I've enjoyed your podcasts all year and appreciate the book recommendations. You've introduced me to new-to-me authors and titles, which is such a gift! I think the vest is beautiful, love the colors. Happy holidays!
What a gorgeous vest Cathy! I’ve made the Alpine Bloom Tee as well and love it. I’ve just seen the vest and have put it on my list of things to make. I have been to Shetland for Wool Week and every time I watch the show it’s fun to recognize places we visited. It is a magical place and the people are wonderful.
I came back to comment again....we love Shetland also. As much as I love Scotland, I don't think I could live on Shetland....so stark, and no trees that I can see
I've been thinking about that as I watch the show. Interestingly, another place with few trees is Ireland, but there is so much green that you don't miss them as much. I see the beauty in the stark environment, much like the desert in our Southwest, but it is not for me. I love the woods and trees
well, when you leave the vest open, it creates a long visual line because your dress underneath is visible head to toe, making you look taller and slimmer.
I’m not reading all your comments so many may have already suggested you just make the button band wider. Lovely knitting. Your “mistakes” make me feel better about my own.
I really thought about knitting the band wider but thought it looked less in proportion. Hmm... And I suspect I have another batch of mistakes coming up in the next year!
Merry Christmas Cathy, another lovely visit with you as I sit here knitting. Your vest really does look great on you! I see what you mean about the pulling. The first thing I would try is redo the button band. I have done this to a cardigan and it worked great. (Same issue) I would add 4to 5 more rows. Then bind off. You might get away with taking out the bind off and adding the rows from there. If you feel your button holes will not work. Just pull back and take out the button holes as well. No need to go all the way to picking up the stitches. The point is you should get that extra inch that you need. It really doesn’t change the overall look. You are so close to a perfect fit. I feel the shoulders and arm hole will settle in nicely once you wear it a few weeks. Good luck!
Merry Christmas! How nice to wake up to an episode 😊. Your vest is beautiful. My opinion...it sounds like you imagined it as a buttoned-up vest, so I would probably sew it closed. I'm itching to do a Christmas cast-on, but I'm also feeling an urge to use this next month to finish up a couple of WIPs...we'll see. I'm really wanting to start a My Favorite Adventure sweater. Hurray for Winter Solstice!...I look forward to it so much, knowing the days will start getting a little longer 😊🌞. We have our family here for Christmas Eve, so reading and hot chocolate on Christmas Day sounds like a plan. I've just started an audiobook called The Boys...a memoir by Ron and Clint Howard, who are also the narrators.
Sandra, I'm also eager to cast on something new. I do have one gift item that I want to knit for my husband over the holiday (a hat), but I really need a fun relaxing reward knit in some lovely color! That sounds like a lovely holiday plan.
Hi Cathy, your vest is lovely. To me it looks like it could have done with a few more stitches under the arms, and perhaps a little longer armholes. But it’s totally wearable and looks lovely on you. Merry Christmas to you
Your podcast makes me so happy! I’ve said this before but your color choices are so good and go with your hair color so well. Just beautiful!! Also, I wish I was on your gift giving list🥰 Merry Christmas, Kathy🎁
Your vest is beautiful, it really suits you. I see what you mean about the pulling when closed but I don’t think others would notice that much. It’s really lovely on you
Thanks for the upbeat podcast, despite the many knitting challenges you've been dealing with. I think the other main issue with your Nordic Bloom is the drop shoulder bulkiness. Given that you're knitting bottom up, next time you might try using a traditional sleeve decrease shaping without a cap sleeve, and make it a old fashioned vest with ribbing around the armhole. Happy Solstice!
I've also been thinking that drop shoulder is part of the problem. I do like some drop sleeve patterns, like the Elton, but there is something a little off about the vest sleeve fit. I just bought a pattern by Ailbionna McLochlainn called LOMST and she gives an option for a "classic fitted shoulder" or a longline drop shoulder style, both with a saddle shoulder shaping.
Kathy, your Alpine Bloom vest is gorgeous and compliments your dress beautifully. Would a wider button band solve the issue or perhaps just removing the buttons so it looks like it is intended to be open? It is worth making it feel right. I'm on the last sleeve of Grist, a sport weight sweater by Jared Flood, and it's for a pretty big guy, so there has been a lot of knitting.....I'm ready for a new project! Happy Holidays.
Thank you so much! I'm thinking about that buttonband. Thanks for the suggestion. The Grist is an interesting design. What a great gift! Have a wonderful holiday!
