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| Oooh, pretty lace and cables! |
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| Admit it, these darts are the cat's ass. |
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| Don't look too closely at my face and it's all ok. |
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| Obligatory close up of the Ferragamos |
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| The back is a mirror image of the front so, you might want to sew in a label. Fortunately, I made a tiny error on one side so I'm using that (clever me) as the delineator. |
OMG - I am IN LOVE with the Rondeur knitted t shirt. It took a week to knit and it fits perfectly. Yes, my friends, before you put it on it's like a tiny-child garment. But when warn, the grow-y yarn perfectly accomodates.
Y'all know my bust measurement is 37" and my waist is 30" (well, these days it's 28.5, but there's more than enough give in this sweater regardless). I got exact gauge when knitting the Rondeur on size US6 and US4 needles - seriously, exact. Flat measurements of my top indicate the top fits a 30 bust and 26 waist, with the presumption of zero negative ease. However, when worn, the top is curvy, skimming and slim. Just the way I like to wear things.
Now, I did make adjustments, which is why my top took every one of my 685 yards.
- I added an inch of horizontal circumference at the underarm (to give more room in the bust) which I didn't decrease again after the bust shaping section.
- Also, I added an extra 3 inches of length at the bust before I started the rather observable waist shaping. It looked very weird and I was concerned I was making a mistake but my own measurements show the need for that much more length to accommodate the profile of my chest. I actually stopped half an inch sooner than my math advised, because I was so concerned, but I should have listened to my numbers. Nonetheless, the top fits better than any other top I've ever knit and this is easily remedied the next time.
- I maintained that extra bust length, which is to say that I didn't shorten the bottom of the sweater to meet the stipulated length of 20.5 inches. Mine is about 21.5 inches. My preferred length to high hip is 22 inches but I ran out of yarn. Still, this length is fine because there's vertical ease in the sweater as well as horizontal ease.
- I changed the distance (from the centre line of front and back sides) between the two darts. I increased the span by an inch to account for the positioning of my own breasts and the specifics of my own dimensions. I observed, on Ravelry, that the darts seem very close set on a lot of the knitters modeling their Rondeurs.
- The instructions tell you to knit 4 rows of twisted rib at the bottom of the sweater. I extended that to 8 rows and would even recommend 12. It contributes to the shaping. Sometimes, too few rows of rib look like an afterthought rather than a design feature and I did read that some people had issues with the bottom of the sweater flipping up. That could be due to overall sweater sizing and fitting vis a vis one's own shape, but I thought it would be wise to give the bottom of the sweater a bit more ballast.
I can't recommend this thing enough. Well, wait, if you are really straight in shape or proportionately wide in the waist, it might not be your best option. But what do I know? I've only got my own body to work with. Point is, it's easily modified to suit a large bust on a narrow frame.
I am about to take a shower and then, I know you will not believe this, I intend to take a pic and post it. I swear. So come back later if you want to see what it looks like.
PS: It's a really good gift knit because it comes together very quickly, easily and the shaping is pretty knowable. If you can take your friend's/daugther's/mum's measurements, so much the better, but I sense - if you use the right yarn - you'll have a lot of give to play with. Not to mention that it's not too pricey, for a knitted garment, given that it's little (in the scheme of things).
PPS: Re: the Filatura di Crosa Zara yarn. I do think it's got awesome stitch definition and it feels beautiful. However, it will grow. And it's possibly the splittiest yarn I've ever worked with. So keep that in mind. I will definitely use it again, however. It may be my new Debbie Bliss.
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Yay! What a great feeling when process and product all come together for an overall satisfying knit!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the Zara -- still love it for what it does well. But it's splitty!!
Oh, it was ridiculous at some points. And I was using pointy addis.
DeleteThis top sounds great! I want to see pics. Will check back later. Please do front, side, 3/4, and--neglected in blogs--back views.
ReplyDeleteAnon: Hope the pics satisfy your needs. No 3/4 view or side but there are many of those pics on Ravelry.
DeleteWhat a great colour! Looks fab.
ReplyDeleteThanks Katy!
DeleteThis looks fantastic on you! I am jealous of whoever is so luck as to get a version as a gift.
ReplyDeleteWe have a similar shape, f I knit again (no budget for yarn right now) then I will try this pattern but will need to add even more length since I have a long torso.
Mona
Thanks so much Mona! I think my daughter may be a beneficiary. If she behaves for the next 3 weeks :-)
DeleteYou will def want to get 800 yards (if you are making the size 30) and you want to add some more waist length.
Beautiful! And how fabulous that it all worked out so well, and so quickly. Sometimes one just needs a fairly fast, satisfying, project. I love Zara for the reasons you mention, but yes it is terribly splitty. They were just unloading a box of Zara at my Lys last week. I might need to get me some and make a Rondeur for myself, once I finish the scarf I am knitting now and work up the nerve to try another sweater after a couple of wadders (which drove me to the scarf).
ReplyDeleteI know. I just didn't want to struggle and, as evidenced by the last 90 minutes during which I accomplished but one row of the Bettie (admittedly the row that sets up the yoke and attaches the sleeves in a very complicated fashion), I think I made the right choice. The Bettie is, frankly, more work than I'm interested in, generally speaking. It's like the suit jacket of sweaters :-)
DeleteWhat I think is great about this pattern (esp. if you are familiar with the properties of the yarn you choose) is that it really does what it says. It doesn't throw you any curve balls, on the fitting front. If you know your measurements then you just follow them, in order, to make the appropriate alterations, as you go.
