Voila, the Lotus Blossom Tank

Done, done, done!! These pics were taken at Stitch 'n Bitch tonight. Currently, I'm finishing up a mini version of the tank for my 17-month-old daughter with leftover yarn. Hopefully, I'll have enough yarn to finish the straps. I might have to use some taupe Patons Grace to do the edging. We'll see - I will be sure to post pics of her wearing her tank when it's finished! :)

Put a fork in me!

I am done! Well, I still need to wash & block this bugger and get DH to take a pic of me modelling (hah!) this thing, but the knitting is done.

Well, I hope I'm done. I did not enjoy picking up and knitting the finishings on the armholes and neckline. I simply had the worst time w/the SWTC Bamboo at this point. I hope the most egregious parts block out. If not, I'll have to go back and re-do them. Gah!

In any case, a quick recap of my tank - I knitted the size 39'' cause I measure 40." I got stitch gauge on size 7 (Boyes interchangeables) needles, but my row gauge was bigger (7.25 rows/in vs 9 rows/in stated in the pattern) in St st. Because of my larger row gauge, I only added 1.5" to the St st portion before splitting for the armholes and felt no need to add a 5th repeat of the alien heads.

Quick thoughts on this project - This was a fun pattern to knit. However, my enjoyment was tempered by the yarn itself. While I like the drape and feel of it, it still got tiring for my hands despite having more give than a 100% mercerized cotton yarn. It didn't bother me while I was doing the lace portion, but the knitting the St st portion got wearying. Oh, and yeah, splitty as heck. All of which is probably why I started losing steam and got really annoyed doing the armhole and neck finishing. I really hope the finish blocks out okay, 'cause I really don't want to go back and re-do them.

Now what do I do w/the 2 whole leftover skeins + the remainder of the 3rd?

Red Lotus

I decided on red for my Lotus Blossom because I love the colour, and I already had one random ball I bought the first time i came across it. I got 2 more from the same store (18 months later) and they are, predictably, different dye lots, but that appears to make no discernible difference at all, fortunately!

I did 6 repeats of the lace, but haven't lengthened the base part of the stocking stitch element - may prove to be rash,

now I read Jackie F's comments from yesterday.

this pic is a bit shakey because I was on a train - and as usual with lace it looks like boiled ass (see Rabbitch's descriptions of her lace...). I've finished the front, and am almost at the short rows for the back. Which is good, because I want to wear it for Woolfest on Saturday (may be blocking it the night before in the B&B, methinks!) NB the colour above is the best I could get even with white balance, but it is really deeper - more like this.

Lotus Blossom Tank - front finished

Lotus Blossom Tank - front finished
Originally uploaded by Sophie_vf.

I chucked the tank I started using the SWTC Intensity, because I decided I'd rather use the variegated yarn for Heatwave. So here's my second try. After ordering some SWTC in cobalt, I cast on again, and have finally gotten to finishing the front.

I don't LOVE knitting with bamboo, because it feel so stiff to me, but I do really like the fabric it produces. Perhaps because it's so drapey, the garment seems to come out really big even if you get gauge on the swatch, so I'm knitting the smallest size, which seems absurdly small compared to my actual bust size. I did add some short rows to the front to make sure it was long enough that I don't flash people through the lace section. Otherwise, I'm continuing on and hoping for the best.

FYI: beware, the straps will pull up the front

My Lotus Blossom Tank is drying! I have a picture and details on my blog. I'll post a picture after it's dry and I'm wearing it...

While I'm here, I thought I'd mention something important for those who haven't completed the stockinette portion of the tank [BTW, this will make sense when reading, but you might not think of it while knitting]:

You might want to knit the stockinette section an inch longer. Most people are doing this anyway. But, even after customizing yours to make it long enough to cover the bust, you might want to add yet another inch. Why? The straps will pull up the front an inch after seaming. At least, that is to say, they did on mine. Thankfully, my tank still covers the bust, but with very little material to spare. This was an unexpected result considering I had already made my stockinette portion longer than the pattern indicated. So, if yours is only just covering the bottom part of the bust and you want to wear your tank sans camisole, you'll be risking exposing your bra if you don't make it longer. 'Thought I'd share - hope this helps!

