LEMONADE OUT OF LEMONS

So, this is what I have-- 3 rectangles (2 small ones for sleeves and 1 long one for body..The Design DOES NOT WORK BECAUSE when the back part is long enough so there is enough ease for the arms to actually move it hangs down..Now the Lemon Aid part is that--I AM TURNING IT INTO A SHRUG--you heard me--A SHRUG. I LOVE SHRUGS--I know not a big design idea, but you have to realize what I am working with--a long rectangle. I hope to have it finished by the end of next week...because I have another commission from KNITSIMPLE with a Aug 30 deadline. NEVER EVER GIVE UP...

BAD KNITTING NEWS

YOU HEARD ME---I finished my Peace Cardigan, but I have to take it apart and make the body longer because it is too small across the back--DARN...Everyone who saw it thought is was FAB, but it is just too darn small. I know I am repeating myself, but it is a bitter pill to swallow. I will not be able to get to it till July. I have my design submissions for Knitsimple to finish and I had 2 designs accepted by Knitscene I will be working on all of June--I never give up-so I will be back you can count on it.

A series of unfortunate knitting events

When last we left "Dayflower Lace," it had just been ripped back to the top of the lace. My original sketch (see here) had featured a single repeat of the lace up the upper center front, and an interesting cross between a V and a square neck. I had discarded this idea because I wasn't sure how I would finish the edge, wasn't sure how the wavy lace would look in a single repeat with stockinette on each side, etc.

But then I thought, what the heck, I'll give it a shot...but I had already decreased within each lace repeat, so to continue the single lace panel up the front, I didn't see any option but to rip back below the decreases (luckily just a couple of rows) and then redo the decreases, EXCEPT for the one center front panel. I had decided to go back to the eyelet holes and twisted cord belt to create a close underbust fit, but then, as shown above, I thought I would also try some columns of openwork within the underbust band.

Well. I completely forgot about the effect that nearby YOs and decreases have on the accent ridge, and in this case, it's not even a nice regular wave, but a lumpy-bumpy mess. Plus I don't like that additional openwork.

Lest you think I'm the Lemony Snicket of the CAL, I'll leave you with this photo: yes, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

No FOs here!

Well, I like the lace upper back well enough...but not for this particular top. Even though the upper columns of faggoting do line up with the similar columns in the Dayflower Lace pattern, to my eye they appear totally unrelated, and in fact the upper panel achieves a certain dominance--which I had not intended. Maybe I can use that lace panel for something else. I actually don't mind the wavy quality of the accent ridge--or wouldn't mind it, if it continued around the circumference of the garment, but it only waves in the area of the upper lace panel.

As shown in the photo below, I decided to try two different ideas for the upper bodice: on my right, no decreases to compensate for the underbust increases, and plain stockinette except for the faggoting around the neck and armholes. On my left, above the bust decreases and extra decoration. I much prefer the plainer side, although I think it looks a little wide, and might benefit from more decreasing at the armhole edge.

Anything else? Looks a little tent-y, you say? I agree; I think the underbust fit needs to be closer.

And then there is the matter of the faggoted edge treatment I tried: although it looks okay from some angles, I had not anticipated that it would have a larger row gauge than the stockinette fabric, meaning that it flares in a rather unflattering way around the armholes, in particular (with the aid of gravity, the neckline seems to lie flat enough).

Ah, well. Blue ramen noodles, anyone?

(Don't worry, I only frogged back to the lace.)

It's me again

Another thing about me. I like to post a lot. More progress on my loverly shirt. I've been trying to think of a nice name for it. No luck as of yet. Anyway, suggestions are welcome.

I got up to the under bust band and am trying out the knitted casing like someone suggested...(Marnie maybe? I'm too tired to go look ;P ) but I don't know if it was the increases I did (M1) but it is leaving a rather unsightly line in my knitting. I am not so sure I like that. So before I rip it all out... suggestions? Comments? If I take it out I think I will just leave it plain, in pattern and forget trying to put anything there. The thing is I really wanted something to distinguish it from the top. Maybe if I kept going in the ribbing on the sides...and did the seed stitch again (like I did at the bottom of the stockinette) on the stockinette section...hmmm I might have to try that. I love seed stitch.

Ok well here's a pic so you all can see what I mean. They aren't the greatest but you can still see it.