Thanks for the Zest Juliet
I had hit that burn out point, lost the interest, you know? Uninspired and bored with current projects I had decided to tell my nagging voice of "finish up other WIPs" to stow it and cast on for Juliet. It was a good decision.
A great fling of a knit, quick and does the interesting/not-overly-complicated balance well.
Modifications weren't much for the body other than to use SSK (Improved) instead of SKP in the lace section. I usually do this sub as a personal preference. For the buttons, I did like the asymmetrical ones in the pattern but I liked the look of button tabs more. Cast on about 14 sts, worked two self-reinforcing buttonholes then bound off, can't get much easier.
Pattern: Juliet by Zephyr Style
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft, held doubled; Deep Plum; 4 skeins (of the 5oz size)
Needles: 10 1/2 (although probably should have gone down to a 10, at least for the garter section)
Size: Small
I had originally intended this to be more cropped but after only 5 repeats and binding off it simply didn't hang right. It probably would've worked better in a cotton that had more drape as the back just stuck out too funny. So I ripped back and added 2 repeats to be safe. I'm much happier with it now although still, in retrospect, I think a cotton blend and 6 repeats would've been Goldilocks perfect.
And finally- Happy Birthday to Meeeeeeee!! Hehe, my new piano and bestest present! Thankoooo Mr. PieKnits ;)
Music has always been large part of my life and piano one of the heftiest. I took lessons as a kid up through college but have not had a piano since I lived at my parents. (Non-full size keyboards aren't the same!)
Now I'm on the hunt for some cool fabric to sew a cushion for the bench and reupholster a matching new settee, more on that later!
Comments
Happy Birthday! What a wonderful present!
Love how Juliet turned out, too.
Posted by: Cynthia | March 5, 2008 08:32 AM
Happy Birthday! Your Juliet looks awesome. Hope your day is a really good one and the next year is amazing.
Posted by: Devon | March 5, 2008 08:48 AM
that looks great! sounds like it was just what you needed to get your mojo going!
Posted by: stacey | March 5, 2008 09:06 AM
Happy Birthday!!! Juliet is Beautiful!! The color is really pretty! I love the piano too!! Hubby and I want to get one someday... :D
Posted by: Monica | March 5, 2008 09:23 AM
Happy Birthday! What a lovely piano.
I love the Juliet too.
Posted by: Jennifer | March 5, 2008 09:27 AM
Very cute and happy birthday! Sometimes you just need a simple project to get you back in the swing of things. All that designer math can do that to a person sometimes!
Posted by: Melissa | March 5, 2008 10:03 AM
Happy happy birthday! You pulled off that Juliet well, and I like the button tabs. P.S. I am really enjoying knitting Mirabella
Posted by: soknitpicky | March 5, 2008 10:17 AM
how cute is that little jacket! and can i say again how much i'm loving your hair and bangs? and congrats on the piano. it is so nice to be able to have music in the house. my husband plays the guitar but not near enough for my taste.
mr. pieknits rocks for getting that for you!
Posted by: susan | March 5, 2008 10:58 AM
Yay! Happy Birthday to you! (A piano is a fantastic gift!) And the Juliet vest/jacket/tank is too cute, ta' boot!
btw - I totally dig getting glimpses of your house in the background. But the neatness kind of freaks me out (in a good way). It's so clean and bright!
Posted by: nanc | March 5, 2008 11:06 AM
Happy Birthday! What a wonderful hubby you have! Juliet is absolutely gorgeous too!
Posted by: Rosie | March 5, 2008 11:16 AM
That's so cute! It looks great on you.
Posted by: Steph | March 5, 2008 12:31 PM
I love the color you chose for the Juliet. It's beautiful. And happy birthday! :)
Posted by: Jessie | March 5, 2008 01:43 PM
Happy Birthday! (nice Juliet too :D)
Posted by: Bex | March 5, 2008 04:58 PM
That piano is lovely!!! Happy Birthday to you!! By the way, I am loving Juliet!!
Posted by: Valerie | March 5, 2008 09:38 PM
Happy Birthday to you! Lucky you being able to play the piano too. Love Juliet, it turned out so nicely and looks great on you too.
Posted by: sue | March 6, 2008 03:18 AM
Happy Birfday to Youuuu! hehee Your Juliet is fabulous - it really is such a cute design, and looks great on you!
ooohh... So happy for you that you have a piaaniie!! I've only JUST come away from my own keyboard, and was thinking about the lovely stiffness of real pianie keys compared to keyboards.. someday.. sooomee day!! For now I shall live vicariously through your glossy lovely new piano! yay! =D
Posted by: Sasha | March 6, 2008 03:52 AM
Your Juliet looks fantastic- love that plummy colour.
Posted by: Julie | March 6, 2008 08:57 AM
I love your version of Juliet--it looks so great on you. One of my fave colors too.
Good on you for getting a lovely piano--Happy Birthday!
Posted by: lobstah | March 7, 2008 07:48 AM
A Happy Birthday to you!!
I love the color for your Juliet. I looks great. I can see some designs coming from you in the future that will go with your love for music and your piano:)
Posted by: Reema | March 7, 2008 11:57 AM
Happy Birthday!!!
and your Juliet came out really cute! the color is perfect on you!
Posted by: Emily | March 7, 2008 04:51 PM
happy birthday, jen! what an awesome birthday present. your juliet looks great, too! : )
Posted by: Ren | March 8, 2008 12:16 PM
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: knittripps | March 8, 2008 01:38 PM
I'm shocked you didn't have a piano! You've always been so talented :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Posted by: jessica | March 8, 2008 07:39 PM
Happy Birthday! Congrats on the piano, that is awesome!
Your Juliet came out great. I was almost done with one myself but had to rip back to extend the bodice as I didnt like where it was landing. I put it down for a couple of days, but seeing yours finished makes me went to jump right back on it!
Posted by: TheAmpuT | March 11, 2008 02:11 PM
Happy Belated Birthday to you! (Your b-day is merely seven days after mine--who knew?!) That's a lovely gift, if I do say so myself. You're right--nothing like a full-size 88-keyed piano! I find when you get weird little kinks in your fingers/hands/wrists from too much knitting, nothing stretches out the tendons like some nice extension scales!
Posted by: deawn | March 16, 2008 03:34 AM
Way back when (? two or three or more years ago?), I remember one of the Mason Dixon blog asking about - and knitting - a piano bench cover.
Just saying - why sew when you could knit - is all.
Janey
Posted by: Janey | March 23, 2008 02:12 PM