Monday, October 16, 2006

Multiple Directions

Just to prove I'm still around I decided to post a couple pics of a cropped sweater/top I made a couple months ago. I had it briefly entered in a design contest this past spring. I yanked it from the competition......sigh....... I had a marvelous time designing and working this piece, but oh well. I did it for the fun of it and not the prize, so it served it's purpose.

First off, gotta tell ya, I made this sweater to fit me, not my 19 year old beautiful niece with the incredible bod!! I'm 5'6" , short waisted, and not, how shall we say it..."shapely" . Erin on the other hand is about 6 foot and a BABE! :-) So the shoulders pull and the it's a bit too short for her but you can get the idea of how the thing looks. To give you more of an idea as to how it is supposed to fit, in the second picture with the front closed asymmetrically...on me it is 3 blocks wide that line up perfectly in the front! LOL



If anyone is interested here's the low-down:

Made with Lion Brand Multi-Stripes and Wool Ease Sport
One piece construction
No Seams
Minimal ends to weave in (12 total not including ball ends)
No picked up stitches

Yes, it is made using some of "those techniques" and a few added bits from this knitter's bag o' tricks. But I'm not going any further ......I might be accused of copyright infringement.....she said I would be. How am I suppose know?? She's in the business, I'm not. It's a shame. I have some really, really cool designs using this type of technique, and they are fun to do, but I feel stifled because of her threats. All I can say right now is I'm dang glad the man/woman who came up with SSK or Ktbl or a short row heel, aren't around to stifle wanna be designers.

Here's a list of what I've actually been doing the last few days:

Made Joe a pair of sweat pants and myself a pair of yoga pants...we match ain't that sweet...barf. I picked up the material at my most favorite thrift store "The Church Mouse". I got all 5 yards for 50 cents!! I sooo love my "Mouse". It's staffed by the cutest bunch of little old ladies. I take the time to speak to "the Girls" and share what my plans are for this material, yarn, buttons, canvas, article of clothing, etc. They get a kick out of the stuff I do, so many have given up needlework because of poor eyesight or arthritic hands.

Made a couple of pillow tops..crocheted

Still working on my Fall coat...sigh....guess I could wear it in the Spring too!! But it's nearly done. Maybe a another couple of days. Most of the embellishment is done. I have the cuffs figured but not done. Still thinking about the collar/neck, and I've got to cut and sew the lining, but none of that will take too long. Like I said, another couple of days or so.

I picked up some needles on Friday and started a sweater. Was actually going to make an EZ rib warmer, but after the first short row corner it morphed. The bodice kind of meanders around ala Debbie New and EZ Badger with some gores inserted here and there. Turning out to be a nice finger tip, swing-style. Just the sleeves left to do. Selma's wearing it right now, as we try to figure out the best sleeves. I know I want the sleeves to have a tight cuff, which of course is going to look ridiculous with the volumnous body but this design is for me. I need something that is comfy and warm up in my workroom and won't both my arms. Heating the second floor of this house was not a priority for the builders in 1906 so while there are some heating ducts up there, there aren't many! Hm maybe a mutton sleeve???? Or maybe a full sleeve that can be rolled up out of the way with a tight inner cuff from the elbow down...hmmmmm

I've also been working on my "shape shifters". These are origami type sweaters (ala DN's tams and ouroborus, and EZ's ameoba-like surprises) Working on a pair of pants right now. Yeah I know knitted pants, but the mental gymnastics is what I'm after. I haven't made them full scale yet, just playing around, but considering how cold it is in my workroom right now and winter hasn't even begun...well.....don't be surprised. :-)

7 comments:

  1. Hi, I followed your link from one of the knitting groups. Your sweater looks fantastic. Can you at least tell us where you got the inspiration?

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  2. Hi Vivian,
    Thanx, glad you like it. The primary focus of just about anything I make is NO SEAMS!! Guess it's cuz I don't do them well. :-) I've always admired modular designs, but never relished the thought of sewing all those pieces together. When I learned how make squares continuously in a single row, I took it a step further and figured out how to work them side to side in either direction, top to bottom and bottom to top. Then it was just a matter of mapping it out.

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  3. Hi Tracy - great blog - I came over from one of the knitting groups as well. I love your stuff! I'm also a fan of mod knitting - I also have a W that I did, and did the exact same thing as you did to avoid seams. I love your work, and just wanted to let you know!

    I think I know who is saying that you can't publish *your* patterns using *her* techniques - but I honestly think that's rubbish - though I'm by no means an expert. Some people really need to lighten up!

    Thanks for sharing - I'll be back :-)

    Abi

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  4. Thanx Abi!
    I like your blog too!! Looks I can learn a lot from you. :-)

    Yep, you prob'ly do know who guess it isn't too veiled is it. Ah well.....

    Gotta check out your Sunday Knitters blog, you just might get sick of me!

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  5. Thanx Jen! It WILL be available one of these days...I promise!

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  6. This is what you posted to the MD Group:

    First things first, we have to thank Iris and give her a HUGE hug
    for writting "Modular Knits" obviously without it I wouldn't have
    been able to make this!! I don't like seams and I HATE working in
    ends so......the body of the sweater is worked in one piece using the
    building blocks and the sleeves (building blocks too) are worked
    seperately then attached with a 3-needle bind off. Keeping true to
    the MD approach, there were only a few ends to work in and no seam
    sewing!

    As for the questions about how long did it take and what yarn I
    used...

    When I first joined this group and began learning the techniques,
    (about the 2nd week in March this year) My brain was exploding with
    thoughts of how to use these techniques.
    --------------------
    But interesting that you don't even MENTION the Modular Knits book or give me credit on your blog. That is not really fair.
    Iris

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  7. Yes, as a matter of fact I did make this particular cropped sweater from the techniques I learned in your book, as well as other standard knitting techniques. And it was your contest into which it was briefly entered.

    I have since moved on to what I think is a much better method which makes this design even easier to execute.

    Sorry I didn't mention you or your book, I erred on the side that kept you anonymous in an unfortunate situation.

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