Now Norma Knits is Actually a Knitting Blog (Don't Get Too Used To It. The Sea Could Change At Any Moment.)

Aren't you stunned?  I am. 

If you've been keeping score, that's four sweaters I've completed this year.  Four!  And three are for me!  Well, I should put that in the past tense -- three were for me.  Now I've ripped one out, so two are for me.  (And that's sort of fuzzy math, because two of the four were started LAST year.  But that fits the definition of "completed," right?) 

And the most surprising thing is, I'm still interested in knitting! Not only knitting, but maybe even dabbling in designing.  (Just for me -- not for anyone else, which should give you a huge sigh of relief.  Can you imagine a more cantankerous designer?  "What, you have a question or criticism about the pattern?  Well, go jump off a friggin' cliff!")

So I bought that brown sock yarn in SLC for the express purpose of making a summer tank top.  I searched all the patterns I could find in fingering weight yarns, and none of them was really for me.  The original plan was to make the Victoria Tank.  Very cute.  But very young (not that I'm NOT, mind you!) and not appropriate for work, unless I wore it under a jacket (or cardigan, I suppose), which is quite limiting and constricting for me.  And even then, the straps are too narrow for covering up a bra strap.  I considered making it with wider straps, but you know about my relationship with lace-knitting.  Let's not go overboard just because I'm in a knitting phase.  Lace, not so much. I have slaves friends for that. 

But maybe just a touch: A touch of lace up the front of an otherwise plain tank, the shape of which is as similar as possible to one of my best-fitting summer tops that is work-appropriate. 

Hm.  Now we're talkin'.  And I searched and searched for patterns that might be right, and I never could find just what I was looking for.  So, armed with my own sketch, Ann Budd's book of sweater patterns, which I love because it does the math for me, my tape measure and my black Boston Proper summer travel top that I have worn to death for several years, and yes, even a gauge swatch (vapors!), I have set out on my little journey.  

 

I've cast on for the back on US 4 needles, 108 stitches.  I'm hoping for this to be a not-too-snug, but snug-enough, 36 inches.  I knitted an inch of 2X2 rib and started in stockinette.  I've completed 4 waist decreases to match perfectly the lines of the black top, and I'm on my way.  Look at me go.  Can't stop me now!  

The brown is a much prettier brown than appears in the photograph -- warm chocolate, like.   I suppose I should name this thing something other than "Brown Tank."  Or maybe not.

There won't be any knitting for the next several days, though.  I've got work up the wazoo (UVM graduation), and that will then more than likely put me out of commission for knitting for a while from the tendinitis which is likely to flare up.  But I won't have any time to recover, because on next Tuesday I start CARTing an intensive evening summer school course.  And my wonder physical therapist has torn her meniscus and is out of commission for a little while.  

But Monday will be a "me" day -- I'm going to go over the mountain to visit and be pampered by AnnaMarie.  Excited. 

  

Comments

[sandy]

I was going to suggest that you have a bit of a lie down for a bit. But. Then I figured, Norma? A designer? Why not? YOU know what you like. You know how to get it.
You are woman.
Go.
LX
(Can't wait to see it unfurl)

[Alison]

heh heh heh... the designing urge, it is insidious. You know, if you did want to publish the pattern, ever, I have the skillz to write it up and grade it to different sizes, and stuff...

[Paula]

Well, it's about time you took matters into your own very capable hands. I'm glad you decided to make the summer top. I have a concern about the button band on that DROPS pattern but I have started a sleeve (love it!) and am thinking about the problem. Maybe by the time you are done with the brown tank I will have worked it out.

[Nora]

I will be damned.

[thea]

This looks adorable! I always start with a garment I own too for shaping! Smart lady, you are.

[margene]

Not only does she knit....go grrl!

[Anne]

Say Hi to AM for me - she used to live in Idaho and we saw her and her hubby every May at the Snake River Festival.

You do get around tho. Just sayin.

[gayle]

Give her a hug from me - I was going to go visit her yesterday, and got called into work, instead.
So, Hot Fudge Tank, designed by Norma? Shiny!

[Karen]

Hee! My own designing adventures were born of frustration, because I couldn't find just what I wanted already written up. I inevitably end up changing 'proper' patterns to fit my weird body shape anyways, so it was the next logical step. I'll be eager to see how this works out!

[Ashley]

That's entirely too scary...you see, I wanted a knitted tank top too. I looked at the same patterns and had the same reaction (really not for work and I am getting too old to pull that action off) and I have been pondering doing my own design as well. Maybe one day I can be Norma when I grow up...

Can't wait to see what you come up with!

[kmkat]

How about Chocolate Tank? That conjures up delicious visions.

When my eyes encountered your sketch, my immediate thought was, "Norma." It looks like you. Perfect.

[Cheryl S.]

Yahoo! Rock on!

[Seanna Lea]

I love the idea of designing a tank or a sweater based on a garment I actually wear, but I'm not sure I could convince myself to stop wearing something for long enough to match the garments up.

[Doris]

I look forward to seeing how this progresses. I haven't gotten too far into the realm of designing, but someday I will.

[Sue]

Chocolate Fondue?

[Cookie]

Do I know you?

[Renee]

Chocolate anything is a good thing!
Happy knitting!! My mojo is back but my knitting time in my schedule is not... I'll enjoy vicariously through you. :)

[Carole]

Today it's a tank for yourself, tomorrow an aran sweater for the masses. A designer is born!

[Carol]

Sisters are doing it for themselves!

[elizabeth a airhart]

your mojo is really running high

the tank is not for the young ones
black lace under black cashmere
would be lovely a hot humid good night

[Kellys]

mmm what about "Magic Shell" from the stuff that goes on ice cream and molds to it, and gets all hard then you crack it to the ever-so-slightly melted ice cream under....

I digress.

[Sarah]

That is going to be such a cute top. However, I am now just thinking about chocolate.