OhSewCrafty Blog

• Pattern by Wendy Bernard, from Stitch Diva
• Yarn: Valley Yarns Goshen (cotton/modal/silk), 6.75 skeins
• Size/Gauge: S at larger gauge, 4.5 spi on US 7, US 6 for the trim
• Time to knit: 2 weeks in July 2009 

Here’s my first entry in the SKC’s 3rd quarter knitalong.  It was about quick satisfaction after ripping a small gauge project multiple times.  But I digress… the pattern is ingenious, especially if you hate seaming, as there is virtually none.

The pattern has a ton of negative ease built in, so I knit the S size at a slightly larger gauge, obtaining a size closer to M.  Still, I had some negative ease at the bust, which is necessary if you don’t want to fall out of the garment.   

However, I forgot to account for the fact that the cap sleeves weren’t designed with negative ease; eventually realizing I needed the XS sleeves (and I don’t have tiny upper arms, either).  Also, I shortened the length from armholes to hem about 1.5″; 17.5″ just isn’t flattering on me.   I respaced the hip shaping, to match my curves.  I learned something new; a stretchy bind off was necessary so the rib trim wouldn’t pucker or pull in, and Grumperina’s worked nicely.

My major quibble with the pattern is the back neck shaping, or lack thereof.  It’s flat across from the shoulder “seams”, so it rises up on my neck a bit, especially after adding the trim, ugh.  Worse, I found that the back neck bindoff flared and I had to redo that portion with a regular (non stretchy) bind off.  If I were to do this again, I’d knit bottom up, shape the back neck, and join the shoulder seams with a 3 needle BO.

As for the yarn, this is my 2nd time using goshen and it did not disappoint.  It’s durable, soft, and feels divine against the skin.  I got size 6 seed beads in the “Iris” colorway (assorted green,gold,blue,purple) at Beadazzled in Tysons Corner, VA, and prestrung them onto the yarn before I knit the lace/rib trim.  The lace/rib pattern is pretty chunky, not very delicate which is good, in my opinion, to mix up the aesthetics in this rather vampy garment.  Speaking of the vampy, I could have seamed the neck up higher, but as this is fitted, slinky, and beaded, I saw no point in making it “modest”.  This top is strictly for evenings and weekends!