Collared

The leafy sweater vest started with a slightly lower neck line—So I knew I wanted a deep (but wide) collar. I worked away, 4 inches, 5 inches, and more, but I wasn't happy with the back of the collar...

Then I realized what was wrong! I started with a curved edge from the short row shaping in the back neck—and a straight collar was never going to fold to cover a curved edge!

So a few short rows latter, a perfect fold, and collar just past 6 inches long. It was late, I was tired, and I just bound off the edge--I wanted the collar to be done! 

I had no sooner cut the yarn when I realized, the edge would look nicer if I had grafted the 1x 1 ribbing, instead of doing a standard bind off (in ribbing).  You might notice, too the change--the last inch of the ribbing I went back to the size 8 needles.. I wanted the edge to be more stretched out and looser ribbing. That helped too, with the fold and fit.  

Well I am not going to frog and and redo—This week is going to be another mild one weather wise—but February is almost here.. and I'll need some warm layers to wear and I want to finish this up.

I still am thinking about the sleeves. Do I just finish them off as cap sleeves? Or add a bit and make short sleeves. I think the latter.

Saturday, after picking up my car, I was unsuccessful in my hunt for matching hooks and eyes—and didn't even have the option of another style—the selection of hooks and eyes was slim to non-existent.

But the good news? Another pound shed! I weight myself daily (I know, I know, obsessive!) and I don't count a pound gone till its gone for 3 days running.. (there is another half pound in the running.. It's on day 2!) So the count is 25 pounds (since October) about 6 pounds a month—or about a pound/pound and half a week. Faster at the beginning, slower now and I am sure slower still in the coming weeks, but slow is OK. So long as I continue to make progress in the right direction!

It's sometimes annoying that more people haven't noticed the change--(I have lost a lot of weight!) but realize its a childish need for praise—and I am working to get over it. I suppose, bundled up in sweaters and jackets, it's hard to see that there is less of me. Won't they be surprised when the spring time comes--and even more surprised in the summer.  

3 More Inches of Knitting Done

(big deal)

200+ Stitches of hem grafted. BIG DEAL!

 And now the body is done—well done, but not finished. The hem and front band clearly need a bit of blocking before they are going to look and behave as they should. The front band (a scant 4 stitches) was fine, and enough on the yoke—working with a stable stitch like the garter background—but I really should have made it wider –at least 2 stitches wider (upped  to a total of 6) or even doubled the width(8 stitches) for the endless stocking knit that is the body.

And while blocking will help, as will the simple weight of the metal hooks and eyes, the front band is really too narrow. Be that as it may, I am loving my leafy sweater vest!

My stocking knit is pretty good—No major rowing out, or other defects, but it too, will be improved by some blocking.

Next up, the collar. The provisional cast on has been unzipped, and the neck line is now on needles, ready to be worked on. (but I haven't knit a row yet!)

I have a full skein, and a little bit left of the partial skein I used to work the last few inches of the body— Which will be plenty for a nice deep collar—even with working the collar on a smaller needle (size 7/4.5) and in ribbing. After that, there are still 2 more full skeins—to add as much (or as little) of a sleeve as I want.

Done, I will have 1) used up some of my humongous stash, and 2) added a much needed bit of warmth to my wardrobe!

In a little while, I am off to pick up my car—A new starter motor (that was the culprit) and fresh oil, and a working signal—and it's ready to go! (Well, that is, if I fork over $400, youch!) While I am out, I'll look for the leafy hooks and eyes, and who knows, maybe I'll get lucky.

Some Times, Life Interferes...

Sometimes?! Always!

My plans for yesterdays were simple—a quick trip to the grocery store to pick up some yogurt, and a few other things (like some frozen vegetable) , and then on the way home, a stop a the green grocer, to stock up on salad and soup greens. Once home , put the groceries away, cooking some (a quick vegetable soup), and in the evening, some knitting.

Mission accomplish—Except for the part about getting home after the shopping. My car died. Something shorted or failed between the ignition key and starter motor. Turning the key got me the radio and other electrical stuff (battery is new, and fine) and a clicking noise (some sort of switch or solenoid) but no crank of the starter.

So yesterday's quick trip to the market took all day (what with waiting for the tow, getting to my garage (by that time the tow truck came, rush hour –which really is rush HOURS—had already started) and getting home again. The weather was mild—but it was raining all day, and the roads were slick—heavy traffic was made slower by a few minor accidents along the way.

