Oriole Eo Eo Eo Eo

(Read that title sort of as if you're yodeling!)

Yes, I want to shout and dance and announce that the Oriole vest is finally finished. I think it feels like such a big deal partly because I haven't finished that many things for myself other than accessories, partly because it's the biggest fair isle project I've finished (something to cheer about even if it is a really simple repetitive pattern and a cropped one at that!), and partly because it feels like an accomplishment to have started and finished this with a baby in the house. As you can see from the photo below, I've done a lot of knitting while holding a sleeping baby late at night.

So, finally the vest is done. Am I thrilled to be done? Yes. Am I thrilled with the vest? Well, not really. It was a cropped vest to begin with. But it is seriously short. The shortness added to the overall fit make it a little boxier than I was hoping for. But, still, it's really adorable. I spent a lot of time pondering the measurements before beginning, but I think I had to actually see a finished object that short to realize it's too short for me.

Even though I loved the colors I ended up with (yes, the third time I cast it on), there were so many problems with the pattern (which only increased as I got to the finishing) that the vest was a frustrating project overall. And, picking up around the armholes and neck was a real chore for some unexplainable reason. I think I picked up the armholes three times each, and still wasn't thrilled with what I had on the needles each time.

But, it's finished. It's adorable. And, if I try it with a different shirt than I had on this morning and jeans (rather than pink velour sweats!), maybe it will have the look I was hoping for.

Now, if I can just finish the Cascade Skye cardigan I'm working on in the next three weeks, I'll have made my goal of finishing both by my birthday!