Anker’s Summer Shirt is complete! I actually photographed and wore it last Monday, but my blog game was completely derailed last week by too much fun. Terrible, eh? I was distracted by lots of fun friend time, seeing Jenny Lewis perform, more friend time, and a lovely date on Saturday for my 37th birthday. It’s been a great summer so far, and though I have been knitting as constantly as ever, the sunshine and lighter work schedule makes me want to be at play more often.

The shirt! I had to rip and reknit parts of this a few times, as mentioned in a previous post. We are back on friendly terms and I enjoyed wearing this last week. I don’t know that it’s going to be one of my favorites yet, but I’m warming up to it. The yarn is Debbie Bliss Cotton DK in French Navy. I followed the pattern mostly as written (aside from waist shaping) and as it advises a choose your own length format for the body, I went with at total of 15.5 inches, which is one of my favorite lengths.

Wearing it was good. I do a lot of sitting for my work (I’m a psychotherapist) and I found myself wanting to pull it down more than anticipated. There’s something about the ribbed yoke that makes that part of the shirt work as one big section apart from the rest while wearing it. It was also a bit hotter and thicker than some other summer shirts I’ve been wearing, so it will likely get more play when the temperatures are at a more reasonable 80 Fahrenheit and below level. Though it’s solid cotton, it is a bit stiff and thick.

The pattern advises that the shirt will gain up to 2 inches of ease while wearing it. These photographs are taken without that time frame. It did relax a bit and I like it both ways. The pattern also advises sewing elastic thread at the neckline to help keep it from stretching. I think I will just wait and see how that turns out. I’m more apt to put in a crochet chain for reinforcement over sewing.

I think I have picked my next summer top. I’m planning on Tarmac and have the recommended yarn for it sitting in my stash. I’ve been heavily into making progress on Vasarely. I’m on the second to last section of the shawl, at least 4 feet into it and I’m addicted. As I get closer to seeing the finish I know I’ll have to cast something else on to appease my addiction.

Back to knitting!