Ribbed vest update

Here's a closeup of the stitch detail on the vest, using the Rowan Cotton jeans yarn. The back is nearly done.

Ribbed vest progress

Using the Ribbed Tank pattern in Vogue Knitting: Very Easy Knits, I've made a good start on my vest. I've made several modifications to the original long, loose design, first published in 1983:

• The original and substitute yarns are not available. I am adapting to the Rowan Cotton Jeans I have and am pleased with the result, even though the gauge is different from not only the one specified on the pattern but also the one recommended on the Rowan ball band.


• The original pattern is for a long very loose-fitting tank with 4 inches or more of ease. I'm shortening the body to hip length and aiming for zero ease.


• I've narrowed the width of the textured bands because I thought it would look better my shorter, smaller version.

It's been a good travel project.

Travel knitting

I was thinking I could use the small bit of chenille left from the scarf and some black yarn I got in a swap to make simple but fancy fingerless mitts or even gloves. Just one problem: the black yarn is really black, highlighting the essential brownness of even the darkest, most nearly black parts of the scarf. Too bad--it seemed like the ideal travel project. So I'm taking along the bit of chenille (so small, really, I can easily tuck it into my purse) with the road-to-stash-paving intention of taking it with me to visit midcoast Maine's yarn shops.

But I still need to pick a real project. Ribbed vest, perhaps?

Finished scarf

Here it is--the finished scarf! Crocheted scallops turned out to be the best finish for the edges. It's beautifully soft. The color of the jacket in the photo is a bit off; it's a darker bronzy brown and the scarf's colors look really nice with it.

Crafty

I spent Saturday morning at the Crafty Bastards craft fair because a friend had told me there would be a spinner with vegan yarn there. After fortifying myself with a mango Italian ice I found the Folktale Fibers booth. She had some really pretty yarn and sure enough, some of it was vegan. I got 2 skeins:



The one on the right is a blend of organic cotton, bamboo, and "sparkle"--something synthetic. The green one on the left is bamboo, hemp, and sparkle. They are both nice and soft. It was really helpful to be able to handle the yarn to be sure it would suit my skin. These aren't very good photos; the colors are much nicer than they look here.