Thursday, January 19, 2012

Noro Knitted Vest

I am so glad you like the new look of Mereknits.  My sister is a genius that is for sure.  Now when I want to feel really cool I jump on my blog, because my blog makes me look a lot better than I am.  I sort of feel like I am in middle school and I have just been allowed to join the cool kids.

So in case you were wondering I still know how to knit.  Actually I have been knitting this Noro vest at a snails pace and it is finally completed.  Want to take a look?


 This vest is made with Noro Taiyo in color 12.  You all know about my love/hate relationship with Noro, and this yarn is no different.  I purchased this a while back to make a sideways vest from the new Noro book.  I swatched and swatched to get the right  gauge and finally decided that I was being foolish.  A sideways vest looks great but can be a big disaster if it doesn't fit right.  I speak with full experience on this matter.  If you make a sideways sweater there isn't a great way to fix the problem of it being too big.  There aren't any seams...so it is rip, rip, rip.


 I decided to go back to a tried and true classic vest that has ample room for fixing errors in the size.  From the Noro Joy book I give you Marina.  I have made this before in a colorway I adore, so I knew I could make it, I just wasn't sure I was going to like the results.


 I'm not sure I actually do like it, but what I do like is that it is finished.  I knew this colorway was not for me, yet when the Noro fumes overtook me at the yarn store it ended up in my basket.   


 I love the vest below also made from Noro, Silk Garden if I recall correctly.  I decided to make the new version about two inches longer for a little variety and to use up more yarn.

These colors are much more my style.  I will try to take a picture of the new vest on me tomorrow.  I am hoping it looks better than it does in the pictures.

I am off to the yarn store in Tampa after work today.  I am looking for some yarn to make one of two amazing crochet projects from the new Interweave Crochet magazine.  I have made two separate attempts to find yarn for these projects with no luck.  I have looked online but have not been thrilled with my choices, and I have to say I love to feel yarn before I purchase it.  Wish me luck and give me strength to stay away from the wall of Noro Yarn that will be beckoning me.

14 comments:

moonstruckcreations said...

Love the new look blog Meredith.

Your knitting skills are amazing!

Helenxx

Marjo said...

Beautiful !! I love the colours so much

Love
Marjo

Teresa Kasner said...

Meredith.. both of your vests are outstanding! I bet you get tons of compliments on them. I can't wait to see you model your new one. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Claudia said...

The vests are very lovely. I definitely have a love/hate thing with Noro. I don't really like the texture (is that crazy?)

Have fun at the yarn store!

xo
Claudia

kathy b said...

You make me laugh....I m am casting on with a similar NORO yarn from a fume high I got a ways back in a LYS.

Rose said...

I love your new look! I love Noro yarn too but only make accessories with it. Your vest looks great; good luck at the yarn store!

brsmaryland said...

You ARE one of the cool kids ;-)
The vests are really nice. I know what you mean about Noro...the colors are so enticing but it ends up being kind of scratchy. I still have plenty in my stash too.

Brenda Pruitt said...

Yep, she's a genius, and one hell of a friend, that sister of yours! Oh, what I'd give to be able to make beautiful pieces like you make, Mere.
Brenda

Rose Red said...

Well that is a really cute vest!

Good luck with your trip to the yarn store! Step away from the Noro!

Rizzi said...

YOUR RIGHT ABOUT YOUR SISTER CLAUDIA....SHE IS A GREAT PERSON.....AND I LOVE READING HER BLOG.......BUT....YOU FORGOT SOMEONE....YOU!......YOU ARE A LOVELY WARM CREATIVE PERSON.....
AND DON'T FORGET THAT..... :) ......YOUR VESTS ARE GORGEOUS...
YOU ARE VERY TALENTED......HAVE A NICE DAY.......RIZZI

Grateful4Crochet said...

I LOVE your new look. your sister is so talented!! I'm a bit challenged like you, I often think about having a play around with my blog look, but I'm fairly sure I would break it!!!
Love your Noro vest, and good luck with the temptation
xx

Susan H. said...

Hi Meredith. I have been having trouble commenting on your blog. The vest looks GREAT and I love, love, Love that pink/purple colored scarf from the last post. The colors are super.
Xo Susan

Susan H. said...

P.s. I am posting from my iPhone!!

Karen said...

So cute! And the colors are just beautiful. I love vests. I'm curious, do you listen to music or watch t.v. when you knit? I've started quilting again, and I find that when I do hand projects, I usually work in silence. It's hard to concentrate when something else is going on and I like to let my mind wander. Sometimes I think it would be nice to watch a movie or something, but it's hard watching two things at once. I guess if you've been knitting long enough, you don't have to watch what you're doing all the time? Rambling question, but just wondering!