I made a tank top – so simple and fast to complete – out of some leftover yarns (stashbusting continues!) and I am nearing completion on a simple spring pullover next…

This is the A-Line tank from the Spring/Summer 2007 issue of Knit Simple.  I used leftover Classic Elite Classic Silk yarn in this lovely perwinkle color.  The tank is knit bottom-up, flared at the bottom with small decreases all the way up along these faux princess seams – then a small ribbing in the middle to gather the stitches.  I modified it to knit in the round,  adding an edge stitch to each side.  The pattern only goes up to a 36″ bust, and since I wanted a little ease, I went up a needle size (size US 8 and 9s) to make it more of a 37/38″ bust.  My plan worked, for the most part.  It isn’t the most “flattering” knit I have ever made, but it is cute and it will be worn. 

If I made this again, I would add some more length to it.  I often forget that my torso is longer than I think it is, and I tend to like my tops and tanks to be longer – around the top of the hip.  Luckily, I have a periwinkle camisole that is nearly the same color underneath to give the illusion of a bit more length. 

This pattern page on Ravelry has some lovely projects by other knitters, but none of the other knitters have my body shape – so I wasn’t quite sure how this one would out since I have a larger bust and wider hips.  Jury is still out if it is a success or not!

My newest knit – which is nearly done after lots of weekend knitting! – is another version of the Forrest Pulli top that I made last March.  This time, I am using a different fiber to get a more relaxed shape with some more ease.  This RYC Natural Silk Aran reeled me in hook. line. sinker. at the LYS awhile back.  The steeley blue/gray with little color flecks was just too much for me to turn down.  I didn’t have a pattern in mind when I bought it, so I was quite happy to match this pattern to this yarn.  The picture shows the knit as it looked late last week… you can now imagine a completed back and a front left panel.  Now onto the right and the sleeves, and it will be good!  I didn’t expect to motor through this knit so quickly, but now that I have, it seems almost possible that it could be done by the weekend – for Maryland Sheep and Wool festival

I am analyzing many garment shapes in my Ravelry queue to see if this is really the best style and knit shape for my body… luckily, I have Amy’s *amazing* new series of blog posts called “Fit to Flatter” to help me determine this kind of thing.  Amy has put together two amazing tutorials (so far) with lots of visuals, drawings, models, etc.  to aid the knitters/crocheters out there on the search for the perfect garment for your body shape.  Check it out.  You will definitely learn something.

Right now, I am particularly drawn to long tunic-style tanks and shifts – and while it’s a lot of knitting, it’s also a nice stashbuster too.  Some of the patterns that have caught my eye:

• Berroco’s Moska
• Interweave’s Summertime Tunic
• Purl Bee’s Leah Tunic
• Pegboard Lace Tunic
• Bottoms Up Tank
• Rebecca Yoked Lace Pulli

…and the list could go on and on!  Wonder how many I will realistically make this summer…

(Bradford Pear, Azalea, Dogwood)

Kris and I have both had busy schedules at work – which makes the downtime that much more enjoyable.  Last weekend, we took the doggie girls over to the dog park (my good friend Ang joined us with her two pups), we went to a show in DC (Vampire Weekend!) and then had a nice Easter Sunday with both sets of family.

(Jenny and Bella are worn out after running around the dog park!)

This past weekend, we woke up early on Saturday to set up a yard sale, and then went to Kris’s brother’s surprise birthday party.  Sunday offered some downtime – I read some books (graphic novels are my flavor of the month – book reviews to follow) and we did some gardening.  This afternoon/evening, we are heading up to Delaware – Kris is giving a presentation and I am hitching along for the ride.  And tomorrow I am heading to Philly for a work conference (Caring for Unusual Formats!) and I am gonna meet up with this amazing lady.

I have been in a bit of a cast-on frenzy… I have started several new projects over the course of the week, but some didn’t quite make the cut since they were more crochet practice.  I am still trying to work on my tension, but the stitches are coming a bit easier.  My recent project of choice has been cotton washcloths – made with Sugar n’ Cream Cotton.  Practical and functional.  I like using the small swatches to practice stitches – this one is half-double crochet:

The newest knit on the needles is the A-Line Swingy Tank from an old issue of Knit Simple (Spring/Summer 2007) [Ravelry link]- it’s a simple and flattering tank that seems like a good shape for me.  It would be cute with a camisole underneath, or with a cardigan on top.  I am using leftovers from the Sienna Cardigan I made last year – Classic Elite Classic Silk.

