Drops Top 60-14 modifications

Somehow in all my postings on this top I never included in my blog the pattern changes I made. So here they are.

Original Pattern: Garnstudio Drops Design Top 60-14; size M
Hook & Yarn info: I used a 3.0mm hook with GGH Bali yarn shown here.

Clarifications/Modifications:

1. "sc into the next ch 5 loop" - we decided it looked cleaner if we actually put the sc into the 3rd ch on the ch5 loop.

2. Making a single bobble - the bobble explanation was definitely missing a step or two as written.
My version was as follows:
"YO, Pull a loop through the sts (see the chart) and make it approx. 1 cm [3/8"] long, YO, pull another loop through the same sts and make it approx. 1 cm [3/8"] long, YO pull st though all but one loop on hook, YO pull through last 2 loops". This sort of tied up the bobble at the top of the stitch.
An alternate method would be:
"Pull a loop through the sts (see the chart) and make it approx. 1 cm [3/8"] long, YO, pull another loop through the same sts and make it approx. 1 cm [3/8"] long, YO, pull st though all loops on hook." It works, but leaves the bobble a bit open & tilted, in my hands.

3. Bobble placement: The way the pattern is written the bobbles that form the flower petals are not centered in one spot. I'm way too anal to live with that... so I changed it as follows..

For the right bobble, say on row 3 (for righties), instead of [sc,ch 4, then do your right bobble into the previous sc, sl st into the top of the next bobble from the row below], I did sc, bobble into the top of the next bobble from the row below (the bottom bobble of the flower), ch 4, sl st into the top of the next bobble from the row below...

For the left bobble.. I did it as written - Ch 4, bobble into the top of the bobble from the row below, sc into the next ch 5 loop.

Then in the next row the top bobble is made into the same space (not the slip stitch) - so that the right, left and top bobbles are all made INTO the bottom bobble.

In the photo the first row is the old way of bobble placement, the 2nd row is the new way.



New




Old




4. Sleeves: I didn't write out the pattern changes I made here. The first sleeve I made just didn't look like it could be "eased" into the armhole. When I tried to pin it in place I would never have been able to lift my arms. I had to make a sleeve to fit the armhole. A woman I know making the XL didn't have this problem.

5. Side seams - Needing a bit more ease, I joined the front and back panels as follows:
I joined yarn to front panel at bottom, ch 7, slip st to back panel bottom ch, turn. Sl st into sc on back panel, sc across the ch 7, sl st into sc on front panel, turn. Ch5, sk 3 sc, sc in sc, ch5, sk 3 sc, sl st into sc on back panel, turn. *Sl st up dc on back panel, ch 3, sc in 3rd ch of ch5-loop, ch 5, sc in 3rd ch of ch5-loop, ch 3, sl st to next row of front panel, turn. Ch 5, sc in 3rd ch of ch5-loop, ch 5, sl st to back panel, turn. * Repeat from* to * all the way to sleeve seam. I slowly decreased the width of this side panel beginning at the armpit so that it was gone by the sleeve edge. Then I repeated this for the other side seam

Unfortunately this created a ridge where I had slip stitched up the panel to get to the next row. I was too tired to fix it, but, what I should have done was this (hind sight is always 20/20):
Join yarn to front panel at bottom, ch 7, slip st to back panel bottom ch, turn. Sl st into sc on back panel, sc across the ch 7, sl st into sc on front panel, turn. Ch5, sk 3 sc, sc in sc, ch 2, sk 3 sc, dc into sc on back panel, dc into top of dc on back panel (next row up), turn. *Ch 5, sc in 3rd ch of ch5-loop, ch 3, sl st to next row of front panel, turn. Ch 5, sc in 3rd ch of ch5-loop, ch 2, dc into dc on back panel, dc into top of dc (next row up) on back panel, turn. * Repeat from* to * all the way to sleeve seam. I slowly decreased the width of this side panel beginning at the armpit so that it was gone by the sleeve edge.

6. Bottom edging: Because of the added side panels the bottom didn't have a smooth edge. I added a row of sc all the way around.

Beth tank top finished...

Here's my version of the Beth tank from Berroco - I'm using a 4.0mm hook with Knit One Crochet Two 2nd time cotton in the Nantucket colorway shown here (scroll down, bottom right photo). I finished it a few days ago and added it into the end-weaving marathon with the Drops Top! Modifications: I increased the body length by an inch. Because my row height gauge wasn't dead on, I did 3 rows instead of 2 of the open top pattern on the front & back and similarly did 3 rows instead of 2 of the open top pattern on the front bodice panel. I like the way it looks and fits. The straps have a tendency to fall down though so I'm considering adding some sort of "cross strap" in the back, done in 2 rows of the open top pattern, or maybe multiple straps to make it look like they're supposed to be there. I'll have to think about this some more....

