Empires Rule (lately)

It's been awhile since blogging, I've been in the throes of finding a new location for my business. Finally in a couple weeks I will be packing and moving everything! And the Moving Sale is going well so I will have a little less to pack. VERY excited about the new business plan!!

But I'm still knitting during all the turmoil! It is essential for my balance, as is going to Curves to work out in the morning.  The only week knitting did not help my psyche, was the one frogged item in Euroflax Sport Linen...that yarn just boggles me as to what style would look best with it...but that battle will be fought again another day.

I did not realize it until today, that my most recent 3 "successful" projects involved the same kind of empire style bust shaping. Seriously, I did not intend to do this. But perhaps it is something inside me wanting to feel young and lively, because that is what came out. It's summer, and these last 3 garments really do make me smile!!

What was happening...These were all worked bottom-up, without waist shaping, either in a very slight A-line or inverted A-line. And then when I got to 5" below my normal armhole, I did some narrowing. And then the more extreme adding of width under the busline with short/wide VBD's, plus a little on the sides. Added short rows for more length over the bust, which allowed the horizontal line of the pattern from front to back to actually be horizontal (!!).  And then I also decreased on the side in the over-bust area of the front, so that by the time I got to armholes, the back and front were just about the same width.

Light & Lovely Violet

Green Fun

Pasley Sage Rosemary & Nettle

Organic Cottons Wardrobe Challenge, Report 6

Closing in on the end of my stash of Sublime Organic Cotton yarn!  Just finished the Organic Nutmeg Lavaliere, a short-sleeved cardigan that will work with the shell from last report.  Two more garments might complete the Challenge.

This was knit in a top-down one-piece construction method. I don't use this method quite as often, and the results just do not always turn out as hoped.  Raglan is perhaps not the best look on my rounded shoulders, and then paired with my rounded upper torso, it just turns on my CRITICAL eye.

Construction-wise, I get a more precise fit in bottom-up styles, especially if working front and back separately.  But with a secret goal to someday become a well-balanced knitter, fearful of no project, these other construction methods must be practiced and vanquished!

Organic Cottons Wardrobe Challenge, Report 5

Hooray!  My Organic Ice Cream Tank worked out wonderfully, the mix of patterns and colors did a good job of improving my opinion of the Nespelem Yummy Like Blackberry Ice Cream cardigan.  But it's too warm today to wear together, so just the shell.

The wardrobe challenge moves on, tonight I start a short-sleeve cardigan in the nutmeg brown color!  Must admit, working with the same yarn is getting a little dull, but this is the season to wear it, plus I know that my feeling of accomplishment will be great, and the stash less ;~}