Knitting Lingerie Style-Along

Frogging Gracefully Gathered Halter Top for the third time :(

Because I fell in love with a yarn which was the wrong weight for this pattern (Fibra Natura Sea Song in Sea Colors), I have been struggling to knit the Gracefully Gathered Halter Top in Knitting Lingerie Style by Joan McGowan Michael. The gauge is totally different, so I had to completely rewrite the pattern for the correct stitch count.

The pattern specifies the finished size of the top rather than the body measurement, so I decided to allow an inch or two of ease around the bust. Mistake! After knitting a few inches, my top was looking way too wide, but I had a naive hope that all would be well when I blocked it. However after knitting 6 inches, it was painfully clear that the top was way way way too large.

I frogged it completely, and started over again, with a circumference 20 stitches smaller. After a few inches of that, it was clearly still much to big, so I had to frog it again!

I eventually realized that, since on me the last complete round (shown as red in the diagram at the left) is below my bust (shown in pink), for me the circumference should be based on my under bust measurement, rather than my bust measurement. (This may not have been the way the designer intended it to fit, but then she won't be wearing it.) This is my third attempt, with a circumference of 140 stitches at the widest points (vs. the original 186), which gives slightly less than zero ease under the bust.

I stayed up way too late last night to finish it, trying it on periodically. I have got the circumference right at last (yay), although I had some trouble because now my circular needle is a bit too long (80 cm/~31" needle, ~71cm/~28" wide knitting). However, when I finally added the straps, I found that they cut painfully into my underarm area (where I put red circles on the photo at the top). This is partly my fault because I decreased by 12 stitches as specified in the pattern rather than adjusting for the smaller gauge of the yarn I was using, and I guess partly because I'm built differently. I'm going to have to frog the strap and top few inches and redo it two or three inches narrower. I'm also going to make the straps quite a bit longer, since I want to be able to tie them in a bow which is currently impossible. They are currently 16", I plan to make them 24" at least.

Unfortunately, No Pics

I knit this up in Cascade Sierra in a lime-ish green ... I lengthened the body a couple of inches and made a couple other minor 'alterations' & as soon as my camera is working again (grrr), I post a pick.

~ Sherri

FO

Hi all,

I recently finished the shaped lace tee, my first item from the book, though there are so many I like! There are a few more pics on my blog at The knittin' kitten .  I followed the pattern as written. 

Happy knitting!

Drawing Update

Hi everyone,

It is already "that time" that we set out to do the drawing. Does anyone have any FOs to post?

Robin

Getting this KAL Going Again...

Hi everyone,

Despite a few very generous offers to take over administration of the KAL, apparently this won't be possible as Blogger will export content out, but not import it in. So...I thought it would be fun to get this KAL going again as it's been quiet lately. Along those lines, if you also have White Lies Designs patterns you'd like to blog about here, I'd like to expand this KAL to include those as well. I have purchased a number of Joan's patterns and haven't gotten to them yet, so I would love to see more FOs of them as well as get motivated to work some up myself.

I still have some patterns to give away that Joan had generously donated last time around for the contest, so how about if we do our next drawing just after 3/31 for projects finished through that date?

Robin

Surplice Bodice Camisole - CO

I have cast on for the Surplice Bodice Camisole. I am not one that likes to seam pieces, but this one is pretty enough to venture that territory. I've also never knit a project in multiple directions as this one calls for, so don't be surprised if I'm not asking y'all for a LOT of help! lol. Stay tuned.....

Knitters-Delight

Woohoo ~ Its here

Now I finally feel official to play along w/you all.  I got a surprise gift today from dh ~ my very own copy of the book.  Yeah me!  I'm so excited I can't stand it. ;D  I'm looking thru the book and my stash to decided what I will try first.  I'm leaning toward "Gracefully Gathered Halter Top & Boxer Shorts", "Silk and Pearls Cami" and "Basic Bra."  Hmm..decisions, decisions ~ well whatever I choose I know it will be a blast since its for little ole' me.

I'll let you know as soon as I cast on.  Have a great evening.

Dawn ;)

Attention Potential KAL Leaders!!

Hi everyone,

Due to lots of other things going on right now, I would like to pass the ownership of this KAL over to someone else. I would move it to Blogger and add someone as co-administrator to it as I think that would be the only option, but the person who took it over would have total control of it. If there's a way it could be transferred to another Blogger ID, we could do that too. I just know I'm not giving it the attention it deserves so was wondering if anyone wants to take over.

Thanks!

Robin

And the Winners Are...

Ashley and Cheryl! There were only two FO comments in reply to my post regarding the contest, and I received seven patterns and three nippers from Joan, so I've decided to give each of you a pattern and nipper. I'll save the other patterns for the next contest after 12/31.

The choices are:

1. Bella Pullover or Cardigan

2. Filigree Lace

3. Nicole Camisole and Panty

4. Madeline Shawl Jacket

5. Milinda Pullover (I have 2 copies of this one)

6. Easy Lace Jacket

Thanks again to Joan for donating these! It was very generous of her. When I was linking the patterns above, I noticed that there are a lot of new patterns on the site, so go check them out! I am also re-inspired to knit some of the ones I bought previously but have not yet made.

Ashley and Cheryl, please email me to let me know which pattern you'd prefer and your postal address. If both of you want the same pattern, I'll give it to the person I hear from first.

A Finished Shaped Lace Tee!

Ahhh, just how happy am I that I have managed to finish this?!  After the Friday night, glass of wine theme of my earlier posts - I thought that I had better post a picture of my project, complete with a glass of suitable celebratory alcohol!

Rather than post a picture heavy post here, I have just posted a full update about my shaped lace tee on my blog (for anyone who is interested), together with my slight sizing/does this suit me quandry - oh, to boil or not to boil wash my cotton cashmere top?! 

I knitted the 38" size and followed the errata for the t-shirt length sleeves, lengthening them to 3/4 length as it is now Autumn and chilly in the UK - I cast on with the 4.5mm needles for the first stitch pattern, then swapped to smaller needles (3.75 and then 4mm) to work the sleeves up to the bicep, in order to try to achieve some sleeve shaping in the way that the waist shaping is done. 

I need to confess that I do not think that my modifications were 100% successful but it is the first time that I have attempted to modify a pattern, so I think that it was worth doing for the experience!

I need to say that I really enjoyed this knit.  Challenging in all of the right places, for my first ever 'all over' lace attempt and coolly enough, this is the first knit that I have ever managed to complete for myself. 

I usually knit presents for other people - projects for me tend to get put aside or abandoned.  With any luck, this knit has got me past my 'if it is for me, it'll never get finished' knitted garment problem!