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Hello and thanks for visiting my blog. I have been knitting on and off for 50 years and I recently learned to crochet. I love looking for wool bargains and making them into something useful. I mainly knit for charity. I occasionally knit for myself and family members if I find a really good pattern or if they ask nicely!!

Monday 30 December 2013

My Jana vest progress report....from oops to wow!



Here is a photo of my latest project: the Jana vest.  The photo is a bit washed out as it is late at night.  I thought the holey pattern might show up better in artificial light.  In an earlier post, I canvassed opinions about whether or not I should knit the cable pattern on the back.  The "ayes" won and, as you can see, the cable pattern is now on the back.  I've reached and passed the armholes.  I mentally allowed myself until the end of January to complete the back so I am pleased at how quickly this is knitting up.

I would have finished the back already but for a major frogging episode.  The cable pattern is a 32 row repeat.  I was well into the third repeat when I realised that the very first cable in the first repeat was going in the wrong direction.  I tried to live with it but couldn't.  I want people to look at the back of this vest and say "wow!" not "oops"  So I had to rip out right back to the ribbing.  But I'm really glad I did.  It is a very complicated pattern but looks stunning...... when it is done right (!)

This will be my New Year knitting project....or one of them.  I will still knit and make things for my favourite charities.  As well as that, I desperately need some new jumpers and have decided to try to knit them myself instead of buying mass-produced knitwear.  2014 could be an interesting year!

Happy New Year to all my readers.........


13 comments:

  1. It's looking lovely Una, can't wait to see it finished :)

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  2. It's going to be stunning. Well done you. All best wishes for 2014

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  3. It's beautiful ... and I admire your ambition to knit your own jumpers. I have always been afraid to invest that much time in something that may not fit me the way I like when finished. Knitters are a brave bunch! Have a Happy and knit-filled New Year. :)

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    1. I have the same worry about the fit. I think I'm between sizes so I, optimistically, chose the smaller size. But other knitters have commented that this pattern knits up on the big size. I want a loose fit, but maybe not the "sack" that someone described it as. Only time will tell.

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  4. It looks lovely, Una! Yeah, sometimes you just have to unravel and re-knit, because us knitters just can't live with the mistake! Lol

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    1. ....and it was a huge mistake. The cables are very chunky...11 stitches....and the mistake was very obvious. All sorted now though.

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  5. It is looking stunning so far Una, sometimes we have to brave and rip back just so we can be satisfied with the final result. Not nice to do at the time but a sense of satisfaction when we re-knit it beautifully.

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    1. I would always have regretted leaving in the mistake. So I'm really pleased I ripped it back.

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  6. It looks lovely Una. I would have had to rip back too, or I'd have felt grumpy every time I wore it !! I Iove the feel of Rowan wool/cotton and it's such a pleasure to work with, isn't it.

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    1. I agree; all yarn should be like Rowan Wool Cotton. I can see that I will be using this for all my own knitwear in future.

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  7. The vest is looking great! Happy New Year!

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  8. Una this looks stunning and I cannot wait to see it all finished and looking lovely on you. Hope you had a wonderful new year. Big hug
    Dorothy
    :-)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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    1. The more of this I knit, the more excited I am. It seems like it will fit just how I want it to and I'm already planning to knit more.

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