Good morning folks :)
This weekend, I actually got a couple of things accomplished - amazing, hunh? Heheh…
It’s a bunny!
It’s a lambie!
It’s a baby vest!
This little vest is Ryan’s terrific Avalanche Vest and a first of several kinds for me. That’s probably quite clear from the picture :). Seamless construction? First. Knitted on ribbing? First. Vest of any kind what-so-ever? First.
The picking up for the ribbing definitely needs work (Oh GAWD does it need work) but I’m amazed (as well as enormously cheered) that I managed it at all. And I’m pretty sure the shoulder seams aren’t supposed to fold over the front like that. Still, I’m not too distressed and now that I have worked my way through a practice piece, I feel that I should be able to manage the real thing without too much difficulty.
For those of you wondering how well the pattern is written? It’s absolutely wonderful! You know how when you’re making a sweater and you get to the part where you need to simultaneously decrease for both the neckline and the armhole shaping? You know how the pattern always goes - “Do this and at the same time do this” - and then leaves you to do the math, figure out the when and where and then go babble quietly in the corner until sanity (or some semblance thereof) returns? This pattern doesn’t do that!! Ryan has written it so that every row tells you specifically what to do. Every. Single. Row. Heavenly - absolutely heavenly!
And, as if this weren’t more than enough, do you further know how the aforementioned standard sweater pattern (let’s assume it’s a cardigan) gives you the shaping for, say, the right front and then says, as though this were perfectly obvious and easy, “For left front, simply reverse shaping”. The pattern for the Avalanche Vest doesn’t do that - it actually writes out the shaping for both sides of the front - left and right! Oh frabjous day :)
My vest differs from Ryan’s only in size because I didn’t have either yarn or needles in the sizes she recommends. This would fit a baby easily and perhaps up to a year old? I used roughly aran/heavy worsted weight yarn and size 9 and 10 needles (though I will probably drop the 9s to 8s next time). I also think I made the vest a tad longer than it really needs to be - babies not generally needing robe length vests :)
I also finished the prototype sock which, unsurprisingly, also needs some more work, though I am provisionally quite happy with it.
It looks a little odd because I have stuffed it with washcloths to make it stand up and the rolled clothes, not being anatomically correct, give the sock the look of containing a strangely shaped and probably swollen foot :)
I love the top of the sock which has a fluted look:
For me, it was critical that the top two rounds of the sock be worked on needles a couple of sizes larger than those used for the body of the sock. Because the patterning pulls the line of the top into chevrons, those stitches need to be loose enough so they don’t just curl right over.
This was also my first attempt in carrying a design down the foot. Usually, beset by worries about the sock pattern being uncomfortable in a snug shoe, I abandon it when I start the heel flap and do the foot in plain stockinette. This time I tried carrying the pattern down. Of course I then didn’t know what to do with it when I got to the toe…
...and wound up decreasing rather oddly. This clearly needs more work - and will get more. I expect to make this sock at least a couple more times before I get everything worked out to my satisfaction - but I like it and I like where the design seems to be going.
The response to:
...was very encouraging - you people are awesome! But then again, I already knew that. If you haven’t heard about the contest, click on the image above and it will take you to the post with all the information!
The more, the merrier!
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You made one of the VESTS?!! I am so thrilled and flattered, you have no idea. None. 
I made another vest myself this weekend and discovered a couple of clarifications I need to make on the pattern but nothing that would really have made that much of a difference in your experience.
And the anal spelling-out-of-everything in the pattern? That’s because I’m the Queen of Hating Patterns That Make You Figure Things Out for Yourself. Oh, wait, that just makes me lazy, not a queen of anything. Drat.
Ryan - I loved the clarity of your pattern and thank you profoundly for enabling me to actually make something like this - I was determined to at least try. Now that I know how it works, I have my Cascade all lined up for a “real” version :) These little things are going to be so addicting! Not to mention cute as can be :)
good for you Robbyn! I think it looks great and will keep somebody warm and cosy! Many of us struggle with the picking up of stitches for the front bands, I think.
Nat - Oh I won’t be sending this one out - it’s way too pathetic :) But as a practice piece, it’s encouraging as now I have a better idea what to watch for and how to do things. I just hope this doens’t set precedent for any type of sweater or vest I may, someday, decide to undertake!
well done you!
Even though I’ve been knitting since dinosaurs ruled the earth, I still have a tendency to bypass any pattern that requires picking up for front ribbing. I suppose I’ll have to review that attitude in the light of how cute [ and easy ] this pattern of Ryan’s is.
As to the sockie ... well done ... I will await the refined version with bated breath 
Hi Catsmum :) Thanks, that’s nice of you to say. Really - other people dread picking up ribbing? I feel better now :)
Great job on the vest….as soon as I can knit, I will make a few pieces for your contest. I like the sock too. You have been a busy lady.
Maureen - It would be great to have you join the contest - but please, please - don’t push things! Only when your shoulder is ready :)
you have been one busy lady!! has miss amelia tried on the vest?
believe me, you are *so* not alone in having trouble picking up for ribbing (and btw, yours looks very nice)- i have on occasion created some kind of ruffled effect or managed to ‘draw in’ the ribbing sections creating an area that is shorter than the rest of the garment- sad to say, although i know i need to practice doing it properly, i just look for patterns that don’t use it- ryan’s adorable vest might be just the kick in the seat of the pants i need to do it again though-
stay happy-
Barb - I did try the vest on Miss Amelia but she got lost in it :)
It’s a comfort to know I’m not alone in finding the picking up for ribbing a <strike>pain</strike> challenge. This really wasn’t too bad though :)
