Knitting and Buttons

Two projects are totally and completely done. The blue top is Seta, a silk blend from Berroco. I made it several years ago, and it grew and grew. Finally, over the winter, it was ripped out and re-started. In the smallest size and on smaller needles! On Sunday, it was (re) finished and the ends were worked in.

I've also added buttons to the red vest and it has been packed away to come out again in October or November. What do you think of these buttons? They are a mottled blue/red combo...

Knitters Wine Tote -- Is this Useful?

I visited a Wine Show this past weekend to determine if it would have been a good show for Olio2go to be at (sadly, "no"). It didn't seem to be a gourmet olive oil crowd! I did find this cute wine bottle tote bag. I can't possibly think of an occasion when I would need a 6-bottle wine tote, but this holds promise for a knitting sports mom (that's a term in need of a definition!) The dividers could well keep separate a couple of bottles of water, a small snack, and small knitting projects such as socks or mittens.

The bag holds a twisted hank of Ballybrae, and the Finished Object: The Farrow Rib Scarf in Classic Elite Wool Bam Boo yarn. I haven't blocked the scarf yet because today is Valentine's Day and I need a flash of Red. A special thanks to Claudia for a great pattern and scarf idea. I particularly like this pattern because it could also be well suited to a gentleman's scarf. I must get back to updating my knitting log so the details can be found when needed again!

Reading Adventures: I finished Adriana Trigiani's Home to Big Stone Gap. The beginning was familiar in the sense that I kept asking myself if I had read this book before or if the deja vu sensation was from being familiar with the characters in her prior books. It took until the mid-point of the book before I realized that I hadn't read this book before. I've now read everything except her cookbook, Cooking with My Sisters.

What was I thinking?

On the striped sofa is a striped vest, and on the striped vest is the red Ballybrae all-over cabled vest, WIP.

The striped vest fits well, but has slightly too much ease. The red cabled vest, I fear, is too small. It's been a pick-up/put-down project since July. I've counted and I've twisted cables 186 times thus far!

This was knit in one piece to the underarms. If you look closely, the two vest fronts are about an inch apart. Even with banding, I think it will be too small.

Then I studied the pattern again. My gauge didn't loosen as it usually does. I guess all those cables kept it tight. I don't think it will loosen with blocking.

Sigh.

Rather than rip out right away. I found another set of needles, larger this time, and started again. Some time in the next couple of weeks, I'll have the nerve to rip this out. After I knit it to the armholes again. Wish me luck!