Comfy Weekend Project

I had been looking for an excuse to try out Comfy ever since I knit up the buttons-and-closures swatches for the cover of the April catalog. It was so soft in my hands, and I loved the resulting fabric (even though I had to do even *more* dreaded seed stitch for the swatches). While I was editing Kelley's podcast interview with Joan McGowan-Michael, I got to listen to them talking about Joan's Shaped Lace Tee pattern in Knitting Lingerie Style. Apparently I'm an easily impressionable lady, and their discussion was enough to make me pull out my needles and get to work.

I had purchased 9 balls of Comfy in Blackberry when it came out, thinking that I'd make some kind of short-sleeved sweater. The amazing part to me is that I only ended up using just under 5 balls for the entire Shaped Lace Tee - the lace pattern gave the garment a lot of stretch, and the eyelets made the sweater less bulky. I definitely have to wear it over a camisole since it's such an open knit, but I'm really happy with the fit and the finishing. Another bonus: this is an incredibly fast knit - I was able to get the body and both sleeves finished during the weekend.

If you're going to try this pattern, I'd recommend going up a needle size or two for your cast-on edge of the scalloped lace pattern - it'll help the little rounded edges lay nice and flat. I blocked them pretty aggressively to make them behave!

Yarn: Comfy in Blackberry
Needles: Nickel-plated Options, sizes 5, 6, and 7
Pattern: Shaped Lace Tee from Knitting Lingerie Style by Joan McGowan-Michael

related podcast: Episode 47: Interview with Joan McGowan-Michael

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Comment by KellesBelles on June 30, 2008 at 12:16pm: Now, after seeing your project, I'm going to have to get my hands on that book and eventually knit this beautiful sweater. I love the color of the yarn you chose.

Comment by Alison on June 26, 2008 at 10:48am: Yay! The lace pattern is super-stretchy, so I think you'd be ok using your actual bust measurement. I made mine so that it'd have 1" of negative ease (one inch smaller than my actual bust measurement) because I wanted it to be fitted, but this is up to personal taste. I did, however, add about 3" in length to the back and front pieces so that it'd be a little longer. Good luck!

Comment by Kateglez on June 26, 2008 at 10:42am: yayyy! I just did my "practise" piece as you suggested, and it came out perfect... Now I'm ready to start again. I think I can do it this time.
Thank you! Kate

Comment by Kateglez on June 26, 2008 at 10:02am: Thanks, Alison... I've just come from reading the lace tutorial and it was helpful. For one thing, I wasn't using markers and following my chart. So I'm going to get my fuzzy yarn and practise the pattern now using the markers and see if I can figure it out. I'm determined! The size I'm working is the 47" bust...which may be a bit large but I wanted it a little full to fit over a cami. Should I stick with my actual bust measurement? Or use the larger size? Kate

Comment by Alison on June 26, 2008 at 9:48am: No problem! I pulled out the pattern and took a look. Which size are you making? I'd double-check the number of stitches that you cast on - this is the usual culprit when my stitch pattern isn't working out. If you subtract 4 from that number of cast-on stitches, you should get a number divisible by 9.

Looking at the stitch pattern, it says that, for Row 2, you'll have a K3 on your right edge, a number of *xxxx* pattern repeats, and then a K1 on your left edge. Using that already-fuzzy yarn, try casting on 13 stitches and doing a single pattern repeat:

K3, yo, k2, skk, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, k1

3 + 1 (for the yo) + 2 + 1 (for the ssk) + 1 (for the k2tog) + 2 + 1 (for the yo) + 1 + 1 = 13 stitches

Keep going from there and do 8 rows, just to see how the pattern's coming together. Most of the time when I'm screwing things up with lace patterns it's because I misread a symbol and that threw off my stitch count or the order of stitches. Here's our glossary of terms - I use it like a security blanket when I'm starting a new, strange stitch pattern.

Comment by Kateglez on June 26, 2008 at 9:29am: Well, I got my yarn and the book arrived two days ago. I sat down with all my goodies in my lap and was very excited to begin my new project. However, after beginning and ripping out my rows more than twenty times now...I am a bit frustrated. I am an experienced knitter, but I have to admit this is my first knitted lace project. So maybe there is something I need to know about lace knitting? I dunno... I just need help.
Here's what happens. I cast on and purl my first row like it says. And then I knit the first lace row. But it says to "end with knit 1". And the pattern doesn't fall that way. So I have more than 1 stitch left when I come to the end..every time. I've tried to make it a "1" stitich...but I lose the lace pattern. The same thing happens on row four. It says to "end with knit 2", but there are more than two stitches left at the end....
So far, I've knitted up to four rows so many times that my yarn is getting fuzzy. Allison...HELP! What am doing wrong? Kate

Comment by Roxane on June 14, 2008 at 9:27am: Outstanding! I really like the stitch definition in Comfy--much better than I expected from such a soft yarn, and this piece really shows it off. Beautifully, beautifully done, as always, Alison!

Comment by Alison on June 13, 2008 at 12:58pm: I made the size 38, but added about three inches of length to the front and back so that it would fit my torso. Have fun knitting it!

Comment by Cristin on June 13, 2008 at 12:18pm: Okay, so, I bought the book and the yarn, now time to create something with it. What size did you make this one as?

Comment by Wendy on June 12, 2008 at 7:26pm: Well, I pulled the book,,, 2 cones of floss in the same shiney light blue to hold 2 strands together... I got to wondering about the pale silver cone... thinking about beads and all and perhaps using the silver on the lace. One silver and one light blue and light blue beading. YUMMY! I tell you I just don't need food so long as there is all of this knitting to do.