https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/helenkennedydesigns/40729...

11.25. : I know: My pictures are a bit like a fashion show, but I can’t help myself to see how this looks with different outfits

10.15. Went to my LYS today and getting the right yarn may not be as easy as I. Hoped.
One was a tad too light another one too heavy, a third one too fuzzy. In the end I got their last two skeins of a yarn a tad heavier at 381.5 yard per 100 gram, but I like that it is a bit more hefty. Trying to get two more skeins.
The yarn was Spud&Chloe Fine in color goldfish.

10.16. Went to a different yarn shop and got the full amount of yarn I need. So happy. The yarn is a high twist and the yard to gram ratio is exact. I went a different way with the color. I got a pretty silver gray with some color specks in it. Coincidentally (probably not ) very close in color to the sweater I was wearing today.

10.17.Casting on for the swatch using this method to avoid loosing the high S-twist my yarn has : Long tail cast on without loosing yarn twist.
Swatch #1 in st st: 27sts=4” and 20 rows=2”
Swatch #2 in pattern Gauge is spot on.

The next BIG decision is size. With a 35” bust, but slightly larger hips ( showing my age ), I usually go with A-shape designs or change the pattern to be A-shape ( like I did on the Enola), but of course that’s a no-no for a test knit. So, I decided on the larger size. Keeping in mind how much I spent on the yarn, this better be the right decision.

10.19. After much deliberation and measuring summer tops which have a good fit, I decided to unravel the 3 rows I had knitted and re-start working the smaller size 37.5” finished measurements.
Again I choose Method 1 for the sleeveless top rather than working a garter edge and again I am using a method of cast on which keeps the high twist in the yarn ( method 2 in the above mentioned video.
I expect that from this point forward this will be a fairly easy knitting; following the instructions exactly except if I discover an error.
I will use the written instructions for the first pattern repeat and then switch to my preferred method of following the chart. That way I will cover more of the pattern.

10.20. one pattern repeat finished on the back. It’s looking good

10.24. After a few eventful days during which I did not get much knitting done, I am now in the Adirondacks for a long weekend of R&R. Which means knitting for me and fishing for my husband. I finished knitting 80 rows on the back and am at exactly 8” ( see picture). WS decrease row is done, too and I am ready to pick up stitches across the shoulders and working on the left and right fronts. Somehow I have reached a point at which this is hard to put down; not just because I like the pattern, but also because I just love touching this yarn!

10.26: Got some quiet knitting time in this morning while husband went fishing for pike.
I picked up for both left and right fronts and I am working both sides at the same time. Increasing on every RS row along the neckline by working the last ( for the right front) / first ( for the left front) stitch as pfb until row 13 when you start casting on two sts at a time , then three at a time from row 19 etc.
Always paying close attention how to incorporate the pattern over the new stitches. It is very helpful that the designer wrote out each row for the left and front neck shaping.
The pattern really looks like it is continuous aver the shoulder. Just in certain light , because of the opposite direction in yarn twist, you can tell.
I just love the pattern more with every step I am taking.

10.30. Joined in the round today Yeah!
Now it is just round and round for about 150 rows ( =15” in gauge).

11.15.: As I am knitting the final few rows on the body, I wonder if this is not too long, but soldier on because I want to stick to the pattern since this is a test knit and Helen will want to know exact feedback. I may shorten the top in the future and use the additional yarn plus remaining yarn to add sleeves; something I can always do easily.

11.16.: The good news is that the length is perfectI. I started the ribbing in a row 4 and all of the knit sts flow effortlessly into the ribbing. Can’t wait to bind off.

11.17.: Body is done. Used Jenny’s stretchy BO and a little trick to avoid a jog: Pull yarn through the center of the last BO stitch, cut, take the yarn under the two legs of the first BO stitch and back through the center of the last stitch.
Now all that’s left is the armhole and neck ribbing, then blocking.
I am planning to wear this as a vest over the winter; the fit is perfect.

11.18.: I finished the neckband; put in a lifeline before binding off in case I wanted to re-work it, but it came out nice even if it is a bit higher ( especially in the back) than what I am used to.

11.20.: Used the magic loop method for both the neck and armholes.
Finished binding off the final 50 stitches this morning and calculated yarn usage.
Still need to wash and block, but love how it came out. Perfect as a vest in this weather, too.
Pooling: and yes, before anyone says anything about it, it should have worked alternating from two skeins to avoid color pooling, but I honestly don’t mind it.