Yellow Orangina

Yarn: Rowan 4-ply Cotton #140 Honey Dew, 4 balls
Pattern: At Glampyre Knits by Stefanie Japel
Needles: Addi Turbo US size 4 (3.5mm) / 24" (60cm) circular
Gauge: 31 sts = 4.5" and 32 rows = 4" over lace pattern
Start: October 8, 2006
Finish: October 28, 2006

Orangina is done. I stayed up Friday night till 4 AM to finish it and actually wore it all day yesterday. It's a little big, to my surprise. I tried it on before blocking, it was perfect. After I blocked it, now it's a little big. Too long, actually. Before blocking, it measured 16" wide and 19.5" long. After blocking, it measured 16.5" across the chest and 21" long.

These are the details and modifications I made to the pattern (for size XS - 34"):

• First of all, I could not get the 24 sts and 24 rows per 4" square gauge as suggested by the pattern. I made 3 gauge swatches - with US sizes 3, 4, and 5 needles, none matched the suggested gauge. I eventually decided on size 4, it would produce a 32" bust circumference which I felt is closer to my size. I also blocked my gauge swatches, really pull the lace apart and made sure I stretched it out. All the swatches shrank back to their pre-block size after I took them off the blocking board. So I thought, okay, this yarn has no give (it's 100% cotton after all). I shouldn't have to worry about any stretching. I guess I was wrong...
  
• Lace pattern - 15.5" long (120 rows) and ribbing - 4" long (32 rows). Armhole was 6 3/4" before blocking. And now it is 7 1/2" long.
• At the join of front and back panels, I did k2tog. The total number of stitches for the 3x3 ribbing is 204.
  
• Shoulder seams - I sewed up two scallops for each shoulder. It seems to look better.
  

Although it is a little big, I like it nonetheless. The lace pattern is very pretty. It is very comfortable to wear. Rowan 4-ply cotton is a pleasure to knit with. I would definitely make this top again, with the following modifications:

• Make the lace pattern 14" long and the ribbing 4" long per pattern.
• Use US size 3 needles for the lace and size 2 needles for the ribbing.

I wonder, if I throw it in the dryer, will it shrink? Do I dare to try?...

Orangina Making Progress

Not wanting to work on Tempting II any more, I re-focus my energy on Orangina. It has made good progress. I have only got about another 1 1/4 inches of ribbing to do before bind-off. And then seaming and blocking. I am hoping to finish it by tomorrow. This is probably the last warm weekend of the year. The forecast is a comfy 78 degrees for tomorrow, and then goes downhill from there. I want to be able to wear my Orangina this weekend, before the cold weather comes.

I also joined my first KAL yesterday - Phildar Swing Jacket. It is such a cute jacket, and the shape of the season. I am really looking forward to this. I was going to order the pattern and yarn yesterday, but got busy with Orangina. I will definitely place an order this weekend, right after I get to wear my Orangina!

Tempting II Progress (or Regress?)

I want to cry. I finished the connection of the neckband to the yoke on Tempting II, and just had to stop. It looks terrible! The neckband flares out so much, it is like a ruffle. I followed the pattern exactly. And this is what it looks like after more than one week of hard work at the neckband...
I had a bad feeling as I was knitting it, but hoped that miraculously it will turn out okay once I put on the buckle. And I realized now the buckle is not going to fix this. I am going to have to rip out the neckband, maybe do more decreases, and maybe use smaller needles to knit the neckband... or something... I don't know anymore.

I have to put this sweater away for now. I am so upset right now, another sight of it will make me tear it apart.