catching up

For everyone who hasn't popped over to Ravelry already, I thought I'd better post some shots of my completed Honeycomb vest.

I have to say, I love this vest! I actually didn't think I'd like it as much as I do - perhaps it was a bit short? a bit snug? too low cut?


but no. I've worn it several times already, with jeans and skirts, and have received many lovely compliments. It's a great weight to add just enough extra warmth, and I adore the colour.

The pattern is from Knitty and I'd warn those new to knitting to proceed with caution. In my opinion, it's not written very clearly. There's a lot of ambiguity with increasing/decreasing and some instructions, like, regarding keeping the pattern correct while doing said inc/dec, are downright confusing. That said, if you've knitted from patterns a fair bit, you should be able to nut it out using your experience of what it should mean!

and speaking of "nut" (do you like that seamless segue?), as a reward for finishing Honeycomb, I cast on Ellis, using my Pear Tree 12ply in Nut.

and so there was a tale....

Cue confident girl, sitting in a chair; stage left... Knit, knit away, gauge swatch, check, lovely, cast on back, ooh, 12ply knits up fast, doesn't it?, onto the left front, knit knit some more. Quick measure against back to check. Oh no. why doesn't that armhole match that armhole? Quick, get the ruler. 18st/24row. NOOOOOOO! you are meant to read 19sts/28rows, ruler must be faulty. check again. still faulty. Damn. already down to the smallest needle size possible to still get fabric, not felt. Damn, damn, damn!!! cue deflated girl sitting despondent stage left. Fade....

Yes, this is my tale of woe. Luckily the parter of Ellis, Acton, knits at 18/24, and I have enough of the Pear Tree to make that... Won't be the same though.

I cast on (another) February Sweater instead, but this time for Lily (girls size 10). There are some great notes on Ravelry about resizing flintknits February Lady Sweater pattern to fit a girl, but in the end, I just used the smallest size (35") and instead of worsted, have substituted 8ply. I'm using the 8ply Pear Tree in Blush and Gallah. The paler pink is only around the trim, the main sweater being in the deeper colour.


I've just started the lace stitch, so far so good, but this is the third project in nearly a row that have used Gull stitch (Pi shawl, Feb Sweater for baby and now this one), I know it off by heart, and this will definitely be the last of it for a while!

I've missed having a small on-the-go project, too, so I cast on some more Jaywalkers (I'm just in the land of the big bandwagon, aren't I?), using stashed Opal. Lily's already claimed these, too, which is just as well - I don't think I'm that into the colours? Still, the zig-zag striping of the pattern shows it off well.

and today was Lily's school holiday treat day - her choice. We went rollerskating. For 4 hours.


People, it was like I'd never been off my skates, and my girl is a whizz! We are now exhausted happy souls, heading out for fish n chips and an early night. Sweet dreams :)