Like a day by the seaside

The little cotton tank that I was working on last week, unfortunately, had to be mostly ripped out.  But it was one of those instances where the pain led to gain.  I hadn't completely thought through the layout (because I was making it up as I went along) and there were some fatal flaws in the plan.  Things like the body would have fit a size 6 sort of person (which I'm not) but the armholes would have come down to the naval.  Not a good look, whoever you are.

But the bit that I did was enough for me to figure out how many repeats I really needed and how to handle the stretchiness of the neckline.  So the demise was not in vain.  And out of it is probably one of my favorite things I've made in a long, long time.

I really need to get a better photo of it as this dress form is now larger than I am and it's at the smallest settings.  But at least you get an idea of the top.  There weren't quite enough repeats for the front but I'd wanted to do a little insert here anyway.  I love the effect.  I don't know if you can see the details but I picked up stitches along the edge and did 7 cables with a little lace pattern between.  The I picked up stitches from the other side and did a 3-needle bind off to give me the finished edge.

I still need to figure out what I'm going to do with the sleeves (I was thinking about doing just a little loosey flap) and then I think I'm going to put big white or shell buttons on the flaps at the front.  I also think I want to crochet finish the bottom part of the armholes just to finish it off.  And then finally I want to make lining for it. 

I just can't tell you how soft and comfortable it is and how pleased I am with it.  I would use a bunch of exclamation points or a smiley face but I've had to use so many at work to keep people from thinking I'm being mean or unfriendly that I've put myself on an exclamation mark/smiley diet.  I'm also on a "like" diet because it's making me crazy to hear every sentence I say or hear others say have the work "like" in it.  They use it in like every sentence.  (But that's beside the point.)

My point is that sometimes inspiration doesn't come all of a sudden.  Sometimes it sneaks up on you and, if you chase it, you can find something that thrills you.

Edited to include this photo: