Knock Knock. Whooooo's There?

It's me!  I'm finally back.
This week we'll discuss the awesomeness that is the Owls sweater by Kate Davies.  Alas, this beauty is not free.  Although I try my best to feature free patterns on this blog, sometimes something is so nice that I have to give it its due.  And when you think about it, knitters know they're going to spend some money, right?  We don't expect needles and yarn to come free, so we shouldn't expect all the good patterns to be free too.   Anyhoo, this pattern is also available for purchase on Ravelry, so you can download it directly to your library there.

I love this photo!

The lovely model above is Melissa (melbelle).  She knit her owls in a Medium on US 10-10.5s in Rowan Purelife Steele Grey Suffolk.  Just look at how those birdies frame her face.  It also doesn't hurt that she has a pretty face to start with, but the yoke detail keeps your eye upwards of the bust/ waist/ hips region. 

  Cutie Patootie.

I don't know this little angel's name, but the  master knitter behind the sweater is Soile (NeulovaNarttu).  The yarn here is Novita Fauna in Golden Yellow.  The kids Owls pattern is separate from the adult version, but I think you can probably reverse-engineer the kids size. Not that I'm advocating it or anything.  Support your designers, people!  Needles here are US 7 and 8.  Soile has some notes on her version on her Ravelry project page including how she cast on and some other details.  I realize this doesn't really give us information about varying body types, unless you are a Supermodel with the body of a three-year-old boy.  But, who can resist a cute kid in an adorable sweater?

Oh dear, another beautiful child.  I just can't resist. This one is by Amanda (Minder).  The yarn is called

Ístex Álafoss Lopi and Amanda used US 10-10.5 needles. This sweater would be soo cute for back-to-school (yes, I know we're in Spring) with the wise owls and the beautiful ochre color.  And please check out Amanda's projects page for some of the most beautiful project photos you'll ever see.

 For the WIN!

 The masterpiece above is by EricaG.  Erica wins at knitting for the adorable branch and leaves embroidery on this sweater.  It's the little detail that makes it special.  She also has a wonderful child's onesie version on her Rav projects page. The yarn in the version above is Sandnes Garn Alfa in Petrol.  US 7 needles knit up a size S/M.  I think I'm going to have to take a break from all the cute.

How cute is this?  (I am well aware that I've used more than my daily allocation of "cute" and "adorable" in this post.  Please feel free to suggest synonyms in the comments section.)  This gorgeous model is Caro or SplitYarn on Rav.  Caro has some great tips for upsizing the pattern to an XXL.  She suggests knitting the neckline up a little higher, but I think having it end right at the collarbone looks great on her.  The collarbone is usually a good place to draw attention on all body types because it tends to be a slimmer area on most.  The yarn here is Cascade Eco Wool in brown, and the needles are US 10.5.

In Conclusion:

The yoke detail keeps the focus on the face/ collarbone area which is usually flattering to most people.  As usual, smaller types have more leeway to play around with bulkier yarns, while women (or men) concerned with hiding perceived flaws might want to stick to a looser guage or drapier yarn.  On the other hand, a tighter guage might help to keep some things sucked in, so YYMV.  This sweater seems to be happiest in fall colors, but EricaG's jewel tone blue might be the exception that proves the rule.  Play around with interesting details like buttons and embroidery.

Speak Up:

What are your experiences with this pattern?  Do you prefer a tighter or looser guage?  What about yarn- thick or thin?  What are some ideas for embellishment beyond the ubiquitous button eyes?  If you've knit this sweater, don't forget to link to it in the comments.  And, as always, don't forget to suggest other patterns for future features.

Sorry to be an Absentee Blogger

I put my notes for this blog in a "safe place" which means they were safe from me finding them again.
I finally found them, so we should be up and rolling again soon.

Little Shell

Well, hello everyone.
I've had a little crisis of motivation these past few weeks and unfortunately, this blog suffered the consequences. I like to think I've given you all time to catch up on all the lovely knits I've recommended for you so far.
We'll start out the New Year with a recommendation that you'll have to use your imagination on, a bit. The Cotton Bamboo Little Shell top is a free pattern with only 25 projects on Ravelry. Unfortunately, there's not a project bigger than a medium, so you'll just have to take my word on this one.

Wannacoffee, who I could swear used to be Wannagarden, decided to use the recommended Classic Elite Cotton Bam Boo in Bayberry. This shell is knit up in a medium on US 4 needles. WC decided to omit the princess seaming on the bust area to draw attention away from "the girls," but I think either option would be fine for all bust sizes. In fact, those of you with less ample bosoms might decide to leave off the seaming so it doesn't cut your chest into pieces.


For you more adventurous types, Fiametta's heavily modified version is worth a look. Corinne (her real name) used Gedifra Ayla in light blue on size US5s. She knit an XS, but with a looser guage and added waist shaping and bust darts. This goes to show that almost any pattern can be forced to look good with proper fit, even if modifications are required. Knitters, if you intend to create wearable art, you must take the time to learn not only the best finishing techniques, but also learn how to modify patterns to fit your body. There are many online articles on this topic available with a quick google search and I may expand on that topic soon.


It's my regret that there are no larger size projects to show you. I can only hope that if you are inspired to try this knit, you'll share your project with us.

In Conclusion:
If you don't know what is coming next, you haven't been paying attention.
V-NECK! Our lovely friend the deep-v neck once again makes an appearance on a flattering pattern. We all know how v-necks (especially the deep variety) can flatter the bust and the face at the same time. We also know that our more ample friends should wear a cami or tee under the deep v to avoid embarrassing revelations. This pattern also has a lovely detail at the neckline that adds emphasis to the v and forces the eye upwards to the face.
In addition to the v-neck, this pattern introduces a new element we should be on the lookout for. Princess seams can give the illusion of a thinner outline, visually sucking in your torso and making it appear smaller overall. The lacy front panel works with the seaming to draw attention inward and subconsciously erase everything outside of the detail.
You'll want to use a cooler yarn like cotton or bamboo for this, since it is a summer garment, but those of you with a few extra contours might want to try a yarn with more body to prevent the fabric from clinging.

Speak Up:
What are your favorite yarns for summer knits? Are there other cami patterns you might recommend? Who is your favorite authority on modifying patterns to fit better? How far are you willing to modify to get the best fit for your body?

Is Name Woman

That's what I got when I tried to Google translate the Wikipedia page for "Valpuri."
From what I can figure, she's some kind of saint. Saint of Fabulous Sweater Patterns maybe?
Well, maybe not.
Whoever at Berroco designed Valpuri, should be sainted because it isn't easy to envision one of those rare knits that seem to divinely work with many shapes and sizes to come up with something flattering, and more importantly, sexy, because (sorry Hokey Pokey) SEXY is really what it's all about. And the winner for Best Run-On Sentence goes to...

Ah, where was I? Oh yes, flattering and sexxxyyy...
Meet Jacqui, or JackieChris to you Ravellers.

Jacqui used Stylecraft Heath DK and size US 6 and 8 needles. I think this color looks great on her and she sure seems to be having fun in that sweater. She knit up the Medium size, but the cables make it fit close to her body. She could have probably knit a small, but I wouldn't want this project to be too tight because the fabric will be thicker than a sweater with no cables.
You can see from this photo there are a lot of cables involved, but most Ravellers who completed this project found it easy. This would probably be a good first or second cable project for you new knitters. Jackie added about 3 inches to the length to compensate for a longer torso. This is also a good idea for you gals with "muffin tops." You don't want your shirts hitting at the area between the waist and hip if, like me, there is something hanging over your pants in that same area.


Kathy, or katschem on Rav, knit a large out of Plymouth Jeannee Aran on US 7 needles. She said she used the 7s to compensate for a tight gauge. You'll notice in this photo how the v-neck is shallow enough to keep the girls under control. It can be difficult to find v's that are not so deep that you have to worry about the girls escaping. Kathy said the neck was a little fiddly, you might want to try other options if you decide to try this. Kathy also seems to be enjoying this sweater immensely. Do you think we've found the wool equivalent of Xanax? Might be worth knitting just to find out...


Wanabelle100 didn't show us her face, so I can't tell if she's smiling. I'd like to think with that sassy hand on her hip, she's making her best "come hither" eyes in the mirror. This aquamarine is so gorgeous. If I decide to try this pattern, I think this is the color I'd go with. Jean (IRL) knit an extra small on US 6 and 8s. She used Red Heart Super Saver (Acrylic lovers- REPRESENT!) and it only took two skeins. Jean thinks the RHSS is a little too heavy for this project because of the cables. You might consider a lighter yarn and a bigger needle if you are concerned about the sweater being too bulky. Jean couldn't exactly go down a size, but another option is following the directions for a smaller size, but using larger needles to get a looser gauge.


