Snow White... 's no more?

I don't know if this makes me into a wicked stepmother, but I'm thinking of dismembering Snow White. I love the yarn and the pattern is genius, but the two are not the best match; if I were ever to make it again, I'd definitely use something more washable, that could be comfortably worn next to the skin - perhaps a wool-cotton blend. Such a tight-fitting garment in non-superwash wool is just a bit... hot. And not in a hot way. Also, I made it just a little too short. On the few occasions when I have worn it, I have felt at war with this pullover, as it demanded constant yanking down, or undignified wriggling out of, making me feel like a seagull caught in an oil-slick. 

I have not fully decided: this is a beautiful jumper, and the thought of reducing it back to a pile of crinkly yarn does seem a bit heretical. But then, what's the use of a beautiful jumper that just sits in a drawer? I've been considering transforming it into the Estelle Pullover: I think it might get more wear that way (and it would have the added benefit of matching the Meret I made out of the remainder of this yarn). Or are these evil thoughts deserving of a poison apple? What do you think? To frog or not to frog? 

SNOW (and Snow White, again)

We have snow! Above is a snow buddha and what appears to be a snow Lenin in Front Court.

My friend Simone and I took advantage of the white wonderland to take some photos of each other's knitwear.

This is Simone's lovely green Verity beret...

... and here are her gorgeous gloves, made in Old Maiden Aunt Merino/Bamboo.

I warded off the snowy cold with - what else - Snow White, teamed with my Rose Red beret and Milkweed shawlette.

I love snow so much!

Snow White in action: daily outfit #2

Jumper: Snow White, my own work

Liberty tana lawn Shirt: Cacharel

Bag: Miu Miu

Skirt: Paul Smith

Boots: Dune

Yikes, I didn't quite realise I was so swathed in designer - that was not intentional. I bought the skirt about five years ago with the money I made working crazy hours in an unpleasant shop in the run-up to Christmas; it is one of the things I love most in my wardrobe. The surprise lining still makes me smile, and I often rearrange the outer layer in crossing my legs to give 'accidental' glimpses. A lot of people I have flaunted my lining at (ahem) say I should wear the skirt inside out, but I prefer to keep its exuberance selfishly guarded.

One of the reasons behind this series of outfits was to 'road-test' my knitwear, and see how it holds up to different situations. I always wonder that about how much wear the handmade garments I read about on people's blogs get: something might look stunning for one artfully staged photoshoot, but then lose out to less stellar items  in the daily search for something to wear.

I must admit that I was a little apprehensive about Snow White in this respect. The neckline is so striking, but does not look its best with anything strappy or t-shirt-y, in my experience. After a lot of experimentation I have decided that I like it best with a shirt underneath, preferably this shirt, with its juicy Liberty print (Edenham, B, for any curious sewists). To my mind it matches both the crisp, tailored detail and the hint of feminine prettiness of the knit (and it hides the bra straps!).

I had planned to post about an outing I made today to Cambridge's newest (and only) cupcake cafe, but the image uploader seems to be as sleepy as I am, so I shall save that for another day. Oh, and I may make a Flickr set of these outfits, at the kind suggestion of a commenter, but that may take me a little while to get round to!

More Snow White and Red

Sorry, I couldn't resist showing off how well my new jumper co-ordinates with all the other red things in the garden. All these photos were kindly taken by my friend Alice.

I was Snow White but I drifted

Snow White is finally dry! I took her out to meet some of the (hopefully not poisonous) apples in my back garden.

This was a speedy, stress-free knit. Like other Ysolda patterns, it is impeccably laid out, cleverly constructed, and full of interesting details. I love the neck-line: it satisfies a desire I didn't know I had to look like a Cluedo piece (Miss Scarlet, of course). The sculptural ribs accentuate some curves and minimise others.

 

The stretchiness of ribbing is a thing of miracle of knitting engineering - this measures 18" around the waist when laid flat.

I am so pleased with how this turned out. I am glad to have found a good use for this yarn. I love its deep, velvety shade; the colourway - 'Christmas Red' - is appropriate to me, as my birthday is on Christmas Day. All in all, Snow White has just about healed the wound of losing Broderie.

Like watching knitwear dry

This is the most exciting image I can offer you of Snow White, who is still stubbornly soggy.

In the meantime, my long-awaited black cardigan is beginning to take shape.

I don't think I've already mentioned the pattern - it is Audrey in Unst by Gudrun Johnston, from the latest Twist Collective. I rather like the way this crisp, superwash merino is working up.

World's Skinniest Sweater?

Snow White is done, and reclining in state while she dries....

... on an ironing board. How ridiculously skinny is this sweater? It looks more like a broomstick cozy than a garment for a human being. I know it fits - I tried it on before I immersed it - but still it's hard to credit.

Milkweed

I have finished my Milkweed shawlette.

I used the Old Maiden Aunt Merino/Bamboo left-over from - and now all that is left of - my sadly departed Broderie. Once again, the yarn was a delight to work with: soft and glossy but with the promise of durability. I am very pleased with the finished product; I plan to hang on to this one. The colour is far more dark and mysterious than the above two pictures imply - the silvery tint is the light bouncing off the bamboo.

I find the lace pattern that broods out of the garter stitch enchanting, and the fact that it has no wrong side makes it perfect for casual scrunching around necks, as well as demure draping over shoulders. It was a quick and meditative knit (not a single purl!), soothing to pick up when I was tired. 

I have also been beavering away at Snow White. Last night, I joined the sleeves and the body, knitted a couple of rounds and then did the most beautiful picot cast-off at the neck you ever did see. I stretched out my work to admire it... and realised I had just cast off the back, instead of the front. I have got it sorted now, though not without weeping and gnashing of teeth. Sometimes I wonder if this yarn is cursed.

Loophole

I am a couple of days into my stash pledge, and it's going really well, thanks. Haven't been to a yarn shop, haven't looked at yarn online, haven't even thought about it all that much, really. Smug.

Hang on a second... What is this?

Ah. It appears that I have found a way around my 'not buying yarn' vow by STARTING A WHOLE NEW CRAFT. Namely sashiko, a form of Japanese embroidery. Sigh. Sometimes I wonder if my hobby might really be Buying Stuff, rather than knitting.

Look at this little turtle-metamorphosing-into-thread. Japanese images are so inscrutable.

Also, Snow White now has a cuff, pictured below sitting atop the ball like a jolly hat.

'snow surprise

 

As an antidote to the fine yarn and slender needles of Broderie, and a balm to heal the subsequent wound of losing Broderie, I needed a near-instant gratification, heavier-gauge project. Meet Snow White, yet another gorgeous pattern by Ysolda. The image to the left is the completed body; I know it looks absurdly small, but I can assure you that it stretches to fit me (thanks in part to that magical cast-on I was talking about). 

This will be my eighth jumper this year. As I write this, on 09/09/09, I am a little annoyed that it is not my ninth, especially as it could so easily be - all I have to do on my Hey, Teach is seam it and knit the button band. To be honest, though, I have rather fallen out of love with this project, as signalled by the fact that I have banished its dismembered pieces to the darkest recesses of my wardrobe. I am considering ripping it out and continuing my Ysolda fixation with another Liesl,  inspired by Alana's beautiful version.

Oh, I forgot to mention, this red yarn is itself recycled from the abortive Lush and Lacy Cardigan.