A Tale Of Two Tunics

So this passed week I've been plugging away at the Textured Tunic. I knit a little, try it on, check the fit and the length then keep on knitting away.

Cue Knitters Intuition.

Something keeps bugging me about the fit of the Textured Tunic. And the bulkiness of it. It looks so...so very unflattering. The more I knit, the louder the voice keeps getting.

I thought a side by side comparison with a tunic sweater I love might help...

The Fronts

Sweater #1: Tunic with Lace Pattern
I love this sweater. I love the yarn. It's lightweight, has a great drape and is soft and comfortable. It doesn't cling too tightly or show off every lump and bump in the road.

Sweater #2: Textured Tunic
A very similar style to Sweater #1. As it hangs right now, it falls nicely and from this distance it doesn't seem to accentuate the "unpositives". However, this sweater [as written] doesn't hang...the front edges wrap around to the side and attached to the back edge. Which means it comes over the tummy and is a little tighter around the tops of the thighs...yeah, not so cute. Quite a few knitters have eliminated the side buttons completely, but that's one of the things I like about this sweater.

The Sides

Sweater #1: Tunic with Lace Pattern
I'm just going to say it. I have a bit of a belly. So the side vents keep the bottom open and prevent me from looking too chub-chub.

Sweater #2: Textured Tunic
Not that this is bad, but like I said before, the bottom of the front vent will be pulled back to meet the back section. I guess I should have moved my hand so you could see what I'm talking about, huh?

I thought about shortening the sweater, but I don't think that will help with the bulk issues I'm having. I'm really at an impasse. My instinct is to frog and rethink this yarn as a cardigan.

Friday Is The New Hump Day

Thank you for the birthday wishes everyone. It was pretty low-key, which was fine by me. Did that just rhyme?

Anyway...we're settled into our new office...I'm just having IT issues from hell. It keeps me from having to process expense reports and stuff, so I'm not really complaining, but I am kinda.

All this moving and stress and birthday crap has kept me from knitting.
I am happy to report that I did finish the front panel of the Textured Tunic. Of course it's taken me a week and a half to get a post up about it. I'm going to try to get started on the back and have a decent bit of it done by the end of the weekend. But seeing how this weekend is shaping up, that's wishful thinking.

Good luck to those starting in on Knitting Olympics! Go Team!

Return Of The Tunic

When we last left our lovely knitting actress, she was deciding whether to unearth her sewing machine or bite the bullet and hand sew the bias edging to her Galaxy Tank.

Guess what I made some serious progress on? The Textured Tunic with Side Buttons! Yes, I was in totally avoidance mode and picked up one of my wips. When I put it down a month or so ago, I had just come to the conclusion that the front flap needed to be reknit. And in avoidance of that, I picked up Galaxy. Oh well...it all comes full circle, right?

So anyway, I ripped and reknit and here I am at the seed stitch band. A mere 8 rows from being done with the front panel. Why, oh why isn't the seed stitch matching up? One extra stitch is throwing the whole pattern off. Where did it come from? Why is it here? Won't it just go away?

Yeah you know it. Avoidance is in full effect.

Ouch!

Hope you all had a good weekend. It was blazing hot in So Cal, so gf and I escaped to the beach. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time...even after a big wave knocked me over. Of course I landed right on a rock that left me with this beauty.

Not my butt. Just my upper thigh.

Lesson 1: Always respect the power of the ocean and watch out for big waves and rocks.
Lesson 2: Don't use the macros setting when taking a picture of your thigh...especially if you're posting it on the internets for the whole world to see. I have no shame.

Sunday was a little less exciting. It wasn't as hot as Saturday, so I stayed very still and knitted quite a bit on the Textured Tunic between moaning about the heat and napping.

I completed the body rounds and am now working on the front panel. I didn't add waist shaping...when I tried it on, it looked ok, so I didn't see any reason to rip back and add them in. Now just a few adjustments to the bottoms and I've got a one way ticket to sleeve island!

Impressive. Most Impressive.

So...I went on to Ravelry today and was clicking around on some of the completed Textured Tunics with Side Buttons and I noticed a few people lamenting how many times they had to frog and reknit due to gauge issues, shaping and other factors.

I suddenly became very concerned that my kismet sweater would be anything but.

I reached for my tape measure so I could recheck my gauge and realized I didn't have it because I loaned it to gf this morning before I left for work. DAG NABIT!
Well, I just so happened to have a paper ruler at my desk, so I measured my gauge. My row gauge was good, but the stitch gauge...16 when it's suppose to be 13. OOPS!

I suddenly became even more concerned.

So I thought I would thread a lifeline and try it on. Don't knitters sing the glories of top down sweaters because they can be tried on and adjusted during the process? Unfortunately, I didn't have any waste yarn. Ugh. I did have some thick black thread, so I doubled it up and laced it through.

Quick trip to the bathroom...

Looking pretty good, no?

Then I remember that I erred on the side of caution and decided to make a 39 1/2". My bust measures 38, so I decided to go with a 'shut up kid you'll grow into it'* mentality. I thought for a moment that the armpits felt a bit tight, but a little adjusting here and there eased the issue. I may have to try this on again when I get home and reevaulate. I'm not sure if it is poor sizing, the way the sweater was sitting, my recent 5+lb weight gain or my t-shirt bulking up under the pits, but I hope it will fit better once I can try it again.

Until otherwise, kismet is in full effect. Have a great weekend everyone!


*When we were kids, my parents would often buy us clothes there were too big. Any protesting was met with the above response. Not that I plan to grow into a 39 1/2" bust, mind you. Unless the chub from the rest of my body suddenly and spontaneously decided to relocate to the boob area, that might be okay. Thighs, I'm talkin' to you.

Progress Pictures

You guys are the best. Your comments are so encouraging! I hope this sweater turns out well, I'd hate to let you all down. Ha haha...

Like I said before, this yarn was bought with the intention of making the Textured Tunic...but the recipient was different. It was supposed to be for gf, but she didn't like the shade of green. So, now it's for me!

The color is Spring, which is a bright green with yellow and blue specks. It's pretty bold, but I think the shade will be okay on me. If not, I'll wear it anyway and you'll see me coming from a mile away.

I've already completed the raglan increases, put the sleeve stitches on holders and am now about to start the bust basket weave pattern. Not bad progress.

And remember these buttons? Also bought specifically for this sweater. I do believe I put them up to the yarn and being pretty pleased with the color matching, but that was way back in March and I can't remember if it was true or something I made up.

Wow. Everything is falling into place with this project. Is that a good sign or a bad one?

Moving On...

Thanks everyone for your comments about my last post.  I'm still eyeballing most black SUV's that pass me by everyday, but I've let the anger go and I'm a better person for it.  

Right?

I have started a new project.  It's the Textured Tunic with Side Buttons from Fitted Knits.  I'm using some Rowan Summer Tweed...and would you believe it's always been intended for this sweater?  I seem to buy yarn with one thing in mind and wind up making something entirely different, so it's nice to actually make the intended garment.  I don't have the camera handy, so unfortunately, I don't have a picture of my 16 rows worth of progress. 

I've noticed on Ravelry that a lot of people have added shaping, but a few of the finished ones I really like didn't mention making any modifications.  I think I'm going to follow the instructions as writing and see how it turns out.  I'm sure it will be fine.