I've never been much of a 'vest' or 'slip-over' kind of girl. I fact, I tend to like my clothing with long sleeves (and buttons). So what possessed me to start this?
It's cute, not sure that it'll flatter me, but it's been a while since I've finished a sweater for myself and I thought that without the sleeves this might go a lot faster, since I always seem to stall on the sleeves.
I'm not entirely sure that it would flatter because of the long ribbing section, that might give a poofing effect when you start the body. That model is pretty slim and she doesn't look all that slim in this vest... because of the poofing.
I'm substituting the Baby Alpaca DK that the pattern calls for with the Rowan Cashsoft DK. Much as I like the Alpaca DK, the colour palette didn't really appeal to me. The cashsoft was a better choice (for me) for lots of reasons
1. I love the colour, poison, it's a richer, dark aubergine.
2. It's cheaper per ball than the Alpaca DK
3. and it's got better meterage, so instead of the 8 balls that I would need to buy in the Alpaca DK , I only need 6...and with the £15 voucher, that means, the whole project, yarn and brochure cost about £18.
4. I've used this yarn before and I really like it. It's elastic enough to hide tension irregularities and very soft (but I do hope that it doesn't pill too quickly).
Casting on Cambridge also came with a bit of a palava. I'm doing a tubular cast-on and knitting it in the round. So the first time around, I managed to twist myself into a mobius loop and discovered it after about 2 inches.
1x1 ribbing can be pretty tedious. The instructions when worked in the round goes something like... cast on 202 stitches and work 8,484 stitches in 1x1 ribbing....
I'm making the Linden sweater (the left picture in your post) out of the same pattern book. I"m also not using the Baby Alpaca - instead, substituting it with a merino/silk/cashmere blend. Beautiful sweaters, both of them. I love Rowan!
Posted by: connie at September 25, 2006 10:27 PMBeautiful yarn! And the pattern may surprise you, you might find you love it, and start knitting vests all over the place! :0) I know I love to pull on a vest when I'm at home and a bit chilly - it keeps me warmer, and I don't get anything on the sleeves.
Posted by: Charity at September 22, 2006 04:51 PMI love the Cashsoft although all that I've bought in it is the two discontinued colours from the Liberty's sale. I did the zigzag on my blog in the Madame. I'm not sure who that sweater's meant for but it was a joy to knit.
Posted by: Diana at September 21, 2006 09:52 PMThats such a delicious colour. The vest is sure to turn out fabulous!!
Posted by: Rain at September 20, 2006 04:23 AMDespite its price tag, I've now knit two garments with cashsoft, with yarn for one more (and another on the brain!) I think it's my favorite sweater yarn, and neither of my pullovers has pilled much yet. I think it's the microfiber! The only place that has a little fuzz is the underside of the arm, which won't be a problem for a vest. ;)
Posted by: Bronwyn at September 20, 2006 04:14 AMI love the colour! I think that knitting tedious stitches is less tedious when the colour is so pretty that it takes my mind off the stitches. Another way to deal with all that 1x1 ribbing: MOVIES!
I think that the resulting vest will look great.
Posted by: Kat at September 19, 2006 11:58 PMas always Polly lovely taste!
Posted by: stinkerbell at September 19, 2006 06:43 PMI recently flipped through Folk Vests for the first time, and it made me reconsider my position on the vest (i.e. that it's kind of a pointless garment--why warm the body but leave the arms cold?) There are some amazing patterns in there, and I wanted to cast on about six of them right away. Just the Fair Isle ones were worth the price of the book.
I love the color you're working with. Perfect for fall! Sorry about the moebius, though--arrgh!
Posted by: Beth S. at September 19, 2006 03:35 PMthose damned moebius strips! Lovely colour, and it will be finished in no time at all.
Posted by: dawn at September 19, 2006 02:27 PMThe colour is beautiful. I tend to shy from vests as well, but that one seems classic enough to work.
New commenter here - wearing my Kiri made it imperative to comment ;)
Posted by: rebekka at September 19, 2006 12:11 PMIt is a beautiful yarn though :)
I know what you mean by needing sleeves. Maybe you could make a cap sleeve if you have enough yarn leftover?
Posted by: mrspao at September 19, 2006 11:05 AMoooh, nice! luverly sub; that colour is perfect. and for "tedious", are you sure you don't mean "meditative"? ;-)
Posted by: kris at September 19, 2006 10:20 AMLooks lovely. The color and sheen are gorgeous. Can't wait to see the finished slipover.
Posted by: Renee at September 19, 2006 02:41 AMThere must be something in the air; I'm swatching for a slipover too. I seem to remember reading somewhere that they are a 'fashion essential' this autumn.
Posted by: Mary at September 18, 2006 08:26 PM