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The rib stitches look “uneven” close up, but I think that is due to the yarn itself - very soft, and not really great for stitch definition. But I don’t mind it - I think the sweater overall is going to look v. pretty. Here’s the back, about an inch away from being finished. There is short-row shaping for the shoulders that will be fun, and then I’ll start the front.

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I got my pattern books (they are digitally restored and spiral-bound - cute!) from Iva Rose. And I can already see they are going to cause problems. As in, I want to make a *lot* of clothing items. A lot of clothing items with tiny tiny gauges.

Women must have been weird speed-knitters back in the 30’s, because contained within the Minerva Style Book… well, we’re talking entire 3-piece suits - that’s a jacket, (long) coat and (long) skirt - made with a gauge of 8 stitches to the inch!! Are there people out there today who can knit fast enough to make that sort of project worthwhile?! If so, I salute you. Wholeheartedly. That’s totally koo-koo. Oh, and did I mention that one of those suits is all done in stockinette stitch?! I think I would find factory assembly work more fascinating. Can I put enough exclamation points in this paragraph?!

Not to say that the clothing articles aren’t awesome and beautiful, because many of them are. There is much detail and care in the design of these items.

…So here’s why I’m a freak:

I really want to make that coat. Minus the sharp shoulders, of course. I think I could modify those to make them somewhat square, instead of scarily-pointy. It has a very neat stitch pattern with lots of texture, and a cute little collar - oh! And before you tell me how loco I am to even think of starting another project, the gauge is only 4 1/2 stitches to the inch! Easy as pie. And look - don’t you want to be that model? With that hat? And that attitude? And perfect curls you have to set every night? (um…)

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Hey! I joined the Vintage Knit-Along! They’re making some great high stockings over there, you should check it out.

And I know you’re waiting with breath abated: I put up the two vintage patterns I want to make in future on my sidebar. Hooray. Oh, and by the way the sweater with the sash has a wonderful construction I’ll tell you about later. And those little intarsia objects are actually flowers (but I may be changing them to something else). And the gauge for that particular item is, ahem, 10 stitches to the inch. Yep.