Since you are tall and long in the waist, I def would get 2-3 additional skeins. Then you'll have enough to make the adjustments you want. I don't think bust short rows are warranted except if the knitter is wide and full-busted. I used 1.5 extra skeins. I could have used another .5 skein, not that it was critical.
Lovely -- and what a beautiful fit! Karen
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen!
DeleteBeautiful fit and colour for you!
ReplyDeleteI am thinking of buying the Denise Interchangeable Circulars - are you still using them and enjoying them?
Thank you so much. It's interesting that you should ask about the Denise interchangeable circulars. I would NOT recommend them, esp. as I used them just yesterday (to hold stitches only and then to knit them off the holder) and the join undid and it was a total near disaster. The cables are too thick, they don't allow for yarn to slide and the joins are, apparently, weak (esp as you need to push so hard on the yarn to get it to move). I would so much more recommend the Addi Interchangeables. I don't own that set because I've already purchased so many Addi needles that are not interchangeable, wouldn't be worth the expenditure at this point. But Addis are of much better quality. I've barely ever used the Denise kit. I just have it as back up.
DeleteThanks for letting me know about your experience with Denise. Do you recommend turbo or lace or bamboo or does it depend on the project/yarn?
DeleteIt does depend on the project. I like bamboo but, for most projects, I think that the Addi turbo lace (pointy) needles are the best.
DeleteI love the top - it really fits your figure quite well - you are looking slim!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on a complicated project!! Gorgeous!
Pam - this one wasn't the complicated one. That one's still in play :-) But thank you.
DeleteYou -- and your sweater -- look fabulous! That sweater is perfect for/on you!
ReplyDeleteMerci! xo
DeleteThis top looks GREAT on you! Now I'm scheming to get my friend who knits to make one for me. :) Sooo cute on you! I know you'd prefer it slightly longer, but it certainly looks appropriate for your figure at this length.
ReplyDeleteVery smart idea :-) Offer to buy the yarn and then to buy her yarn to make one for herself too. Thanks, Anon.
DeleteIt looks beautiful! Such a great color and fit! I am tempted to try this, although I am a little apprehensive about the size. It just seems like it would be soo small, although obvs yours fits you perfectly.
ReplyDeleteLauren: TRY IT! It will look fantastic on you.
DeleteYou look fabulous in that. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThanks M!xo
DeleteWow, I love that. Absolutely love it. It's a beautiful colour, slides along your curves perfectly, and you are right, those darts are the cat's ass.
ReplyDeleteThe cat's ass!
DeleteTHE CAT'S ASS!?
Seraphinalina, you are being held in high regard in Ohio.
Hey T - I get the credit for that expression :-)
DeleteThanks Sera! It's super flattering and not difficult. How often does that happen??
DeleteYOU......look......FABULOUS!!!!!! Girl you're killing it. Seriously.
ReplyDeleteAwwww, you flatter me! But feel free to keep on :-) Thanks P!
DeleteWow, you look so beautiful in this. Beautiful and not sleepless! You really have an eye for sweater shapes; this is especially pretty on you.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Amy. If you look close, I'm kind of sleepless, but the sleeping is really improving in the past couple of weeks :-)
DeleteI'm the anon who was scheming to get my friend to knit one for me. Your suggestion to offer to buy the yarn for mine and the yarn for hers is a good one. I don't know anything about knitting except cats like the yarn. My friend and I both would probably benefit from sleeves that are somewhat longer than on yours. How hard would that be?
ReplyDeleteI do think that longer sleeves will work. Depending on how much longer you want to go, and the shape and size of your arms, it will be more or less work. It's really hard to answer this question in any detail though, a new book (which you might want to gift to your friend) called Knitter's Handy Book of Top-Down Sweaters: Basic Designs in Multiple Sizes and Gauges, would totally be able to help you out in deciding this. Note: It's a mathy kind of book.
DeleteIn brief, the shorter the sleeves, the easier it will be. If you go much more than 2 inches longer than this cap sleeve, you'll likely need to make increases to accomodate the size of the upper arm, and then decreases to accommodate the slimming of the arm as it moves towards the elbow.
You'll also need to decide if you want to increase the length by ribbing alone (which is what the pattern calls for) or by additional rows of stockinette. Either way will work equally easily, but they will provide different looks and levels of tightness over the bicep.
GORGEOUS! And so good to "see" you again. ;)
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly the kind of fitted sweater that I dream of, but alas never actually seems to work for me. /sigh. I shall simply have to languish here in envy. Congratulations!
Thanks T! It's good to feel like I can let myself be seen.
DeleteJust wandered over to check out your lovely blog! I have to say, this is a cutie. Adding it to my Rav favourites now...thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda!
DeleteWow, that is so fast! And it really does fit so great :) How awesome it that? I'm so glad all your fitting mods worked out! :)
ReplyDeleteI know - don't you love it when that happens??
Deletegorgeous...both you and the sweater!
ReplyDeleteAww, thanks!
Delete