All in all, it was nothing physical really –well actually getting into the tow truck (a million feet up) up was. The truck didn't have a handy step up, and there wasn't even the 6 inches the curb would normally provide—so was a bit of struggle--(and solved inelegantly by climbing up on my knees!) but the stress of the whole thing left me exhausted. I got the groceries put away, but no soup got cooked (I ate canned soup and big salad for dinner) and no knitting got done.

I had planned –in the back of my mind—a trip to the garage planned some time SOON. One of my signal light just failed this week (the FRONT drivers side—but the side (front) and side(rear) and rear all worked, and I needed an oil change, so getting to the garage was a must do, but not a must do NOW. But not being able to start--(and being parked in a space that was legal for the moment—but not for long term (alternate side of the street parking regulations would have kicked in at 8 AM today) was a do NOW situation.

So the only thing that got done on the Leafy Sweater/Vest was I unearthed a few sets of hooks and eyes. I found one set of 7— and another set of 5. I like the set of 5 (a sort of leaf motif) better—both for the style, and the size--and I'll look and see if the style is still available--(and just buy 2 more). 

 But if I don't have success, I'll use the simple ones. I as counted, I remembered my cherry red acrylic vest-- on which I had used the leaf motif hooks—had a V neck –and needed few hooks and eyes than this slightly lowered neck vest will.

Another Skein, Done and Gone

But just... Only a single row has been knit with the next skein.  Another 2 inches added to the body—and that's about it.

I just got busy yesterday –(It was a beautiful day and I got to walking) and knitting just wasn't my number 1 priority.

Still—I've made some progress in the week I have been knitting—and it is just a week since I started this sweater vest-- And while progress has slowed, I am still making progress.

I am now I am close enough to finishing the body of the sweater vest, that I want to finish it—so I can try it on--with out worrying about dropping a stitch—and to really see how it fits-- and to start on the collar –the next big piece to knit. Since my plan was always for a vest— if I do add sleeves, they won't be full length ones—Even if it ends up that I have enough yarn. So it won't be long till it is finished!

But—I know me—My tension starts to slip when I get tired—and while I don't Row out- for a whole row—I do find loose bunches of stitches here and there. So last night when I was tired, what I did, instead of knitting, was to weave in a bunch of ends. So now every loose end (except the provisional cast on ends) has been woven in. I love getting the ends woven in as I go!

Latter today, I will go look for the hook and eye closures—I have a couple of different ones—but I don't remember how many sets of any one design. Like many who collect buttons, I also collect and re-use fancy hooks and eyes.

I think I want a full closure –not just a few at the top of the sweater vest—but all the way down the front. AND I think I have at least one set of 6—recycled from a bright cherry pink sweater vest –an acrylic one—that suffered a mishap in the dryer.

If I don't—I might need to go shopping—Not today... but soon!

More Than Half, but Not A Whole Skein

Worth of knitting.  I was busy yesterday, and other activities limited my knitting time... But over 3 more inches have been added to the leafy sweater vest.  I did enough knitting, that you can see the difference--

Now the length of the vest (center back) is 16.75, --at the under arm, 8.25 inches. I also added the slightest of waist shaping (just 4 decrease on each side). It's hardly noticeable—but its something.

(I have thought about more waist shaping, or even a casing (for a drawstring) or just some eyelets to weave a drawstring so I could cinch the waist (I am smaller than I was last year, but by next year I hope to be smaller still.. and I want to be able to wear this vest then, too!)

I might add a casing later (as a finishing touch)--or maybe I'll think of something else..

I have the live arm hole stitches on circular needles (as stitch holders) and this allows me to actually try on the vest as I go—and I get a good feel for how the vest fits—but for a casing, I would want to have the sweater finished.. (and get the casing in just the right place!)

At this point, its just about waist length--which makes perfect sense--My neck to waist measurement is 18 inches, and this sweater vest started with a slightly lower neck line--so almost 17 inches at the center back is "right".   In a few more rows, I will restore the 8 stitches I decreased (and maybe even 4 more!) to flare the hem of the sweater out.

While I have decided I want ribbing for the collar, I am pretty sure I don't want ribbing for the lower edge—I think a hem is the way to go . This is a PITA way to finish off over 200 stitches, because I like to graft the hem to the knitting for a smooth seam—but I think it will be worth the work.

I haven't touched the sock at all.. Likely these January socks will be a bit late—just as December's socks were late—On the other hand, I have knit 1 secret pair of socks already this month—so its not as if I am being a total slacker!

1 Skein Equals:

 158 yards--or almost 5 inches of knitting.