Drops Top - Photo

OK, the ends are finally all woven in, quite a challenge in a top that is entirely ch-5 loops and bobbles. And, because I modified the side seams to be more ch-5 loops, I didn't have a single seam in which to hide the ends. So, without further ado, here's my version of Garnstudio Drops Design Top 60-14, using a 3.0mm hook with GGH Bali yarn shown here. I'm happy to say the only purple visible is in the top (not bruises on me)!

August WIMs, PIGs, & WIPs

Can you say ROLLOVER?? Looks like a few items on my August challenge list will be unfinished projects from July! But first let's do the monthly review of all the possibilities - I find it's nice to see it all down in writing so I can reassess each month and decide what to put on my monthly challenge list for Yahoo crochetchallenge. In case you're interested, here are the links to my April, May, June and July lists (the April one gives acronym definitions).

WIPs
1. Beth tank from Berroco - - progress = 45%.
2. Colinette yarns afghan kit - progress = 25%.
3. Robyn's Crystal Lace Bolero - progress = 2% (a swatch square!!) at crochet-a-long
4. Drops 68-15 Summer cardigan - progress = swatch.
5. Navy blue cardigan - progress = 15%
6. Toddler cardigan - progress = 50%
7. "High-Stylin' Pillow" (Crochet calendar)- progress = 10%

PIGs
1. Tennis Socks - soon to start sock-a-long at crochetsocks
2. Drops Safran Tank - never found the right yarn, maybe next summer
3. "Easy Ripple" Afghan
4. 63 squares Afghan - Aran
5. Spring Crochet Cardigan
6. 'Oxford Style' socks (Crocheted Socks!)- Bob
7. Felted Hook Case
8. 'Alpine Meadow' hooded sweater - a fall MUST!
9. Marble yarn sweater for me - Todays Crochet pattern
10. Twyla Cardigan - swatched, but still not sure about the yarn choice

WIMs
1. Letter pillows "Y" & "X" from Woven-n-Spun
2. Granny Ripple Baby Afghan
3. Picot Cropped Cardigan
4. Cream Cotton Shrug
5. Bob's sweater Teal/black/gray - maybe a vest, not enough yarn
6. Alex's sweater - Green
7. Abby's sweater - grape chunky
8. Mittens & Hats
9. Abby's sweater - periwinkle
10. Abby's snow girl cardigan (Crochet! Jan '05)
11. Alex's sweater vest
12. Robyn’s Spider Shrug
13. Peter's Jacob sweater at crochet-a-long - hopefully September.

I love getting this all written out to look at. OK – for August…
I want to complete the first WIP - the Beth tank for me.
Then I'm moderating the Crystal Lace Bolero (WIP #2) at at crochet-a-long, so that gets priority too. There's always the elusive sock-a-long CAL at crochetsocks (PIG #1) - rumor has it we're starting any day now...I'll have to keep up with that as I am a moderator there.
In between all this I'll keep working on the Colinette aghan (WIP #3).

Summer projects will take the back seat again for awhile. It's sweater time! Time to start hooking!

July challenge report

OK, this is way over do. But I will report on the progress I actually made back in July. For July… I wanted to complete the Drops Top, hopefully the Beth tank for me and maybe (but most likely not) the Safran tank. Then there was the elusive sock-a-long CAL at crochetsocks that I had figured would start in July. Here's what happened.

1. Drops Design Top - progress = 99.9%. I'm actually moderating this CAL at Yahoo crochet-a-long group. I actually finished it in July. All that was left was weaving in those blasted ends!
2. Caprice Sundress - progress = 100%. This was finished in June. But I finally lined it!
3. Beth tank from Berroco - progress = 45%. I made a bit of progress on the drive home from NY after finishing the Drops Top.
4. Colinette yarns afghan kit - progress = 25%. This was my birthday surprise from dh. The kit pattern is for a wave-like ripple afghan (3'x4'). I'm using a K hook and the gorgeous yarn hanks shown in my birthday post. I've completed 1 1/4 of 4 1/2 pattern repeats. As I suspected I couldn't resist starting this even before the Drops Top was done. Unfortunately, it was way too hot in NY to work on this!
5. Socks - soon to start sock-a-long at crochetsocks. Progress = 0%. This is entirely NOT my fault. We do finally know the pattern. It's Tennis Socks in the Crochet Socks book. I have my yarn - Knit Picks Dancing. We'll still waiting for this to start.

