FO Parade

Leafy Lagoon Vest:

It's a Sweaterbabe pattern, and it couldn't be better written or easier to follow. I'm very happy with how this turned out.

Pattern: #100 Lacy Little Vest
Designer: Sweaterbabe
Yarn: Knitpicks Shine Worsted in Lagoon
Mods: I have several:I added a lot of buttons, I changed the back, as written the pattern has two lace panels on the back. I made the front lace panels symmetrical, and I lowered the back neckline, so it's more of a tank than a vest.

It was considerably smaller before I blocked it. I knit it in a slightly smaller size than I wear because I read on Ravelry about how the yarn sometimes stretches. It turned out to fit perfectly. The yarn is velvety soft and I will definitely knit with it again.
Up next: The Flirt n Flare Skirt. I finished this last spring. It took a long time to knit, and included a 6 month hibernation. I'm oh so happy that I persevered though.

Pattern: Fit-n-Flare Trumpet Skirt
Designer: Joan McGowan-Michael
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy (don't know the color)
Mods: Only changes: I left out the elastic from the waist, and I started the eyelet rows in the front at the bottom, for modesty.
It's pretty see-through anyway, and I want to sew a thin gauzy liner or slip for it. I don't even own a slip, so I wear it with cotton/lycra shorts. I love the way this skirt moves. It's a very flattering shape for most women. And it's ever so comfy in the hottest part of summer, it's like wearing nothing.
Finally, My Blue Heaven:

Pattern:97-18 Tailored Cardigan
Designer: Drops
Yarn: Home-dyed Ultra Alpaca by Berroco
Mods: I know I changed a few things, but I no longer remember what they were. This isn't the most flattering picture, but I love this cardi, I wear it all the time in winter. I love the way the yarn turned out too.
My WIPS update: I have both sleeves done for Que Sera and the body about 10 rows in.
Abrazo: I just have to cast-off and block. YAY!

Dropped Rib Vest- Finished

I'm delighted to share my completed vest. I started it right around Valentines day- which must have influenced my color choice- and I love it. The colors shimmer and dance, and they make me want to dance too!


Pattern: My own, inspired by Macro Lace Cardigan (see below)
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted, in Intenso
I wanted to knit a shrug/vest/cardi in a similar construction to the Macro Lace Cardi by Laura Chau. I like her version, but I wanted it more fitted and I've wanted to use the dropped rib stitch for a long time. I love the way it undulates, and with the bright red and pink colors, the individual “drops” look kinda like tiny vaginas.


To knit the vest, you first knit a rectangle, then fold it in half, pick up stitches along the cast-on and cast-off edges, and join to knit the ribbed edge and collar in the round. Then you have a short seam on either side to make the arm holes the right size. I used the construction of the Macro Lace, but I used my own pattern, and worked out the increases for the collar as I went. It turned out with a sort of a ruffly edge, and I like the way it looks.


I wasn't sure I would like wearing it, as I've never been much of a vest person, but it's comfy and bright and fun to wear.

My Leafy Lagoon Vest (aka #100 little lace vest from Sweater Babe )is coming along too, and I like the yarn a lot. It's Knit Picks Shine Worsted, and the color has depth, despite that it isn't heathered or anything. The shadows from the plies, along with the shimmer from the modal, make the color shift a bit. It's also soft and smooth. I think it will feel really good on my body.

My next project comes via the new Knitty- I've already ordered the yarn for Que Sera by Kristen Kapur. I signed up for the KAL for it too- my first! Now I'm in an extra hurry to finish Leafy Lagoon so I can cast on this gorgeous cardi.

I'm having a lot of fun with the warm-weather knits this spring.