Ah, ribbing. Ribbing ribbing ribbing. The sound of spring, the noise of little spring frogs every night at dusk on my way home form work, and the back and forth of so many spring knits…

Perfect Periwinkle Tube Vest from Glampyre/Stefanie Japel’s Fitted Knits. I knit the smallest size (34”), which calls for 2 skeins of Cascade 220 – but it took me two and a half. I did end up using smaller needles, so that may have had something to do with it: US 4 for the neck ribbing, US 6 for the body, and US 3 for the bottom ribbing, compared to US 5 for ribbing and US 7 for body as written.

I had started this awhile ago, but there were some errors in the pattern – I made up fixes as I went and sent a note to Stefanie about it. Her corrections were better than mine, so I ended up frogging back to the neck and starting over. I’ve been almost done for about a month, seriously only about two inches left, but the ribbing, the ribbing… I just get so bored with it.

Now that it’s done, though, I love this thing. I am not much of a turtleneck person usually, but this seems perfect for the schizophrenic weather we’ve been having lately. It fits, just the right amount of ease, armholes neither too tight nor too loose, and I’m totally pleased with the heathered purple color. Bring on the cool spring nights!

Also finished one Roza’s Sock, Grumperina’s pattern from the Spring IK. Yet more ribbing ribbing ribbing, even if it is half brioche rib. I’ve been obsessed with this Opal Hundertwasser colorway (Der Blaue Mond) since seeing it in Yarnissima!’s photostream on Flickr – and wow. I love it even more in person! I also nailed the height and length perfectly. It was my first time working with any Opal yarn, and it felt a little plastic-y and splitty while working it up, but after blocking I’m really pleased with the feel of the fabric. I can’t wait to finish these!

I can’t believe the Cascade 220 for the vest cost about the same as the Hundertwasser. Never in my life did I ever think I would pay $20 for a pair of socks – not to mention the time it takes to make them. Yikes. But it’s worth it. I’m a total sock convert.

Aaaand since I joined the Fitted Knits KAL, but have already finished the tube vest, I decided to start the Two Tone Shrug. There are other patterns in the book I’m frankly more interested in making, but I had this Onyx and Deep Charcoal Lamb’s Pride worsted sitting around and I don’t want to buy any new yarn at the moment.

And you can never go wrong with a nice black shrug, yknow. To throw on over your purple turtleneck vest and blue/green/yellow/charcoal/white socks.