Greetings !
All I can say is that I fell in love the moment I gazed on Nora Gaughan's Capecho or "Bolero" as we like to call it. (Vogue Winter 06/7)
At first, since I was knitting it for Chloé, I made a paper pattern and sent it to her (She's Atlantic, I'm Pacific). The basic module of the design is a pentagon, here is my pattern for one pentagon:
It is 5" on each side. I printed 10 pentagons + 2 for the sleeves and taped them together to get an idea. There had been a lot of posts on line that complained that it didn't fit and that it came out huge. The pattern was so complex, that I wasn't about to have a problem. I shipped it off in a big box that weighed "nothing" for Clo to try. It was pretty hard to tell what it was going to look like because the paper was rigid and poked out in non-yarn like ways. Who knew what it would look like? She thought it would work! OK, I'll try ..... an Xsm
As I am a methodical mathematical scientific illustrator in my day life, I approached the study of our Bolero in the same manner. Take a look at my pattern notes for one side of the 5 sided pentagon:
This story will go on for some time, so I will leave you with a picture of the partially knitted first pentagon. BTW choosing a gorgeous dark brown and delicious wool makes it even MORE impossible.
My part of this blog will read like the Arabian nights of knitting, so zzzzzzzzzz and back to my daughter, Chloé. How's your knitting group going and your sweater ?
mom
PS: Click on the pictures to enlarge
Well, it's started, we have a blog! Welcome. My Mom and I are knitting fiends, going slowly but surely from one project to the next. We've started this site as a place to share photos, consult each other about questions, and really, to talk about knitting. I suppose a first post with glorious pictures would be appropriate, but I haven't finished anything since early Spring (hence the mention to going slowly but surely). But I'm nearly done with "Coquette" from Fitted Knits (Stefanie Japel). A cute little tube top I hope to be able to wear while it's still warm and humid here in Boston. I've chosen to use the recommended yarn, Cascade Pima Cotton with tencel, in a navy color which is so so so wonderful. Soft, luscious, and has a nice sheen. My only problem with it so far is that it seems to pill, at least while knitting. I hope this doesn't continue while wearing. The yarn is also a great deal - $5 a skein, and $20 for the whole tube-ette. Fab. I'm wondering a bit about the pattern though, and if I ever get the urge to make it again I might make a few mods. But I'll wait for the FO (that's Finished Object, Ma) before casting judgment.My other projects on the needles include a hat "Beaufort" that I found on Craftster It's coming along nicely but I got distracted by a sweater knitting class and, well, warmer weather. In that sweater knitting class I started "Wicked" by the Zephyr Girls and I love it so far, but again it's just too hot. My goal is to finish the tube top, have one instant gratification project and then finish up that sweater and hat in time for fall. Phew. I better go and get knitting!
Okay Ma -- your turn, show off the bolero for me, please!
