
She knit up so springy, and wadded up into such a condensed fluffy pet-like thing I couldn’t imagine to fit a woman. But to my fascination and surprise, when under the water she went, when into the warm bath she melted and mellowed and soaked, hidden under the crackling shampoo bubbles, and collapsed into her true self… she transformed. Ah, but then I rinsed her thrice in clear water, and pressed her against the porcelain sink wall as the water trickled out…. and out… and out.

And then, you know that moment when you first lift the wet heavy lump of smooshedness from the porcelain… that moment… when you feel how the wet yarn becomes weak against gravity, and you then know just how strong and sturdy, or just how delicate she is going to be? Well, let me tell you ! She rose up from the porcelain no longer a springy wad of sassy puffy loops, but now fully sprung loops, alluring, glistening with wet color, and completely relaxed into her full length and width. No question she will be the right size enough now. How could I have doubted?

What measured barely 28″ in the bust, just off the needles, slightly crumply, tighter gauge, is now loosely blocked out (just shaped, no pins) to the exact measure I wanted of 33″ . Magically when swinging about off of the flat blocking towel, I’m sure she will bounce back to about 31″ and have just the right amount of negative ease in the bust that a fitted tee ought to have for a modern young woman. Her true nature blossomed before my eyes into that wonderfully delicate, almost lacy creature I knew she’d be, yet a rugged one to marvel. She is indeed a most lightweight summery knitted top to behold.

Her sleeves are not fitted, but something like the pant legs of sailors trousers ~~~ wide and airy. A breeze can blow through this three-quarter sleeved tee and be dried like freshly scrubbed ship deck in the sun out at sea, in all of about ten minutes. Refined , yet rugged, and wouldn’t completely die if she accidentally went through the wash. Yet she prefers the handwash treatment, and loves to dry fast out in the sun. I’ve had a lot of education with these pin-striped tees, I’ve learned what a versatile thing which is skinny sock yarn, knit on tiny needles or big ones ! Once upon a time I thought I wouldn’t like knitting tops with it, but I love it now !!!

Molly is actually the young lady to whom this lucky tee will belong. I am soon to parcel up this wee tee and post it to her, off to Montreal. (( ” Off to Montreal ” sounds like a fast-paced French Canadian reel or something. )) It is cropped a lot in the waist length from the original tee, and then longer sleeves (which skirt-wearing Molly requested)… a bit loose in fit and knit in the opposite direction from the live loops of provisional cast-on, to just past the elbow. Though it looks bigger & boxier than the original, I assure you, it is smaller all around.

The perfect top for a visit to the beach on bicycles, for a picnic. Molly’s Montreal is a modified version of Jenjoyce’s Pin-Striped Sweater Tee , the previous post and the pattern prototype, (which got sent off to her younger sister Maya a week ago). The pattern is at the moment, undergoing editing, and will be available very soon !!!
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Details on Ravelry HERE
Edit in : I am convinced the decreases in the rib at the neckline need an overhaul… so am presently working on that to write into the pattern.