An FO, some progress and a new obsession...

First of all the FO:

U-Neck Vest, (Ravelry link) converted to use 4-ply.
It’s not a perfect fit – ideally I’d like the neckline to fit better, and I could do with the shoulders being a little narrower. But overall I’m very pleased with it – the ribbing does exactly as it’s supposed to, and hugs my figure exactly the right amount (not tooooo much!)

Progress:

One and a half socks down, half a sock to go… I started getting a bit scared about how much yarn I was using, so I decided to put in contrasting heels and toes – (you can’t see the toe, but it’s just the same as the heel.) In fact, from the amount of yarn left from the first ball after the first sock was finished, I needn’t have worried, but I rather like the contrast anyway. (And when I go through the heel or toe, it’ll be so much easier to replace them.)

New obsession:
So I had all that gorgeous Koigu leftover. And I had a sore thumb (stupidity with a bread knife – don’t ask – not bad, but superficial nerve damage hurts quite enough for a few days thank you), so I couldn’t knit. (I tried.) But it turned out that I could crochet. So after making some bits and pieces for Ruth’s dolls’ house. (Mummy, I want it pink. I want hearts.) I found this pattern (Ravelry link). And then I started making daisies. These things are utterly addictive. They take about 5-10 min each to make. That’s nothing, right? You can make one while you wait for the potatoes to boil. And then you sew them together ever so slightly wonkily, so they don’t make a straight line. I’m making most of them in Koigu, and just a few in Sockotta left over from socks for my mother.

Oh – and this week’s UK Swap question – how do we plan projects? Hmmm – it varies. I suppose the three projects in this post typify my approaches. The vest has been marinating for a long time. I bought the yarn in a sale a couple of years (ish) ago, and have been pondering exactly what to knit with it for a while. I knew I wanted to make a vest, but didn’t know exactly what pattern – I had intended to design something for myself. But once I’d seen the U-Neck Vest from Fitted Knits I kept coming back to the basic idea, so it was silly to try to invent the wheel unoriginally. All I had to do was to convert the pattern from Aran weight yarn to 4-ply. Fortunately my row gauge and stitch gauge scaled by the same factor, so it was pretty straightforward.

The socks were my own design. Originally I was browsing through my harmony guide for a rib pattern suitable for a husband sweater. (So why was I looking at lace panels?) Then this panel struck my fancy and I couldn’t sleep until I’d drafted the pattern. Of course I had to cast on straight away the next morning – fortunately I had suitable yarn in my stash! (If I remember rightly I’d slept so badly because of the whole excitement that I stayed home from church… ) Then of course this actual pair was started to celebrate Reverse Psockology Day

The daisy chain scarf is a total impulse thing. It doesn’t really ‘count’ – certainly I don’t feel that I’m being promiscuous by making it in parallel with the socks (and a lace shawl I’ve got on the go.)

I think the amount of planning I do is proportional to the size of the project. Diddy little projects just get done. Big ones have to wait their turn.

Must go – daisies to make…

six comments:

Congratulations on that vest. I’m doing a Ms. Marigold and I’m hoping for a similar fit.

Ravelry. Ravelry. Ravelry. It changes everything, doesn’t it?

jessie () (link) - 06 February '08 - 13:14

I love the vest and adore those little daisy’s! What size hook are you using

pixie () (link) - 06 February '08 - 14:01

The vest looks really good on you!

Chris () (link) - 06 February '08 - 15:03

Those socks area really, really nice. I love that lace up looking pattern for the back seam.

The vest looks good on you! Those daisies look like nice drag around kintting.

Carrie K () (link) - 07 February '08 - 19:58

Ah well, we Daisies are just plain cool, you see!!

Daisy () (link) - 12 February '08 - 16:37

Oooh! I love the socks! I want a pair just like them and then maybe another in black with red contrast. Pretty, pretty sockies!

Jenny () (link) - 25 February '08 - 21:03

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