Hopeful
Pattern by Jenna Adorno: http://www.thisgirlknits.com/tgbb.html
Materials: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool (65% wool, 35% silk, 175m). <3 skeins in color #13, light blue. Size US5 Denise. US5 DPN.
Gauge: 20 sts and 32 rounds = 4x4”
Finished Size: bust 29"- waist 23.5"- length 20"(yes, that's a lot of negative ease!)
Started: September 18, 2005
Frogged: September 22, 2005
Finished: October 19, 2005
Notes:
Cast on 12 fewer stitches than bust measurement and incorporated eyelet row of K2tog, YO for picot hem after 0.5". Started waist shaping 2" after eyelet row and worked shaping gradually over next 6.5". Worked neck shaping on front with the back to eliminate side seams then worked back, left front, and right front separately but simultaneously. Worked neckline with short row shaping at shoulder seams. Worked sleeves by picking up 3 stitches for every 5 rows and completing short row shaping 2 stitches earlier on either side of armhole than pattern calls for. Decreased evenly by 2 more stitches than pattern calls for before bind off.
Discussion:
Well, I do believe that this one has been discussed to death, so I'm not going to get into it. I absolutely love the design and would do it all again. Hmm, sounds like childbirth. There are definitely signs of it being "homemade", but overall, I'm pretty happy with the results.
Next time, I would probably lengthen the top a bit and go ahead and do the banded bottom since whipstitching the hem up was a royal pain. The bottom flares a bit as my gauge seems to have expanded on bottom only as the bust and hip measurements are equal after blocking despite the 12 fewer stitches at the hip. Ah the magic of selective gauge expansion. I just don't get it. Anyway, I would probably also shrink down the circumference to avoid the slight flaring (is that what bottom ribbing is for?!?!) which while barely noticeable, doesn't seem to match the fit of the rest of the top. Don't give me any ideas about cutting off the bottom and reknitting it to fit better...
Thanks Jenna for the brilliantly understated but flattering design, and I wish you all the best with your fundraising efforts.
Previous posts about this project:
Excited on 8/18/2005
Weekend knitting on 9/19/2005
Silky Wool on 9/21/2005
Just once on 9/22/2005
Back in the Saddle on 9/23/2005
I'm not a Spaz! on 9/28/2005
She-Ra on 10/4/2005
Opinion Poll on 10/5/2005
Shout Out on 10/11/2005
It's not the OCD on 10/19/2005
