I have it! No sooner did I write that
I needed warm woolly vest and sweaters, than I was struck.
Off to the stash—and on to the
needles went this. The first few rounds of short sleeved vest –or
maybe not—I might have enough yarn for ½ sleeves or maybe
even ¾ sleeves--or I might not even have enough for a simple
vest! (The yarn is Lion Brand Wool—the skeins are only 158 yards)
It might not look like it—since I
didn't use contrasting yarn, but it has a provisional cast
on--before I knit any sleeves, I want a nice deep collar. I have 7
skeins of this wool—and I think that is more than enough—but I
get anxious-- better to start with a provisional cast on, knit the
body, and then the collar, and then add what ever is left to the
sleeves.
It's a top down (D'OH!) simple
thing—not a raglan—but almost the same math—I am doing 16
increases every 4th round, (vs 8 every other round) and
then just adding the raised leaves for interest.
There are going to be a second set of
leaves to follow, (between the already knit leaves) to make the yoke
interesting to look at and to knit. Of course the leaves are a
problem—One issue I have with top down sweaters is, every row gets
longer and longer. The leaves exacerbates this—they are raised
(and not flat) because of 2 factors:
1—they leaves are stocking knit (not
garter like the background) and are longer than the back ground
knitting.
2—the leaves have a bunch of increase
in the beginning (the lacy YO) that put extra stitches into the work.
The second half of the leaf, with the decreases, actually changes
(decreases) the over all stitch count for a row or two. But by
then, by the last row of the leaf, the other increases have made the
over all yoke bigger—so no matter—there are always more stitches
per row!
Should I feel like I am running out of
yarn—I can always add some stripes or a change of color for the
lower edge —grey is a nice neutral—almost any color will go with
it. And I have a number of colors of this wool (including several
white skeins that could become any color I want!) Since the collar is
yet to come, stripes—or even a single contrasting color could be
added at the hem, and again at the collar-to make it look like I
planned it that way—which, in a way, I have!
I could go with yellow (I don't think
so)--I do have some grey and yellow socks, and some green and yellow
clothing.
I could go with a deep cherry pink (I
like the idea better, but I don't really have any deep cherry pink
clothing) –though I do have grey and pink socks.
I could go with a blue—I have lots of
blue clothing—but—Boring! Still blue might be the most functional
color to add.
I even have a nice dark green-- Well I
don't have decide now!
Tomorrow is a busy day (I will be out
most of the day) but I might have down time—I could end up
posting—or I could end up being too busy. I am bringing my antique
lap top with me, and my camera-and I'll see how things develop. For sure I have time for knitting--so by the next post there should be more of the vest--and maybe even more of the Black & Whites socks.
Now—it's back to laundry (I missed
getting it done last week when I had my cold) and its down to the
basement—and drudgery! (by the time I was ready to post this, the laundry done (ie, washed and dried) but it
still needs to be put away!)
