There was a time when I didn't gape hopelessly at every knit-clad torso I encountered. Not any more. In the back of my work folder are lots of little doodles which I like to think of as "design sketches", although really they're just scribbled rendering of garments I see on people in the library and want to copy. Yesterday, I saw a girl in a longer-length knitted top, in st st up to just below the bust, and then with a diagonal lace pattern covering the bust and upper back. It had cute little puffed cap sleeves and I wanted it. Armed only with Vogue Knitting and some DB Cathay from the stash, I've made my first approaches to knocking off the pattern.
Ideally, I would like to make a vintage-looking blouse like this in 4-ply; I don't have any hanging around at the moment, but fortunately the yarn I have can knit to a fairly small gauge. There are some parts of working out the pattern which alarm me. Specifically, what to do with the hems and how to manage the lace pattern around the shoulder and armhole shaping fill me with dread. But at the moment, I'm excited about working out the answers, though I'm not yet sure that my enthusiasm will outrun any disappointments in making this.
The cloud bolero is taking shape again, on smaller needles. I'm hoping to have it finished on Thursay so I can wear it at the ATP festival this weekend, but that may be a little ambitious. It's certainly less fun second time around.