I have been working on my Boxes Drape Vest for the past few weeks — it is a LOT of knitting! But my goal is to finish it before embarking on anything new, so I plod onward.
Lettie agreed to try it on for me and the saucy minx was bra-less! Jeez, Lettie, cover up that boob!
And from the back:
I tried it on, too, and I think it will fit. I wanted to have the “racer-back” look of the original (see picture below) because it looked so fantastic on my friend Beth. This sounds good in theory, but presented a few issues. The armhole opening is quite small and since the opening orients more to the back (making the back narrow and racer-like) the fronts bunch at the front armhole. I made my armholes wider, putting the extra space BEFORE the armhole placement in the pattern. I added 12 rows to the opening. Mayhaps too much, though it still presses against my arm in the front a little bit. It made the armhole opening a little large for my taste. I added 4 rows of 2×2 ribbing around the armhole opening (not in the original pattern) and it did help. Blocking the center back a little wider will also help.
Another issue is that I am running out of yarn. I bought 6 skeins of Lorna’s Laces Shepherd’s Worsted, color Hermosa — it was all they had. I found one more skein and thought, “Woo Hoo! I can add an extra set of boxes to make it longer!” Wrong, over-confident one! At the center back, I had used up all of the 4th skein of 7. That means I would need 8 to complete it as is. So, I will knit with my 3 remaining skeins until I run out of yarn. Then I will cut off the first half, more or less splitting the difference, add some length to side 2 to make them equal, and then reknit the ribbing on side 1. It will involve a little extra work, but after trying it on, it is too long now anyway. 
What a maroon!
That is gorgeous! I love most of the patterns in that book! I did the mitered vee capelet. It was really fun to knit.
Comment by Maria — May 2, 2010 @ 2:28 pm
Maroon? I think not. Many knitters (most knitters?) would not be able to accomplish your fix. I admire you
Comment by kmkat — May 2, 2010 @ 4:04 pm
This vest seems like such a natural for you that I hope it turns out to your satisfaction.
Comment by Chloe — May 2, 2010 @ 6:55 pm
Ah, don’t be tough on yourself. Sometimes I think that knowing how to fix stuff like this lets us take some chances. Sometimes they work out wonderfully, sometimes we have to adjust a bit. But we CAN adjust – that is all that matters! The vest is going to look smashing on you – just your colors. And I love the woven boxes – so classic and so classy.
Comment by twinsetellen — May 2, 2010 @ 7:29 pm
Yes, we often outsmart ourselves, don’t we?
Comment by Surly — May 2, 2010 @ 9:04 pm
Looking forward to seeing it finished.
When I read the adjustments you had to do, I went what, a person can do that????LOL
You are truly an amazing lady.
Comment by Annie C — May 3, 2010 @ 7:07 pm
Susan- I think that design requires a taller person, so you will look great in it.
Some of us are a little more height-challenged.
Comment by Lorraine — May 4, 2010 @ 10:10 am
Wow! Gorgeous!
Comment by knittingoutloud — May 6, 2010 @ 7:02 am
It’s lovely — and I’ll bet that it will be completely worth the “adjusting” you’re going to have to do there at the end.
Comment by Kym — May 7, 2010 @ 9:07 am