Nanette Top

Pieces on the blocking board

The finished top

Knitting, project 188. Completed 2/28/2009

Yarn: 800 yards lightweight cotton yarn: pattern called for White Lies Designs Treasure Island Cotton (100% cotton, 200 yards ea): 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4) skeins.
Used instead, held double — 9 balls Cascade Yarns Dolly (100% merino wool, made in Italy), extra fine, shrink resistant. 50 g / 1.76 oz, 140 m / 153 yds. Color 82 (red).

Needles: US 10.5 (6.5 mm) needles to get gauge
Pattern called for US 8 (5 mm) and 9 (5.5 mm) needles

Gauge: 3.5 sts and 4 rows = 1 inch in St st
14 sts and 16 rows = 4″ (10 cm) in Stockinette st using larger needles

Pattern: By Joan McGowan-Michael, White Lies Designs
© White Lies Designs 2007 All rights reserved worldwide. http://www.whiteliesdesigns.com

Finished size: Size 40″ chest, 25″ length  — Added 1 inch to length

Leftover yarn: 1.7 oz (wound double), about 147 yards total (purchased 9 balls, used 8 for the project). Used 615 yds (of yarn held double)

Approximate cost: $53    $8.39 for pattern plus $7.89 per ball x 8 balls of yarn
Yarn on sale for 30% off ($44.18)

Notes: This was my first attempt at knitting with negative ease. I did end up retyping the pattern to correct a few math errors for my size (plus I prefer line-by-line instructions). The finished top is just great fitting. I really love the results. This is a great design.

Pattern author Joan McGown-Michael says:

This pretty shell top is simple to knit, but gives a lot of sexy bang for little effort! The large gauge yarn gives almost instant gratification and the easy shaping flatters womanly curves with a gathered sweetheart neckline and knit-in cap sleeves…. The garment is knitted with about 4.5″ of negative ease, but will easily stretch to fit the bust sizes [listed in the pattern].

Camo Bikini Top

Knitting and crochet, project 121

The most useless thing I’ve ever knitted: a bikini top in acrylic yarn. It fits an A-cup best, but acrylic yarn is squeaky plastic and warm to wear, and this top has no support. This was a prop for a musical production. There is a barbershop song from the WWII era called “Send the Girls Over There.” It advocates sending women into combat and has a line “I’ll be crying bitter tears as I knit them brassieres.” When sung by men, it’s sexist and rude. When sung by women, it’s cheeky, with misplaced “you go, girl!” enthusiasm. We played it for laughs, holding the bra aloft as we sang the line.