A trip down memory lane

Thanks to you gals for all the compliments on the white lace bamboo top. I pondered on how best to answer many of you who queried if I have designed it.

What constitutes a designer? Does that mean you start totally from scratch and sketch out what you have in mind? Then do swatching and proceed to knit from start to finish?

I get inspired by the various things I see...this lace top came about as I wanted to try something top down. And then I browsed pattern books that provided lace charts and see which ones I liked. Then worked out gauge and fit; adding the shaping according to my own body measurements.

The cute picot edging came about as I wanted some color constrast. I noticed that I knit mostly single colored garments. I am sure the bottom edge would look just as purty with plain ribbing but then again, it's always fun to test out your own ideas right?

There is also a lot of frogging involved. Especially with the sleeves as I wasn't sure how I wanted it to look. I tried the matching picot but it was a major disaster as it made the lace bits way too over the top! (I am sure some of you would have figured it out but I just had to *try* it to be convinced.)

I love putting things together and I find that I am such a fusspot that even before I start a pattern, I usually try to visualize how the pattern would look when worn on me.

There are times when I don't get it (the style) right -- like the red blouse I gave to Mom; it's so femine and conservatively delicate that it's not me. (But you can't say I didn't try!) LOL.

Or this light lilac cardigan with scalloped edges but a short body fit.

My friend gave me a snort when I wore this. (You know what that means.)

I am not even sure if I am a designer of sorts or perhaps I can be called Queen of Improvisation - as the other students like to call me. [Yup....we always alter and improvise on patterns to improve fit and change certain elements.]

The pattern is scribbled in a few pieces of scraps as I did the number crunching using my trusty calculator. There's 3 in the living room already but I still can't find them whenever I need them! I'll get around to consolidating and writing them one of these days hopefully.

Just over the weekend, I decided that with no projects on hand, it's best that I start reviving one of the oldest WIPs I've got.

This is my 12 year old baby -- to be precise, in Singapore education standards, as a child, it would be a Primary 6 student, taking its PSLE (Primary School Leaving Examination) this year!

I remembered why I ditched it aside then:
It was going to be a dress but I wasn't sure if I could find a seamstress who could help me create a lining for it as it's meant to be off-shoulder.

So going at it for one night, I managed to work some ribbing and cast off; deciding that a tube dress should work well. But alas, it was just too roomy (no, I weigh about the same as I did 12 years ago) and completely shapeless on me. That's what you get when you do not learn to swatch! [Hey, but I've learnt now -- all the ladies who are learning from me start with swatching! And yes, be comforted that I started out pretty much like you all too! (grin)]

Armed with the skills I have in hand now, I started taking a few measurements. Imagine the waist is 4 inches way too big! I have a schematic and decided that I might have enough yarn to do some design on the neckline. And off I ripped.

Happier? Definitely! It looks like this baby would be finished after all!

So what's your oldest WIP?

As if it isn't enough, I also re-started the red mohair jacket again!

A pattern that requires deep concentration as there is action on both the front and back! Did I just ask for more trouble again?