Lots of @($&% Top Redux

As soon as I finished my Mock Cable socks I went right back to my Lots of Choices Top, no OTN projects for me! I figured whatever I did wrong on the pink side would/could be found out on the purple side. First, the crochet cast on. I could not remember if I counted the cast on as the first row. So I did count it as row 1 for the purple side, looks right but the chain stitch is facing the wrong side. But I had decided that I would finish off the front edges with crochet so I would just have to do the bottom as well. I keep knitting, this side I am using row counts to measure, not the inches as in the pink side. As the purple is a reverse image of the pink side I am doing the V neck 1st. It came out beautifully.

So why did it not come out as well on the pink side? Well, the designer wrote the pattern to decrease for what she called Front as (RS) k1, k2tog, knit to end. This is how she starts out the pattern "For Clarity, I had to designate one side as the Front and one as the Back, even though you may wear it otherwise. So, for no particular reason, I called the round neck the Front." For me that is the pink side. The V neck on the purple is knit to last three stitches SKP (slip 1 knit 1, pass slip stitch over), k1. As you can see from the picture I decreased the pink side at the beginning of the row while the purple is decreased at the end of the row. As you still with me? Have I started to babble yet?

Here are both sides together. Starting to see a top here. One that I could really wear. The body of the pink side shows off the stitch detail to perfection. The darker purple is perfect too but because it is darker you do not see the detail as well. Then I notice that the purple is off gauge. Now I paid attention to keeping my stitches tight and even, or so I thought. Remember I love the process of knitting and would like to have finished projects to show for it. So this is where my top is now. I still have the shoulder of the pink top on a holder, so I could rib that out and try to make the V Neck look like the purple, then I would not have to crochet around the necks and front edges. Or I rip out the whole of the purple side and start over. Or I can do this

and start these

These are on size two needles. After knitting socks on size 1 I feel like I'm knitting with huge needles. The pattern called for size 3. Thought I would keep it simple after my Mock Cables. But I'm going to rip these out to the ribbing and add ribbing down to toe. The rib fits a bit loose but the SS stitch just billows. I cast on 56 stitches. I added 4 extra stitches from the 1st basic pattern I was taught in class. When I created my 1st pair the 1st needle ended with a knit stitch then to start the 1st stitch on needle 2 as a purl. Well that created a very bad ladder because no matter how tight I made this stitch it still gaped. When I made my next pair I measured for a larger ankle and without knowing it I ended with a pearl and started with a knit. no ladders, well, not the loose ones as before. Every time I knit something new I have learned something more.
It's has been awhile since I posted a picture of my kitties so I leave you with these. Zorro and Stanley posing. Then Pia and Sissy gazing out.

So you think you can knit!

Megan was given a copy of this cartoon and I just had to have it. The folks in my office will love it!! Right up there with my birthday card.

That Darn Sock

Well, my mock cable socks are now a FO. Thank God. I love the pattern. I love the yarn. The color way rocks. These socks have confirmed that I am a process knitter. I love the feel of the yarn. It is great to see the progress. I zone out. ADD kicks in when I’m knitting. This pattern was a simple one where I was stretching myself away from the k2p2. The pattern repeats every 4 rows. If it had not been for the beaded row counter I could never have finished. As an example when I got to the toe, Wahoo, I’m almost done. Instead of starting the toe decreases I knit along. I was 4 rows gone when I realized that I should have been decreasing! So ribbit I go. 4th pair down! I could never do Summer of Socks, have you seen what Wendy knits and designs! This gal is remarkable.
OK, another FO, so I go back to my Lots of Choices top. I picked up to complete the V neck side (right in the picture).I think I'm ready to bind off. But before I do I fold it in half. See the problem. Look closely. The V neck side is longer than the round neck side. What is a girl to do? I have no idea if I screwed up this side or the other, I don't think I did. The V neck looks right. I'll check my measurement per the pattern. Then I am going to start the other half and see what happens. Now that I have socks out of my system I can finish this part this week. Then I will know what to do to fix the pink side. I'll keep you posted.