Project Rowan Arielle

I haven't blogged about my knitting for a while. As usual I have quite a few projects on the go but couldn't resist casting on this pretty top.

The pattern comes from a Rowan booklet called "Misty in Light & Shade" featuring 21 designs by Kim Hargreaves. I love this booklet as I would like every item in it...if I had the time and money to knit everything!

I'm a little concerned about how this top is going to look on my body shape since I am not very well endowed, to say the least. I will probably have to accentuate the waist shaping, just to make sure it's not totally unflattering.

I've heard many good things about the yarn used for this project. Rowan Fine Milk Cotton
is a 4ply yarn that is reputed to give excellent stitch definition and drape once washed. It's actually discontinued so I struggled to get hold of any but as with many "hard to get" items, eBay came to the rescue. I managed to snag 10 balls for £20.

The first problem I encountered was that I didn't have any 2.25mm straight knitting needles (only circs, and I don't like knitting large garments with circular needles as I'm a "pit knitter"). I did have 2.5mm so I am using them and hoping for the best. The hem is knitted sideways with short shows and the stitches for the main body of the top picked up from the shorter side of the knitted hem. I may not do as many repeats since I am using larger needles...I'll have to do some guesstimations. 

So far it's looking quite cute, the short rows and eyelets are making the hem almost skirt like... in fact you could knit a skirt using this method....hmmm...mustn't get side tracked... which reminds me, I have finished my lane splitter skirt - just need some good photos!