This has to have been THE FIDDLIEST project I’ve done so far.
I modified the upper back because I didn’t like how narrow it was and how much it would have to stretch to meet the measurements. While this project is beautiful finished, I wouldn’t knit it again. The finished product was too hard-won.

Naturallycaron.com Spa is excruciatingly splitty but blocked into lace beautifully.

Used 650 yds?

SWATCH NOTES
I’ve been swatching this since Friday (4 Mar). The only way for me to get guage on the yarn I had originally chosen (dk weight bamboo blend) was to use a size 8 needle. While the yarn knitted up beautifully on a 6, the stitches looked loose and distorted on an 8. Yesterday (11 Mar) I picked up a worsted weight (cotton) and am swatching that. I think the 6 will be about right and I’m hoping the cotton will give me nice stitch definition to make up for being a bulkier yarn.

Not sure I’m likin’ the cotton. Hmmm… While it’s knitting to gauge, I’m not sure how it will respond to the lace, so I’m knitting the whole back. I’ll block it and then see what I think. I may end up frogging and knitting it on 8s in the bamboo after all. I really want this vest.

Nope- couldn’t do it. Using aran weight on 6s was agony for my hands and way cutting into how much knitting I could actually do. I’m going to hold on to the cotton and knit it for something else (on a larger needle!) and knit this on 8s with the bamboo. (18 Mar)

The bamboo feels so much softer than the cotton did. Of course, it helps that I finally followed the directions: KNIT all even rounds! Missed that the first time. The cotton might have worked better had I followed that direction. Oh well. I’m likin’ the bamboo.