The Trouble With Bristol

I'm having doubts. I should've trusted my instincts with the ribbed hem of 5 fewer sts than the body. Though it's worked on the same needles, it pulls in, which might be ok for tunic length, but I have a feeling it will fit funny right on my hips.

My instinct is to rip it and start over, because another issue is with lace pattern repeats on the neck shaping. If I leave out stitches and maintain the lace pattern when possible, it looks weird. No wonder the model in the magazine is wearing a huge flower, in the exact area where I'm having trouble!

I plan to rip back to where the armholes begin and rework the neck line to accommodate the lace repeats. This will probably require a chart. Also, I'm contemplating how to cut the ribbing - yes, that's right CUT - then pick up the open stitches an knit a different hem.

Azalea Bristol from Verena Knitting Summer 2010

For the first time in a long time, I'm knitting a project from a pattern. Verena Knitting has some beautiful lace tops in their Summer 2010 issue. I want to knit almost every single one!

Sticking with my own knitting traditions, I'm making heavy modifications to tailor this pattern to my liking, and to Arkansas' climate: shorten length by 3 inches, make it short-sleeved, add waist shaping, knit the smallest size instructions but at a gauge that’ll give me a medium size.

The schematics show a boxy sweater, but on the model, I detect a little waist shaping! Is this one of those styling tricks, where they pin the models clothes in the back, to give the illusion of perfect fit? Is it in the blocking? When I wear a boxy tunic, I look like I'm wearing a boxy tunic, but in the magazine, the model looks like she's wearing a tailored form-fitting tunic.

With my experience, I know to create this hourglass silhouette, I need to nip the waist. Starting w/ lace row #8, and every 8 rows, I dec’ed 1 st at each edge, down to 7 sts less each edge, so I had to accommodate a little on the lace pattern, but only at the sides. In the 3rd lace rep, row #8 is the last dec row. Then row #16 will be the first inc, and then every 4th row until #24. Then on #6, every 6 rows until I’m back to 91 sts.

Thick and Quick Slouchy Beret Pattern

Here's a free beret pattern. The pattern took longer to write than the time it took to knit the beret, in just a few short hours back in February. I just HAD to have a purple hat for brisk mornings! I love quick projects, especially when they're fashionable, functional, use only one ball of yarn, and can be a great gift.

 

As for the rest of my life, all is well with school, work, and family. My daughter is sprouting like a beanstalk - she's just two inches shy of my height! I'm trying to enjoy a little summer break with some swimming and knitting (not at the same time) but I have to refresh myself in Chemistry I & II before I get into both Organic and Analytial this Fall. I made straight A's again, so now I have two Chancellor's List certificates to frame upon my wall, and want to continue the trend.