The recent spike in stashbusting is because 1) I always do this before MDSW – less than one month away and I start to get serious stash guilt and 2) the Stanley Cup Stashbusting KAL/CAL over on Ravelry’s Puck This! group.  I am heading it up again as I eagerly anticipate the NHL playoffs.  Feel free to join us if you are interested!

How are you enjoying the change of season?  Are you outside more?  I would love to hear what you are up to!

Pattern: Pintuck Tee [rav link]
Yarn: Schulana Sojabama (bamboo/soy blend)
Source: The Loop in Halifax, NS
Needles: Size US 3 / 3.25mm

You may recall that I purchased this yarn in Nova Scotia.  Mimi made a beautiful Wyvern Wrap [rav] out of it, and when I talked to her at the shop in Halifax, I decided to take the plunge and try the 55/45 bamboo soy blend.  This pattern had recently come to my attention on Ravelry, and right there in the shop, we did the math, and I walked out with 7 balls of yarn specifically for this project. Beautiful gray with blue and purple flecks.  I should have picked up another ball (hindsight is 20/20, don’t you know) so that I could have added sleeves.  Honestly, I don’t wear too many tanks because… well, I don’t like my arms.  But, this one will get worn.  Maybe with a shrug on some occasions

Other than the sleeve, I also omitted the buttons on the little “bib” portion, favoring the open neckline more.

[More photos of Pintuck here]

This pattern was well-written, and the designer, Lien Ngo, incorporates some great techniques to keep the shaping and inserts interesting.  I really liked the short rows; they provided a crisp look on the armholes and neckline.

I have a feeling that the yarn is going to grow – I have heard that about bamboo and soy yarns.  That is why I chose the 37″ size, hoping that it would relax a little with wear.  I think it may get a little longer too.  Have you had this experience with these fibers?

It is nice to have such a timely knit – it is soft and cool to the touch and will be perfect for the hot summer days.

The bamboo/soy blend is going to be perfect for this summer tee. I am thinking about modifying the sleeves on this one, but it all depends on how much yarn I have left. The yarn appears to be a great gray, but if you look a little closer in natural light, it is actually quite multi-tonal: lavender, blue, and maybe a little pink too. Quite lovely.

(beaded stitch marker compliments of dear Coleen)

It’s a small gauge knit in the round – worked on size 3 needles with hundreds of stitches per round. Perfect kind of knitting for lazy days at the beach ~ well, at the beach house, as I only venture to the actual beach after the sun sets and there is smaller risk of my skin turning red

Every year, we head over to Assateague Island to see the wild ponies.

This year, we had a pretty close encounter.

Glee Tee
Pattern: Zephyr Style pattern
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool in Periwinkle
Needles: Size US 3 and 5 circular needles

Still a little rippling, but I feel that this is minimal compared to what it was! I followed the pattern, and only made one change: not adding the hook-and-eye closures to the neckband. This modification makes the Glee look a lot like one of the other Zephyr patterns, Ms. Marigold, doesn’t it? I loved the way the hook-and-eye closures looked on the model, but for me it was just not practical. If I want a version with them there in the future, I will make a bigger size. The hooks pulled the neckband out of shape. I heard about the hook-and-eye tape, but did not find any at my local craft store, and I did not pursue any other routes.

Overall, I am happy with the final product. Thank you for your kind comments on the last post before I did the neckband “surgery”. The color of the yarn – and the yarn itself – were definitely the highlights of this project. I bought this yarn over a year ago at a Stitch DC sale – got a great deal and fell in love with the color.  I initially had my mind on another project for it, but I soon realized how perfect it would be for this one.  I used 4.75 of the 5 hanks I bought for the Medium (36″) size.

I am already planning more garments in this wonderful yarn. Heather told me how much she enjoyed working with it, and Eunny and I recently discussed how amazing it is… so lightweight, with a beautiful drape, and an amazing color palette. Wouldn’t this pattern be great as a cardigan too? I was thinking about a 3/4 length sleeve with the band extended to the bottom. Maybe then some hook-and-eye closures?

