Zodiac Halter Finsihed

It's for real this time -- I think I am finished (well, finished except for sewing 3-4 ends). My fashion photographer had to take care of some other business this morning, so the real photo shoot won't happen until later tonight.

Because of the potential loss of elasticity, I decided to attach the back without blocking. Here's what it looks like:

I decided to change the back from being P2 K2 ribbing at just the sides to being P2 K2 ribbing all across the back. When I needed to decrease or increase I did it in what would be the purl grooves on the right side of the work. I also shifted down from the medium size (17.5") to the small size (16") for the back in hopes of shoring up some of the extra fabric that I had the first time. It was my hope that the combination of ribbing and a narrower fabric and no blocking would eliminate the looseness I experienced the first time.

Here's a shot of the back the first time so you can see the difference in how they looked (I actually did a little more than twice as much ribbing as called for in the pattern):

The modeling shots will be up later, but I will say that while I was happier with this than the previous fit, I still don't think it's perfect. However, at this point, I don't think ripping and re-knitting will solve the problem. I will pass on some words of advice to those who haven't started this project yet, but want to -- and don't mind getting a little unsolicited advice.

1. Shorten the pattern a little bit if you are short-waisted like me. I think part of the reason that it rolls a little in back has to do with the fact that it hits and falls over my hips. The shaping isn't bad, it's probably just not the best for me. Especially when you combine the shaping with the fact that cotton is heavy and inelastic and submits to the force of gravity.
2. Change the back, even if you're not short-wasted. I'd recommend ribbing all the way across the back, but there are probably other ways to go as well. You can match a smaller back with a larger front because all the backs are knit to the same height, and have the same shaping, it's just the starting width that changes.
3. If you block, block minimally until after the project is done. Once you wet and stretch that cotton out, it's definitely not going anywhere.
4. Try it on before you get all your ends woven in and tied down. It's a lot easier to undo/re-do if you need to fuss with it.
5. Consider starting with K2 P2 ribbing on the right side instead of P2 K2. The effect won't be that different and you'll save yourself some frustration at the end. I found seaming up purl edges to be time consuming and I didn't get as neat a seam as I would have liked because my purl edges are never as neat as I would like them

And what was I knitting on the way to the fiber festival? My Dad's Lo Tech sweat, of course. The fall running season is almost here so I need to get cracking! Here's the back so far. Have I mentioned that I love knitting with this yarn?