Picovoli, I Hath Defeated Thee

As some long-time readers may remember, I attempted to knit Picovoli a while back - I think two years ago. At the time, it was sort of a challenging pattern because I'd never done a hem, a provisional cast-on or a knitted cast-on, techniques called for in this pattern. Since then, I've done these things many times and improved my overall knitting skills quite a bit, so now this pattern is well within my abilities. It is finally done and wearable!



Stats:

Pattern: Picovoli, designed by Grumperina and available for free from Magknits
Size: 38" (as usual, I had to create a size between a 36" and a 40"). Don't designers know that the majority of women fall between a 36" and a 40"? Apparently not.
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cathay, purchased from elann.com, 5.5 balls
Needles: Size 4 Knitpicks options for the hem and Size 6 Inox Express needles for the body
Modifications: Besides creating the in between size, I also used smaller needles for the hem than I did for the body which wasn't called for in the pattern, and I eliminated two of the decreases and two of the increases because it was coming out too long, due to my gauge being different than what was called for in the pattern. I also didn't use a provisional cast on for the hem but instead did a long-tail cast on. I did an e-loop cast-on for the armholes.

I really like this top. It did what silk tends to do (the yarn is a cotton/silk/viscose microfiber blend) which is to stretch. Just steaming it with an iron caused it to grow 2 inches. Hopefully, that's all the growing it will do, but experience tells me otherwise. At this point, it fits perfectly. However, I have to say that I absolutely adored this yarn. Luckily, I purchased enough for one more project from WEBS, but I think this yarn has been discontinued, which is a real shame. At full price, it was definitely too expensive, though, so maybe that's why.

I've cast on for Molly Ringwald using yarn rescued from this project that I decided needed to be frogged due to waning interest. I had planned on starting Fifi, but assumed there'd be a delay in getting the pattern since I had to email the French Girls to order the download. However, I got an immediate response from them, so I have to say I'm impressed with their service thus far.

Long Trip=Almost FO

When I decided I would start Picovoli to work on during my trip, I never dreamed I'd actually come close to finishing it on the trip. However, if I hadn't been completely exhausted and full of wine on the trip home, I would have cast off. Instead, I sat slumped in my seat trying to sleep through several hours or turbulence.

After I was done unpacking from my trip and getting ready for my first day of school today (bleh) I finally got around to casting it off and trying it on for the first time (I know, bad). But, I got lucky and it fits great! All I need to do is sew the hems in place around the neckline, the bottom edge and the armholes.



I'm using Debbie Bliss Cathay that I got from elann.com last summer.

The only reason I got as far on this as I did on my trip was because I was so pooped from the RI portion of my trip that I did a lot of sitting and knitting during the Boston portion. Anyway, I'm hoping to having FO photos very soon.

Also, I neglected to mention in my last post that I finally got my Ravelry invitation. My username is knitzalot, so come on over and say hi! I've only got a few things up, so it's a work in progress at this point.