Oh yeah - one more thing! The extra inch should be added while still knitting in the round. Adding any length after the armhole BO would disrupt the seaming.

Just getting started...ease?

Once I finish a stole/scarf from Mason Dixon, I'm going to cast on. I have some SWTC Oasis that I'm going to use, it swatches up about right (I'm having a hard time doing a circular swatch), and the SoySilk website says it can be subbed for Bamboo. I'm planning on adding a few inches to the length.

What kind of ease should I plan for? I'm hoping that I can get away with an inch or two of negative ease.

Thar she grows!

I'm finally swatching, and things are going well. The unwashed swatch was dead on for the row count, but I had way too many stitches width-wise. Then I washed it, it's blocking upstairs -- and so much wider than it started out! Will re-measure once it's dry, but I think I'll be spot on (or close enough) for gauge. Bamboo really does bloom like you wouldn't believe.

One question, though: my bust is 33 1/2", the XS is 33 3/4. Should I be worried? After everyone's sizing issues, I'm a bit concerned.

Vacation Project 101

I love seeing everyone's wip & fo! Thanks to all the good advice, I've added the 5th lace repeat, and plan to make the stockinette section a bit longer too. I haven't taken it off the needles, but width seems okay. Now that I'm onto straight ss, this project is ready to get on the plane with me this Saturday to visit family and friends in Ohio/Michigan. Does anyone have an opinion on yardage: it took 1 skein = 4 lace repeats of size small, so that leaves 1 skein for the fifth repeat and all the stockinette. Do you think I should pick up another skein before I go???

Tried Mine On

After finishing the front, I tried my LBT on and it fits - yay! My mods worked. So far, I've got the more A-line shape and longer length I wanted. Now, I just have to finish the back. I have about 5 inches until the shoulder shaping. I'm really excited about this tank! It's so different from anything else I've knitted this summer.

Nearing the armhole BO...

Here's my progress on my 39" size LBT! I've got about an inch or so to go before binding off at the armholes. As you can see from the measuring tape across the front, it is ~34 inches. Having 5 inches less than the pattern's 39 doesn't worry me, especially since I made a 32" Green Gable (with 12 short rows) that fit my 37" bust just fine.

It's hard to see the lace pattern due to the flash. But, the picture I took without flash was too blurry.

Progess report and in translation

I tried on my LBT and while I'm content with the circumference (not too wide at all and it's nicely drapey), I was rather concerned it was shorter than I was expecting. However, I think I've decided I will lengthen the St st portion so the bust line will be where I want it and consequently address the lace length issue.

And out of curiosity, I asked a friend who speaks & reads both Cantonese & Mandarin to tranlate the Chinese LBT blog post, well the pic at least. It basically said it was the Lotus Blossom flower pattern in 100% cotton "thread" (probably yarn?) and she used 5 and 5.5 mm sized needles, but I'm sure everyone's already figured out the needle size part.

Edited to add: My friend also tells me the blog entry discusses how she felt about her accomplishment.

Bloomin' issues

Well... I *was* really excited that I finished the Lotus Blossom tank. The fabric is beautiful. The little alien heads/lotus blossoms are pretty. But it's just too darn short.

This look might go over well on the weekends but I really wanted to wear this cute little top to work. And while the layered look might be in style...

I'm just thinking not-so-much my style. It takes away from the cute shaping of the neckline and in my opinion looks a little dumb. Nother problem was where the lace began. I'm not exactly well endowed, but my little tykes could peek out at the bottom of the stockinette. If you've got a little more upstairs than I do (I think most women out there do) you may want to consider adding a bit more stockinette just for the sake of decency.

I don't think I knit it wrong. In fact, as I took a look again at the magazine I think it's a fairly short top on the models as well. I just don't own pants that come up to my belly button so I end up with the need for even longer shirts.

So... last night while watching Jimmy Neutron I frogged the top part back to the armpits and picked up the stockinette banner once more. I figure I'll add another 4 inches of stockinette to the top. The lace should start somewhere near my belly button and it'll give me the length I want.

