Knitting an Irish Wind Breaker!
This is showing further progress on the XO Vest! It is one of those knits where I set myself so many rows to do each day. I try to do 8 rows, but that is the two fronts and the back you see there ladies and gentlemen! If I knit more than that, my wrists ache and I don't want to do anything uncomfortable to my wrists - can't get new ones that I know of!

I had always thought of a windbreaker as a jacket made of nylon or some other material that was impenetrable by the wind. I think that is so, but this vest knit from Bainin on 4 mm is also a wind breaker. A raging gale off the northwest Pacific, and I will not feel even a cool breeze on my torso. It will be a nice warm vest when completed.

I have thought many a time about the Irish ladies who knit those beautiful Irish sweaters and vests. I would not get into an arm wrestling competition with them - not that I have ever arm wrestled with anyone, but this knitting makes for very strong wrists.

I love the pattern, but I have changed one thing on it. I am always amazed at how small the buttonholes are on some garments. A k2tog and yo makes for a very small button and with a nice sturdy vest like this, I do not want 'baby' buttons. I did it on the first buttonhole, but I am NOT, NOT, I repeat NOT, frogging back to change it. The remaining buttonholes are cast off 2 st. and then cast on 2 st the next row. I have decided to do this on more garments. I hate to see buttonholes too small and the buttons never lay nicely on the garment. If the buttonhole is a wee bit too large, I can always make it smaller!!

We continue on with the vest, but I am knitting a wee baby sweater from EZ's Knitter's Almanac. I need to get it in the mail this week, as Amanda came into the world on Friday at the bouncing weight of 11 lbs and 5 ozs. The hedgehog is already knit for her big sister, Cate. I am almost finished the first sleeve, so only have one more sleeve to go and then a little rolled brim hat with Icord on the top!