Ericka (Sereknity) illustrates why knitting up a heavier sweater might be desirable, other than for warmth, of course. Notice how her sweater is tighter on her body, but it doesn't show any bumps or imperfections. Also notice how her girls are walking the line- totally under control. A heavier fabric, like cables or double knits, will hold its own shape and not cling to the body so much. (Think about those sweaters or hats you knit in a bulky yarn on size 3 needles when you didn't know better, they seem to be able to stand up on their own.) This might not be so important to smaller women, but for anyone over a small, I'd err on the side of too bulky. Ericka's Valpuri is a size M, knit up on US 5 and 7s. The yarn is Lion Brand Cotton-Ease. She says the Cotton Ease shows up the cable pattern very well. She used a few mods, like cabling without a cable needle (you really need to try this if you haven't) and she used a single-crochet border around the neck instead of ribbing.

Conclusions:
Valpuri is a winner all around. The v-neck accentuates the face, as usual, but is not so deep as to be revealing. A heavier cabled fabric holds its shape and either sucks in some lumpiness or fails to cling to every bump. You smaller gals might want to try a looser gauge if you don't want to feel constricted.

Speak Up:
Have you knit Valpuri? Did you go for a tighter or looser gauge? Is there another pattern you knit up that has a thicker fabric and hides imperfections? Do you ever change the length of your tops to mask the wierd things that happen in the no-man's land between our waistlines and hips?


Edit:
Here's another beautiful sweater from Annapuh (Anna) that I just got permission to add:

Not a V-Neck!

(Warning- I'm feeling a little fond of the asides today. This post is heavy on the parentheses)
At the time of this post, this jacket has 1079 Ravelry Project pages and is in 4515 queues, including my own. Chances are, if you're reading this, you've at least considered knitting up Drops 103-1 (I wish they'd give their projects better names.) It's a free pattern and it looks great on just about anyone. You should think about it if you haven't.

The first project up is one I'm sure you've seen. It has over 300 faves on Ravelry and is in the top 6 for number of faves for this project. Nina, aka LaNina used US 10 needles and Kraemer Yarns Maunch Chunky in Licorice Snaps. I'm not sure what size she knit up, but this looks like a small to me. Nina shows us here one way to have fun with this pattern that enhances its versatility- funky fasteners! If you look at the Rav page for this project, you'll notice most of the best jackets have huge, in-your-face buttons, toggles, or fasteners. Nina has also turned her collar down, reminiscent of CanarySanctuary's modded version (I know you've seen this version, and Canary knows I love her, so I won't go into detail on her mods here.)

Another thing the best-of-the-best have in common is great color choice. This pattern has lots of detail, but it's not too overwhelming in a bright color. Taija (or Tui to Ravellers) used Garnstudio Eskimo in a bright yellow when she knit up her size xl on US 11s. This version shows how the front detail reigns in what could be problematic bustiness in another jacket. It also illustrates a drawback, however. This is not a jacket that you can leave open.

Although the asymmetric lines and high neck highlight the face, those same lines make for a strange bulge of fabric when left unfastened.


While Taija minimized the bulkiness around her neck, that same bulkiness adds a high-fashion quality to Fragilistica's (or Magda to non Ravelers) (really, are there any non-Ravellers left?) version below. Magda is also showing us a shorter sleeve and more ease than the previous projects. Adding ease (aka knitting up a bigger size) is a good way to make the bulk look like it's coming from the jacket instead of the body. It also doesn't hurt that Magda looks like a supermodel in this photo anyway (really! Why can't I take artsy photos like this?) She used Rowan Chunky Print in Natural and US 11 needles. Magda also happens to be in the top 4 for favorites with this jacket.

And how beautiful is this next photo? Elin is freaking cute as a button (she really is, check out her blog). This photo makes me feel all back-to-schooley excited for fall. I love the boyfriend jeans and slightly baggy look of this jacket (note to self- look into boyfriend jeans). Elin used a little more ease and shorter sleeves, making her 103-1 look like something you'd curl up in after a warm bath on a cool night. Elin, is this thing really as comfy as it looks?

You can use Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran in Muffin and US 6 needles to try and copy Elin's jacket. She knitted a Medium with smaller needles and yarn than called for and ended up with a 38" bust. She doesn't mention if she was able to match her gauge to the pattern.


Lastly, another beautiful color to ease us into Autumn. (I just realized today is the first day of Autumn. I love Autumn.) This is Amy; she also calls herself Amelie on a certain website. Amy went for longer sleeves and a double-breasted look with six buttons. She went for the 37" size, which I'm going to assume is a Medium-ish? The neck on this jacket is not overwhelming and doesn't compete with her Bettie Page hair and funky glasses. You really have to know when to let your personality speak louder than your clothes. This is Garnstudio Eskimo in purple and she used US 11 needles.

