Fitted Knits Along

DONE

Well, I knit this up on holiday & just finished up my slightly altered version.  I shall try to get somepics up tomorrow!

I'm in!

I'm almost finished with mine, and will try to add a pic. I decided to do the bottom split without buttons and with a seed stitch border (pattern became too complicated, i.e. I could not picture it).

Ok, found the camera chord - pic added!

I have to say that you have all done great jobs with your projects! It's a delight to see all the pics. :o)

Next, I'll continue the simple knitted bodice while also knitting a Harry Potter cloak for my 5 yo son...yay!

Textured Tunic Update

To the frogging pool we--the textured tunic and I--go, as the top is turning out much too big just below the bustline for a Fitted Knit:

I am not quite sure how to fix this.  Should I completely start over with a smaller size or should I figure out how to tighten up the sweater below the bustline with decreases (which may screw up the box stitch pattern)?

Details, details:

• Yarn is RYC Soft Tweed in Mist
• Using size #9 needles
• Using the 39.5 pattern size as my gauge was 3.5 inches rather than 4 inches.  In trying this sweater on, I do believe I should have used the size 37.

Holly of HollYarns

Textured Tunic done!

Well, it is much modified, but it is done and I love it.

I eliminated the neck slit, the side vents, and the bell sleeves.  Instead, I used a seed stitch boarder in all three places.  I also incorporated waist and hip shaping.  It was a fun knit and created a wonderful sweater.  I can't wait until winter!!! 

No Yarn Yet, So No New Knits

Oh, the wait is unbearable!

I am out of yarn for the Fitted Knits knits that I want to do, so I am currently awaiting (impatiently) the arrival of RYC Soft Tweed for the Textured Tunic with Side Buttons (and hoping that it'll work as a substitute for the called for Lana Grossa Royal Tweed, especially since it is on sale for $3.99 a skein at Webs!).  I am also looking forward to seeing if the Valley Yarns Northampton works as a substitute for Cascade 220, when I try it out in the Turtleneck Tube Vest as it is about $3 cheaper a skein than Cascade 220 (sorry, this is the mind of a broke graduate student here!).

Will I make it?  Can I bear the wait for yarn?  How could I have let it come to this--no yarn for Fitted Knits knits?
Holly of HollYarns

Textured Tunic sans button and slash

Having finished my shrug, I've started the Textured Tunic.

I've modified the neck to eliminate the button and opening (I really need to wear a bra - a comfortable bra, not a strapless one - and I hate seeing my bra strap showing where it shouldn't, so as cute and sexy as the button and slash opening are and as much as they really "make" the sweater, I had to eliminate them or else I just know I would never wear the sweater).  I did three rounds of seed stitch to add some interest to the top to compensate (we'll see how that works out!)

Also, I learned my lesson with the shrug and really did try the Tunic on before joining under the arms.  I am SO glad I did. 

Although I am small, I ended up knitting the increases as for the 2nd size so that the arms holes would not be too tight.  After that, I decreased about 10% before the first purl round and again on the knit round before the bottom purl rounds.  So far I really like the fit!

As for yarn, I cheaped out and am using Paton's Chunky Tweed.  I actually love the color and it seems thus far to be pretty decent to knit with.  My one concern:  wow, it is hot!  Just trying on the beginnings of the sweater make me sweat!  I hope we have a cold, cold winter.

Textured Tunic, also Done (except Button)

Here's my Textured Tunic! Done and all ends are sewn in; just need to find the perfect closure for the other shoulder.

This was a little bigger than I would have liked in the upper body and is almost off the shoulder on me, but I love the color and the other elements of the fit. I made the size 34, in Rowan Cork in "Gleam" from my stash.

Modifications:

I eliminated the side buttons and made up my own shaping for the bottom, while maintaining the side slits outlined in seed stitch. I just increased one stitch on each side of both side seam markers, every knit row and eliminated the buttonholes. I also did the front and back exactly the same. On the sleeves, I did not do the decreases immediately at the top of the sleeve, but did them on the second section.  They are fitted enough on me without the decreases at the top.

I'm happy with how it fits, although it is different than the originally conceived design. There was no way I'd be able to fit buttons with any space between them in the short area I had to work in from my waist to my hips. This is a great design for someone that is long-waisted (as opposed to me, who is very short waisted and 5'1") but I am happy that I was able to make a version of it work for me.

Almost Done...

OK...here is my textured tunic...well sort of.  After I messed up the box stitch I took some liberties with the sides too.  I decided to not do buttons, but plan to thread satin cord or ribbon through instead just to the decrease point in the slits.  I also plan to thread the cord or ribbon through the neckline and tie it at the top opening too.  I may do blue cord to pick up the blue undertones in the tweed.  So far I really like the fit.  I'll post again when it's done.  Oh yeah, there will be sleeves too...knitted in the round.

New Project: Textured Tunic

I cast on for the Textured Tunic on Friday afternoon and made a lot of progress! 

For more pictures/angles, click the photo and check out the other ones in my Flickr account.

I'm liking it so far - I added some decreases for the waist (3 rounds at each marker, every other round, starting right after the 3 purl rounds after the box stitch section) and increases (same number, kfb type, at the end of the 10" stockinette section) for the hips, after reading what a lot of other people said about this coming out too baggy.

Now I have to figure out how to alter the bottom to fit, as when I total up the number of rows (with all the separate instructions for shaping, etc.) it comes out to about 9 more inches (24" total length, which I know is way long for me) and I think I want mine to be about 5 or 6" longer from this point to hit the bottom of my hip. I know I can make the increases more frequent, and cut out some of the rows - the problem is the different instructions for the front hem and back hem - and making them match up. Yikes.

Any ideas, Stefanie, or anyone else?

Messed Up Box Stitch...

So here is my version of the Textured Tunic so far...I have just done the side slit trim and am ready to separate the front from the back.  I really like it so far, except that I messed up the box stitch pattern.  I accidentally did a double seed stitch by alternating the knits and purls every round instead of every other round and didn't even realize it until I was almost done with the whole section.  I like how it looks though, even though the box stitch would have been nicer...so I am not going to redo it.  Maybe I'll do the sweater again later on and do it right!