BIG WARNING»>This yarn stretches like crazy and was a poor choice for this fitted top.

How did it take me so long to find this perfect shell? Ever since the puppies shredded my favorite summer top, I’ve been searching for a modest, sleeveless, v-necked top.

May 12-Cast on 160 stitches, using size 7 needles and the simple overhand loop cast-on, since I find that to be the most stretchy cast on I know. Switched to the size 5 needles suggested by my swatch.

Friday the Thirteenth-Discovered about midway through the lace pattern, I have been knitting a mobius. Totally frogged

May 14-Graduation Day at Virginia Tech. My “Take-Along” project is now two loose, slippery balls of yarn in my totebag. As I go through the day they knitknot themselves into a horrendous rats nest of beautiful silvery-teal rayon.

Once back home in Northern Virginia, I painstakingly tease out the knots and get the ball rewound over the course of three hours.

May 16-Cast on again, twice…I realize now that using the long tailed cast on might be better, since I can’t see that fatal mobius twist with my stretchy cast on.

May 18-switched to size 4 needles once I cleared the section of this top that will be worn over my hips. For me this was about 5 inches into the project.

NOTE on “make one”: I am lifting a section of yarn from the previous row between two stitches then knitting through the back loop to create a stitch without making a hole.

June 1-Making good progress with this as my “Take-Along.” The yarn ball is securely wrapped in “Press and Seal” plastic wrap

June 4-I am modifying this top, First, I am making it a bit longer than the pattern, second, my shoulder straps are 28 stitches wide. I have tried the top on as I go to see if I like the length, the openings for the neck and armholes, etc. (This is why I am a big fan of knitting in the round.) Overall pleased with my progress and the fit.

June 5- Finished today, kitchenered the shoulder seams, single crochet the edges of the openings and wove-in the ends. A very satisfying project. Great yarn, the top looks good with jeans and the fit is better than I dreamed I could accomplish on my second garment. Lots of yarn leftover…I’m thinking maybe a matching shrug…

Notes from after two wearings…My beautiful size 8 top is now about a 14 and till growing. I tried to shrink it and it did not cooperate. I guess its time to gift it to somebody else.

This yarn would be lovely knit into a Clapotis, or maybe a Mythos Cardigan.