How does this happen? I’ve managed to start – and finish!– another project that’s not what I intended to work on. For the record, I have three other projects on my needles at the moment. One of them I started last summer… I guess I should make a better effort to stay out of yarn stores!
A few weekends ago, I was browsing the isles of Joanne’s Fabrics store and managed to leave with six balls of 100% cotton yarn in tow with the goal of making myself a new tote.
I wanted to replace some of the bags I typically carry around, which are looking a bit tired after much use. I also found yarn in a green color I loved.
Is it just me? I can never have enough tote bags. I always need to supplement my purse with bags to carry books, knitting projects, samples, treats, or to use if I stop at the supermarket on my way home.
The bag I was going to make, a free pattern called the “getting things done tote” is knit in a single color, but after a few rows of green I decided to make mine striped using some ecru I had. The pattern also uses moss stitch, but I opted for stockinette because I’m super slow at knitting moss stitch and because this was supposed to be a quick in-between-projects project.
After knitting three stripes, which I made pretty wide, I was suddenly in love with the green and ecru combination, as well as the feel of the fabric. As I admired the colors, I held the piece up to my chest and asked my daughter, who was sitting across from me at the dining table, “Wouldn’t this be cute as a top?” Her response was, “Sure! Go for it, mom!”
I knew I would forever stare at the bag and wonder what it would have looked like as a top, so I ditched the bag idea.
After some swatches and measurements, I came up with what I thought would be the right amount of stitches for my body.
However, after about 20 rows of knitting, and slipping it over my waist to try it on, it was clear I was doing something wrong. It was huge!
I could not figure out why my math wasn’t working out. I obviously wasn’t subtracting enough stitches to get the right amount of negative ease. Knitting the section again, and possibly getting it wrong again, was not what I had in mind. This was supposed to be a quick and fun project. So, instead I decided to look in my books and magazines for cute summer tops with a similar gauge and let someone else figure out the math this time around.
There were quite a few patterns I thought could work, but I really liked the simplicity of the design in this photo: a pattern from one of my old Rebecca magazines. Mine would just have to be a little longer! 😉
The pattern is written for sizes small and medium, so I decided to take a chance and follow the instructions for medium. I’m typically a medium, but not always! At this point, I figured that if it was too small, I’d just gift it to someone.
After working about 20 cm I liked the fit. I wanted it to be a bit snug, but not too tight. I also started to imagine how I could use the same measurements to make different types of tops: scoop neck, racer back, thin straps, thick straps…exciting!
After I finished sewing everything together I reviewed the instructions for how to add the straps and noticed something was different. I looked closely at the pattern photo and realized the edges of my top were different. It turns out I had accidentally added the increases on the wrong side! The shape didn’t change much, but the finishing steps would have to be improvised. There was no way I was unraveling it and knitting it again.
I decided that adding an i-cord bind off throughout would hide my little accident, and making the straps look like they were designed to “grow” out of the body might even look pretty cool.
It worked, and I like it! 🙂
I have tons of green yarn left, so I could make a different top now that I have my stitch counts figured out. Or, I could make another one just like this one and write instructions for how to make it. Of course, I could also try to finish one of my other W.I.P.s, or make the tote.
Additional Project Notes:
- The yarn I used for this top was Lily Sugar ‘n Cream, an inexpensive, 100% cotton yarn that is sold mostly to knit home accessories (like a tote!). This yarn isn’t soft, it’s actually a bit tough, but that ended up being a good thing. The resulting top wasn’t flimsy, almost as if it had a built-in bra – glorious!! This yarn left my hands pretty achy. I’d like to use something that is a bit softer next time. Rowan’s “All Season’s Cotton” or WAK’s “The Cotton” might be good alternatives.
- I used # 6 circular needles for the main body, and double–pointed needles in the same size for the i-cord straps. My gauge: 19 stitches and 30 rows to 4”. I cast on 142 stitches for the body, joined and knit in the round making sure I used a jogless stripe technique. I worked 18 stitches for center and cast off 32 on each side of that to sew on the bodice pieces (cast off should start 6 stitches before round change), 60 sts. were kept on hold for back. Picked up 12 stitches on each side of the middle piece and increased every other row in stripe pattern. My stripes for the top are one row smaller than the body stripes. Kept stitches on hold to connect the back and sides of the garment casting off with an i-cord and added the straps in the same way.
- I loved the way this top was constructed. Working on the bodice separately, while keeping stitches on hold and then connecting things back together.
- The pattern has a neat way to add the straps using a crochet hook, but I didn’t make mine that way. I knit mine to “grow” out of the fabric as an i-cord. I might try this pattern again.
- I’d love to find a pattern for shorts that I could make to go with the top. This could be something to wear over a swimsuit or as pajamas.
- It seems I really enjoy knitting experiments!
What are you working on? Leave a comment below!
-Gabi