As I am watching you wear your beautiful vest, I’m wondering how much material is in your new dress? It makes me think about this now when making cardigans to go over dresses.
I don't know how much material it has, but it is loose and comfortable. I think a more cropped cardigan would be better to go with the dress, as I've heard from other podcasts. The vest would have fit better in the size I choose if I had made it as cropped as the pattern suggested.
Cathy I don't think its you or your knitting with the vest, its the pattern. I suspect your shoulders and upper chest are smaller compared to your full bust than the pattern is graded for. Its also very flat/square and our bodies are curved, so more shaping through the underarms and probably bust darts would help it all sit more nicely. So so many of the popular designers/patterns poorly accommodate bodies which don't sit neatly within the size chart. As well, many patterns use full bust to predict sizing. As Jen Parrochini and Elizabeth Margaret at One Wild always say, your full bust is your body size for just a tiny area. Once you start considering fit this way you won't unsee it! Warm regards, Ellen
Ellen, thanks so much for your thoughtful message. Yes, you are so right about upper body fit, and I often pick my sizing based on my upper chest measurement. In this case, though, the design is meant to have a lot of ease and not fit closely, as the designer describes it as "oversized." She recommended ease between 6 and 10 inches, and I choose a size with about 4 inches. This would work with some patterns, but as you said, it is a very flat, square vest (which makes it easy to knit). The choices for size for me were either 42.25, which I choose, or the next size up 47.25, which sounded too big to me, but was actually within her ease recommendations, about 9.5 inches of ease.
I’m not reading all your comments so many may have already suggested you just make the button band wider. Lovely knitting. Your “mistakes” make me feel better about my own.
I did love knitting the Bandana Cowl
Love your "fantasy Christmas!" Sounds perfect. I'm watching Shetland too, after a bit of a break. It does tend to distract one from one's knitting.
Thank you! It is so enjoyable to knit and watch something.
Is so beautiful and look so well on you👌💕gorgeous colors works as well
Merry Christmas and Happy Healthy New Year to you and yours families🌲❤️🙏🎄
I've enjoyed your podcasts all year and appreciate the book recommendations. You've introduced me to new-to-me authors and titles, which is such a gift! I think the vest is beautiful, love the colors. Happy holidays!
Thank you so much! Have a wonderful holiday!
What a gorgeous vest Cathy! I’ve made the Alpine Bloom Tee as well and love it. I’ve just seen the vest and have put it on my list of things to make. I have been to Shetland for Wool Week and every time I watch the show it’s fun to recognize places we visited. It is a magical place and the people are wonderful.
Thank you! I do hope to visit there sometime. And I'm waiting for an episode that covers Shetland Wool Week.
Oh, yes, good choice about the location of the flowers
I came back to comment again....we love Shetland also. As much as I love Scotland, I don't think I could live on Shetland....so stark, and no trees that I can see
I've been thinking about that as I watch the show. Interestingly, another place with few trees is Ireland, but there is so much green that you don't miss them as much. I see the beauty in the stark environment, much like the desert in our Southwest, but it is not for me. I love the woods and trees
well, when you leave the vest open, it creates a long visual line because your dress underneath is visible head to toe, making you look taller and slimmer.
I’m not reading all your comments so many may have already suggested you just make the button band wider.
Lovely knitting. Your “mistakes” make me feel better about my own.
I really thought about knitting the band wider but thought it looked less in proportion. Hmm... And I suspect I have another batch of mistakes coming up in the next year!
Merry Christmas Cathy, another lovely visit with you as I sit here knitting. Your vest really does look great on you! I see what you mean about the pulling. The first thing I would try is redo the button band. I have done this to a cardigan and it worked great. (Same issue) I would add 4to 5 more rows. Then bind off. You might get away with taking out the bind off and adding the rows from there. If you feel your button holes will not work. Just pull back and take out the button holes as well. No need to go all the way to picking up the stitches. The point is you should get that extra inch that you need. It really doesn’t change the overall look. You are so close to a perfect fit. I feel the shoulders and arm hole will settle in nicely once you wear it a few weeks. Good luck!
Thanks so much! I will think about this. I really do love the design and the lettlopi goodness.