Aloha!

I started this great tank on June 11th, but just found the KAL today. I could have used the emotional support during my gauging and lace-knitting (first time with lace patterns) but am thankful I found y'all now!
I am not using bamboo (my local yarn store is 60 miles away, and really small, and filled with nothing but eyelash yarn), instead using Filatura di Crosa Zara Merino from the stash...and I will run out. Yarn shortages in mind, I got gauge on a size 9 needle, which is making for a much looser and more open lacework. I am also incorporating one skein of grey into the green (waist, sleeves? Neckline?). I am at 1.5 inches of stockinette and I have about 200 yards of green left...
So I will be here, knitting, and holding my breath.
I love seeing everyone's photos, and it is comforting knowing y'all are out there!
Aloha!
Kel

Having trouble already!

Hi everyone! I'm joining a little late but I'm not wasting time in encountering problems! I did 9 rows of the pattern, realized I made a mistake, took my work off the needles (which I bought for the project and hate - but I digress) and thought I would slip it on since it looked HUGE. I was right. I'm making the second size (39" bust) but it was big, big, big. I'm hesitant to cast on again for the smallest size, though, because I actually have a 40.5" bust. What to do?

Do I have everyone listed?

If you are reading this and you joined this KAL (I invited you via Blogger, you accepted, etc.), does your name appear on the list in the sidebar? And if you have a blog, did I link to your blog? Some of you created blogs after joining and I think I got everyone in this scenario updated. If not, please leave a comment or send me an email. Thanks!

On the subject of my Lotus Blossom Tank - um, I started mine last weekend and 5 rounds in, I discovered I twisted my stitches. I haven't touched it since. LOL! Actually, I've been trying to finish something else and I just seamed and wove in the ends, so that is done. I'll restart LBT soon.

Someone on flickr.com has a gorgeous blue one

Saw this on flickr today. It's beautiful. Once of the tags says pima tencel, so I'm wondering if it's Cascade in #1694 or if it's a Classic Elite Premiere shade.

In the meantime, I'm still slowly progressing on my 3rd lace repeat. Crappy pics on my blog.

Hope all of you are well.

I've made progress on Lotus Blossoms!

OK, I just want to give a quick shout out to the lovely lady who mentioned that the blossoms look like Alien Heads.

Yup, thanks. Now, where once I saw lovely Lotus Blossoms, now I see only creepy Aliens Heads.

Nope, no nightmares here! Nuh-unh. Not me, no siree bob! There wouldn't be any nightmares here about being eaten alive and sky lifted to a flying saucer for scary tests. Just us Lotus Blossoms....

So, thanks. :)

Oh, and I've posted some progress pics on my blog at wordswitsnwool.blogspot.com.

It's fun to see everyone's progress. Keep it up!

Switching to the XS after the bust: here's the plan...

I have written down a plan for how I will downsize my 39" size tank to the 33.75" size just above the bust. Since I'm petite, my shoulders are narrow in width and short in height measuring from the bust. Normally, I would probably wear the XS (33.75") and just make that size without any modifications. But, I haven't yet lost the 20-25 lb that I should. So, in the meantime I'm going to make some extra, evenly-spaced decreases on the front and back. These decreases fall after the largest part of my bust and after the armhole BO. To downsize, 28 sts need to be evenly decreased in total: 14 for the front and 14 for the back. All extra decreases are completed prior to the front neckline BO and the shoulder shaping on the back. In order to not take up too much space here, please read all further details on my blog post.

Has anyone noticed that the neckband is worked back and forth? Is this due to the curvature or length of the neckline? It must be easier (or necessary) to work back and forth, then connect each end in the front if that's what the pattern says. I wonder if it's possible to work the neckband in the round like the armholes? When I get to the point where I've picked up and knitted the neckline sts for the neckband, I guess I'll find out then!

Sizing Question - Please help!!

