Creating Crochet Items-Green Yarn a Taboo in China?

I've recently restarted an endeavor to have all things plush. As a child around eleven years old my father taught me to crochet. He took me to a yarn coffee shop and even gave me a crochet pattern books.
It has been ten years since I've crochet anything. Aside from a tube hat I made for my husband while we were living in China. The color of the yarn was evergreen. While wearing the hat out to work in Shanghai my husband found out that a green hat has a cultural symbol in China. The words for "a green hat" sound like a word that is a synonym for being a cheater. It was quite embarrassing to find this out. Although everyone understood that neither of us had any clue about this rule.
It was cool to create something and then have it critiqued by the people of Shanghai.

Moving ahead about 3 1/2 years I've created a second green crochet article of clothing. Despite my initial social anxiety caused sedentary I'm at it again!

Crocheting with Spearmint yarn.

Keep some kind of a marker so you can easily find the middle.

My first crochet cup!

Added a strap.

Add a side tie with bows on the end.

Complete!

Now this swim suit cover I've completed crocheting is a big over sized. I used a 5.5 mm yarn and crochet hook. Then moved up to a 6 mm cook to create the hanging pattern on the bottom. The next time I'm try and make a swim top I will certainly use a much thinner yarn and hook. Hopefully the next one I make could just be worn as a halter top rather then a swim suit cover as it will have full coverage rather then a loose holy appearance. I was trying to go for something more like this: http://www.garnstudio.com/pattern.php?id=2120&cid=19

I followed the pattern on that ^ website for the most part. I didn't realize it was so important to have the same yarn and hook size as they called for. So I've learned something very important about about following patterns by completing this project. You must follow all the rules if you want it to look the same. Should go with out saying. I knew it would be off somewhat but it really ended up holey. I learned that you need to either find a pattern that matches the yarn you already have. OR if you have a great pattern you really want to follow you must find the same yarn as they call for. I even notices that there are more requirements then just the mm size there is also a yarn weight that can differ and make the piece turn out differently.

Well here what it looks like on me...

A bit too big, although it will work as a swimsuit cover.

The next thing I've made to start my life on the way to a world full of plushy crochet items will be in my next post.
Please read on !