Baby Dunn Vest Done

Made it! Delivered and complete! Button and all :)

Pattern: Vest

Source: Debbie Bliss Baby Essentials

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino - colour 202, light blue

Needles: 3.25mm & 2.75mm

D121-123: Pant! Pant! Puff! Puff.... Woooow!

I finished the data work on Thursday and threw myself into this. Scrabbling around guests, errands and a baby cruising the furniture, I'm somewhat pleased with what it is so far. 

I had hoped to be doing a ridiculous late-night blocking effort with a complete vest. But, alas, there is one armhole to go. Hopefully I can have the blocking begun by the time Bub finishes her first nap.  

While I was working, I had a daydream of my friend pulling the vest out of the gift bag, dutifully complimenting me on the work, and me saying "Thanks....  pass it over and I'll sew on the button."

Wish me luck. 

D118: Intense knitting

A bit more done.  Hmmm... those stitches really are leaning to the right...

Another inch or so complete and a pattern has emerged...

There's a ridging in the stocking stitch.  Here's a horizontal shot that I think better reveals the tilt.

See what I mean?

I think my tension, combined with the way I pick up a stitch to knit Continental style, has helped twist the yarn in each stitch.  The right-hand needle enters the stitch at the base and as the needle slides up it pushes the wrap of the yarn upwards, unwrapping it a bit below the needle and tightening the wrap along the back of the loop and behind the left needle.  That's my theory anyway.  I haven't had this happen with my right-handed knitting style.  I think, in future projects, I'll change my yarn hold and hopefully that'll keep it from being pushed around so much.

I'm not sure I can do much about it other than easing the tension so that the entered stitch will slide around the new stitch more easily.  However, at 27sts per 10cm, it's only slightly tighter than what's prescribed by the pattern, so I'm reluctant to change that, especially this far in.  It may mean I have to go get another ball, but I could use the contrasting yarn to do the neck and arm holes... Whether I do that or not probably depends on the time of day I get to that stage: if it's after the shops close, ecru contrast it is!

Anyway, at this stage, I'm happy to let it be an aspect of an individual garment.  Worse things have happened, right?

D115: Today I learned...

Today I learned that you really do need room-temperature eggs when making madeleines. Beating the eggs could take 3mins, apparently*, but if the eggs are cold you have to beat them until they warm up. That's when they start to thicken and 'ribbon' off the beaters. I kinda knew this before but now I think it'll stick. I think next time I'll even think to take the eggs out well before I start baking.

Today I learned that my continental style knit stitches aren't as slow as I thought.

I also learned that as gorgeous as this yarn is, it's not my favourite ever.  The best thing about it would be the range of colours, especially for a baby yarn. Shepherd does a lovely range of 4ply baby yarns too, but for a lightly thicker range these are delightful. It is, however, easy to spear this yarn as you go. I wonder how it will wear in the long run.

Right, off to tray-up this batter! I'm soon to learn if Maple Syrup Madeleines are a good idea!

*Suppose it depends on the room.

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Ed's note:

Oh yes indeedy-doody Sharon, maple syrup is a very subtle yet very pleasing flavour.