, plus it's 100% silk, not easy to take care of.

I love Wendy Bernard's patterns, she is so great, her patterns always have a list of substitute yarns, I did try couple different yarns out of that list, but non of the yarns seemed to be able to deliver the same result as the Tilli Tomas yarns. So I caved in and got myself some Pure & Simple from Sarah's Yarns. My sis and I decided to make this a mini KAL between us, we both started on Jan.1. She finished hers way back in February. If I wasn't pregnant, I would've finish it sooner, but in my first trimester, I just didn't feel well, plus I knew I wouldn't be wearing it anytime soon, so I kept it aside for a long time. Sis said if I don't finish it soon, it WILL be an UFO. Okay, okay, I'll try my best...

終於完成Sahara了,當初一眼看到這件毛衣就愛上它,但原作者用的線實在是有夠貴,光考慮線材就用了不少時間!這個作者很不錯,她出的圖樣都會建議不少其他線材,只是試了幾種,覺得都顯現不出這毛衣的特色,所以狠狠的就給它敗下去了.我跟妹決定來個迷你群編,她是早在二月就織好了,如果我不是碰巧懷孕又害喜,應該也早完成了.

For this sweater, I pretty much followed the instructions. I can't say it enough, just love knitting from the top down. I've knitted few sweaters from the top, all of them were raglan style sweaters. This one is a little different, it started at the shoulders with a provisional cast on, working down the back till underarm, then pick up from the shoulders then down the front, then join together at the underarms and knit in the round down to the hem. Over all, the pattern was easy, just a tiny problem on the Diamond Rib pattern (k3tog TBL & p3tog TBL), other than that everything went very smoothly. One thing I should have done was making less decreases at the waist area, but I didn't know I was pregnant when I finished the body!!! Now I can only wear this after my baby is born, I'm not so sure if I will have a waist after that or how long until I have a waist. Anyway, it's finished, I really really love it. I will definately consider making another one, short sleeves version or maybe sleeveless.

這件毛衣也是從上往下織的方式,我很喜歡這種方法,不需要花太多時間縫合,也少了很多線頭需要藏線.這件的織法其實不難,我完全照圖樣織,只有在織領口及袖口的花樣時有點小困難,主要是針頭不夠尖,織起來很吃力.我妹就聰明多了,找到一些撇步,可惜我織的時候她還沒找到這些偷甲步.另外就是腰身的部份我減了5次針,應該少減一點的,尤其是織完後又發現懷孕,唉!什麼時候才會再看到我的腰呢?

現在毛衣完成了真的還挺滿意的,我大概會再織一件吧,或許短袖,或許無袖,再看看!