This was my first top-down pattern, and I really enjoyed it. It seemed to knit up faster for me from the top-down, and I was able to try it on in the process. I made a small cap sleeve instead of a longer short sleeve. This was a big step for me, as I am notoriously self-conscious about my arms. Hopefully I will actually wear it out of the house!

Knitting in the round is so satisfying. Sometimes, the whole seaming process really stresses me out. This garment was so easy because when I finished knitting it, there was little else to do!

Wishing you all a good weekend~ I am off to DC to help Jenna with some packing and moving…

You gotta know when to fold ‘em…

You gotta know when to rip the neckband and do it over again…

The hook-and-eye closures stretched out the neckline and made it look like romaine lettuce. 

…So, a completely finished Glee to come very soon…

Just need to do some tweaking.

(and I will share details in that post!)

Glee has seen a lot of face time lately.

I predict a finished top in the next few days… this baby seems to be flying off of the size 5 needles. And she is a lovely periwinkle blue, even though these photos suggest otherwise.

A few more inches of length, a picked-up neckband, installation of hook-and-eye closures, and a little length to the sleeves.

Voila.

Spring is on the way, and this is going to be the perfect piece to usher in the warmer days!

And I am already thinking about another Zephyr Style knit for next month’s PS color scheme… what say you?

***

I am using Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, and what a cool yarn it is! It has some natural qualities (read: it has little bits of raw silk and “matter” in it) but it has a wonderful texture and drape, and works up into a nice knit fabric. I got gauge with size US 5 needles, and this is perfect for the DK weight of the yarn. This lovely color, 027 Periwinkle, was purchased for a bargain at a Stitch DC sale day back in 2005. I didn’t have a pattern in mind when I first picked it up, but now that I started Glee, I know this yarn was fated to be this pattern! It creates a light fabric that will be ideal (not hot) for the hot summers that we will undoubtedly encounter here in Maryland.

It’s funny how a project like this can make one pine for the changing of seasons…

(Yes, this is coming from the girl who was wishing for blizzards and heavy wools just a few months ago…)

Street Smart Hoodie
Patons Street Smart booklet
Cottage Craft wool (from Stitches East)
(Sleeve one complete, working on back)

Royal Blue

Kristen Hat
Bea Ellis Knitwear
Dale of Norway Heilo

Periwinkle

Glee Tee
Zephyr Style
Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool

Patons Divine hat in Denim colorway

I am swimming in blue – and absolutely loving it.

Such an amazing and diverse color!

I cast on for two new projects. Both are early starts for Project Spectrum knits. I tend to gravitate towards the blue as this has been one of my favorite colors since I was a child. However, I have some plans for white and gray as well!

First, the one you know:

Oh, my Glee tee. This one is going to be good. I totally forgot how much I enjoy the top-down technique. I have only done it once before (for the One Skein Wonder) but I really like the way it works up, err… down The yarn is fantastic. It has a beautiful texture and great feel. Plus, the color is absolutely perfect for my tastes. The yarn has some rawness to it, but is also extremely elegant. I am very happy with it… and I only have an inch! Glee will probably take awhile to knit, but it will be simple, straightforward, and so wearable. That is a winner in my book.

Then, the one you don’t know:

You may recall that I bought the Kristen hat from Bea Ellis knitwear last year. I had grand plans to cast on for this for the Stranded Colorwork knitalong, which started last December (Nonnahs made a fun Bea Ellis hat, and Grumperina shared some tips from her recent Kristen adventure). However, it didn’t see the needles till now. Honestly, I was a little nervous about the colorwork, as this was my first attempt… but after actually doing it, I can say it is not bad! I can see myself getting addicted to this! I will need some more practice on floats and stranding, but that will come with time. Now that I am starting it, it is perfect timing for the new knitalong run by Hannah and company: Fair Isle February!

The yarn is Dale of Norway Heilo in navy as the main color, and ecru as the contrast color. The cotton liner seen here will be pressed and folded under later to protect my sensitive forehead from the wool.

Another new beginning: I start a new job tomorrow. It is not completely new, as I have been doing something similar for over two years at the same institution. However, this job carries more responsibility, and has the shiny title of Archivist attached to it. So, it is my first professional position after completing graduate school in December, and I am ready for the new challenge! Gung ho!

And I probably don’t have to tell you – but did you know that PROJECT SPECTRUM starts tomorrow??? Talk about a new beginning!