Crochet top that is completed but is quite not...

Ok, I know the header is confusing.

Even though this crochet top requires frequent scissors use (there's cutting involved in every motif!), I still bring it out whenever I can.

The most ideal times to work on it is when I am having my latte at my favorite Spinelli's outlet. I prefer to visit the cafe during its off-peak period.

That way, I can put on my WIP and see how the fit works out. I try to be discreet when trying on the project so that I wouldn't invite too much unnecessary stares. G thinks I am crazy whenever I pull off this stunt. He reckons one day I'll end up being blogged in Stomp.

The general rule of thumb is that I try most of my outfits whenever possible during the process. Thatway, if something is not quite right, then I can make modifications immediately. (PS. Felt, this is how I get my projects to fit.)

By seeing this picture, you'll think that I am done with the collar edging. In reality, I am. Not only did I complete the neck edging, I also did the armhole edgings. The tail ends you see are those that needed tucking in. Or so I thought.

Until I tried the crochet top again.

Take a look at the comparison photos -- the before (on right) and the after (on left). Before crocheting the neckline, I thought the neckline looked ok but somehow the finishing brought the neckline way higher than I would have liked.

So back to the frogpond....I have just ripped back all the way to the armholes and is back at the bustline again.

I have already have in mind a design in terms of the neckline finishing. I just need to test and see if it works. I'm very stubborn, I know. One design? I am probably destined for another frogpond trip soon!

PS. If there is any consolation for myself, I have finally gotten around to wearing my previous crocheted top several times now and have received compliments on it.

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Crochet merry-go-round

During my extended absence in blogsphere, apart from working on my various WIPs and not getting anything crossing over the finishing line, I do a fair bit of browsing whenever I can.

At the bookshops and the world wide web.

But it creates an issue. Checking out the latest magazines, pattern books and blogger reviews just makes me want to start more projects.

So I developed startitis -- the idea of starting a crochet project crept in. I decided that it wouldn't just be a continuous row by row pattern. Instead, something like crochet squares or circular motifs being joined together appealed to me. (Similar to the one I previously crocheted.)

Actually, that should have set off the alarm bells. But obviously, my brain wasn't heeding any negative thoughts. I just dived straight in.

This is the motif that I used. And I was well into my 4th round when I just decided that something didn't look right. Murphy's Law kicked in.

I started ripping back (about 3 motifs)....and redid some. But I realized something wasn't right. So I ripped back some more (about 8 motifs) and still the problem remained.

I got so upset that I decided to put my foot down and teach the project a lesson. I decided that I would go as far back as unravelling 2 rounds' worth of motifs.

THEN I found the problem -- a motif with an extra loop on the 2nd row! As a result of the 4 stitch loop, the amount of grief I experienced was inconsolable. I could have finished the bodice with the amount of back-ripping I was doing! *Imagine that!*

Learnt my lesson yet? You bet! I keep telling the gals that they have to check their projects every now and then so that they can minimize errors and avoid ripping back. So it's not the crochet tango that can happen but a crochet merry-go-round too!

I really do need to heed that advice myself.

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I've been unfaithful

To my knitting, that is.

Even though I profess my everlasting love for knitting, I have been having fleeing thoughts about my other partner, the crochet. In fact, the signs are all there: the latest Japanese magazines has been featuring lots of crochet....the glossy spreads tempting me to stray while the knit trends seem to steer towards beginner projects for the newbies. With the impeding arrival of winter, chunky knits takes prominence and that is not helping either.

So I dug out my old projects.

See these 2 pieces? Can you even make out what they are?

I started them and blogged way back in (get this...) November 2005. That's about 2 years ago!!

It was time to put them to rest. So I took a deep breath and ripped them all out. Yup...I couldn't bear the thought of them trying to catch my eyes and make contact from time to time; just peeking out of the WIP basket.

Then it just struck me why I procrastinated whenever I get myself emotionally involved with crochet. Those ENDS!!

As the pattern moved onto the mesh lace pattern, it got a TAD easier. But the tiny crochet hook just makes my finger hurt as I crochet quite *brutally* (I notice that I tend to exert a lot of force when I crochet. It's an old habit that I need to break, really...)

Just barely. As I was pretty particular about the fit and the color variegation, I took 3 visits to the FROG POND; each time getting a little smarter. You can never imagine how much torture it was. Is anyone as finicky about color variegations -- letting nature take its course? Or do you try to manipulate them?

The first time I crocheted in the round, the colors pooled so badly, while going diagonally. I tried to convince myself that the pooling didn't matter. However it really got to me so bad that I decided to rip back even though I was more than 3/4 through. (And the pooling result was just so hideous that I didn't even want to take a photo of it! Tsk tsk.)

But I am glad I did as I am quite pleased with the final results.

This pattern is from the recent issue of Keitodama, I think. Took me about 3 weeks to complete it.

The modifications I made are quite aplenty.

First, I changed the pattern to crochet in the round (or is there such a term as circular crochet?)

Then apart from sizing down to fit, I also re-sculptured the bodice so that there is waist shaping (the original pattern is totally straight cut). I also modified the sleeves by cutting back half as the updated style is really more *me* (whatever that means.)

As of now, that finished tank is still dressing my mannequin. I decided that an astrology consultation is in order to ensure that I will follow through with the zillion tails tucking marathon! *groan*

Now you know why knitting seems like a more attractive option to me!

(Oops...as I am preparing to post this, I now noticed that my latest color is the orange family?!)

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