I am so pleased with my Cyrene Jacket, I’m resisting the temptation to just cast on a second one!

I finished Cyrene the morning I went to the Ally Pally Knitting and Stitching show. Actually, I finished it the night before…then realized I had seriously messed up casting off the collar so got up extra early to redo it before I left for the show – that was serious dedication to the need to show off to Tracey and Kari-Helene at the show!

Would you like to see her?

Very smart and so useful (and warm!!)

I described the unusual construction of the body and edging  in my this post –>Enough Fos,!Here’s a couple of WIPs!

It all worked out beautifully and I found the pattern straightforward to follow.

The sleeves a very plain and straightforward but possibly on the narrow side – I have skinny arms and they are a quite close fitting but that works for me.

The bottom half of the lapels is actually the top of the edging – the top half of the lapel is the end of the collar – all very easy.

But. Do cast off the collar VERY loosely or you will look like someone has angrily got hold of the scruff of your neck! (Yes, that Is what I had to correct the morning of Ally Pally!) 😮

The collar doesn’t lay down at the back for me and I needed to put a couple of catch stitches to make the lapels stay in place. I wanted quite a formal look to mine, I know this is supposed to be a bit more of a relaxed garment but it bothered me  when they moved around!

I think I got the collar to look OK (even though I rushed it)

I have to say that Cyrene makes my back view look rather good! The detail in the curved lower back hem (achieved with short row shaping) and the detailed waist shaping makes all the difference here…

No, My bum does not look big in this!

The buttons were ones I bought at Ally Pally – When I wore it to the show it had no buttons…I walked around the show armed with a length of the yarn and a darning needle so I could sew them on as soon as I got them – I’m starting to worry about my levels of obsession now….

Wooden buttons finish it off.

I have worn Cyrene a few times and, especially when I have worn her at work, I’ve had other women asking me where I bought her because they wanted one – those who know I knit were super impressed. Naturally I basked in all this attention 😀

My only real decision now is how may thing do I have to complete from my queue before I can buy the yarn to make another Cyrene?

Hmm – I’ll sit in the conservatory and think about what colour next….

Pondering my colour choices…..