The Specs
Pattern: Eyelet Ribbed Bandeau, from
Interweave Knits, Summer 2007
Size: Small
Yarn: Filati Italian Collection Tebe Extrafine Merino. I cannot say enough good things about this yarn, I immediately fell in love with it's sprongy-ness. I dont' care if that's not a word, this yarn is heaven. Heaven!
Needles: 3.25 mm, 3.5 mm, 3.75 mm (straights and circulars)
Modifications: Made it a couple inches longer. The waist shaping is done with needle sizes, so it didn't pose any challenges to the shaping and how it aligned on my actual body.
Notes: I would have finished this a month ago, if I hadn't misplace the pattern for over three weeks! I bet a lot of people were put off by the eyelets in this, and figured it wouldn't be wearable. My original plan was to wear something underneath, but I found that the eyelets were small enought that my skintone strapless bra worked just fine.
If I was knitting this again, I would make the button band longer. The pattern calls for the button band to be shorter than the length of the top, but I found that the top is only as long as the button band allows. So my extra inches in length were all for naught, and cause a bit of bunching sometimes.
And I can I just say how much I love picot hems?
You would think a merino tube top would be toasty, but I have to say- I froze my tail off in that thing. Those eyelets, while modest enough, sure do provide a lot of ventilation! a bit of a breeze, and it feels like you don't even have a top on.
As for my final opinion? I'm not sure. I want to like it, but it's shorter than I thought it would be, and sometimes it's hard to appreciate a knit for what it is rather than what you were expecting it to be. The pattern is a breeze, but if you hate finishing, I warn you now- there is a LOT of sewing involved in this. Button bands are sewn on, not knitted on, and the picot is comprised of live stitches that are tacked down on the other side to form the hem.
Hats off to G, who took the photos. I must admit, it's very nice to have someone else (other than me, I mean) taking pictures!
27 comments:
this is just lovely! And I love the styling- it looks great with that skirt and your accessories. I'm sure the button band issue drove you nuts, but it doesn't look "off" in the pictures. The pearly buttons and the picot edging gives is a vintage feel that is just darling.
Quick question- what are you wearing underneath? Are normal undergarments sufficient?
Julie, it's gorgeous and it looks fantastic on you! I would have been nervous about those eyelets too, but you're right - can't see a thing. I never thought strapless knits would really work, but on you it seems totally wearable. Lovely job.
What an adorable top.
I wonder if next summer, you'll like it better, when you've laid aside your expectations and moved on to other projects? I only say this because that's my experience -- I need distance from the things I've made (especially if I'm wearing them) to know whether I like them as clothing or not.
It looks great on you -- Congratulations on a successful knit.
Oh, come on--it's super cute and goes really well with your skirt. What's not to like? :)
It's so pretty! It does seem odd that the pattern would tell you to make the button band shorter. If anything, I'd think they'd have you make it longer to account for potential eyelet-stretching. Anyway, I think it looks like a good length and it looks great on you!!
fantastic! I'm totally jealous of how great the tops looks and how great you look in it! (heh, motivation to hit the gym!) Great job.
oh my! look at that adorable little thing.
it looks really good on you. ;)
-erin.
adorable!
Very cute. :)
Looks good! Does it stay up easily by itself? Strapless tops always seem to fall down...
It looks wonderful, and hats off to you for choosing a pattern with such intense finishing! I love that it's something you could probably still wear in fall with a little coat.
It looks stunning on you. It will be great paired with a colored work shirt underneath too!
I think that it looks great on you! The pictures are great!
Oooooooooo. Damn - that is gorgeous. And gorgeous on you! I love the picot edging too!
It looks great on you!
That top looks fantastic on you! But I hear you about the wearability of knits. Sometimes a pattern seems so perfect but once I knit it up I just don't want to wear it.
Fantastic ! I know this yarn and it's true it's heaven totally :)
It's lovely! You're right, I got scared off by the eyelets--seems the top might be too see-through, but I guess not! It looks like it would look awesome layered with something colorful too.
That looks so cute! I love how it looks in the crisp white color.
Wow, it's gorgeous on you, really! Can I say how jealous I am that you can pull off a strapless top like this? :-)
Lovely.
Picot hems always flip up on me. I'm sure the extra finishing you put into this is what makes it look so great.
It's really pretty-ful. I like it lots. I know what you mean about some knits falling short of what you hoped they'd be. That feeling isn't so great. But from these pics, the top looks great.
I think it is very pretty. The picot hems are my favorite part.
Only you could pull off something that tight and sexy, hon. I love the skirt (always did!)
marth
Honestly, that is something I would never have thought to knit... but it looks gorgeous on you. great tips too. Beautiful!
Pretty job, Jules! I like it. Does my vote help with you doubts?
I think this looks perfect on you. :) I especially like the buttons you picked out, they suit the knit perfectly - and all that finishing was worth it, too! Well done!
Trine xx
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