The Picot Camisole Challenge

For about two weeks now, I've been contemplating the fate of the pink picot camisole, one of the last of my unfinished-for-too-long objects. I started it last summer, and due to numerous gauge problems, have only completed the shell border at the bottom. With spring coming, it's time to finish or frog.

(IK Spring 06)

One of my concerns is that the camisole is low-cut and looks like it would be a poor fit, despite the pattern shaping. In many of the FO photos I have seen so far, the midsection is kind of saggy, instead of crisp like the IK photo above. Also, the models wear or should wear the camisole over something else, because otherwise they are, shall we say, sharing more of themselves with the world than I personally feel comfortable. Everyone has their own ideas of style, of course, but I have a thing about multiple straps. They look messy to me. I could not leave my house like this:

(from Alchemy website)

So, what to do? I talked it over last week with my friend, uber-craftster C, who is visiting the pyramids in Egypt as we type (lucky girl). I briefly considered frogging the whole thing. But, the camisole is pink and girly and I really do want to make it. I knit the border while watching Floyd Landis in his legendary Stage 17 ride up to Morzine during the Tour de France, and frogging it now would just be letting him down. Perhaps I put too much symbolism on my knitting?

I emailed Lauren at Almost Felted [click here to see her version of the pattern, and scroll down], who had knit this camisole as a sample. As it was not a garment for her to wear, she wasn't worried so much about fit, but suggested wider straps as a possibility. This got me to thinking that maybe I could just knit this to fit. Put it on as I go and adjust as necessary. I would want to redo the entire front above the I-cord trim. Maybe with some graph paper and a ruler I could figure it out? I have never altered a pattern so much as adding stitches to the width or length, forget changing sleeves and necklines. This might seem like no big deal if you have lots of experience altering designs, but to me, it seems like a huge task.

I do not need another Project. Grace the pink bike and I are on week 3 of the 7-week cycling training program, and I have some other chores that are going to require a good part of my free time in the next few months. I was hoping that my knitting would be simple, mindless, and comforting, but this is not meant to be. Once I pick up stitches and knit the mid-section, I'll be sitting on the floor of the library-office, scattered with papers and yarn and sketches, muttering once again (as I did with the knitted kitties) something about how it seemed like a good idea at the time. Husband C and friend C, Charlie and Tim, consider yourself warned.

Comments

[Pam]

What about using the yarn & lovely edging, but continuing with a better fitting pattern? I've never tried it, but think you might find something at White Lies Designs:
http://www.whiteliesdesigns.com/patterns/lpullovers/fbc.html

[tiennie]

Aacckkk! Too much thinking! I can only do mindless knitting right now. I agree - I'm not a multi-strap person myself (too chesty) but even if I were flat chested - it looks a bit messy to me (and I can hear my mother saying "you look sloppy, go put something else on.")

[Meg]

My first thought was along the lines of Pam's - find a better-designed top bit. There are lots of camisoles out there - you could try to find one that matches (or approximates) your gauge and contains some shaping instructions, because I think the shaping is the key. I have to say, when I read that the directions for the bust section involve just going up a needle size on the front in order, one assumes, to create the fullness for the bust, I thought 'What a slack pattern writer!' - most women could really use some shaping in that area!
I will have a little look through the camisole patterns I have on hand to see if I can find anything noteworthy.
Also, I can completely identify with not wanting to frog it because you associate it with Floyd's Stage 17. I remember the stage, and I also have certain knits that simply cannot be frogged because that'd detract from my memory of the context in which they were created. Onward and upward! Forge ahead!

[Rachel]

I say go for it. Knit to the i-cord trim, throw in a lifeline, and try something out. If it doesn't work, rip back to the lifeline (of course with plain knitting its plenty easy to rip back without a lifeline, but I find it psychologically comforting when I'm in situations with a high likelihood of frogging). Since it's a relatively small portion of the pattern, trial and error would be manageable.

[hege]

I agree with Pam and Meg, use the edging and make the top a little different. The tank from White Lies looks like it has a very good fit. The lace edging is so nice, it would look good on any style summer top. Good luck with it!

[Diann]

I'll third the idea of the White Lies Design tank. It's a great pattern and fits very well. I'm also in agreement that multiple straps looks at best sloppy, and at worst, sleazy.

Go for it!

[Dana]

Those kind of tanks with the skinny straps and low fronts are what I call "vacation clothes". Clothes that I will wear when I am going to see people I will never see again and when I am not going to any sort of church function, so it's ok to have a lil more showing than you normally would. The kind the hubby likes but doesn't want anyone else to see!!!

[afphy]

wear a little lacy tight fitting tank top under it like the ones at jockey, very in style, then put a blazer over it... would be way cute