My yarn arrived, and I am starting my swatches. I will need to adjust the pattern for sizing, and I am wondering if anyone out there has had to go bigger? It is hard to tell from the dinky little schematic in IK just where exactly the measurements are taken, and when I was measured for what looked like the same points, it seems that I need to increase width, but not length so much. Any advice for dealing with the neckline? I am not sure what to do about adjusting the triangles on the back and the front so that they match up correctly.

Also, how lacy (sheer) is the bottom panel? It is hard to tell from the photos, but it seems from the WIPs posted that it is not too sheer. Can you see da belly?? I hope not!! ;)

Thanks for helping!

LBT Experience

Thank you Betty for inviting me to join this KAL. I recently finished my LBT and just put up a post about my experience on my blog. After seeing everyone's lovely yarn choices I am tempted to make another one!

Popping In To Say Hi

I didn't know about this KAL until last week and Betty has graciously allowed me to join in the fun. I've been working on my Lotus Blossom for a while now and am about 2 inches into the stockinette part. It's such a lovely pattern and so fun to see how everyone else's is coming along. I can't wait to see all of them finished up.

Here's a quick shot of my work in progress. I hope to get it finished up this weekend as I'm pretty sure it will go quite fast.

See it at flickr

LBT WIP and bamboo yarn question

Here's a pic of my 1st lace pattern repeat. Is this yarn going to get softer after more wear like linen and hemp? I'd love to know since I've never used bamboo yarn.

3/4 of my aliens have landed

Hi All -- I'm so glad I found you. I've finished 3 rows of the lace pattern and started slowing down a bit (i.e., another yarn, another pattern caught my eye ;~})... I'm counting on this KAL to be my inspiration to finish (quickly). My LBT is in purple. I got the yarn as a Mother's Day gift (if you send them to the right LYS store with the magazine and pattern circled, they come back with something you love!). I've never worked with bamboo before and was surprised at its crunchiness. I assume it will soften once washed and blocked. I'm making the smallest size because the last couple of things I made out of IK came out way too big... I haven't taken it off the needles yet to try it on, but maybe will do so after reading some of your comments. Otherwise, I'm loving the yarn and the pattern. I created a faux-chart for myself to speed the process along (no symbols, just abbreviations). I've thought about adding a 5th repeat but am not sure (1) I'll have enough yarn and (2) I'll have enough motivation. Fortunately, I like how 4 repeats look. Anyway, here it is so far.

Welcome to the Alien Head KAL!

My friends Julie and Rosemary over at the Craftborg Podcast plugged this KAL on their podcast this week. They said the lotus blossoms look like little alien heads. They might be right.

Go have a listen. It's within the first 5 minutes of the show so if you don't want to listen to whole thing, you could stop after they talk about the KAL.

What's a podcast? FREE digital talk radio. Better yet, what's a knitting podcast? Knitters talking about knitting. You don't need an iPod. It's mp3 format, so you can listen right on your computer.

A little annoyed

I'm slowly progressing and finally get to row 10 where I switch needle sizes and what do I find? A lovely little knot where they joined the yarn. I wasn't expecting to deal w/any joining issues 'til I got to the end of the skein.

So, anyone who's knitted w/this bamboo yarn have any suggestions on how to do a join, other than the usual weaving type method? I've never done a Russsian join, but I thought that works only if the yarn is plied as the one cotton example I saw on an online tutorial somewhere. Are there any other methods? A name would be fine 'cause then I could just google it up. TIA for any help!

Chart Added

I'm not sure if this was already mentioned but Interweave Knits added a chart for the lace part of the pattern on the corrections page of their website. There are no mistakes on the pattern, just a chart if you prefer the visual.

Someone in Blogland has an FO

Not a part of this KAL, but whatever.

Yay!

Ready to cast on

Hi everyone!
I am excited to be a part of this knitalong. I have swatched and am ready to go. Admittedly, I did not swatch the lace or in the round but let's hope for the best. I am subbing with Elann's Sonata in Cape Cod Blue, a very economical choice suggested by Hellahelen over at Knitty, is she the same Helen on this KAL?
Looking forward to seeing everyone's progress,
Kerry aka hootsister

SWTC Bamboo Sahara

What do you think of this colourway? Do you think it looks too much like desert camouflage?