Merry Christmas! How nice to wake up to an episode 😊. Your vest is beautiful. My opinion...it sounds like you imagined it as a buttoned-up vest, so I would probably sew it closed. I'm itching to do a Christmas cast-on, but I'm also feeling an urge to use this next month to finish up a couple of WIPs...we'll see. I'm really wanting to start a My Favorite Adventure sweater. Hurray for Winter Solstice!...I look forward to it so much, knowing the days will start getting a little longer 😊🌞. We have our family here for Christmas Eve, so reading and hot chocolate on Christmas Day sounds like a plan. I've just started an audiobook called The Boys...a memoir by Ron and Clint Howard, who are also the narrators.
Sandra, I'm also eager to cast on something new. I do have one gift item that I want to knit for my husband over the holiday (a hat), but I really need a fun relaxing reward knit in some lovely color! That sounds like a lovely holiday plan.
Hi Cathy, your vest is lovely. To me it looks like it could have done with a few more stitches under the arms, and perhaps a little longer armholes. But it’s totally wearable and looks lovely on you. Merry Christmas to you
Thank you! Yes, as I was showing the vest during the podcast, I thought the sleeve was pulling a bit. Have a wonderful holiday!
Your podcast makes me so happy! I’ve said this before but your color choices are so good and go with your hair color so well. Just beautiful!! Also, I wish I was on your gift giving list🥰 Merry Christmas, Kathy🎁
Thank you so very much for your kind comments! Merry Christmas to you!
Your vest is beautiful, it really suits you. I see what you mean about the pulling when closed but I don’t think others would notice that much. It’s really lovely on you
Thanks so much!
This was a great podcast. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Thank you! Merry Christmas!
Thanks for the upbeat podcast, despite the many knitting challenges you've been dealing with. I think the other main issue with your Nordic Bloom is the drop shoulder bulkiness. Given that you're knitting bottom up, next time you might try using a traditional sleeve decrease shaping without a cap sleeve, and make it a old fashioned vest with ribbing around the armhole. Happy Solstice!
I've also been thinking that drop shoulder is part of the problem. I do like some drop sleeve patterns, like the Elton, but there is something a little off about the vest sleeve fit. I just bought a pattern by Ailbionna McLochlainn called LOMST and she gives an option for a "classic fitted shoulder" or a longline drop shoulder style, both with a saddle shoulder shaping.
Yes, that would look great!
Kathy, your Alpine Bloom vest is gorgeous and compliments your dress beautifully. Would a wider button band solve the issue or perhaps just removing the buttons so it looks like it is intended to be open? It is worth making it feel right. I'm on the last sleeve of Grist, a sport weight sweater by Jared Flood, and it's for a pretty big guy, so there has been a lot of knitting.....I'm ready for a new project! Happy Holidays.
Thank you so much! I'm thinking about that buttonband. Thanks for the suggestion. The Grist is an interesting design. What a great gift! Have a wonderful holiday!
As I am watching you wear your beautiful vest, I’m wondering how much material is in your new dress? It makes me think about this now when making cardigans to go over dresses.
I don't know how much material it has, but it is loose and comfortable. I think a more cropped cardigan would be better to go with the dress, as I've heard from other podcasts. The vest would have fit better in the size I choose if I had made it as cropped as the pattern suggested.
Cathy I don't think its you or your knitting with the vest, its the pattern. I suspect your shoulders and upper chest are smaller compared to your full bust than the pattern is graded for. Its also very flat/square and our bodies are curved, so more shaping through the underarms and probably bust darts would help it all sit more nicely. So so many of the popular designers/patterns poorly accommodate bodies which don't sit neatly within the size chart. As well, many patterns use full bust to predict sizing. As Jen Parrochini and Elizabeth Margaret at One Wild always say, your full bust is your body size for just a tiny area. Once you start considering fit this way you won't unsee it! Warm regards,
Ellen
Ellen, thanks so much for your thoughtful message. Yes, you are so right about upper body fit, and I often pick my sizing based on my upper chest measurement. In this case, though, the design is meant to have a lot of ease and not fit closely, as the designer describes it as "oversized." She recommended ease between 6 and 10 inches, and I choose a size with about 4 inches. This would work with some patterns, but as you said, it is a very flat, square vest (which makes it easy to knit). The choices for size for me were either 42.25, which I choose, or the next size up 47.25, which sounded too big to me, but was actually within her ease recommendations, about 9.5 inches of ease.
I’m not reading all your comments so many may have already suggested you just make the button band wider.
Lovely knitting. Your “mistakes” make me feel better about my own.