Today is my 33rd birthday. I have a new shirt to wear. It’s a finished Waterlily out of Louet Gems Fingering in Terra Cotta. I’m very pleased to have another warm weather top finished! 
I added waist shaping to this, decreasing 4 stitches a row about every 6 rows, then increasing back at the same rate. I like customizing this to my shape, so if I’m working from the bottom up I start decreasing around 6-6.5 inches and begin increasing again around 9-10 inches, depending on the length of the garment. 
This one is about 15.5″ from the armpit to the bottom of the garment. I added about 4 extra inches. I am fairly long waisted, and I like my tops to dip down an inch or so below the top of my pants. 
I loved knitting this top. The yarn was soft and bouncy, the color makes me happy, and this project accompanied me through quite a few things. I worked on it during some Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy training, while watching The Fault in Our Stars, and while listening to The Silkworm and Shadow of Night. It holds many memories. 
I love the finished item too. It’s dressy enough to wear to work or on a date, or casual enough for anytime wear.
The lace was fun and addictive. I took a few days break when I got to the front neck division because I had little time for focus at that juncture, and that part definitely required some focus. I couldn’t get the number of stitches to match the pattern on the row for dividing stitches. I was 2 short, but I ended up just dividing it evenly and forgetting about it. At the point for the kitchener and neck edging, I wish I had used a smaller needle. The neck edging is a little loose at the back of the neck, but I doubt I’ll notice it later. I love this top.
One of my birthday presents this year was a Fitbit Flex (the blue armband in the second picture). It’s a pedometer/sleep monitor/general motivator that’s inspiring me to move around and meet my fitness and nutrition goals with real time feedback. I love it so far. I also have some Eaden Yarns self-striping sock yarn coming in the mail soon… I love birthdays!
Happy Bastille Day for those that celebrate it!
Happy Birthday. Congratulations 🙂
Great knit as always
happy birthday 🙂
the top looks great, I like it
Aww we share a birthday! Happy Birthday from one birthday girl to the other!! My birthday also included knitting goodies and just like yours they are in the post!! Have a lovely day. We are off to the park with the dogs now and try a new cafe for some birthday cake! x
Happy birthday to you too! Hope you have a great day!
Happy Birthday! Its my birthday too 🙂 I love the top, it looks great!!
Happy birthday to you too! Hope it’s a great one!
Happy Birthday! The top looks amazing!
Gorgeous top! Now I kind of want to knit one. Happy Birthday!
Supe cute!
Happy B-day…xox
Happy Birthday! This top looks stellar on you.
Happy Birthday! Your top looks great.
Happy birthday!
Not only is that top totally gorgeous, but I’m loving your shoes too! Where are they from?
Holy crap how are you 33?? Lol I thought you were younger. Beautiful sweater, and I hope you had a fabulous birthday!!
Wow this is gorgeous! The colour, that lace, and I love the shaping… SUPER flattering! And, happy birthday!!
Very lovely! I need to queue this pattern 🙂
Happy Birthday! I love that top, and the mods you did to the pattern, it fits beautifully. Great job.
Happy b-day! The shirt is so beautiful and looks so great on you.
Happy Birthday! Your sweater is lovely!
Happy 33 and may this beautiful knit hold many more happy memories! 🙂
Happy birthday! The Waterlily is lovely 🙂
I really, really love this top. You do such beautiful work. Happy 33rd!!! It’s my 65th birthday today. Seems there are quite a number of us Bastille Day babies. I always wanted to visit France for Bastille Day so that a whole country would be celebrating my birthday!
Happy Birthday! This top looks great on you 🙂
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Many, many happy returns. 😀
Happy birthday! I love this posting with all of the helpful hints for shaping. It is very beautiful. I have wanted to knit one also, and will definitely put it on my list to do.
Happy Birthday Cassy – the top looks great and the color is beautiful! I love your sandals-who makes them?
They are Birkenstock Yaras
thanks – I love them!
Happy birthday – beautiful top
Happy Birthday! What a fabulous top!
It’s beautiful and fits you perfectly. Oh, and happy birthday!
Happy Birthday! What a gorgeous top. Oh, to have half your skill! I will make do with my lopsided scarves and live vicariously through you and your beautiful creations.
Happy happy birthday! Your new top is gorgeous, and suits you perfectly! I’m hoping you took it out for a date-night test spin tonight 🙂
It’s wonderful, beautiful, gorgeous – a good way to celebrate ones birthday. Hope you had e good one! 🙂
It’s beautiful, and happy belated birthday! x
Very cute! Happy birthday!
Happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And congratulation!! Your new shirt is fantastic and with beautiful color!!!! 🙂
Belated birthday wishes and congrats on another fantastic garment!
Happy birthday! You look fantastic in your new lovely tee!
Happy birthday, and this top is so perfect on you!! Nice work!! I think I need one in this color too 😉
Happy birthday, and I LOVE your Waterlilly! Such a beautiful color.
Cute little top. Love the lace. I have to be honest. What I’m really in love with is how you’ve worn your jeans. I cuff mine also, but this is a very cute and dramatic cuff that I must sport in the very near future.
You look adorable!
You are three days older than me 🙂 I love the top – it looks fantastic.
Belated happy birthday!