Wednesday, April 29, 2009

In Preparation for Summer....

I have a new finished object to show off. And frankly, I think it's quite adorable!

Back in March, St. Patty's day in fact, I treated myself to an Elann.com bag sale of the discontinued Needful Yarns 'Geranium". I purchased a bag of Sea Glass and a bag of Valencia. This yarn in skein looks like a thick/thin/variagated boucle and is listed as bulky weight. The Sea Glass is a melange of turquoise, cream and olive. Intriguing yarn.


I swatched...and swatched...and swatched...and for the life of me could not figure out a use for such an insolent fabric.

Somewhere along the way, on Ravelry, I read someone's comment...and pipe up if it was your idea because I cannot remember whose comment it was...about the possibility of using this yarn for Waterlily (Interweave Knits Spring 2006). Now, the original uses Colinette Giotto, so subbing the Geranium was quite an imaginative stretch...but I figured, what the heck, and played around with needle sizes until I got the fabric I liked. (The pattern suggests 10, 101/2 and 11s...I used 8, 9, 10s)

Wow! What a cute little pattern. I love long drapey tops, I love 'racerback' style exposed shoulders.


I love just knitting in the round on and on while watching lots of fun programs (like Season 3 of The Tudors..pant, pant) and the HBO movie "Grey Gardens"(which I watched THREE times..I never hardly ever watch a movie more than once..on purpose), and Saving Grace, and The Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (alright, busted, I watched A LOT of TV last week). I love having just a teensy bit of eyelet here and there for shaping and interest.

I love the swingy little flouncy bottom.

Now, I'll tell you. This stuff was some lumpy mess before blocking. But a quick soak (and sad to tell you it bled like blue hell through 3 rinses..but a vinegar bath stopped that noise!) and a nice patting out into shape...Well ladies and gentlemen what we have is a great little summer top!


Perfect for cropped pants. Or with a drawstring skirt...with a cami or Tee underneath, or just by it's own self.



Despite the full body picture, it truly is a flattering piece. Even my daughter said so...and getting a complement from your 17 yr old daughter..well everyone knows that's high praise.

So once we start getting a little more warmth with our sunshine up here, I think this will be getting a LOT of use this season. And that's all I have to say about that.

9 comments:

Grace said...

absolutely adorable, glad to see a post from you!!!

junior_goddess said...

Oh, that explains the 'must buy a racerback' rush you were in!

It's cute as can be!

Tara said...

What a cute top! I'm glad to see you posting again. It's been ages and I was starting to worry about you!

Arctic Knitter said...

Awesome! I hope the sunshine we've been having the past couple of days is a good indicator of the tank-worthy summer we're due to have!

KnittySue said...

Oh I so love that top..it looks great on you. I'm really going to put one of those on the needles today. Thanks for the encouragement those are my favorite type of tops.
I was happy to see your post...we do miss you when your busy.
Take Care and Thanks again.

Scrabblequeen said...

You are so clever to find a use for that yarn. Having help doesn't take away from the fact you had the foresight to purchase it in the first place. Praise from a teen? Must be lovely indeed!

Milly said...

it is beautiful.

Holly Jo said...

Very, very nice indeed! That type of yarn is tough, but your top turned out so perfect!

TracyKM said...

That's really nice. I remember that pattern, and thinking there's no way I could get/afford Collinette, or a similiar yarn to what they used, so it's nice to see it knit up in a 'normal' yarn :)