Wicked vest, done
So the yellow mustard vest is complete:
I’m a little shocked at how quickly it got done, but I am not overly thrilled with it. I know I waxed lyrical about the Silky Wool yarn in the last couple of posts, and it is still very soft to the touch, much softer after washing. Problem is, I over-stretched it during blocking, and now it’s a bit too large.
See those gapes at the shoulder and armhole? I also had to pin it at the back a wee bit for a good fit for the photo. Am a little bummed. Okay, I am actually rather annoyed at having blocked it in the first place. Now I don’t know what to do. Should I undo the seam and take in an inch at both sides? Or open the shoulders and just take off a few rows? Or just wait for the fabric to bounce back? It’s 35% silk, so I don’t know how much memory it will have. It’s not that bad, honestly, I am just less than overjoyed, is all.
Specs:
Pattern: Wicked Vest, available *free* from the Classic Elite Webletter, Feb 08 issue. No errors in the size I made (39″).
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, in colour Sandstone, # 17. The pattern calls for approx. 825 yards for the size I made, but I used less than four skeins – maybe 700 yards?
Gauge: The pattern calls for 6 spi, but mine was 6.25. I should have ended up with a finished chest measurement of abut 38″, but instead I have 40″ now. (See above!)
Needles: Size 4 bamboos throughout.
Modifications:
Many mods. I added bust darts (which do help keep the line where the ribbing changes to stockinette under my bust) and short rows at the shoulder, instead of stair-step decreases, to do a 3-needle bind-off. I also eliminated the extra neck, using instead the purl trim at the armholes all around the neck and button-bands as well. I am wondering if this unsecured trim (which is not picked up and knit from a seam) is also making the fabric gape a little? For details about those mods, see this earlier post.
In addition to the ones listed in that post, I also changed the placing of the button-holes. In the pattern they are placed 5 stitches inside the fabric; I placed them two stitches inside, because I didn’t like how the button-band stuck out in the pattern photos. I did get nice and affordable buttons, though, at my neighbourhood sewing store, Stone Mountain and Daughter. They have a fabulous collection.
Like I said, it’s not bad, and I will certainly wear it. The fabric is so soft and almost weightless, even though the yarn does shed a lot of those nubs, and it’s showing on my black shirt. I think this pattern will be great in a springy wool, to make the most of the ribbing-cum-waist shaping. But I guess I’m also not sure if vests really look good on me. I am attracted to the patterns, want to knit them and they get done quickly, but this is not the first time the end result has left me a little blah. I gave away the Back-to-School vest, and I haven’t really worn the Provincial Waistcoat all that much either. Ah well, here’s a final photo ( in my knitting corner!).
I like it! I think it looks good on you, and I like it with the black shirt. Don’t be sorry you blocked it. You would have had to wash it eventually, right?
Re: whether to reblock, you might be able to dampen it and then let it tumble-dry for a few minutes on low heat, stopping frequently to check on it. That’s my best guess as to what might help it shrink back down a bit. But your conundrum is one of the reasons I haven’t used my Silky Wool yet — I don’t know how to deal with what seems to be its tendency to stretch. I think it must want to be knit with rather a lot of negative ease.
I like it! As does my mom (I’m in Chicago at the moment). Trying a bit if a reblock, though , makes sense.
Looking quite good to me, actually. Aren’t you supposed to be able to reblock things into smaller sizes? Or is that only for wool?
maybe try re-blocking?? it is pretty cute!
The exact same thing happened to me with the Elisabeth Lavold sweater I knit for my husband out of silky wool. Despite careful non-stretching during blocking, it grew quite a bit. I’ve considered washing it and putting it in the dryer (checking early and often) to try to shrink it a bit.
Well, given the pinning, I think it looks fantastic, and I love the bust darts. So I’m with stacey–try re-blocking it smaller. After all, it couldn’t hurt.
But I understand what you mean about vests. I don’t seem to be able to get over some mental block about them, either.
Love that color!
So Silky Wool looses its ability to do the wooly spring back? Hum. Perhaps rethinking my next project with it would be wise…
BTW: I’m really appreciating your journeys through vest territory. Not being a big fan of sweaters or vests but living now in a place cold enough that I should be considering them as items somewhere between handy and down right necessary… well, watching you work with them is a lot of fun.
That WAS fast!
I certainly know what you mean about wishing you could be elated about a project, after all that work, but I think it looks pretty good already, and I imagine taking it in a bit at the side seams might make it look very lovely indeed. And I love the color.
I love that you put bust darts in a lace pattern and I can’t see them at all. I really need to try that technique soon. For some reason, even though I understand how they work and why, I’m feeling slightly intimidated to try it. Weird, huh?
I think I would try to wet block the vest and see what happens after a good soak and letting it just dry on its own without too much blocking.
Sorry that you’re feeling less than elated by your FO. For what it’s worth, it does look very nice in the photos. And, at least it’s not a full sweater with sleeves and everything, lol! I do love those buttons, very art nouveau.
Well, I think it’s cute from this angle! I would try a wash and a reblock. If you feel that it doesn’t help or that it just continues to stretch, then I would unseam it and take it in a bit. I’m not sure if the shoulders or the sides (or both) make more sense–it depends on where/how you think it’s stretching and sagging. If it’s just getting too long, do the shoulders. Too wide? The sides. Both? Well, you know what I mean. I’d try putting it up/in and see what you think. Either way, though, it’s cute, and I would hate to see it go to waste!
Mustard is such a lovely colour and looks really good against the black shirt. Sorry to hear that you’re not too pleased with how this turned out. I hope that reblocking will sort things out and that it will spring back into shape. You knit this up really fast!! Ooh, those buttons are lovely too:)
so cute on you!! i love this mustard color too and the buttons. are those cookie boxes to store yarn?
I know just what you mean about that Silky Wool. I knit an entire sweater out of it, blocked it and it was suddenly too big and clung in unexpected ways around my hips. I still have about 10 skeins to do something with. Someone on Ravelry knit it together with another yarn which resulted in a much better texture and memory. I only I could find that message again….if you do frog it, try knitting it with another fine yarn or a ply of something else woolen. I’m sorry I can’t find the message which tells what worked….I’ll be experimenting sooner or later…
PS. your vest does look good in the photo though.
This vest is really flattering and pretty – the prettiest of the three you made. I would throw it in the washer (gentle cycle)and dryer. I just accidentially washed and dried a woven wool tailored skirt, the kind that you must dry clean, and it came out fine except for needing pressing.
I really like this vest a lot – The pictures caught my eye first, then I was surprised to hear you were unhappy with the fit! It looks great pinned, but I know that’s small consolation, it’s so frustrating when it’s not the way you pictured it (or the way it fit pre-blocking!) I say see if you can get it to bounce back a bit in the dryer – if not, take it in an inch on the side seams, I think it’s lovely enough to warrant some reconstruction if necessary!