Electra. Brought to you by McDonald's. I'm Lovin It.

Monday, January 02, 2006

  

Pardon the weak lighting. We're expecting a snowstorm any minute.

Pattern: Electra from Rowan #38, in xsmall
Yarns: Gold - Kathmandu DK; Maroon - Grignasco Tango; Cream - Kathmandu DK and Kidsilk Haze held together; Purple - Debbie Bliss Merino DK
Needle: US 5 for the bottom ribbing, US 6 for the body, US 3 for neck and armhole ribbing

First FO of 2006, ow! It is a little upsetting that I open the new year with an homage to Ronald McDonald, but, snakes on a plane.* The color combination looked more palatable in the yarn store, and now I can't help but think I look like a Chinese member of the Partridge family, or a big tub of nachos, when I wear this.

And yet, I still kind of like it. It works better with a crisp shirt underneath, one that has slightly exaggerated cuffs and collar.

The collar is key. Do not try this at home with a white collarless, long sleeved shirt for example, innocent as a white collarless shirt may be. I happened to be wearing such a shirt when I weaved in the last strand of Electra. I immediately tossed on the vest and showed it off to Duck without first consulting a mirror. It took him exactly half a second too long to answer my "What do you think?" before he said, "It's nice!" And even then there was a slight pause between the "it's" and the "nice."

Trust me, I've asked the poor guy enough What do you think's to know when he really means it's nice or not. In this case, he and not the vest was being nice.

A quick change to a crisp white collared shirt saved the day. If I were to do this again - and I just might! Fairisle is FUN! - I'd go with my initial color choices of foresty greens, blues, and browns, and throw in a dash of pink.

No significant project notes. Just the usual of going down a needle size for a smaller fit. I did not do this in the round. I tried to carry the yarn up the sides whenever I could. This was my first fairisle project, done to break up the same ole knitting monotony, and fairisle definitely kept things interesting.

I love vests. I need to make more.

Thank you everyone who commented in the last post. It's fun to see who's reading, and to find new blogs. More more more!

*Another way of saying "c'est la vie." According to this post anyway.

Comments [34]
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Monday, January 02, 2006 5:05:42 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Nachos never came to mind when I saw it! LOL
Looks sharp - and I can see what you mean re: collarless shirt. It just wouldn't work.

Have you perused "Folk Vests"? Some gorgeous colorwork vests in there...
Monday, January 02, 2006 5:13:03 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
That is gorgeous! If you decide you really cannot wear it... send it over to oz, I'd have it at the drop of a hat! I love fair isle and have knitted it all my life, although you wouldn't know it from my blog (which I have only recently started).

For a first fair isle that is fantastic.. congratulations and enjoy.
Monday, January 02, 2006 5:33:21 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Looks great. The colors you chose don't remind me of nachos or McDonalds and it looks great with the shirt you have pictured. Great first fair isle.
Monday, January 02, 2006 5:52:10 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Wonderful! I don't think of McDonald's either...in fact, I think it's very classy! WTG!
Monday, January 02, 2006 6:33:40 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
you may have brought the macdonald thing on yourself, i did not think of it until you had said it. ha ha.

no, it looks really cute and sweet. it would look really chic with a pair of red, flaming red capri.
Monday, January 02, 2006 7:06:16 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Very cute! The white shirt underneath seems to make everything just perfect :)
Tuesday, January 03, 2006 4:39:42 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
you know i wasn't convinced about this particular project when i saw it in the magazine. but seeing it on you - i just love it!
Tuesday, January 03, 2006 9:47:03 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Looks great, and I didn't think McD's for a moment.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006 10:20:31 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Gorgeous!
Tuesday, January 03, 2006 11:24:08 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Yeah, I agree with the majority. No link between your vest and McD until you mentioned it. Hahaha. Looks great though and hopefully you will overcome McD symptom and wear it often enough. I would have liked to make this too but too many projects in my ever-growing list to get around to it anytime soon. But I already have the colors thought out, it will be in blue, brown and white.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006 12:28:57 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Yup! I'm seeing the bun, ketchup and mustard. Just don't go around singing the Big Mac song, while wearing it. :-D

It's a great knitting job and MORE IMPORTANTLY a nice fit!

