Spring Garden Tee

I finished this, the Spring Garden Tee by Alana Dakos, a few weeks ago but waited for some sunny weather and spring flowers for our photo shoot! This is a lovely top, very easy to make and wear.  

It was my first attempt at knitting in the round and also knitting top-down.  I found the beginning of the project really thrilling.  Seeing the neck and sleeves appearing, complete, right before my eyes, well it was like alchemy!  

The thrill soon subsided though when I moved on to the main body.  Round and round, knit stitch after knit stitch, dull, dull, dull! I couldn't wait to get to the end of the monotony.  I yearned to purl!

I am a terrible procrastinator when it comes to the sewing up and finishing off stage with a knitted garment so I had thought that this method would be perfect for me.  Instead, when the finished, pretty much ready-to-wear article came off the needles at the very end I actually felt a bit disappointed, a bit flat!  It made me realise that I actually like sewing up all those separate pieces and when they all are fitted together into a wearable article, I feel very proud.  The "Ta-da! Look what I made!" was missing! I'd known for ages what it was going to look like so I felt a bit cheated! 

I've just had my first attempt at continental style knitting.  My elbows and needles were up around my ears and I was staring with deep concentration at the stitches but I can see how it would be much faster than the English method I'm used to.  I'll have to perfect the continental so that I can use it next time I try knitting in the round.  Hopefully it will make it less laborious!

My Ravelry notes are here.