Electra Finished

Oo dear I have just realised that this blog is woefully overdue an update, so here it is. The title somewhat gives the game away but nevermind.

After I last posted I finished one side of the front split. Then on Wednesday I started the other side and on Thursday I finished it.

Then all of Friday night (and a little bit of this morning) produced this:

Which left this:
Add the Commonwealth games, me feeling really poorly and two rugby matched and I now have this:

I am very pleased with it and I really like the colour combination - I've noticed that most people who have changed the colour combination have gone for clearer colours to show the pattern better and it is definitely worth it. The final seal of approval is that the BF thinks it looks very good (and he was a little unsure of the colour combinations initially) His photography does need improvement though!

The Knitty Gritty

Pattern: Electra from Rowan 38 in size 34.

Yarn: The main colour is Felted Tweed in Midnight (133). I started with one ball less what I used in Drizzle and I have about the same left of the second ball. The contrast colours are Yorkshire Tweed DK in Goose (352) - small kiwi sized ball left - and Felted Tweed in Ginger (154) - half the ball left, together with KSH in Heavenly (592) - knitting in two strands using two balls I probably used a quarter of each ball.

Needles: I used bamboo 4mms for the rib but found that it 'snatched' the yarn too much - the rest of it was knitted on metal needles which was generally fine although a little slippy on the KSH rows.

Comments: This pattern is great fun to knit up and doesn't take too long (apart from bending in all those ends!). I started this on 20 February so it has taken a little under a month - yay! It is a snug fit which isn't a particular problem but anyone not so small on top might find it more of a squeeze. It could also be quite easily knitted in the round until the start of the armhole decreases which would save a lot of effort. My final thought is that I need to learn a better cast off for rib as the rib case off around the neck is a little tight but not at all bad. I have also learnt the power of steam pressing as a method of blocking - this top has not been blocked - mainly because I don't really understand how to do it and also because the top looks fine after its pressing.

So the next question is: do I do the washing up or do I cast on for Carolina?

Answers on a postcard!