Comments on: Wishing Didn’t Make It So

By: mel

mel — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:50:44 +0000

I’m impressed with your tenacity! And I think I can ‘see’ the intent in my head – very cute. Maybe a more A-line shape would work better? I wonder if the stitch pattern at the top doesn’t also encourage the ruffling with the purl row pulling in (though it doesn’t look to be pulling in too much). Your face in that first shot is killing me – it says as much as your words do about how you feel with this one!

By: Mishka

Mishka — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:00:10 +0000

I’m just seeing this from London, so I’m late commenting. I agree with others that it has potential, but I’m not sure I agree with you about going to a smaller needle on the skirt, because that will give it less drape. I think Joanna’s right that you should consider starting with fewer stitches and increasing more gradually. If you can give the skirt a better shape so it looks less ‘pregnant,’ the difference in the length might not be a problem. But is it sitting back on your shoulders like that because the back neck is built up too much? Hmm. What an interesting design challenge!! (Alternatively, don’t forget that you can just leave it in the sweater chest until you need some black yarn. It’s only knitting after all!)

By: Ingrid

Ingrid — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:33:51 +0000

I like the top. There are lots of tops with similar shaping in the shops at the moment (even when I was in Paris). I think that it might suit someone who has “tummy issues” (even if not pregnant).

By: Wanda

Wanda — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:27:27 +0000

Hmm, that’s definitely a knitting tale. Sorry it didn’t turn out. I don’t really have any suggestions for you. I’m not really keen on the end result, but the initial top sounds like something that might not be my preference either way.

By: Gwendolyn's mom

Gwendolyn's mom — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:30:06 +0000

Well, speaking as an expert on maternity tops, I think it is pretty cute. Is the front longer than the back? B/c that’s what you’re looking for in maternity tops– longer fronts.* Sorry that my suggestion led you to unhappiness. On my end, of course, I didn’t even attempt it!

*Note: this is not a veiled attempt to acquire the top myself, unless, of course, you want it to be.

By: Joanna

Joanna — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:40:04 +0000

Hmm… it seems to me like part of the problem is that the skirt sort of balloons out right where it meets the bodice. Because of this, the ruffle-y effect of the wide skirt causes the bottom of the bodice to ruffle and pucker as well. What if you picked up stitches for the skirt and worked a few inches straight, keeping the width the same as in the bodice, and then gradually increased stitches so the transition to the flared section wouldn’t be so harsh? (Unless that’s what you did the first time around, in which case… I got nothing.) Also, I like each of your colors individually, but I was very happy to get to the bottom of the post and see that you didn’t go for the clown look after all…

By: Susan B

Susan B — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:39:44 +0000

Well, I kinda’ see what you mean. But it has major major major potential, that’s for certain!

It might be interesting to take the sweater as a base and let the design group loose on it – see all of the different variations and changes that they would make – even if it were only sketched out on paper!

By: eSSKnits

eSSKnits — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:19:06 +0000

Whatever said, you know what? I kinda like it. And I think it gives a young look.
Anyways, if you are so disappointed, why not frog the skirt and make it again?

By: desiknitter

desiknitter — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:36:30 +0000

Oh no! I’m so sorry it turned out this way – your expression gives away your irritation at it all. Even though I don’t think it looks that bad, really, you’re right about the puckering. Right now I think it’s best if it stays in a time out in the closet, because no matter what you do to it you’re going to be annoyed, no?

But I think the maternity-top-with-short-rows is a good idea (maybe in the fall, after some months have passed:-)) – the maths is not that difficult. You might not even have to reknit the whole skirt. Maybe this will help:

Figure out what the height difference between front and back will be; Multiply that length by your row gauge; you have the number of rows in which to fit the short rows.
Divide that number by half, and you have the number of wraps.
Subtract your bust-point to bust-point measurement from the length of the front; say it’s 19-9 = 10 inches.
Divide by 2 = 5 inches. Your wraps will be fitted into 5 inches on both edges of the front.
Divide 5 by your stitch gauge. This will tell you how many stitches apart to keep the wraps.
Start the short rows at the beginning of the RS.
All this I just learnt from Maggie Righetti!!