>Life rarely offers the chance for a do-over. When the opportunity arises, you gotta grab it.

I have learned so much since I first started working on the designs for Amazing Crochet Lace three years ago. My pattern writing skills, I am glad to announce, are MUCH improved. Also I gained more experience in extrapolating sizes. Things I had not thought necessary at the time or even possible are now completely doable.

I’ve been fielding requests for extra sizing for the design Abydos, which is one of the more accessible garments in the book. I look back at what I originally wrote and I can hear my inner voice screaming at me, “WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?”, because the solutions are so clear today. At the time I was convinced that adding more ease to the garment by increasing the width at the underarm would be disastrous and would result in bad proportions. Re-making a sample vest has shown me that this adjustment can and does work well.

So, you say, it’s about time. Here are my suggestions for making the Abydos vest (pages 128-130), sized for approximately 42, 48 and 52″ finished bust.

For 42 (48, 52), make same as Size MED (LARGE, LARGE ) until Joining Row for underarms.

42 (48, 52) JOINING ROW: Instead of 7 (11, 11) BASE/CH/SC, make 9 (13, 15) BASE CH/SC at each underarm.

42 (48) BODY RND 1: Ch 4, *sk next 2 sc of underarm, V in next sc, [sk next 3 sc, V in next sc] 1 (2) times, sk remaining 2 sc, V in 3rd tr of next 13 shells*; repeat from * to* , except omit last V, instead work tr in same tr as beg, ch 1, hdc in top of beg ch, turn.

52 BODY RND 1: Ch 4, *sk next sc of underarm, V in next sc, [sk next 3 sc, V in next sc] 3 times, sk remaining sc, V in 3rd tr of next 13 shells*; repeat from * to *, except omit last V, instead work tr in same tr as beg, ch 1, hdc in top of beg ch, turn.

Then work even on 28 (32, 34) pattern repeats for desired length. When finishing with armhole edging, make sc in each of the additional chains at each underarm.

My thanks to all who hounded me into this. Really. Thanks.