02/22/10 — FINISHED! I seamed the sides, worked the ribbing around the neck & arms, and wove in all loose ends. The straps are slightly too wide so it looks more like a cap-sleeved sweater… but it’s still good, it’s still good! ;) And my sister, the recipient, loves it so all is well. (Also? I messed up the front center of the neck ribbing… but shh.)

02/20/10 — Finished the straps and back, grafted the shoulders (using 3-needle BO). Now to seam the sides and do the ribbing! But first: I block.

02/16/10 — So I unknit the straps down to 33 sts, increased 5 sts on one side of each strap, cast off the 5 sts, continued neckline decreasing until I had 22 sts, then continued in lace pattern for 7 inches (instead of 8). I’ve done this because I’m working with 10 pattern repeats across (150 sts) rather than the pattern’s 8 repeats (120 sts). I’ve rewritten this part of the pattern as thus:

Front-Right Panel

1. Slip 1/4 of the sts to a double-pointed needle.
2. Knit in lace pattern to last three sts; k2tog, k1. Turn work, purl back to marker.
3. Repeat until 33 sts remain.
4. While continuing to decrease this section to 22 sts, increase 1 st at armhole (right side) 5 times.
5. When the increases are done, cast off 5 sts at beginning of row for armholes.
6. Continue in lace pattern until the armhole measures 7”.

Front-Left Panel

1. Slip next 1/4 of the sts to a double-pointed needle.
2. k1, k2tog, knit in lace pattern to marker. Turn work, purl back to beginning.
3. Repeat until 33 sts remain.
4. While continuing to decrease this section to 22 sts, increase 1 st at armhole (left side) 5 times.
5. When the increases are done, cast off 5 sts at beginning of row for armholes.
6. Continue in lace pattern until the armhole measures 7”.

I hope that helps someone (because I was very confused)!

02/13/10 — Ah! Finally! It’s coming together. The only thing I’m worried about now is fit. I forgot that my vest is 30 stitches wider than the one in the pattern… so I’ve been decreasing as per the instructions. The V-neck is going to be very deep, I fear.

02/12/10 — Just about ready to smash something. After racking my brain (for hours!), trying to figure out what the pattern wanted from me, it finally made sense. However, by that point, I had made a plethora of mistakes so I needed to undo the damage. BUT! In undoing the damage, I actually caused more damage. As such, the vest is now shorter than it was two days ago. I’m putting it away until tomorrow when I’m less frustrated.

02/10/10 — I tried on the vest to see whether to do one more pattern repeat length-wise… and I’ve decided to go for it. I’m worried that if I don’t add the length now, I won’t be able to do it later… so better safe than sorry? ;)

02/09/10 — I had a job interview in Brooklyn today and I took my knitting with me so I would have something to do on the subway. And, just like that, I knit in public for the first time! It was probably a hilarious sight: I’m dressed like a businesswoman in my finest skirt & shirt & boots & coat & handbag… while knitting a bright pink item. But it was nice having something to do rather than blankly staring at the ads or my fellow passengers :P Also? I’m up to four pattern repeats tall and I’m wondering whether to stop now and start the neckline shaping or keep going until I hit 5 pattern repeats and then start the neckline. Oh, decisions, decisions…

02/05/10 — Picked up this project again. Cast on 160 stitches, worked in 1×1 ribbing for 3” and then decreased to 150 stitches over 2 rounds:

1. (k30, k2tog) × 5
2. (k29, ssk) × 5

01/29/10 — Dropped some stitches and I couldn’t save them. So I frogged the thing (crying the whole time, bah). I’ll start over… soon.

01/28/10 — Decreased to 150 stitches so I will be making 10 repeats of the lace pattern across. I’ve decided to incorporate Kaisa’s modifications into my project… so I will most likely be doing 5 pattern repeats to the neckline.

01/27/10 — Worked in 1×1 ribbing for 2.5”.

01/26/10 — I cast on 160 stitches to accommodate my sister’s larger bust. (And, generally, larger everything. The pattern notes are written for Thumbelina, it seems!)