I've had these ready to wear for some time now, but it got so warm here I haven't had the motivation to model them. These are the Amplitude Stockings that didn't work with my garter belt. (The clips were too wimpy for these full-blooded knits.) But as you can see, I found a solution at the fabric store: short pieces of elastic with clips on each end. They sell these to clip onto the backs of dresses for a more fitted look. I use them because I enjoy wearing loose dresses for everyday, and get a kick out of being able to make the same garment a bit dressier with one flick (okay, two flicks) of a clip. Actually, more like ten or eleven flicks and a cry for help---but it's still not that much work, and my husband is always ready to lend a hand getting the clip in just the right place. Coming up: a review of the most recent Clotheshorse issue!
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It seems like ages since I finished this, but it's taken awhile for me to set up the tripod and get photos. I did manage a few today, but it was hard to get my hair and the collar where I wanted them at the same time. Maybe I'll take more photos later. I just wanted to get some while the irises were still here. I truly love this jacket, but the sleeves fit a little tight in the upper arm. I didn't fix that when I tried it on before I knit the rest of the body because I wasn't sure I would have enough yarn. Well, it turns out I do---so here's my plan. I'm going to undo the sleeves, holding the picked-up stitches on needles as I get to them. Then I'll redo the body, starting with the sleeves. I find myself wanting more yellow on the coat, so I'm going to do the cuffs in yellow, then knit the sleeve with more room in the bicep, then do the back, then reverse the process. I might see whether I can figure out a different way to shape the cuff while I'm at it. I love the shape, but not the little panel of stockinette stitch that comes before the end of the cuff (outlined in red below). It makes a flat place that sticks out ever so slightly from the ribbing below it, and I'd like to either extend it so it starts at the beginning of the cuff, or find an increase method that does away with it. But this isn't going to happen right now. I have enough on my plate for the next few months. You'll be hearing more soon.
I was so excited to wear my Amplitude Stockings, I was tempted to wear them before blocking. But even though in more civilized climes it's winter, it's very stubbornly not so here. The day I was urged by one of the Ladies of Mischief to wear them immediately because "it's cold outside," it was approaching 80 degrees Fahrenheit and I didn't have the stomach for it. But it's damp today and might get chilly later, so I went to put them on this afternoon and had a disappointment. My garter belt won't hold such a thick stocking, and these babies need something to hold them up.
This door has a secret panel in it . . . but where? I am quite pleased with the way my Quadrille turned out. I was 10 stitches short when I finished (wonder where that happened . . . ), but that doesn't seem to have caused a problem. The fit at the top is exactly what I envisioned. I changed the bind-off slightly so that the eyelets would be centered under the picots. The eyelet is formed with a five stitch repeat and the bind-off works two stitches of the previous row for each picot. I saw that this wasn't going to produce the effect I desired, so I bound off alternating numbers of stitches and the picots came out in little pairs. I could have made the picots themselves pointier by not knitting the first stitch of each before binding it off. But I think the little humps are charming and go with the circular cables perfectly. I had a good time deciding what I wanted to do with the ribbon. I tied the front one into little ribbon roses, but nylon ribbon doesn't stay well in roses and I ended up stuffing most of them down the front of the bodice. I liked the back lacing shown in the book, but it took awhile to figure out how that was done. I tried my Quadrille on the night before I took pictures so I could cut the ribbon to appropriate lengths. I had my daughter with me to help smooth, tug, and tie, and I missed her terribly when setting up for the photo shoot. This is not a piece to get dressed in by yourself if you can help it. Just saying. My body is not a very good shape for a corset. I have a naturally small waist and ample hips, but my ribs are prominent and my bust is . . . not. I can't decide whether or not the circular cables help. But the piece is lovely and I will wear it proudly as a vest-like contraption as long as I have a willing assistant to smooth, tug, and tie! My Quadrille bodice is finally blocked and beribboned! I'm calling it Crawfish Quadrille after Alice in Wonderland's Lobster-Quadrille. I enjoyed knitting it immensely, but will refer you to my Ravelry project page for important notes if you're considering working it up before the errata page is posted.
I've made it through a full repeat of Quadrille's center cable chart (below right). This includes some of the waist shaping. It's going smoothly---very enjoyable knitting and great yarn. Something I've recently started to appreciate is the pacing of a design. I like this design's balance of reverse stockinette, cables, and seed stitch extremely well. As much as I'd love to have more time to work on this, I'm happy to be busy with my design work, so it all evens out. |
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February 2018
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