I started yesterday a few rows into the 3^rd skein of wool, I ended last night half a row into the new skein.

Measured from the cast on stitches at the under arm, I am 1 row short of having 5 inches. I actually started the skein a little bit before that row, but not so much more that it counts for much.

This marks skein 3 on this vest--(of 7. 75 skeins that were in my stash).. Right now, measured from the slightly lowered neck line, the center back length is 13.75 inches (let's say 14 inches!)

If I were to try and model it on Missy the dress form—well, her neck to back length is a just 13 inches—and it would look done. But my neck to back length is 18! (I am very long waisted!)--Still 14 inches (using 3 skeins) is good progress—and it certainly means I'll have enough yarn—Plus it's far enough along that I won't find my energy or enthusiasm for knitting it fading—1 more skein (the one in play now) will add another 5 inches--(18 inches!) With another half skein, the vest will be nice comfortable top of the hip length. Even if my pace slows (and it will) that just 2 days worth of knitting.

The remaining half skein, and the partial skein will be enough yarn to make a generous collar--(the stitch count at the neck line is half the stitch count in the body) -1 full skein would yield almost 10 inches—or really, little less, since I think the collar is going to be ribbed, and ribbing eat up yarn at a faster rate than stocking knit. The ribbing will bring the neck snugger (but not too snug) as it add length to the sweater vest as well --which is why I think I will need at least a 10 inch collar (enough to go up, fold over and come back down!)

After the body and collar, I will still have 2 more skeins of yarn! More than enough to add sleeves-maybe not long sleeves—but then I don't much like long sleeves anyway!

It's mild today, --and the forecast is for continued mild weather—but February is usually the coldest month in NYC winters—and at this rate, when the next cold snap arrives (next month is just next week!), I'll have another warm sweater/sweater vest to wrap myself in to keep warm!

Given that I added 4.5 inches in length to my vest—it's should be very clear that no progress at all has been made on the socks!

Separated, and Together Again.

The yoke was finished before it was long enough. So a dozen rows were added to front right, then center back, and finally front left. Then a few stitches cast on for under the arms, and now a few rows of the body have been knit. I'll finish the armhole edges when I finish the sleeves which are for now, just a cap sleeve (and each is on a spare circ as a stitch holder) I wanted to be able to try on, and check the fit.. (its perfect!) 

On Missy (the dress form) the yoke ends at the top of the bust, and the stocking knit look like it's below—On me, the neck is higher—and the yoke ends well before the top of the bust—I am just about at the top of the bust now with a few inches of stocking knit.

It's on its way to being something. This is now the long slog.. rows and rows of stocking knit.

I started with skein 3 in the last row of the last segment (front left)--so I will by the end of this skein have a good idea of how long I can make the vest—And I found another partial skein--It's a different dye lot, but under the ott light, (and other light) it's a very good match—It could easily be used (with just a bit of weaving 2 skeins) on the hem, or collar, and would be unnoticeable.

Nothing more has been done on the socks—I was out all day Sunday at a family gathering—and came home to tired to do anything—ramen noodle for supper (with a few extra veggies thrown in) because I was to tired to even really eat—let along cook. I had planned to heat up some rice and packaged mixed curried vegetables—but that was to much effort!

Today I need to clean out the fridge (of left overs that, I know, I am just not going to eat) and stock up on some fresh veggies—I am down to half a fresh pepper, no lettuce, and no broccoli—Until I shop, cole slaw is only salad option--(I like cole slaw, but its a bit gassy!--this from a person who regularly dines on both onions and broccoli!)--I am not so low on veggies that I am out of onions or carrots- and I have some (low there too) frozen vegetables—but that's another place to stock up.

Last week I had a mishap at the grocery store-(lost my keys!) and ended up not shopping—yesterday, was out at the party—also no shopping... So while I have lots of food (meats, soups, rice & other grains) —fresh healthy fruits and veggies (and frozen ones) are in a short supply.

Todays forecast is for rain all day—so maybe tomorrow I'll hike over to the REALLY BIG vegetable store and cart home a collection—Kill two birds with one stone—get a bit of exercise and shop at the same time!(I have, easily, a half dozen competing green grocers in a 5 block radius—the closest is one of the smaller (and while only pennies difference, one of the more expensive ones) The furthest is the biggest—a 40 X 100 space (that spills out onto the sidewalk) with a huge selection of vegetables.)

Weight was stalled for days, (even backslide a pound) but now am heading downward again. The loss of the last pound (to make a round 25!) is elusive--and I know its only going to get harder as time goes by.