I have done a few rounds of the lotus blossom pattern, but I am worried about the colours now.

I know camo is 'in' at the moment but may be it's not 'age appropriate' for me, being nearly 50.

Excited to be here!

I thought I'd go ahead and create a post even though I haven't started yet. 'Just wanted to say hi and I'm excited to belong to this KAL! I ordered my yarn on sale this weekend and expect to get it by Wednesday. Thanks to reading a helpful post on the knitty board, I was able to buy my yarn @ $9.45/skein. I really was torn between the parrot, tequilla, cobalt blue, and turquoise! In the end I ordered the turqouise. If I like bamboo, I can always do another summer project in one of the other colors mentioned...

Have you read through the entire pattern? I'm glad to see the use of Japanese short rows - that's how I do mine anyway. As for sizing: I'm a 37" bust size, so I'll probably make the 39" size. However, if I find the yarn is any bit stretchy when swatching, I might switch to the 33.75" size and do 5 repeats of the lace pattern rather than 4. I've never knit with bamboo. If it acts in any way like cotton, I'll really be leaning towards the smaller size because everything I've knit in cotton this summer has negative ease and fits nicely. Besides, I could always insert short rows at the bust if necessary.

Can't wait to start!

About Bamboo Yarn

I checked gauge as I was knitting my swatch. It appeared as if my knitting was getting tighter and tighter. It went from 6 spi to 6.5 spi. I was a full stitch tighter than the pattern gauge. Yet the fabric I was producing was very loose and holey. In my short experience as a knitter, 1 stitch looser or tighter usually means about 2 needle sizes. In this case, I would probably have to go up to Size 7 needles. I worried about what my fabric would look like. Probably not something I would like very much.

I decided I would wash, block and re-measure gauge before I decided on anything, but even this worried me. Usually, blocking tightens things up, right? Anyway, swatch has been blocked. I am at 6 spi. Pre-blocking - I was at 6.5 spi. And somehow the fabric looks tighter than pre-blocking. The yarn softened - which I already knew it would do. But did it bloom?

If my math is correct, I can knit at my current gauge and follow the 39" bust directions, and I will have a finished bust of just under 36" which is what I want. The in-between size problem has been resolved!

I am happy, but nervous. I am going to check gauge A LOT. Here I go - I'm casting on.

Lotus blossom beginning. V. girly

Lotus blossom beginning. V. girly
Originally uploaded by Sophie_vf.

I've gotten one repeat of the lace pattern done, but I don't think I'm going to keep it. Reasoning thus:

blue, lavender, and aqua = + 1 girly point
lace = +1 girly point
cute shoulder detail (not shown) = +1 girly point.

I've exceeded my girly quota on this project! So I think I might stick to using this colorway (Intensity) for Heatwave after all. I've ordered some cobalt blue SWTC bamboo, and will start Lotus blossom again when it arrives.

No pictures yet...

...but I have the yarn. I'm usually a purples and blacks kind of person, but I bought the SWTC in intensity, a blue/purple/something else I can't quite identify mix. It's gorgeous, and I can't wait to get started!

Hi Everyone!

Here's my yarn and swatch for my very first official knitalong. Not sure if I should be excited or nervous, but what the heck. I bought all 5 cobalt skeins left when Article Pract (Oakland, CA) cleared their lot of SWTC Bamboo 2-3 months ago. It's a good thing too since I know I'll have to lengthen at least the top half of the tank for sure. Will be knitting the 39" size. Got gauge using #7 needles (Boyes interchangeable).

Crochet-Chick on the knitty.com board

Swatch This!

The yarn is greener than I expected but I still like the color. I am obviously on the st st portion, and afer a few inches I'll go right into the lace pattern. The pattern calls for st st in the round and back and forth, depending on where you are in the pattern. I decided to swatch the st st back and forth, because in the pattern, the bust area is back and forth and that will either be my triumph or colossal failure in fit. When I get to the lace swatching, I'll do that in the round by carrying the yarn across the back of the swatch.