Sometimes I'm a product knitter

Posted on February 07, 2006 by knittingpatterns4you | 7 Comments

There is no way you'd ever call me a product knitter. There are many reasons why I knit, the least of which is to have a sweater.

But then again, I love clothes. I love fashion, and I love creating my own, unique pieces. Sometime I do knit for the sweater, and here's a prime example:

Zarastripes

(the knitting looks unven but it'll smooth out when I steam it)

See that picture? It's a page ripped out of the latest issue of Lucky magazine. I saw this pullover and fell in love with it. It has a certain Gothic prep look to it, like if you took your uncle's golf shirt and cut the collar out, reshaped it, and wore it with too much makeup. The Americana look of the red-and-white stripes, worn skin tight with cleavage showing -- it's a slanted take on a classic, preppy piece, and exactly how I like to make clothes, by taking something established and changing or adding to it in an unexpected way. I even like the way it's styled with a tame skirt and skinny belt!

Am I reading too much into this? Probably. It is, after all, just a striped pullover.

But I read the magazine last week, ripped out this page, and started thinking. The next day at work, I told everyone about the sweater. I waited one day and was still thinking about it, so the next day I bought the yarn. I wanted the same kind of fit, so I had to use something thin and stretchy (think negative ease). I picked Filatura Zara, because the shade of red was just perfect.

I decided to knit it in the round and am carrying the colors up the side, so there will be fewer ends to weave in. (I learned my lesson from the Crazy 8's stripes pullover!) I cast on and 2 days later have finished the body and bound off for the armholes, now I'm working the front and back separately.

Talk about compulsive!

The main change I'm making to this sweater (after all, if I wanted this exact sweater I'd just go out and buy it, what's the point of knitting the exact same thing you can buy in the store?) is with the neckline. It's not going to be a v-neck, it's going to be an off one shoulder asymetrical neckline. It's hard to describe, but you'll see what I mean when I'm done.

You know it's the product when I use the phrase "when I'm done" instead of "if I ever finish".

Posted in knitting


7 Responses

Jen
Jen

February 10, 2006

Great blog! I love using Filatura Zara yarn. I used it for a striped (dark violet & dark blue) ribbed pullover and it feels soooooo nice. I can’t wait to see the pics!

littlecindy
littlecindy

February 11, 2006

i do the same thing with my lucky mags! i’m almost finished with my first project that was inspired that way. good luck! it sounds very cool.

Wanda
Wanda

February 11, 2006

Can’t wait to see what you fashion from it!

Gina
Gina

February 07, 2006

I can’t wait to see it. I think it’s great that you are so inspired by fashion and that you seen so much in what others might regard as a simple sweater. I like the analysis and thought that went into it.

Lina
Lina

February 08, 2006

Ooh, we seem to have the same taste in clothes. Classic and preppy with an edge. I’d so love to make this sweater too (and since I’m not in the States I can’t just go out and by it :)). Are you going to be putting the pattern for sale? Or could you possibly share it here?

Keri
Keri

February 08, 2006

I can’t wait to see the finished sweater. I just got that issue of Lucky last night and circled the same sweater (more for me to keep in mind when I finally go shopping).

sedie
sedie

February 08, 2006

Very cool. I can’t wait to see the completed piece! If it looks like I’m thinking, you’ll be my hero.

Leave a Reply

Comments have to be approved before showing up.

Recent Posts