All in all, I did OK. The Drops is finally done! Now I'll let youknow what my plan for August is (or was, since we're half way through already!!)

Colinette Afghan progress - August 2nd

As I admitted in July, I couldn't resist starting this kit. Just touching the yarn is pure bliss! My dh gave me this Colinette yarns afghan kit for my birthday. The kit pattern is for a wave-like ripple afghan (3'x4'). I'm using a K hook and the gorgeous yarn hanks shown in my birthday post. As of then end of July I had completed 1 1/4 of 4 1/2 pattern repeats.

Beth tank top - August 2nd

On hold because of my obsession with finishing the Drops Top was the Beth tank from Berroco - I'm using a 4.0mm hook with Knit One Crochet Two 2nd time cotton in the Nantucket Colorway shown here (scroll down, bottom right photo).

I worked on it a bit in NY and then crocheted a bunch on the way home while my dh drove. Here's the front panel with the first row of the top bodice pattern started. Looks like it a bit more cropped than I realized...hmmm...

NY Caprice Dress: I lined it!! - July 30th

Remember the whole story about the NY Yarns Caprice Sundress? This was quite a project as I ended up frogging, re-designing and re-crocheting the entire body of the dress. I even wrote up the pattern modifications. In the end Abby loved it. But, as it 'hung out" on her while she wore it, the small holes became a bit larger and I thought a dress lining was warranted afterall. Well I finally sewed (scary thought) a lining, and then discovered that yarn stretches and basic lining material does not. So, I re-did the lining, with side slits in the bodice and basted the lining to the bodice across the center front and back only. My Dad would be proud, I "jury-rigged" it !! Here's my princess, one more time, in her lined dress, in front of my hydrangeas.

Drops Top finished - July 30th

Woo Hoo!! I finished crocheting the Garnstudio Drops Design Top using a 3.0mm hook with GGH Bali yarn shown here.
Although I didn't make it in time for the family party on the 29th, it was in the high 90s that day, and the party was outside, so I couldn't have worn it! I finished it up the next night, but just couldn't face ALL those blasted ends to weave in. Here it is on the hanger over a white tank top, with all the ends still hanging. The picture of me wearing it had to wait until the car accident bruises went away - giving me time to weave, and weave, and weave...

Drops Top Progress - July 25th

Garnstudio Drops Design Top using a 3.0mm hook with GGH Bali yarn shown here (scroll down).
I knew the creative side seams had to wait until the sleeves were done so I started working on the sleeves next. I'm still not sure how these sleeves were supposed to fit. If I read the pattern right, and it seems I did, this is what the sleeve looked like. It was supposed to have one or two (I forget) more rows at the top/shoulder edge, but after I placed it in the armhole of the sweater, I stopped crocheting.
How is this supposed to fit??
My solution was to frog the sleeve back to the beginning of the decreases and design a sleeve with decreases to match the shape of the armhole.

Drops Top Progress - July 21st

Drops Design Top - Pattern is from Garnstudio Drops Design. I'm using a 3.0mm hook with GGH Bali yarn shown here (scroll down a bit). Previously I had finished the front panel. I finished the back panel around July 21st. In making the back panel I discovered that the front panel width was narrower that I had intended because my tension was too tight on those blasted bobbles . I was extra careful with the back, but as the picture shows, this would need some creative seaming! I decided to "seam" each side with a "panel" that would be two chain 5 loops wide. Here it is with the shoulder seams in and the side seams held with stitch markers!

Blogging Draught explained

So, I can't believe I haven't blogged in a month. Here are the excuses - just so I get them out of my system...

1. I was desperately trying to finish my Drops Top before family party on 7/29.
2. My dh is finishing up his training to get his instrument pilot license (see his blog) and has been studying online most evenings (forcing me to continue with #1).
3. We went on vacation to what my kids call "NY country" (not NYC) and were offline 7/28-8/2.
4. The day after we got back I was hit head-on by a UPS truck, in my driveway, almost totaling my vehicle. We're all OK, bumps & bruises have healed, but the aftermath is incredibly time-consuming.

OK, that's a pretty good excuse list, if I do say so myself!

Here's my plan. I did take some pictures of the various projects as they have progressed so I'll post those with a few (HA!) comments.