I’ve wanted to make this for years. Finally doing it!

Swatching
May 16 -18 Swatching. Nothing but swatching. And math. Started on a size 5 and it looks like I might have to knit this on a size 3.

Size 3 is 20 sts = 4”.
Size 4 is 18 sts = 4”.
I’m supposed to get 19 sts = 4”. Blocked the swatches just in case. No change.

Fortunately it is easy to tell how many sts are present at the bust, where the size measurement is taken. For my size 3 needle, the XS works out to be 33” around. I thought this would be too small, but the pattern says it’s worn with 1.5” of negative ease. I read about negative ease. I discovered that I should measure my bust and subtract 1.5” to determine how many inches the actual garment should be. I measure 34.5” inches, so, 33” wins! Size 3 it is.

I have also been concerned that this top is designed a little too long for me. If you’re reading this, you’re thinking “wow that girl has no chest.” Yeah, well, in contrast, this pattern might not make it over my very-evident butt unless I make an alteration here.

My ideal length from the bust to hem is 14”. Since this top is conveniently divided into four sections, I will measure 3.5” per section, including the stockinette part.

Knitting
June 9 - Finished the body almost a week ago. It doesn’t look quite right. I’ve been attributing this to the fact that it’s lace, and lace always looks kinda crummy before it’s blocked. But… I started looking at other projects again today, and saw where someone said “no purling until I got to the sleeves” and I was like what? I purled on the RS, just like the pattern says.

Well obviously I don’t have a lot of experience with lace or charts. This is the first charted lace I’ve knitted in the round and I had no idea that even though the chart SAYS “purl on WS” if you’re knitting in the round, that means Knit. This is obvious in the written pattern instructions… if I had read them.

Why do I always make these completely idiotic mistakes?! Gotta rip this sucker and start over.

Knitting Part II
After letting this sit for another week, I was ready to start over. c/o and knit the first couple of rows on Saturday morning 6/17. Finished first lace and stockinette section by evening Monday, 6/19. It looks so much nicer than it did the first time around… gee, I wonder why!

June 23 - Flight delay meant I knitted on and off for about 9 hours yesterday. Good thing I packed a lot of yarn. Finished the first arrow lace section. I repeated the chart four times to get the length needed.

June 27 - Got another lace repeat done on the flight yesterday. It looks so pretty now that I’m doing it right…!

July 2 - finished all the lace repeats in the body today. I think the heavier it gets, the longer it gets, so I already have 14 to 14.5” in length, but I’m supposed to knit 10 more rounds of st st/rib.

July 3 - Ended up knitting 3 rounds of st st and 3 rounds of rib before binding off in pattern according to Cap Sease’s book, Cast On, Bind Off.

August 11 - Finished knitting the first sleeve on my flight back from Amsterdam :-) Finally back in the groove, but I need to create a gift for someone before returning to this project.

August 27 - This is very exciting! Returned to this on Friday night, when I started the last sleeve. By Sunday morning, the sleeve was complete.

I have no idea how long it took me to seam this sucker but it felt like an eternity. I was pretty freaked out that the yoke/sleeves would be too small (even though they did match the schematic measurements) but they sure do stretch out when you put on the top! My fears are laid to rest.

I think the only thing I’m not happy with is my body, LOL. I forget that even though I’m generally thin, I’m not what I used to be. I have a STOMACH. Darn it all. But I think this will still be cute with a jacket over it.

Photos are unblocked so you can see a bit of curling. It’s in the sink soaking right now :-)