Shalom...the Saga of a Vest

An update is overdue. It is not for lack of knitting but rather for lack project success.

Shalom is a unique vest pattern by Meghan McFarlane of Involving the Senses. I attempted this vest 3 times and I may not be done yet.

First Attempt (no photo) Knit to below underarms. Tried it on. Felt it was a little small. Not terribly small but the style does not close in the front. On me it looks as if I have outgrown my clothing. At least that is what it feels like to me.

#2 Attempt. (1st Photo) Moved up a size, knit it, blocked it. Tried it on. Yoke was fine but it seemed small below the underarms. If you look at the photos on Ravelry it seems to look the best on tall, skinny people. I am short and curvy. So I took it out to the underarms and cast on double the number of stitches. As I knit down the body, totally enjoying my experience with Cascade Ecological Wool, a bit of denial was taking place. I instinctively knew that the underarms would be baggy but I just kept knitting with the faint hope that I was wrong. I was right. Theoretically it fits me now but it doesn't look good with all that extra fabric under the armholes. I still love the pattern and I may keep it to wear around the house...but probably not. I could make better use of the yarn.

The garter stitch accent under the armhole is my embellishment to the pattern. I thought it added some interest and kept the cast on edge tidy.

I may take it out to the underarms again, cast on 1/3 fewer stitches and see how that works out. It isn't as if I didn't enjoy the process. Oh Wise One here did not weave in ends or block it yet. At least I'm that smart on #3.

I also added 2 buttonholes. I like the look of 3 rather than one. Look at these buttons that have been marinating in my button stash for oh, say, 25 years? I mean I paid $2.50 for them so I had better put them to good use.

A Little Danish Undershirt

When the Fall 2009 Issue of Interweave Knits arrived I could hardly wait to cast on this little undershirt designed by Robin Orm Hansen. In fact, very little else in that issue called to me. There seem to be a lot of bulky garments and huge collars-that-ate-Manhattan out there, which although they might appeal to some folk, do not do anything for me. I used Bernat's Cottontot's because it is what I had on hand. The "Country Red" and "Country Taupe" stripes look quite nice together. The size is supposed to fit a newborn to 24 months since the cord can be used to make the neck opening smaller, or even be removed altogether for a larger child. The finished size is supposed to be 20 inches. This one is 19", so just a little smaller. The only modification I did was to knit the neck border with holes for the cord instead of crocheting it. Maybe I'll try the crochet edging sometime, as I'm sure I'll be making more of these little vests. I think it would look adorable with little denim jeans or brown corduroy pants.

And I thought I could show a better view of the Damson, both front and back. I wore it again today, tied at the shoulder and not looking so granny-like, and several people commented on it. I can't wait to start on another one! This design is surely one of my all-time favorites!