I’ve finished my Modern Lace Henley, but it’s not really a henley any more… I think it’s turned out rather well. (Please excuse the awkward mirror photos/frizzy hair.)

Pattern: Modern Lace Henley by Pam Allen
Yarn: Jaeger Matchmaker Merino DK, colour #914 Marine, 7 balls
Size: 35.5″, with waist shaping added. 0.5-1″ of positive ease at the bust.
Needles: 3mm straight throughout, with a 2.5mm circular for the neck ribbing.

Although it’s lace, this was a straightforward knit. The pattern’s easy to memorise - purling on the wrong side, and the four right side rows are really just two rows started in different places. I like the chunkiness of lace knit in a heavier weight of yarn, too.

I made some fairly drastic changes to the original pattern - I like it as written, but decided it could be more flattering on me. So, the sleeves are a lot shorter, the ribbing is a little wider at the hem, and the collar is completely different (mainly because I wanted to be able to wear it over a shirt, as in the photos). I added some waist shaping too. (I’ll post my modifications as soon as I have them written out in intelligible English.) Oh - I also changed the 1×1 ribbing to twisted rib throughout, because I prefer the look of it.

This was the first time I’ve made changes to a pattern, but it worked out well (despite nervous jitters about whether it would fit or not). I think my background knowledge of sewing patterns helped. All I can say is: trust the maths. The numbers will not lead you astray, and as long as your own measurements are correct, and you’re getting gauge, chances are it’ll be okay. In my case, it was - this top fits absolutely perfectly! It’s warm, but not too warm for the still-chilly spring days. I’ll also be able to wear it on its own, but I’ll need a flesh-toned bra or camisole before I can do that.

Verdict: I love the colour, and I wasn’t sure I would, because as we’ve already established in previous posts, I am the monochrome queen. I love the lace. I love the fit. I also love the versatility, which I was a little worried about, since a short-sleeved sweater in DK wool is perhaps not the most practical of garments on initial inspection. This one is great, though, and I suppose it’s really a glorified sweater vest that can also be worn by itself. A complete success, then!

(I’ve got the knitting-clothes-for-myself bug, and have already started on Cherry by Anna Bell. Should be perfect for summer!)

I have a new love, and she is satisfying me in all possible ways. She’s called lace. I am now one with the lace. Let me show you.

It’s the Modern Lace Henley (well, the back of it, anyway), and I’ve been snatching moments of spare time to work on it. Never mind that I have another couple of me-projects on the needles; this one needs making now. It’s not at all as complicated as it looks, either. The lace pattern is eight rows, four of which are purled, and then the remaining four are really just two rows which start in different places. (If I’ve just confused all the non-knitters reading this, I beg your pardon!) I’ve changed the original pattern by adding shaping at the waist; I also plan to make the sleeves shorter and to change the collar a little.

I think this top will be ideal for the sort of weather that I glimpsed today (which will be increasing in frequency if there’s any justice in the world): bright, sunny, cool afternoons, warm in the sun but with a bit of bite to them if you’re outside. I could almost feel that familiar haze of heat and something undefinable which is the essence of late spring/early summer.

What else? There has been more progress on my shop, most of which is under wraps, but I can show you some jumpers being blocked:

Aren’t they sweet? (The blue thing on the right is the most brilliant invention ever: a magnetic pin holder.)

As ever, I’m reading several books at once, but I’m particularly enjoying my revisit of some favourite childhood novels: the Swallows & Amazons series by Arthur Ransome. As with all truly excellent children’s books, they’re very readable by adults too, because they don’t talk down to their intended audience. I love the setting (the Lake District, where I’ve spent many happy summers) and the period (inter-War). The piratey adventures aren’t bad either.