Episode 44: Knit-a-Porter

Episode 44: Knit A Porter (39:19)

This week we talk about the specter of ready-to-wear fashion, review the new Interweave Knits, and mention a few odds and ends. Plus, we recorded this episode remotely!

Talk about the fashion
In which we muse about how knitwear is influenced by fashion and vice versa.

Bennetton
Cable Luxe Maxi
Gap Sweater
Miss Twiss Knit in Chunks
Pringle of Scotland
Caramel Cap
Tilted Duster
Article on the Sunnydale housing projects

Check the mail

Nicole didn't and she ended up with two issues of the new Interweave Knits. If you want the extra copy email us with the subject "I want your IK!" by Monday, February 18th at 9pm PST. A name will be randomly selected to get the extra copy!

Ravelry love in the new issue!
Yarn Forward
Reference photos can be found here

Jenny likes:

• The Flutter Sleeve Cardigan
• Sylph Cardigan
• Silk Printed Cardigan

Nicole likes:

• Frock Camisole
• Drawstring Chemise
• Movie-inspired staff project

Mission Falls Twirl
Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Cotton
New Rebecca Magazine

Odds & Ends
Some other things we wanted to say.

Debbie Stoller on the Feb 8th episode of Killing Time with Bronwyn C.
Poll on Knitting Daily
Nicole is knitting the Lush & Lacy Cardigan!
Laura Chau knitting (just after minute 6)
The Handsome Scarf!
Would you like to try?

Music:
Dig Me Out: Sleater Kinney
I'm a Vampire: Future Bible Heroes
Pacific Sprawl: Continental

Comments

[Jocelyn]

I believe that all the cable yoke sweaters (Gap, LB, Debbie Bliss Amelie, Victoria's Secret, Old Navy) are derived from that Pringle sweater. I heard that sweater cost $1500, so it's understandable!

[Leslie]

thanks for another great episode. (and the sound quality was perfect!) i actually donated two of my early handknit sweaters to goodwill because too many people asked, "did you make that?" (they really looked homemade -- terrible seaming, etc.) now i like to think that people ask me that because they know i'm a knitter, not because they look like crap! i will be at stitches next friday -- will you guys be there that day??? leslie

[Dina]

Great episode, and very timely too. I got the Spring IK in the mail on Monday, and on Tuesday got the latest Boden catalog (which I love), containing this sweater:
http://www.bodenusa.com/col.asp?segname=Women&styid=WK428&segid=6&gpname=Knitwear&desname=Chic+Textured+Cardigan&gpid=12&gen=1#img

Not sure if knitting is the chicken or the egg, but I like it when life imitates art...or whatever.

Love the podcast!

Cheers,
Dina

[Lori]

I was shocked to see the Lionbrand sweater on The Gap commercial and thought,"If they're gonna imitate something hand-made, why on earth that sweater?!" Cracked me up!

[Nancy in Holland, MI]

I was flipping through the Boden catalog and saw this- http://www.bodenusa.com/col.asp?segname=Women&styid=WK428&segid=6&gpname=Knitwear&desname=Chic+Textured+Cardigan&gpid=12&gen=1#zoom_viewer
Now look again at the cover of the new IK. Hmmmm. . . Coincidence?

[Sarah]

I totally agree that the color scheme of this IK is probably what's turning me off most of the patterns. Nothing is really calling to me. I'm waiting to see some real-life examples in other colors, because inevitably that's what spurs me to knit a pattern I'd passed over before.

By the way, Nicole, when do we get to find out what your secret project is?

[Sarah]

Okay, so clearly I did not listen all the way through the episode before I commented!

[Deborah]

It was fun paging through the new IK with you.

And "eavesdropping on a really cool knitting circle" is exactly how I feel about your podcast!

[LittleWit]

Here is the ink to that You Tube video you were talking about. It totally cracks me up.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZcUjYpjKZs]

[LittleWit]

Oh nuts I dropped in the wrong link sorry. Feel free to delete that comment. Here is the proper link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZcUjYpjKZs&eurl=http://littlewit.wordpress.com/2007/06/15/friday-june-15-2007-2/

[Bon]

Great podcast as usual ladies! I just wanted to put my 2 cents in about buying sweaters. Sometimes it it just plain cheaper to buy the doggone thing. I bought one at Old Navy the other day for $13--no way could I have made it for that!

[Deborah]

Here's yet another version of the Lion Brand/Pringle of Scotland/Gap pullover. It's in a Filatura di Crosa book I just bought. Isn't this the same thing?

http://www.tahkistacycharles.com/media/File/46:47_FreePatVHcabletunicFDCFW07F30rev.pdf

[Shannon]

On the fashion front, Anthropologie actually had a print catalog that was all sweaters, featuring several Twinkle sweaters, but other gorgeous ones too.

If you are going to justify knitting financially, it's far better to take the yarnharlot approach and do a per hour value as entertainment rather than trying to justify it as a frugal way to create clothing! Great podcast! Lots of food for thought.

[JoniMarie]

I think the reason we are seeing more varied, ostensibly handknit items for sale is partly a result of NAFTA.

Many items, in particular those made of alpaca, come from South America and are handknit either on machines or needles by indigenous craftspersons. The garments are often very reasonably priced, even when under Fair Trade agreements. I am told the reason is that a living wage is much lower in those countries than here and because the fiber is locally produced.

[michael]

As a comment on your discussion of the... 'handmade' appearance of some knitwear, for me it comes down to the fact that I like the look of handmade, but not *home*made.

[Tanya]

Color is truly subjective, and as I told an independent dyer working on some yarn for our store recently, "there is no ugly color. Just different opionions of what is and isn't beautiful." So I feel good saying I f-loved the new IK, and the predominance of peach and cream throughout its pages.

And now I'll contradict myself and admit I want to make the Hexacomb Cardigan in two shades of blue.

[Eva]

I totally agree with you guys about the colors! Couldn't they have used pale blues, yellows, greens, purples? This issue is like one big neutral color, which doesn't enhance any of the models, nor the garments!

Thank goodness for Ravelry, where I can stalk my favorite patterns and see how they get knit up in other colors and yarns. :-)

[Sally Villarreal]

I tend to feel guilty buying storebought knit sweaters, especially since I need so few of them. It's the same reason why I don't buy a new purse. I want a knitted and/or crocheted and/or felted one.

I was so disappointed when I found out that Debbie Bliss didn't write her own patterns. (So I doubt Michael Kors would.)

Am I the only person who likes the Chameleon Scarf?

I'm hoping the handsome scarf will translate to my "Road to China." The gauge is a little bigger, but I think I can adjust.

The "try this" thing is cool!

[Kathy]

Thanks for the link to Wool Bullies. Way too funny and of course, the dishcloth sure looked knitted, not crocheted!

[T2]

I'm not a sweater knitter (yet), so I haven't hit that dilemma while shopping, but I definitly drool over knit accessories in stores and then resolve to go home and make my own.

[Kelly]

I love the Chameleon Scarf! I am making it with Noro Taiyo. I don't have pics yet on ravelry, but I will post some once I get some more squares made. I'm purlygirl75.

[Ansley]

Love your "have you tried" idea. Another use is making felted beads from scrap. I save all my small bits of wool to make jewelry. I did a little tutorial that is posted over at Cut Out and Keep:
http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/felted_balls_from_scrap_yarn