Knitbot Linen and Fit to Flatter

I've been hoping these books would show up at the shop.

Hannah Fettig's Knitbot Linen is a beautiful book.  She uses all Quince & Co. Sparrow, which is only available at select shops.  Since ours is not one of those shops, we can highly recommend Shibui Linen for all of the patterns in here.  Here are the lovely designs: Brise Cardigan, Surrounding Tank, Lineal Cardigan, Point of View Vest, and the Aproned Tank.  There's a nice slouchy hat, too, but I forgot to snap a photo.

 

These are all so cool!  The knitting is pretty straight-forward, but the designs are really fashionable and interesting.  Which one is your favorite?

Amy Herzog's Fit to Flatter is the book that so many of you have been asking about.  It's a pattern collection and fit instruction manual.

I'm not going to give away any of her secrets, but the first chapter is pretty eye-opening.  She will teach you things about your body and how to dress it that you have never even considered.  And then she will talk about knitting, designing, and altering her lovely patterns to work for you.

We only have a few of these in the shop, so come take a look!

Fail

I've been working away on my Americano vest, shown above (on a rather petite model). I loved this design the moment I saw it, and I was really looking forward to throwing it on over a long-sleeved t-shirt and jeans.

After I finished the fronts and back, I thought I'd baste up the side seams and see how it fit. I did a quick and dirty seaming job here...just enough to hold the pieces together. I tried it on, using a big stitch holder in place of the top button. I walked to the mirror. Fail. Way too tight around the tummy. I could barely close it.
What to do? I considered knitting some panels for the sides to add a little extra width, but the length didn't feel quite right either. The close tailoring and waist-cinching fit looks great on the model, but the last thing I need right now is a vest squeezing my belly. Think gaping button holes...not good.

When it comes right down to it, the overall style doesn't really work for my post-baby, mid-Oregon winter physique. I love the vest, through, so I think I'll try it again in the fall in a larger size with added length. Maybe I'll even have a bit more of a waist to accentuate at that point! As for this (too) little vest, it will be ripped out to become something even better that I can wear right now.
While this particular project was a bust for me, I really enjoyed the yarn. I used Berroco Peruvia Quick, and it has quickly become one of my favorite yarns at the shop. For the vest, I intentionally used a US10, a smaller needle than recommended for the yarn, to achieve a dense fabric. I've swatched the Peruvia Quick on a US11, and the fabric is very different, but I like it. I have a few patterns in mind for this yarn, so it certainly won't languish in the stash for long.

Lesson learned. I must knit body-appropriate items if I ever hope to get any use out if them. If you are a new knitter, please take solace in the fact that it has taken me more than ten years of knitting and three years working at a yarn shop to figure this out.