Oh woops!

Hope you can move your pix and and a summary progress report over here!

I'm looking at that vest pattern and thinking about colors ... might get to it by spring??

Coming to you live this morning via the Toshiba Satellite! Almost back to normal with my computer. I still need to install one network printer (the laser). Best news - they were able to retrieve all my files from the broken drive, so life will be sweet again soon.

I have decided to switch yarn for my vest. What I was using was just so "woolly" that you couldn't see any of the stitches. And that's the point of these sweaters, is that beautiful shell pattern. I found some cones of worsted weight cotton in a bin at the back of my studio that I'm pretty sure are left over from baby blanket frenzy a couple years ago. So I'm swatching now to see if it will work. Cool and overcast today, perfect for indoor projects. More to follow...

Oh - I forgot to say that Knitting Daily has a swatching article (in case anyone doubts the importance of swatching, especially for garments)in two parts, Wednesday and yesterday. I don't know how to make a link but you can google knitting daily if you don't already subscribe.

Hey Joy, did you get back to this at all? I ended up frogging my Mei-Mei completely because although it looked good, it wasn't right and my finicky little brain couldn't get past that. ;) I started to re-do it, and then decided to have a go at the 4-S vest instead. Don't want to jinx anything, but I'm almost finished with the yoke part...

You know, I never did. I've been so focused on getting Christmas done that I just let it go. The new yarn and my marked up pattern are in a basket waiting for my return. The last of Christmas is the Allegheny Moon Mobius from Amazing Lace Crochet which is coming out beautifully. Oh, and those cute little helmet hats, which almost kicked my bottom.

If you can post a photo, I'd love to see how you're doing so far. What yarn are you using? You might be my impetus to get back to it!

Hello all - if you're still out there. Christmas crochet is finished and not a moment too soon. Here are a few photos:

Tote bags - 2 of the many that were produced

Helmet hats (without the flaps)

And the incredibly beautiful Allegheny Moon Mobius from Amazing Crochet Lace. I can't believe I made this! It's for a friend, but I wish it was for me. It worked up pretty fast, actually, and the pattern was a piece of cake after a couple of repeats, so there may be one in my future. The yarn is Patons Lacette, acrylic/mohair blend and I too, am now a fan of wet-blocking.

But now it's time to get back to the 4-S Vest. I'm going to swatch again tonight just to be sure we're good to go. The yarn I'm using this time is a soft yellow 100% cotton; I think its Lilly Peaches and Cream.

Photos to follow as soon as they are available.

If anyone is still interested after 2 months of silence - Hello again! I started back up 3 nights ago and have been going gang-busters. Maybe I just needed the break.

To everyone who has has posted anything about Doris's patterns on any one of these threads - thank you. Your observations have been invaluable. When I started this project the first time, I considered myself "intermediate", but very quickly realized I was a rank beginner. This time I've started with the notion that I know nothing and need my hand held for every stitch, and somehow its coming out okay. The one thing - mark the corners. It is SO important!

I'm still using the yellow cotton and I re-swatched just to be sure. I even washed the swatches this time. So far, (knock on wood) I've had no issues with the pattern or the yarn or anything and I finally figured out the yoke rows and pattern rows. Let's hope things continue in the manner! I'm going to try to put up some photos right behind this post.

Funny how when I look at it as I'm working, it's hard to see the stitch pattern developing, but in the photo it's very apparent.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3113/2290812127_2ca3cb8ba2.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2386/2290812283_e965f3aac1.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2278/2290812489_504de27f42.jpg

(Trying again with photos)

Looking good!

I think you skipped a step with the photos; they show up here as links instead of photos unless you have your Flickr named listed in your crochetme profile.

I agree with you about how much more the pattern shows up on photos; I have also spotted ERRORS in my work that way!

I've been away from crochet since the end of the year but it's great to see what you are up to!

Thanks for the kind words, Teresa. I still can't believe that moebius came off my hook. And my friend LOVES it! And that makes me feel really good. As for the 4S, I'm on a total roll with it, doing bits and pieces during the day whenever I can. And I feel like I'm learning a lot as I go along. As for the photos, it seems like I always do something wrong; sometimes I get links, sometimes I get pictures. I hope you get back to crochet soon, I really enjoy your company here.

I joined up the underarms last night. Looking at it, lying there on the work table, I was thinking it couldn't possibly fit. Lo and behold, it does! I'll take more photos tonight before I start back up and then after I get done for the evening and post them tomorrow morning.

Here are the photos of where I started last night. I hope they show up!

You can see it much better on the chair. Pardon my messy worktable-when I die and the archeologists come to dig, they will find layer upon layer in my studio. I just set things aside if I get bored or stuck and they continue to pile up. Anyway, you can see those little base chain/sc loops where you attach the front to the back. If I wouldn't have had markers I would have been in big trouble. With the markers, piece of cake.

This is where I ended last night:

You can really see it beginning to take shape. I have to admit I was a little confused when the pattern said to fasten off. I read the next section of directions about 3 times and kept thinking "Am I supposed to start another piece and attach it with only a shell?" Finally, I kind of did the stitches in my imagination and then it made sense. And it all worked! And my stitch counts are right on the money and the sweater fits! Which just blows me away because I can't ever remember making a sweater that actually FITS, if you know what I'm trying to say. And can I also say that Doris is a bloody designing genius. I'm just amazed by how this sweater is materializing before my eyes and I can't wait to wear it.

I'll be in my studio from 6:00 to 10:00 tonight so we'll see what gets accomplished!

I added about 5 rows last night - it hangs to my ribcage now. I may add a couple rows, we'll see when I get there what it looks like. At the rate I'm going it may be just a couple more days to completion.

Done! Actually done on March 4, but work has been busy and kept me away from here for a few days.

Here are pics - hope it works, Flickr is less than reliable. I'll put the links too, just in case...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2147/2318830268_0f94d8f188.jpg

Body finished, ready for edging.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2164/2318022511_aa84420786.jpg

Edging finished, ready for blocking.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2357/2318830912_27025e3976.jpg

A nice soak in the tub.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/2318023883_554053a2dc.jpg

Wet lump of yellow yarn (say that 5 times fast!)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2359/2318023419_45fe762abb.jpg

Patted into shape before rolling.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2318832582_5a30993ee5.jpg

Rolled up and ready to stand on.

It's been drying since the 5th. When I checked this morning, it was pretty close so I'll sew the buttons on today and hopefully will be able to take finished photos tomorrow.

So, I finally wore it for the first time on the 19th. Its been very cool here and that was the first day warm enough for a sweater like this. I'm very happy with how it fits; if I had to change anything I might have made it one or two rows shorter. It lands a little below my natural waist (which is somewhat hard to find as I'm shaped a lot like R2D2) and that kind of feels uncomfortable. After the next wearing I'll decide whether or not to rip it out.

Overall, this was a very satisfactory project. Once I understood the stitch pattern, it made more sense and what I learned here has actually helped me on a couple of the in-between projects.

Here's the finished photos. I have a couple other sweaters in mind also, its hard to decide which to start next!

Teresa - are you done with Turquoise Cinnabar? I'd love to see where you are with that!

Joy it's beautiful! it looks like summer!

My Cinnabar is drying; I am just about to post pix under Miggins' Cinnabar topic. Ready to start another one already!! Tall Latte/Haru next, as a vest, I think.