Languidly Knitting

I’ve waited far too long to post this. My point-and-shoot camera doesn’t work with my too old rechargeable AAs, so I finally got around to borrowing my cousin’s DSLR. Muahaha.

Finished! Click on the picture for the same shot zoomed in a bit.

Drop-Stitch Lace Tank by Stephanie Japel
Source: Fitted Knits
Yarn: Almost six 50g hanks of Berroco Touché in color 7922 “Shiraz”
Needles: Boye Interchangeable Circulars in US6 (4.0mm) and US4 (3.5mm)
Notes/Thoughts: I’m very happy with the way this turned out. The length is perfect, I used up most of my stash yarn, and I finally have a completely finished garment.

Regarding the pattern: I used it mostly as a template, that is, I knew that it was a rectangular top with a drop-stitch lace pattern and a v-neckline. I changed essential things in the construction and added small details not explicitly stated in the pattern, but the end result looks like the original. Various adjustments are as follows:

Obviously, I used a different yarn. I also knit it to a smaller gauge than called for (though I could have knit to pattern) because I didn’t want it to be quite so see-through. Plus I cast on one repeat smaller than the smallest written (my reasoning being that without seams, the top would be even stretchier). I left a column of 2 knit stitches on each side, where the seams would be, so as to make the armhole split cleaner looking. The waist panel of 2×2 ribbing is a little higher up than the model’s. The armhole edge stitches are slipped, and the neckline splits when the armholes do. I think that’s it.

The yarn is lovely. Smooth, soft, substantial, not too cotton-y feeling. Really great stuff, this Berroco Touché, and not terribly hard on the wallet. I actually bought this on close out at half-price from Elann ages ago. The total cost for this top was about $15! Not bad, right?

And finally, what’s a DSLR for, if not messing around with the depth of field?

I like the reflection of the trees on the first button.

I didn’t even need to worry. Finished object next week (I hope - ends still need to be woven in).

The top that would be finished, had I not ripped out approximately 73 times.

The top otherwise known as the Drop-Stitch Lace Tank. This project is the perfect storm of loving the pattern on sight in the book, seeing a few fabulous projects, and having just barely enough yarn in the stash to pull it off.

I’m a little worried, though. I have 6 skeins of a long discontinued color. Just under 2 of those made 7.5″ of knitting. The total length of the garment is 23″. Will I have enough? I’ll be biting my nails until the end, that’s for sure.