tiptoeing through the primroses

Other than two trips to pick up the dress in previous photo (on Saturday we decided to take it in a little more under the bust, so I went back to get it Sunday), I spent a lot of the weekend knitting. I finished the sock I was working on, grafted the toe and wove in ends (actually, that might have been Thursday – not sure), cast on the second sock, and powered through the leg and heel. Now I’ve just got the gusset and foot to finish. That’s one reason I really prefer toe-up socks – it seems to take so long to get through the gusset decreases when you’re doing them after the heel, somehow.

I also swatched and cast on for a sleeveless Primrose Path sweater – after all that lace and sock knitting it will be nice to get back to fat yarn and needles. This sweater is entirely ribbed, which is a bit slower than knitting stockinette, but I think it will seem relatively quick because of the much bigger gauge and lack of sleeves. I’m doing it in a pale green – it actually feels a little strange to be knitting in the same color as the pattern! Not the same exact yarn – I had a bad experience with Optimum that left me dienchanted with the Southwest Trading Company – but Ella Rae Bamboo Silk, which is very similar.

Also, I’m finding this dress comfortable enough that I’m really tempted to get another one made, same fit but a little different. Definitely shorter. Maybe claret-colored? Damask pattern, or something like that if they have it. Or, since the shop makes traditional cheong-sams also, I suppose I could go wild with a Chinese figured satin – but I think I’d get a lot less wear out of that. I could also vary the design – one possibility would be a waist seam and some gathering in the top, or maybe a flared swingy skirt. Hmmmm…