One By One

SKB is DONE!

Oh how I love this top - the pattern, the fit, the drape of the silk - I'm in love:

   

Pattern: Stitch Diva / Glampyre Simple Knitted Bodice.

Yarn: ArtFibers Golden Chai, Color #30; Used about 5-1/2 balls.

Needles: Addi's US3s and US2s, circular 24", in order to obtain a closer gauge to that of the pattern.

Alterations: Quite a few, and simply because it's knit from the top-down and it's possible to try it on as you go:

1. Knit extra increases on the v-neck edges to get the right fit in the front for the v-neck point to end.

2. Knit two extra inches in length after joining in the round, before starting the purl ridges.

3. Added decrease rows after the first two extra inches to get a more fitted look under the bust and at the waist. This resulted in an extra inch in length before starting the purl ridges.

4. Worked 2.5" of lace detail in order to prevent the garment from being too long.

5. Placed the dart markers at 22 sts instead of 20 or 24.

6. Completed three hip shaping increase sets instead of four in order to maintain a more fitted look.

7. The alterations for the sleeves included working 1.5" of stockinette before starting the purl ridges and lace section; and working just 2.5" of the lace detail in order to be consistent with the main body.

Impressions: Lovelovelove the pattern. The only thing I wish the pattern had was the conversions from "how many rows to knit" to "how many inches/cm to knit to" until starting the next section or increases/decreases. In this respect, the pattern is written how a Debbie Bliss pattern is written. Luckily with the ability to try it on as you go, this wasn't really a big issue - just something for the wish list.

This is the first garment I have knit in the round, and I love it. I seem to have a seaming issue, so the fact that there were no seams whatsoever was a huge plus!

The ArtFiber's Golden Chai is loverly! Originally I had this slated for a different top, but changed my mind upon seeing the SKB pattern. I think it was a good choice :) It ends up that I have two and a half balls left of the Chai (some +/- 400 yards) so a small shawl or scarf maybe in order.

Can you tell I just love it??

Onto the sleeves

I wrapped up the body of the SKB last night while watching the NFL game opener:

     

So far, so good on the fit! Now onto the sleeves :)

SKB Progress

In between the busy Labor Day weekend that consisted of sewing, shopping and a dinner party, I made some progress on the Simple Knitted Bodice:

Sorry for the crappy picture - this is the first time I've taken a picture of myself in front of a mirror. Mental note - turn off the flash next time and don't stick my finger on the lens to leave a print!

Anyway, SKB is coming along really quite nicely and I'm really liking the fit. The changes I've made thus far (including the decreasing before the first set of purl ridges) are working out! It's hard to tell from the picture, but I've completed two inches of the waist lace detail. The pattern calls for doing three inches of lace before starting the second set of purl ridges and starting the hip shaping. I need to do some math though, I want to make sure that it will not end up being too long when completed. I figure I have about 5-6 inches to play with for it to hit me on the waist where I want it to.

Hopefully I'll make some more progress on SKB this week, and post a much better picture :)

SKB Coming Along...

It looks like my yarn substitution and needle size change are going to work out well for the Simple Knit Bodice. Please excuse the stockinette curling of the edges:

This picture better illustrates the color loveliness of the yarn :)

I've had to make a couple of changes to the pattern along the way. Thus far I have:

1. Knit extra increases on the v-neck edges to get the right fit in the front.

2. Knit two extra inches in length after joining in the round, before starting the waist portion that includes the purl ridges and lace detail.

I'm thinking about doing some decreasing (thereby adding about another inch in length) before starting the waist to give the bodice a more fitted look below the bust. I'm afraid if I don't it will look more boxy looking than fitted, not what I'm going for. I think I'll give it a shot and another try-on before starting the waist portion.

Oh, and there's now a knitalong!

A Case of Start-itis

What happens when I finish two projects within days of each other???

I start three more!

I really could not decide what I wanted to work on next, I was being extremely indecisive. I really wanted to start Gatsby Girl, and while the weather here in San Diego has been pretty mild, the idea of holding a wool in my hands for an extended period of time did not sound like fun. But, somehow, I talked myself into mohair! Well, mohair on a speedy project. In comes some Tess' Mohair purchased at Stitches West in February and the Garnstudio/Drops Mohair Jacket. After two knitting sessions, the back (and it's sleeves) is almost done:

And although this is a speedy knit, the big needles (US19s!) and endless stockinette take its toll.

So, then I recalled that I had some ArtFibers Golden Chai (which is 100% silk - loverly!) in the stash that was reserved for the Greek Pullover in IK's Fall 2005 issue. I pulled out the yarn and re-tested my swatch. I. Was. Not. Happy. The yarn was slubbier (is that a word?) than I remembered, which caused an extremely uneven fabric. I did not want to have to wear something underneath this pullover, so I scratched it, but left it out for inspiration....

Along comes Stitch Diva and the release of the Simple Knitted Bodice. I fell head-over-heels for the short sleeve version. And the bonus is that a cami of some kind is required underneath this one!

See where I'm going??

Yep, so I swatched on smaller needles (US3s) and found that I liked the drape and the fabric, which still requires a little something underneath. So, after a little math (my gauge is off from the recommendation from the pattern), I'm knitting a slightly bigger size. Hopefully it will work out, I'm a little concerned because the bodice is knit in one piece, top down:

Okay, so I need to take a better picture, perhaps in natural sunlight so you can see the lovely-ness that is the color of the yarn! I am half way through the first increases, and I may need to add extra rows. We'll see, I'm almost at the point of a test-try one :)

And last, but certainly not least, I've started another shawl/stole project. Well, barely - just two rows:

I'm going to give CJ's recommendation a shot and try Cozy. I tested a couple different stitch patterns, and the variegation really doesn't do the pattern justice. So a Cozy stole it is!

So, there you have it. Way too many projects going on (oh, let's not forget about the second Mock Crock) and not enough time - I hope to get one of these finished before starting Gatsby Girl - maybe I should just have started that one anyway :)