FO- Pucker

Instant Gratification comes in many forms. This one just happened to be a feminine Norah Gaughan sleeveless top.



The aptly named "Pucker" from Norah Gaughan's Volume 4 collection. It took me just a couple weeks from start to finish.



I made the second-smallest size- the 38"- and I have plenty of room in there. It gave my heart the pitter pats when I was seeming it up because it looked enormous. All that extra fabric just hangs around and gracefully drapes and swishes around when you move.



It's a lot of stockinette and then some interesting detail at the front to create the namesake pucker.



The yarn makes this pattern. Seduce is a really unique yarn. It is composed of 47% Rayon, 25% Linen, 17% Silk, 11% Nylon. It appears to have two strands of yarn spun around a thin core. It's very slick. I had to change to bamboo needles after about 5 minutes of trying to work with metal and having the entire project fall off the needles. It's a bit thick-and-thin, which helps hide stitch inconsistencies, and it blocks out lengthwise quite a bit.



It was kind of cold on picture day so I had it layered, but this will be nice in July with a thin tissue tank or cami underneath.



The Specs: I used almost all of 9 skeins of Seduce- 900 yards- for the 38" size. I used size 6 needles, which helped control the stretching issues I had when swatching- this could easily turn into a mini-dress if your gauge is loose.

I didn't modify the pattern at all- it's simple and fast to knit up. I might try and do this in the round next time, but I think the side seams give it weight and help with the drape.

Beach Day

This past weekend was so hot, I couldn't resist a little trip to the beach. I'm pretty close to Brighton Beach and it's a little less crowded than Coney Island, so I set out early in the morning with my beach chair and my knitting.





There's something soothing about getting to the beach earlier in the day than everyone else and taking in the sounds of the surf and the seabirds.





I think all New Yorkers forget sometimes that we live on an island.



Mind you, I don't go near the water anyplace this close to the city but I'm pretty sure it was too cold for a dip anyway. Brighton Beach is a Russian neighborhood, and you can find people in the water year-round going for a swim.

Also, the thing about this beach is that people are pretty comfortable with their bodies. It makes for some mighty fine people watching.





Be happy that my focal point was off. This guy had skin-tight skivvies on that showed all his junk. The soft focus improves the situation greatly.



There was something really disturbing about this chap. I couldn't put my finger on it until he passed me by.


MAKE IT STOP! Oh, my eyes. What is seen can not be unseen.

Sadly, I got this crazy deer-in-the-headlights thing happening and the prize buck eluded my camera. He seemed like a local. Maybe I'll get him next time. His neon green speedo still haunts my dreams.

On to the knitting.



I'm still crawling along on the Escargot mitts...I did make a pretty big dent in them and I'm almost up to the thumb. I find it hard to find the time to sit down with the chart and have quiet concentration time, and the beach was pretty perfect for this.



The Pucker top. I actually finished this up on Sunday and I love it...pictures soon. It's simple and quick to knit and makes a drapey flattering summer top. I'm still love/hating this yarn, but the end result was worth it. The sunshiny lemon color makes me happy.

I have a bunch of FOs that I need to take pictures of this weekend. I also finished spinning for the Oatmeal Cardigan and started swatching in earnest last night...I'm really very happy the way the yarn came out and I have my itchy cast-on finger at the ready.