Happy Friday!

I'm hopeful for more knitting time at the cottage this weekend than last. This week we have no company and as is always the case, I will have a diligent "helper" in Hudson who is never far away!

I meant to post a link earlier in the week for this Italian Plum Tart on Rosemary Shortbread Crust that I made and we so enjoyed last weekend. The recipe was in the Globe and Mail last Friday so I grabbed it and a wee basket of Ontario prune plums and boy was I glad I did! (btw the Rosemary's influence was undetectable but probably still contributed to the overall flavour - if you try it don't leave it out for fear it will be too strong!)

The crust really is like shortbread so don't try this in a regular pie pan - you need the removable sides of a tart pan to get the thing out for serving.

Tart or no tart, have a great weekend!

Lace Saddle Tee by Lisa Rowe FO

 Pattern: Lace Saddle Tee by Lisa Rowe

Yarn: 8 Skeins Mirasol Lachiwa

Colour: Powder Blue #1401

Needles: 3mm straights

Start: June 14, 2010 Finish June 24, 2012 (2 Years??! Yup.)

Modifications: Moved all side shaping in from edges to below bust points on front and equivalent distance in from sides on back

Waaaaay back in 2010 when I started on this I was fresh off taking 3 classes on fitting your knits (Robin Hunter at the DKC Winter Workshops, Anne Hansen at Purple Purl and Veronique Avery at the DKC Frolic Workshops.) all within a few months of each other. (Given how many classes were being offered at the same time on this topic it must have been something more than just I wanted to learn about!)

Over the course of the hours and hours of instruction in each of those classes I learned how to...

• Asses my own shape. Honest, accurate personal measurements are a must!
• Select knitting patterns that suited my shape. Again, honesty - using existing commercial pieces from my own closet, asses what works and more importantly, what doesn't!
• Alter and then execute those patterns in a structurally correct way. Math, math math!

So I chose this project hoping to bring all those pieces together in a successful aka wearable, flattering garment and in so doing build new knitting muscles to make me a stronger knitter.

And look what happened! I flexed my knitting muscles - both mental and manual  - and it worked out!

The most significant change I made to this pattern was to move all side shaping in to just below the bust points on the front and then match that treatment on the back. 

See them running up the left side of the sweater front from about 2" above the waist band to the fullest part of the bust area?

The photo above shows the shaping either side of the actual side seam.

Then I decided to try to make a feature of the shaping rather than try to hide them so I consulted with Montse Stanley and came up with a pattern of alternating left and right leaning increases. It reminds me of a little stalk of wheat.

All that took about a week and then it was on to the fun part in this pattern, the saddle shoulders of leafy patterned lace.

I finished the first sleeve sleeve lickity split - completely wrong mind you - but I was clever (I thought at the time) and made it work - resolving to simply match the error on the other side..

At the time, Rue over at Tinks and Frogs who really was clever, told me to get right to that other sleeve before I forgot all the details of how sleeve #1 got done.

Instead of heeding Rue's sage advice I left the sweater in a bag and went and got a poodle puppy that effectively wiped out my knitting time for the next several months during which time I predictably forgot what I did with sleeve one.

After trying repeatedly to sort out what I had done the first time, in the end I knit sleeve two correctly then ripped sleeve one out and did it again - according to the pattern instructions this time and easy peasy, Bob's your uncle, this quick knit was done in two years, almost to the day!

Once done though, boy was I happy with the result.  I wore this knit a lot this summer and every time I pulled it over my head I did a little mental happy dance thinking of the corner I turned with it.

Taking a class to learn something is one thing. Going home, persevering and putting that learning into practice is really the thing that makes me a stronger knitter - This time in terms of getting a better fitting FO.

Buoyed on by my success the next sweater I tackled would be a mass of cables that I planned to fly through. Of course the knitting called me to account. My next challenge would be maintaining flawless tension.  But I'd mastered that years ago...or had I? Details on that sad tale (with the a happy ending!) in the next FO post chez Sel and Poivre.

Thanks for dropping by today!

Transverse Cardigan by Ann Weaver FO

Pattern: Transverse Cardigan by Ann Weaver

Source: Interweave Knits Spring 2010

Yarn: Worsted Remnants and 1 Skein Lion Brand Fisherman Wool

Source: Michael's Craft Store (Lion Brand)

Needles: 6mm

Start: May 20 Finish: June 6, 2012

Modifications: Use of Looser Gauge and Addition of Two Row Stripes

I mixed in some remnant colours of my own and a skein I had on hand of my favourite Lion Brand Fisherman Wool for the base colour (cuffs, collar, hem etc.).

This little shrug-like-cardi-jacket thingy is knit flat in one piece from garter stitch cuff to cuff obviously breaking for the front opening. (The pattern is shown with only one colour being used so my two row striped version is quite a departure. Given the strong linear nature of the piece and the fact many Ann Weaver designs feature striping I thought it a fitting modification to try and I think it worked out quite well.

What fun choosing the next colour, meting out the wee balls for a cohesive look cuff to cuff.

Obviously the sleeve rows are shorter than the body rows so figuring out yarn usage was a great engaging little TV watching puzzle.

As I neared the last couple of long body rows before the second sleeve I was beginning to worry about how far the Fisherman Wool would go - especially given the last bit I would need to knit with that yarn was the second four inch wide garter cuff.

To save brown yarn, I substituted a brownish green from the remnants, setting it between bright, light blue and dark teal stripes that by contrast made the green look quite brown. (Above, see the four stripes either side of the seam and then beyond the blue stripes either side of them?) The way colours work together never ceases to amaze me. I was pleasantly surprised with the result!

An eyelet detail between the garter cuffs, button bands and stockinette body is a clever detail to lighten the  garter sections with a pleasing visual punctuation. I think it works particularly well on my striped version as the 2 stitch scale of the eyelets matches the scale of the stripes 

I find this piece both pleasing and interesting. So graphic and yet also quite playful and fun.

Admittedly the "fun" and pleasing qualities evaporate when I don the thing. I knew the boxy shape of this piece wouldn't suit me but the striped garment suited my need to use the remnants. The size was purposely small hoping it might help if it was shrunken and shrug-like. Knitting at a loose-ish gauge gave me a drapier texture I hoped would work better than something stiff and unyielding.

My ideas worked for the yarn and my need to use it up and even in making a successful garment but not in creating a piece that works for my shape.

All together now..."Ewwwwww!"....

It looks terrible on me but surprisingly it would have fit and suited my mother. Interesting eh?

Just what will become of this knit is as yet uncertain. It's not headed to my closet. Knitting up the yarn and learning the colour and construction lessons this knit provided is good enough for me.  For now it will "reside" here and on Ravelry and in the gift box.

Thanks for dropping by today.  Writing these posts has me revisiting the process of working these knits after Mom passed - its no doubt therapeutic and helpful in someday getting to the fabulous thing called "Closure"!

Tomorrow I'll put up the last long-finished FO from a few months ago and then its finally on to something that only came off the needles last week!