Yearly Archives: 2009

Glam Knit Reality: Trapeze Jacket

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This is a sweater that I initially designed for myself while I was in the last few months of my pregnancy with Mazie. I liked it so much that I decided to put it in the book. Glam Knits: 25 Designs For Luxe Yarns
Trapeze jacket

Here it is on the model:
Glam Knits: Trapeze jacket

This is yet another one that was knit to fit my promised plus-sized model but ended up pinned on a size 8. For reference, I’m 6’0″ about a 12 – 14, with a bustline currently about 40 – 42 depending.

The yoke of this sweater is knit like a typical TDR (top down raglan) but the trims are knit separately and attached. I did that for two reasons. The first is that the wavy edge of lace is the cast-on edge, unless you want to block the heck out of it every time you wash it. So, I started the lace at the hems and knit upward toward the body until I used every scrap of that gorgeous yarn. I also added extra stitches to the body trim, to give it a trapeze effect and to make sure there were enough stitches for the lace repeats.

Trapeze jacket

The second reason for knitting separately was that even though the yarn is from the same dye lot, it’s pretty different in color. I used the better-matched skeins to knit this coat, then used the leftovers for what I planned to be a personal project. (Note: I never posted the book photos of the coat because…why would you want a coat that left your boobs exposed? I mean, really? More on that later…)

So, I tried to distribute the skeins so that the color difference was less noticable. When I wear it, nobody comments on the differing dye lots, but you can see that the yoke and upper body of the sweater are distinctly tan, the sleeves are blue and the hemline trim is green.

Trapeze jacket

BUT…I love this sweater. Dyelots Schmyelots … it’s a great fit, it goes with jeans and dresses, and is one that I never packed away in my “I’m mad at this book” phase. I get compliments on this one all the time!

Glam Knit Reality: Kimono Wrap

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Ok, here’s the Kimono Wrap (Rav Link) from my book Glam Knits as it looks on me:

Kimono Wrap

Kimono Wrap

The belt has gotten lost somewhere along the trunkshow highway, and it doesn’t QUITE wrap all the way around my 6-mo pregnant self, but I still love it.

Kimono Wrap

I didn’t even post the pic from the book…because it’s photoed inside OUT! (That was probably another big reason that I didn’t really fall in love with this book when it was new.) I designed this one to be worn as a jacket, either belted or not. You can stand the collar up, or fold it over, or just leave it off altogether when you’re knitting it. There’s no shaping, just big lace rectangles bordered with seed stitch trim. Simple. Quick to knit. HIGH visual impact. This is another one that was designed to flatter any body shape…not just you skinnies, as much as I love you!

Here I am showing off the big-needle lace (of which I am a HUGE fan…LOVE big fat lace!)
Kimono Wrap

And, here’s the back…I love how it falls, and how you can see the lace at the shoulder.
Kimono Wrap

This is knit in a Malabrigo semisolid, which gives the lace a lot of depth.
Kimono Wrap

Again, here’s the Amazon link, in case you’d like to give the book a try. At less than $13, even if you only like THREE of the garments, it’s worth considering.

I don’t mean to sound like I’m pimping this book. I feel like I’m rediscovering these garments after about 2 years of feeling kind of bitter about the whole thing…and I want to give them their day.

Glam Knit Reality: Bell-Sleeved Scoopneck

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Here’s the sweater on ME:
bell-sleeved scoop-neck top

And here it is on the model:
Glam Knits: bell-Sleeved Scoopneck

This is actually one of my most favorite sweaters in the whole world. In the book, it looks like it’s kinda tight around the waist, but it’s not. It’s meant to be very floaty and airy. The Suri Alpaca (from Blue Sky) is just precious. I never was a pink girl, so I thought that if I was going to do pink, it should be this delicate, soft pink, which is perfect with the loft of the yarn. I love the depth of this neckline, it’s flattering on everyone. Also love the little eyelets all around it…and I love how lacy the front darts look.

A couple more gratuitous pics:
bell-sleeved scoop-neck top

…one of the back…bell-sleeved scoop-neck top

I like the little decrease detail.

When I was working on this book, I was told by my editor (who no longer works there) that I’d get to use at least one plus-sized model. I really tried hard to make sweaters that would be flattering on a whole range of body types, and was so pleased that someone like ME would be showing the garments in the book. And then, when I got to finally see the book…no plus models! Everything was pinned and tight-looking. Sigh. The perils of publishing. I guess that’s one reason I didn’t really promote it when it came out. Now I’m working on my 3rrd book, it’s almost done, and I would really like to show the Glam Knits the way they were meant to be seen. I don’t have any skinny friends to model the smaller garments, but they do fit my mannequins. I’ll try to get some more realistic shots of those, too.

The book is being marked down and down on Amazon, and you can get it for only $13. Here’s the link:

Glam Knit Reality: Lacy Dolman

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This is the third in my little series of book vs reality photos, the Lacy Dolman sweater (rav link) from Glam Knits:

Lacy Dolman

It’s lost a couple of buttons along the way, but you get the idea! This is yet another of the patterns that is designed to fit anyone. No shaping, simple knit rectangles sewn together with ribbing at the hem. Four-button closure just at the ribbing, designed to hit just at the underbust. The yarn is a gorgeous angora from Lorna’s Laces (see Rav link above for info) and is just like wearing a cloud. You could sub a mohair or suri alpaca for the angora, or even just use a “normal” yarn…the stitch work gives it enough of a punch on its own.

Lacy Dolman

Here’s the back.
Lacy Dolman

And…here’s what it looked like on the model in the book:
Glam Knits: Lacy Dolman

It’s hard to tell from her posture what the sleeves are like, and it looks kind of uncomfortable, really. The model is pretty, but she’s not showing the sweater very well.

Again, here’s the link…I love this sweater.

Double-Breasted Cardigan from Glam Knits…on a 6mo preggo lady

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So. As you may have ascertained from the lack of posts on the subject…I have not gotten very far on my new Interlacements preggo sweater.

Today is kind of a down-time day, setting into my new class, recouperating after the launch of the new site. I cleaned my studio, did the dishes, and decided to put the new preggo sweater on hold. I’d rather have a sweater that I can wear for a long time than one I’ll only use for the next 3 months. And I LOVE that yarn, so I want to make something that will be in use for a lifetime, rather than a “look back on it and smile” kinda thing.

SO…while I was cleaning out my studio I decided to dig out some sweaters that I thought might work on me for this winter as – is.

Here’s the first one. This is the Double-breasted cardigan (Rav link) from Glam Knits: 25 Designs For Luxe Yarns
As it looks on the teeny model in the book:

Glam Knits: Double Breasted Cardigan

And here it is on me:
Double Breasted Cardigan Coat

I took off one set of 3 buttons, and I’m planning to go to the hobby store and buy 6 or 8 dark wood buttons to stitch in one long row all down the front. It’s a whole different look, isn’t it?

While I love the look and feel of my book Glam Knits, I think that some of the photos make the sweaters look somewhat inaccessible to the average Jo. This one is actually a really great, utilitarian sweater.

Here’s the back:
Double Breasted Cardigan Coat

And, look! It actually closes in the front!
Double-breasted Cardigan from Glam Knits

I’ve got a few more to show you…so stay tuned!