FO: Cloud Bolero

Coming in at just under 3 weeks, Cloud Bolero is finished.

Pattern: Cloud Bolero, by Ysolda.
Yarn: Rowan Summer Tweed, color 541 Blossom, 3 1/2 skeins.
Modifications: I knit the small size and did the extra set of increases before casting off the sleeves. I only cast on 4 sts under the armhole, which brought me up to the number of stitches required for the small. From there, I just knit until it was long enough and added buttonholes every 10 rows or so. I opted for a garter stitch border at the bottom instead of the picot bind-off. The big wood buttons are from my button stash, originally purchased at Joann's, my favorite button source.

Ta da!

Verdict: I am very pleased with the length and overall style of this. If I were to do it differently, I would do something with the big armholes. They are OK, but when I wear this, the sleeve caps tend to ride up and give the top a sleeveless look. This is OK, but not my favorite. I hated knitting with the summer tweed, but I really like the look of it. Blocking it in water helped soften it up, but I've tossed in the hamper and will give it a real wash with soap and fabric softener.

I've also started two new projects. I've been so smitten with my Leafy Lace Cardi and have worn it so much that I decided I wanted another one. I scoured the internet and found some more Cotton Glace on eBay. I'm going to knit it up in the same basic shape, but I'm using a clover lace pattern and making a few other changes.

I also swatched for this red lace top that Susan made. She was kind enough to share her pattern notes and lace chart. I'm using Shine Sport in Cherry red. More details as this project develops . . .

Sneak Peek & A Meme

Thank you all for your lovely comments on the Leafy Lace Cardi. I've worn it twice so far and love it!

The knitting for the Cloud Bolero is done. It's drying right now, and all it needs are buttons sewn on and ends woven in. Here's a sneak peek:

I've also been making some progress on Orangina. I made a couple of mistakes and have had to rip out some rows, but I've got about 12" of one side done. It's slow going mainly because of the yarn. I'm using Elann Lara, and although the fabric is very nice, it's the splittiest yarn I've ever worked with.

Claudia recently tagged me to fill out this meme. It's a fun one, so if you're interested in knowing more about me, here goes.

1) What was I doing 10 years ago? I had just returned home to my parents' house after my freshman year of college. I spent the summer working at Talbots, where I had started working three years earlier in 1995. I was finally allowed to ring customers on the register, but my main job was to fold sweaters, clean up the fitting rooms, re-stock the shelves and answer phones. I learned a lot about what a mix of nice and not-so-nice shoppers are out there!

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today? Besides work-related stuff: 1) Go to the gym, 2) Go to the grocery store (may not happen), 3) Watch 2 more episodes of 'The Wire' from Netflix, 4) Upload pictures from my vacation last year to be printed out, 5) Clean my bathroom.

3) Snacks I enjoy: Little cheese square crackers from Trader Joe's, cashews, any kind of cheese, peanut butter cookies, snowballs with marshmallow from my favorite local snowball stand.

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire: Buy Bill a new car, pay off our house, pay off my parents' and in-laws' houses, take a few extravagant vacations, and donate a good chunk to two causes important to me: cancer research and animal welfare. I've always been a supporter of adopting pets instead of purchasing them. If you missed Oprah's eye-opening episode on puppy mills, try and catch it in a rebroadcast and see why.

5) Places I have lived: I was born and raised in Baltimore, MD; During my college years, I spent time living in Boston, MA, Villanova, PA, and London, England. I am now back in Baltimore.

6) Jobs I have had: I told you about Talbots; I also spent a summer selling Cutco knives, and another summer as a temp at Blue Cross Insurance. Once I was in graduate school, I worked as a tutor and statistical consultant before I started my "real" job as a biostatistician five years ago.

7) Bloggers I am tagging who you will enjoy getting to know better: The meme has been around for a while, so if you'd like to participate, consider yourself tagged!