Altering the Sleeveless Turtleneck and Other Stuff

Originally, I thought I would cut the turtleneck, pick up the stitches then knit the 2-3 inches I need, but that gave me the willies. So rather than cut it right away I decided to run a needle through the stitches six rows above the ribbing, and knit down from there. I probably don't need that many but I wanted to give myself some room to cut and unravel. If I knit from the rib up I would have to kitchener a quarter of the way across the bust line. I thought that it may be neater to pick up the stitches there instead. With the sweater upside down I picked up the right side of each stitch then knit from there. (Sorry for the quality of the pix - the lighting sucks.)

When I achieve the right length, I think I will knit onto the row just above the ribbing and then cut.

I'm progressing on a yellow top I'm adapting from a design by Twinkle.

The bottom half that will just cover the bust is knit in Cartridge Belt Rib. I will crochet the top half. There's no pattern that I know of, I'm making it up as a I go along.

I did not knit a border at the bottom so as not to call attention to my hips and I will likely not knit sleeves and collar like the original because they will make my shoulder appear broader than they are.

I swatched the Artfibers Rosetta in an 8x8" swatch as Sahara suggested. I'm using linen stitch.

I stretched the swatch, pulled it, and it resumed its original shape overnight. I washed it in warm water with a load of laundry, then machine dried it. The swatch lost about a half inch in length when wet, and a full inch lengthwise, and a half inch in width after drying.

I'll decide what kind of adjustments to make later. I like the idea of being able to dry it, but I'm afraid of what will happen to the yarn after multiple dryings.

Have a happy and safe 4th!