Thursday, August 16, 2007

Fresh Fruit

Here it is! Fresh off the needles. It's my Tomato!

It isn't blocked, and um....I didn't exactly make an effort to make myself presentable. :) I was just so excited about having the Tomato completed....I had to click a pic as soon as I finished binding off. It fits so nicely....mostly due to my own adjustments that weren't actually written into the pattern. This sweater will never ride up in the back. It will hug my curves pleasantly, but not obscenely. It will look great alone or over a long-sleeved shirt. And, of course, it doesn't hurt that the yarn is pure heaven.

Want to make one for yourself? The pattern is available in the wonderful book No Sheep for You. It's also available free at Knitting Daily. (And, yes, I used a different color pattern than the one used in the book. I can't do anything I'm told...) This garment is knit from the top down, completely seamlessly. It's the third sweater I've knit this way for myself this summer. But I think this is my favorite basic pattern to work from. Why knit a sweater this way? It's very easy to try on as you go. Just slip all the stitches onto a long piece of scrap yarn and try it on. I've found that frequent try-ons are the key to a great fitting garment.

Want to learn more about the specific changes I made to the pattern for my sweater and how you can use those changes to make a sweater that fits you? Well, for that you'll have to check out the class I'm teaching at River Knits September 11, 18, 25 and Oct 9. We'll talk extensively about fit and how to customize this pattern for your specific needs. (And how to adjust the pattern if there's something about it you don't like. Want long sleeves instead? No problem! Prefer a V-neck? We can do that!)

Here's a taste of what we'll talk about. (That's Diego. I couldn't get him to get off the sweater)



See the shape of my sweater? There are bust darts, waist shaping, hip shaping, and belly and butt darts. I lengthened the sleeve a little because a cap sleeve is not a good look for me. The pattern actually gives instructions for waist shaping, but the rest is all about measuring and (as I said before) frequently trying on your garment. It's so fun! I want to knit another one now!

8 comments:

Amanda said...

Geez, you're fast!! I'm just wrapping mine up now - another inch and then the ribbing all around. I'm lengthening the sleeves, too.

Heather said...

Butt darts? Really? :)

It's beautiful....

Amanda said...

Heather: Sadly, yes. Butt darts. When you have a rump hump like mine, you have to allow for it. :)

Heather said...

Oh, I wasn't laughing at adding butt darts. It just sounds funny to say butt darts.

Especially since I read your posts in your voice in my head.

Jamisyn said...

I like your version much better than the colors in the pattern! Very nice...I didn't remember you saying what yarn you used??

KT said...

Okay, I have to make that now. I've been putting it off and putting it off, but I just can't do it any more.

Thanks for the inspiration!

Amanda said...

Jamisyn, the yarn is Malabrigo worsted. Wonderful stuff! :)

Heather said...

oh i love the colours in your tomatoe!