Momvoli adjustments

I had my Momvoli fitting on Saturday (alas, in another state, and without my camera). It fit fabulously, but was a little long for my petite Lovely Mother. I frogged back to where the waist increases end, and am working on a hem.

This was going to be a Christmas present, but since she was in town for her birthday, it's ready more-or-less-now, and it will be great to wear in the fall, it's turning into a late birthday present.

This means that I'm not knitting anything - NOT ONE THING - for anyone for Christmas this year.

At least, not yet...

Hwarf, Hwarf, Hwarf

So, what's the nicest way to be woken up at 3am? Why, to hear your precious kitty, leaning over the side of your bed, coughing up TWO hairballs onto your knitting. This happened to me last week. Luckily, it was in a plastic bag, so most of the hairball slid down the side, but the swatches close to the top did get defiled. They were okay after a washing (and I guess it's good to wash your swatches) but eeeuuuuwww.

That was not one but two hairballs out of THREE in the same week. And this from a cat who hasn't coughed up more than eight in the five years I've had her. Yuck.

Dare I say it?

Momvoli is done! At least, pending a fitting this weekend, plus blocking and possibly edging.

I fixed the sizing problems I had with my own. It's just a tad too tight on me, but should fit my smaller mom nicely. Plus, it's very nicely shaped.

Fitting pics coming soon!


Next steps: work on my Rebecca #12 Wrap With Sleeves until my Knitpicks Ambrosia comes for Hopeful, and until my sister chooses her birthday present pattern.

Momvoli pics

Here are pics of my mom's Tivoli in progress. These are from Sunday, and I've done another 2.5 or 3 inches of the waist decrease section since then.

Stats:
Yarn: Knitpicks Shine in Orchid (when I took the pictures, I had used 1.5-2 balls. I'm estimating 4-4.5 for this one)
Needles: size 5 denises
Stitch gauge: about 5.5 st/in

I made the yoke according to the 31" bust version of the original pattern (since replaced by Picovoli in MagKnits). However, I added an additional two increase rows to bring it up to the bust size I wanted. This time, I'm following Grumperina's advice to the letter, and using much more negative ease than I used for my own I am very pleased with the fit so far:


Momvoli laid flat


Close-up


My mom, the supermodel


Doesn't that almost work as a layered crop top?

Tivoli #2, Hopeful obsession

I finished my Tivoli while in Buffalo, where my lovely mother POUNCED on it. She is several sizes smaller than I am, and my Tivoli was a tad loose as it is, so I managed to escape with my sweater. However, she did extract a promise from me: a Tivoli of her own for Christmas. Luckily, I had some KnitPicks Shine in my stash (I love having a stash) in the perfect color: orchid.

She came to visit me in Boston for her 55th birthday (honestly, does this woman look 55? I don't think so.)

and by the time she left, I had Tivoli done to the try-on point (just before you start the waist shaping). I took pictures, but forgot to transfer them from the camera, so you'll have to wait. It is officially precious.


My own Tivoli has been worn three times, and is starting to look saggy. When recently-blocked, the looseness was drapey and pretty, but now it's leaning towards sloppy. I should have taken Grumperina's advice. However, most of the sag comes from the shoulders stretching out. I think if I give it a nice firm edging (crochet, maybe) that might stabilize it nicely. I'll have to wash & reblock first, but will keep you posted.


I found my yarn needle, and wove in the ends on Soleil. I'll block it tonight or tomorrow, and post pics. I did end up ripping out the edgings, and redid them in single-crochet. For the neckline, I crocheted three out of every four stitches. This laid nicely flat, and since there were so many crochets in a row, it didn't look as sparse as every-other stitch.


My next obsession: Hopeful by Jenna Adorno.


I really, really like this pattern. In fact, before I stumbled on it, I drew something similar in my own design notebook. (Hopeful has much more interesting detail than my sketch, however.) Then I saw Katie's Hopeful, and I was hooked.

What I love about this pattern:
- it's a gorgeous garment
- it's dressy enough for work (in fact, it's a touch dressier than what I usually wear)
- it looks like it'll be fun to knit
- NOT 100%, but 120% percent of the pattern price goes to a breast cancer research fund. Seriously. You pay $5, and she donates $6!

After rifling through my swatch archive, and debating over color cards for about half an hour with my mom, I decided to make this in KnitPicks Ambrosia in Fog. I absolutely adore that yarn, and this will be a great project for it. Plus, it'll be CHEAP! Under $50 for a sweater in alpaca/cashmere!


Drool.

Tivoli!

Here she is, all done:

Yarn: Knitpicks Shine, Turquoise (although I'd call it more of a teal)
Needles: size 5 circulars (from my Denise set)

She's a little loose, particularly in the back:


Grumperina suggested giving it at least 2" of negative ease, and I went for closer to an inch and a half. I had to round up or down, and the looser option gave me better numbers for dividing. Plus, my gauge might have bit a little loose.

Oh well. If I had to do it again, I'd probably do it at least two inches smaller, but I do like it as it is. The looser fit is ladylike, and the extra drape in the back is kind of pretty. I have been thinking of doing a variant with some lacework at the yoke and/or hem.


That'll have to wait, though; I'm working on one for my mom now. She loved mine and wants one for Christmas. I cast on for it yesterday in Knitpicks Shine in Orchid She wears a smaller size than I do, but I'll be sure to keep it closer-fitting for her.


If I do say so myself, S-M-R-T! When I resized the pattern, I made the underarms too wide, showing my bra edge and framing that underarm flab... I fixed it, not by frogging, but by grafting! I took a yarn needle and stitched up four stitches on either side of both armholes, narrowing it nicely. Invisible, if I do say so myself:



I finished Tivoli on my way to Phoenix for a conference last week, and also did lots of swatching up of my KnitPicks samples. Mmm... alpaca. I'll post pics later. I am completely enamoured of Ambrosia, Panache, and Andean Treasure, and am sorely tempted by Alpaca Silk as well. Must... plan... wardrobe... carefully... before... buying... yarn!

I also finished the doublecrochet neck edging on Soleil:

I didn't love it. It did have a nice lacy look, but it closed up too much of the v-neck. I ripped it out (is it frogging if it's crochet?) and redid it in single crochet with a crochet three, skip one pattern, that both laid flat and looked pretty nice. I couldn't find my yarn needle, so I haven't woven in the ends yet, but hopefully I'll get to wear it once or twice before the weather turns. I also have a vague idea for a cardigan in mind, and extra cherry Shine in my stash.

I love having a stash.