Sewing - Simplicity 6483 - 1 hour top

When my copy of Sew Magazine arrived earlier in the month, it had a one-hour top pattern with it. I couldn't resist, and though it took me more like 4 hours all together, I'm pretty pleased with the result.

Pattern: Simplicity 6483, view D
I had just enough of this lovely blue fabric to cut out all of the pieces, though the neck facings weren't cut on the grain as they were meant to be.

Modifications and adjustments
I didn't make any. I made the size 16 as written. With hindsight, I think that was the wrong choice, as I have some gaping issues around the arms,  and there feels like there is a lot of fabric in the back.

 
When I make this again (and I do intend to make another) I might make a smaller size and adjust for the bust. We will see. I think taking more measurements of myself, and of the garment I have finished, might help me to make that decision.

Knitting - Basket Weave Socks

Pattern: Basket Weave Socks (Ravelry Link)
Yarn: Pagewood Farm Yukon, Vineyard Blues
Needle: 2.5mm

I measured a pair of my husband's hand-knit socks to get the right size. Originally these were going to be a birthday gift for him, but they're more than 2 months late! Fortunately he's very forgiving about hand-knit socks! Instead of writing down a bunch of measurements, knowing how tape-measures like to go walkabout, I simply drew marks on my piece of paper for the length of the cuff, leg, and foot. I also made a note of the pattern so that I wouldn't have to refer to the electronic version. (my laptop and my printer don't talk to one another).

Modifications and Adjustments: I did a twisted rib cuff. I didn't do the heel as written, I did a sort-of-afterthought heel. My husband tells me that the afterthought heel fits him nicely, so once I had knitted to where the heel should be I left a row of contrasting yarn. When I had finished the toes I went back and picked up the stitches around the contrasting yarn and then knitted a toe/heel. After trying on, he'd have preferred a longer cuff. I don't know what's gone wrong there, but I might have included the cuff in the leg length when measuring during knitting, but not when I made the marks. 

Verdict: The pattern is pretty easy to work, once I'd got going. The yarn is lovely. If it were any other colour I'd probably be making something for myself from it!