Happy 2006!
Tuesday, January 03, 2006 12:37:44 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
what McD reference? fits great and looks awesome. and i like how you have a big collar white shirt underneath. didn't think the vest looked good enough when i saw the pattern in the book, but now i am giving it a second thought too.. oh, and happy 2006!
Tuesday, January 03, 2006 1:05:57 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
The vest looks great! I'm going to have to go back and check the pattern out.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006 2:26:46 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
It looks great! The white shirt really makes it work.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006 3:28:54 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
you don't look like ronald mcdonald. i think it looks great on you. makes me want to try some fair isle. :)
Tuesday, January 03, 2006 4:18:12 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Looks faboo! Oh, and I forgot to comment on the last post. Can I do it now? Hello! Here I am!
Tuesday, January 03, 2006 7:52:42 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Oh! Lovely! It's great, really. Makes me want to go back to working on mine!!!! Brava!
Tuesday, January 03, 2006 9:38:29 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Just beautiful, Li. I love vests too - it's high time I make one. Yours is so great ;)
Tuesday, January 03, 2006 10:30:29 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Love all those contrasting colors. They really pop out! And it looks great on you!
Wednesday, January 04, 2006 12:32:13 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Looking very sharp with the tailored shirt - I didn't think of Nachos or Ronald even once!

P.S. I'm behind in my blog reading but I hate talking on the phone too...
Wednesday, January 04, 2006 12:40:37 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Oh yeah - almost forgot!! HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!
Wednesday, January 04, 2006 7:02:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Electra looks great on you. You did such a great job!
Thursday, January 05, 2006 3:20:57 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
I love it! Not very Ronald McDonald at all.
Thursday, January 05, 2006 3:34:27 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Beautiful! Just beautiful! Nothing fast foodie about it!
Thursday, January 05, 2006 7:26:09 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
What are you talking about?? That vest is beautiful!
*drool* *drool*
Thursday, January 05, 2006 10:33:37 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
I think it looks fab - color scheme, fit, everything. Well done - another gorgeous FO to add to your fabulous collection.
Friday, January 06, 2006 5:07:29 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
I think it looks great! I wouldn't have thought of MD if you hadn't of mentioned it. Bravo!
Sunday, January 08, 2006 3:32:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
The colours are nice, not something every one else is going to have in their wardrobe.. and that is a GOOD thing ;o)

made no fast food or otherwise connections with them. What got me was how they popped against the bright-white shirt with the great collar & cuffs ;o)
Monday, January 09, 2006 3:55:36 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
hey li! hope u had a great new year, but we'll be celebrating another one at the end of this month too. hehehe

anyways, keep up the great knits! i only wish i can even knit a tassle. ha!
Tuesday, January 10, 2006 6:43:59 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
The vest looks fantastic! I feel quite tempted to knit one myself...
Tuesday, January 10, 2006 2:44:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
That vest looks great! And I like the colors, too! I haven't done fairisle before and loved that vest the first time I saw it. Maybe I need to add it my (ever-growing) list!
Wednesday, January 11, 2006 2:13:41 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
ive never ever commented before, so here goes... "very nice"
Monday, May 15, 2006 11:18:46 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
I've just cast on my Electra. Yours looks great!
Sunday, November 18, 2007 5:20:21 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
I was looking back through your FO's, and this post cracked me up. I am exceptionally charmed with you.

On a side note, as an english speaker living in a french speaking city, I could get behind changing "C'est la vie!" for "Snakes on a plane!". As an english teacher, I sometime get wicked urges to make similar substitutions in class.

Student: "Could you please explain me what is 'mess around' mean?"
Hiro: "Well, it is a phrasal verb which means 'diligently working' or 'working to the best of SMB's ablilities'. For example if your employer asks you 'What have you been doing with the Banksys project?' you can reply 'I've been messing around with it.' "

I have so far been able to resist. I'm going to snap someday though. Eh. Snakes on a plane.
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