8th July

Notes so far:

I noticed that the sample in the pattern had more pattern repeats than mine. My gauge is the same as the pattern, blocked and unblocked. 20sts and 30 rows to 10 cms/4”. I mentioned this to Amy, and she said her unblocked gauge was tighter than her blocked gauge. I think it would be helpful to have both the blocked and unblocked gauge measurements in this pattern especially as there is knitting done in two directions.

I re-read through the pattern as I was approaching the armholes on the back, we are told to pick up 50 sts, 2sts for every 3 rows which makes it longer than the 8” that Amy suggests. However, for my work to measure 8” before i shaped the armholes, I only needed to work 50 rows, 60 rows including the ribbing. In order to have enough rows to comfortably pick up 50 sts for the sides, I worked out that I needed 75 rows which made the back longer, this was not a problem as that was my intention anyway…I worked 66 rows + 10 rows rib which gave me 76 rows before I did the armholes.

I finished the back without any more worries, measuring the armhole to 8” my back piece measures 18” (the pattern states 16”)

I was eager to start on the right front and found the directions worked really well and the depth of the side and armhole fits the back beautifully. I found it a bit disconcerting that we are told to decrease 1 st at the end of every 6th row 12 times without being told where we are in the pattern. At first I wondered if it was an error as that shaping is done from the shoulder point and my instinct was to increase. I carried on regardless as I am really enjoying knitting this bit of origami! I have worked out that this decrease line is where we pick up the stitches for the collar. There is no mention of shoulders so far in the pattern so I am knitting on and hope it will make more sense when I get to the part where I join the collar from the front to the back. Incidentally, I worked my decreases one stitch in from the end to make picking up the stitches easier.

I am wondering if the collar is knitted across the whole of the cast off stitches of the back…..That is the bit that keeps cropping up in my head as I am knitting the fronts :)

The whole thing looks lovely, the cable pattern is intuitive and fun, breaks up the stocking stitch monotony beautifully :)

9th July 2010

Started on the left front…this waistcoat is a lovely thing to knit!

10th July 2010

Almost finished the left front, looking forward to doing the collar :)

11th July 2010
Picked up along one sloping front edge, the whole of the back and the other sloping front edge for the collar. I just went with the directions and it has worked out really well. I keep holding my work up and admiring it as the collar grows. I love it!

21st July 2010
The collar took me ages to knit, lots of it! It feels gorgeous. This yarn has a lovely drape to it which is perfect for this pattern.

I have also completed one lot of armhole ribbing and have made a start on the second…

22nd July
I have finished knitting…just sewing in the ends and then to block it!

23rd July

I LOVE this garment and can’t wait for it to be cool enough to wear it!

ETA: I have noticed that even though I got gauge with my swatch, the weight of this garment and the direction of knitting causes the gauge to do it’s own thing. I say, don’t be afeared, just do it!! It all finds it’s own level…oh and go and read Amy’s notes!

Amy has made a couple of very useful blog posts about choosing the size to suit you and choosing a yarn, both very useful articles to read. I love Amy’s designs, she’s on my wavelength!

14th August 2010
I love this garment to bits and enjoy wearing it, however, I really wish I had made the smaller size, my bust size is now 39”…sometimes dieting has drawbacks lol

UPDATE 11th October 2010
my cloudchaser was becoming too big on me (more to do with me losing weight) so I did a naughty thing and reblocked it but when it was nearly dry I kept putting it in the tumble dryer on low for 10 minute bursts until it had tightened up to fit me. It is now perfect and I love it to bits, it is now very lightly fulled as opposed to felted. I prefer the fabric much more which is a bonus. Willow tweed is a most gorgeous yarn.