I have had SO many inquiries (not) as to the status of the Bouton D'Blow sweater, that I just had to give in and post about my progress.
As mentioned in my prior post, this is one of the most poorly-written instructions ever. As nice as the patterns are, I don't appreciate having to frog my work because the instructions suck. Also, I think the designer/yarn company should do the bloody math. Don't freaking tell me to decrease 39 stitches evenly across 253! Screw you, Bouton D'or!
All that aside, I'm pretty happy with this sweater thus far and proud of the fact that I was able to do it despite the crap instructions. It's very pretty and I can easily see Anthropologie asking $300 for it (or about 7 Euros at the current exchange rate)(or 3 barrels of oil). Due to my freakishly long torso, I added another band of the lace pattern at the bottom of the sweater, hoping that it will hit somewhere below my ribcage. Hope springs eternal.
What's left? Trim around the whole damn thing and sewing the armholes and sleeves, and adding buttons. Fingers crossed that I'll have some cool vintage buttons among the many tins handed down from Mom and purchased on eBay. Once completed, I'll see if I can take a photo of me modeling this creation. I'll post it if I don't look like a manatee in it.
The pic below shows some stitch detail:
So a brief follow-up is in order on the post below. I am toiling away on the Bouton d'Or sweater, in all its gorgeousness and lacy loveliness, but WHO THE HELL WROTE THE PATTERN!? Now I am a very experienced crocheter, and those that know me also know that I am not one to blow my own horn readily. I rarely meet the pattern that exceeds my skill set, but this one is a test of my patience. Honestly, after the experience working with this pattern, I would not consider blowing money on a Bouton d'Or pattern book. The pattern is working (though not without extensive frogging) only due to perseverance and determination to see it through. (A side thought -- blogging as you go on a project is a little like going to Weight Watchers. You really can't fool yourself when everyone's watching.)
I'd be curious to know if anyone else has worked this pain-in-the-ass pattern and what they thought of it. I will post pics, I promise, but right now I picking up the hair I'm ripping out of my head as I do this.
So Subway Hooker has taken her act to the cramped and filthy skies! Funny how Continental Airlines, with their excruciating lack of leg room and non-existent airspace, makes it virtually impossible to do work on a business trip. As soon as we level out, the passenger in front of me knocks his seat back into my face, and my laptop is rendered incapable of opening to where I can see the screen. Way to go, Continental! This seemingly frustrating situation narrows my on-board activities to the following: reading (check), sleeping (check), eating (check, since I get the vegetarian option), and hooking (doubleplusgood Check!). So I took the opportunity to grab some lovely chocolate sportweight alpaca and got started on the above sweater. This pattern is available either from Bouton d'Or's pattern book Collection Printemps-été n° 84, or in the 2008 Crochet-a-Day Calendar, January 11-13 pages.
Truth be told, their instructions suck, big time. But perseverance pays off bigger time, and I am on my way to having this lovely lacey froth for my very own. As soon as my internal clock is back on East Coast time, I'll post pics on the progress.
By the way, if any of you work for Continental, please feel free to forward my comments on their appalling lack of space to anyone there who pretends to give a crap. Perhaps they'll figure out a way to spin it to their advantage ("I fly Continental whenever I just want to forget about work and relax!....")
I have had SO many inquiries (not) as to the status of the Bouton D'Blow sweater, that I just had to give in and post about my progress. 
