Embrace Aqua

I have never been secretive about my love of teal. Deep, blue with a greenish tinge, drown in it teal. With aqua, I have more trepidation. It's pretty, but unlike teal there are varieties of aqua that are just...bad. And yet I am always drawn to it for its teal-like qualities, and its flirtation with fashion don't-ness. So here I am, speaking my love for all the world to hear: getting ready to wear it on my sleeve...and on my feet:


Pattern: Cookie A's Summer Sox from Classic Elite Yarns Web-letter, June 2009
Yarn: Dream In Color Smooshy in Deep Seaflower (AQUA!)
Needle: US 1.5 (2.5mm) Addi Turbo Lace, magic looped.
Notes: Not much to add here. I didn't modify the pattern except to knit a slightly deeper heel flap than prescribed. I love the socks! Personlly, I consider this shade of aqua very much a fashion "do" because it's on the teal end of the aqua spectrum (as opposed to the seafoam end of the aqua spectrum).

And here's a swatch, which has led to a WIP:

Pattern: Cirilia Rose's Vashon, from Berroco #302 for Vintage & Vintage Chunky
Yarn: Cascade Eco-plus in Lake Chelan Heather (aqua made from mixing lime, yellow, and bright blue to judge from the odd fleck of fluff)
Notes: I have barely started this. I swatched to see if I liked the cable in this yarn. After knitting the first couple of rows I thought "no," because it seemed like the cable was getting lost in all that aqua heathery goodness, but halfway up the chart my answer changed to "YES!" I think this design was made for a color like this (I also love the color in which the sample is knit, FWIW). I'm making slight mods to the pattern, and hopefully it won't lose its vintage-y feel. My main mod is to add length to the body. I like the cropped look of the design (it comes in at 9" from hem to armpit) but I don't look good in cropped sweaters, so I'm adding 3-4" to the body. To deal with the extra length, which will hit me at the hip rather than at the waist, I also cast on for the larger size at the waist band, and I'll decrease to the waist before increasing back up to the bust. I'm also adding stitches to the body section to give me slightly more ease in the bust (I didn't want to go up a whole size because that adds 4" to the bust and I don't want the sweater quite that loose). I'm planning to stick with the 3/4 sleeves, but I will make them slightly longer than in the model. I'd like them to come down onto my forearms.

That's it for now--just taking a quick break from working. Tonight, Chris and I are flying to San Francisco for 6 days!! I have to do final grading for my classes while we're down there, but I should still have time to enjoy the city a bit.