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02 July, 2007

Poetry in Stitches Camisole


The Poetry camisole is finished, and I really like it! After spending more time on the finishing than the knitting (typical), it's ready. This pattern is a copy of an actual vintage under garment. Maybe it was worn over a corset? I love learning about what people wore underneath their Victorian and Edwardian finery.

The shaping makes the top very comfortable, and I believe it would be flattering on most body types. The only adjustment that I made was to knit it size small on the length, but size medium on the width.

The instructions for the button holes were written for the medium size only, so I had to do that calculation for the size small. But I think it was good for my brain to be forced to do a tiny bit of math. It is getting old and creaky.


I found some flower shaped buttons to bring out the summery feel.

Details
Pattern: Poetry In Stitches p126
Yarn: Hifa Luxor cotton in pale blue 315. (Click on the button that says "Fargekart" to see the colors) Kit was special ordered from Nordic Fiber Arts.
Needles: Addi Bamboo circulars, 3 mm, 60 cm (24 in) long (An awkward Addi size, stick with 80 from now on!)
Crochet hook: 3 mm
Started: May 21, 2006, Finished June 28, 2006. A record!

The weather is not cooperating. Sometimes it's too sunny for pictures! I hope to be replacing this picture shortly.

I love the Hifa cotton yarn. It's smooth and makes a pretty fabric. I would love to make something in plain stockinette using this yarn to really bring out the sheen.
The only problem was that the plies tended to separate some when crocheting, but I don't mind, because this is what makes the yarn so smooth and silky. Crocheting was much harder on my carpal tunnel than knitting, though. I think I need one of those ergonomic hooks!

I had a problem with my cast-on being looser than the bind-off (the cast-on side is the button hole side), and when I tried it on, I realized that it would not look good. One side was a little longer than the other. So I picked out the row before the double seed stitch area, picked up the stitches, and reknit the 14 rows in the opposite direction. Now it's great. There is not any gapping between the buttons at all, even though the top is quite form fitting.

The garter stitch was quite stretchy, but the crochet edging firmed things up nicely.

I really liked knitting sideways like this, and I am thinking of making this Solveig Hisdal jacket from Norsk Strikkedesign later! I also love this Hanne Falkenberg jacket, the Mermaid. Isn't it the coolest, most awesome design ever?

36 comments:

  1. Oh I really love that Mermaid!

    You did such a beautiful job with this, seriously, it's such a beauty and fits so nicely, very becoming, beautifully finished! It really is breathtaking...

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  2. The camisole looks amazing! It seems like it could be displayed in a museum, but it looks so wearable too! The Mermaid jacket is gorgeous and I have bookmarked that page so I can gaze at it often ;-)

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  3. I AM DEFINITELY GOING TO MAKE THIS! Just too too too beautiful!
    I love Hanne Falkenberg Diva and Jazz ... thinking of getting Jazz for Christmas ... and Diva for birthday ... is that too greedy? LOL!

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  4. It's gorgeous, Hege. You knit and crochet beautifully. It's so feminine!

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  5. Anonymous03 July, 2007

    wow! your stitching and finishing are beautiful. the cami fits perfectly. absolutely adore the little floral buttons.

    (we're thinking of painting another room in the house that blue!)

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  6. Hege, it is lovely. you are an amazing knitter and crocheter.

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  7. Anonymous03 July, 2007

    NYDELIG!! It definitely looks better in the original yarn. Beautifully knit! Love this design, very comfortable to wear - I'll knit another one!

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  8. It's such a pretty top, lovely colour and I like the short row shaping too.

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  9. Anonymous03 July, 2007

    The shaping/fit is amazing! I wish I could knit in cotton as well as you!

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  10. WOW! You look amazing in it. I love that pattern and the yarn looks soo comfy

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  11. Anonymous03 July, 2007

    We just saw a programme about whalebone corsets ...ouch . Yours is lovely . I have Norsk...errrr thingy.The one I want to knit is a Kimono shape with a wave design but will I ever get round to it !

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  12. Anonymous03 July, 2007

    P.S have you seen Kauni yarns ? They have a site but "Janette's Rare Yarns "on U.K E:Bay has them .

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  13. That looks fantastic on you!!! Great job! The necklace you're wearing looks so pretty with it, too. Congratulations!

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  14. Anonymous03 July, 2007

    What a gorgeous camisole! I love the buttons you chose as well.

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  15. So gorgeous. I would like to use that cotton for a summer top myself. I will have to get you to help me navigate the norwegian sites!

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  16. Hiya, I have nominated you for the Rocking Girl Blogger award ... see my latest post. :)

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  17. Anonymous06 July, 2007

    Hege, din carmisole er utrolig smuk. Farven passer helt perfekt til modellen.

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  18. your camisole is very flattering!

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  19. Anonymous06 July, 2007

    Heisan Hege, takk for tips, den "mermaid" MÅ jeg få tak i hjemme i Norge, er jeg heldig så har de den i en av mine lokale butikker! Mailes!!

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  20. That is so pretty! The shaping looks perfect on you. So flattering! I would love to make one too.

    Congratulations on your winnings. :)

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  21. Just beautiful! I love the shaping. Well, I love everything about it.

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  22. Speechless.
    One of the finest knits I've seen this year on a blog.

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  23. Anonymous08 July, 2007

    wow, hege, that is stunning! you look fantastic and the fit is just perfect! gratulerer!

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  24. Oh how BEAUTIFUL!! VERY nice job!!

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  25. It looks fantastic. Really great fit-- I always think gauge is so hard with side-to-side garter stitch but you got it spot on.
    I had totally forgotten how nice all the patterns in that book are! I am also now contemplating that pattern...

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  26. It is absolutely exquisite! It looks amazing on you. :)

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  27. Wow. That part about picking up stitches and reknitting made me faint.

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  28. It looks great! I'm so excited, I just started this pattern. Knitting sideways seems faster for some reason.

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  29. What a lovely shaped camisole. The construction of it looks really interesting too.

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  30. Hege - That is the most beautiful Cami I have ever seen! Your work is flawless. I covet your talent!

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  31. Your camisole is a beauty, the fit, the workmanship and the colour!

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  32. You did a wonderful job! If fits great.

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