In Conclusion:
You can play around with sleeve length, ease, and how much of a collar you want to make this jacket look sleek, casual, or down-right comfortable. (I do not use casual as a synonym for comfortable.) The detail down the front and buttons near the face draw attention away from any width you may be trying to camouflage. This jacket is also A-lined, which means it will skim the body instead of hugging curves. The simple lines of this jacket give a great opportunity to play around with color and try out the biggest, funkiest, buttons you can find. It will only enhance your face and excuses for funkiness are few and far between.

Speak Up:
Is this jacket in your queue? Have you tried to knit it up? How has ease affected your opinion of your jacket? Show us your buttons!!! Have you played around with gauge or other modifications? What colors would you choose for this jacket and why?

For the Adventurous

I absolutely can't wait to start on this sweater myself. The adventure comes from three characteristics: a very loose gauge: you'll definitely need a cami under this one, a seriously deep v-neck; see #1, and the fact that this isn't a pattern as much as a set of guidelines.
However, just like mapping the ocean floor, this is one adventure worth taking. And don't be frightened by the lack of stitch counts and that other Hoo-Ha. Knitters with some knowledge of sweater construction will have no problem with this project.
The Cabled Sweater is a gift to us from Ravelry user, Hinke. Click on her name for her Ravelry project page, it's worth it!Readers of this blog will be able to tell in a second why this sweater attracts me. There's a sweeping v-neck and detail right under the bust that draws the eye inward and makes you focus on the slimmest part of the torso. The loose sleeve construction hides any under-arm rolls or tricep flab. Not that Hinke (above) has to worry about any of that. How hot is that picture above?!?!?! Very Abercrombie. Hinke used Phildar Kid Mohair and US 11s for this knit.

Vampiroknit, also know as Weronica, illustrates another plus for this pattern. It's knit up in a thinner yarn with a bigger guage. Here, she uses Anilux Moherek in brown on size US 15 needles! It makes me giddy thinking about how fast this knit can go. The best thing about the loose gauge is the fabric it makes is very flowy and doesn't cling to every hill and valley along the mid-section. The sheerness also adds another bit of sexy that's always a plus in hand-knits. Weronika calls this size 48. I think that's bust measurement, but I'm sure she'll correct me if it's otherwise.

Our last model, Chibitora (blog is in Japanese), AKA Yuko, used two yarns: Jaeger Mohair Art and Bouton d'Or Ondine. I'm assuming she held them together, but I'm not 100%. Yuko? Would you like to let us know in the comments? Yuko also used size US 11 needles and knit up a small. This photo illustrates the best feature of this sweater. Even in a bathroom-mirror-self-portrait, this sweater looks straight from the runway. Seriously, I haven't seen a bad one yet. While you're admiring Yuko's mad photo skills, run over to her Rav Projects Page and be prepared to turn green with envy. Yuko, you are a knitting goddess!


Here's another Red-Hot number by Frauchaotis (Blog is in German.) What is it about this sweater that all the photos look like they belong in Vogue? I'm not sure what kind of yarn she used here, but she knit it up one US 10s. I have to say, after knitting socks for a while the idea of a fast knit on big needles is making me antsy to no end. This version was knit up a little tighter than the others and it looks like a thicker yarn. I'd stick with the looser version if you're a large or bigger, but this tighter gauge is smokin' on the slimmer ladies. It just goes to show how yarn selection, gauge, and fit can work for or against a pattern. Knowing your body and what looks good on it will go miles to insure all your knits work for your shape.


Conclusions:
The deep-v and bust detail visually squeeze in your waist and make it look as small as the area right under the bust (which is usually the smallest area on the torso, unless you are a small or extra small, but then, if you are that small, why do you care?) Loose gauge helps the fabric flow away from the body and skim over any lumps or bumps. This is a gorgeous sweater that doesn't seem to allow itself to look homemade. Smaller people can get away with doubling up yarn or using a thicker weight, but it's best to stay on the thinner side in terms of yarn. Kimono-style arms hide under-arm cleavage and flabby triceps. Go on and knit this! Right now!

Speak up:
What do you think of this sweater? How do you think color choice would affect the look of Cabled? Any yarns you're dying to try this in? How tired are you of me going on about the virtues of v-necks?

Site News

My real life has been sort of hectic lately, but I haven't forgotten about this blog. I've heard many good things from people and I have several posts in the works. People have been great about letting me feature their projects and photos. If there's a project you would like featured, let me know. If I can find more like it and it looks flattering on most, I'll be happy to give you credit for the find. Thanks again for reading. See you soon!