Looking on the bright side of the “machine knitting equals separate pieces equals seaming” fact of life, at least with vests there are only two side seams to do (if you use a three-needle bind-off on the shoulders). However, with stripes of three colours, there are also many ends to be sewn in.

The bands are garter stitch. I’m not a big fan of picking up stitches, but there’s a certain freedom in not having a pattern leaning over you and dictating how many you should have, so you can just pick up however many works and feels right. There was a bit of dizzying anxiety as I knit the last band and began to run out of the blue yarn, but I made it with a few metres to spare.

There’s no waist shaping, since I figure I’ll keep things simple as I learn to use the knitting machine, but the size came out as planned – small enough that some negative ease here and there prevents it from looking like a sack, but not so small it looks like I’m wearing the wrong sized clothing.

I’m rather chuffed at how well it came out. I’m also very happy with the lastest pair of Socks For Others Club socks:

These are for Kerri. She asked for green or red socks. With this Kaffe Fasset yarn, she gets some of each. I’m totally won over by the yarn, actually. Good thing I have some more of it in my stash, and that Kerri doesn’t have stupidly narrow feet like I have, or she might not be getting this pair…

My next sock club recipient will not have to worry that I’ll be tempted to steal her socks:

I love the pattern – so much that this is the second time I’ve knit it – but pink is one of the few colours I dislike. And pastel pink even more so. But not so much that I won’t enjoy knitting these socks. Nicole asked for something ‘girly’ and I’m going to have a lot of fun obliging her.