Michelle, ma belle... tres bien ensemble
  • Home
  • Knitting Patterns
  • Contact Me
  • About Me
  • Project Archive
Michelle ma belle, sont des mots qui vont très bien ensemble,

Tres bien ensemble

Beekman Tavern, the Remix Edition. 

3/25/2015

10 Comments

 
Well, "HELLO!", wool people! I am still knitting. Frequently, in fact. It's been difficult for me to strike a posting balance between sewing and knitting. Maybe someday. Until then, I plan to continue my rotational inundation of one craft over another. Barely two weeks ago, the weather instigated a much needed and long procrastinated knitting 'finishing' spree. It got gorgeous for about a week. I feared sweater weather had passed leaving me with a stack of unfinished and unworn sweaters. Silly, me. I know better. I've lived in Illinois most of my life; certainly, I've lived here long enough to know that winter doesn't truly end until June. Right on cue, the cold made a comeback.   
Picture
The cold came suddenly and perfectly timed to coincided with Liz, Meg and my plans to get together and photograph our latest joint project. Mother nature has a very strange sense of humor. In fairness, she saved the SNOW for the day following our pictures. Yes. Snow. Again. Still. UGH. At least we have woolly sweaters, right?!
Picture
Speaking of sweaters, I'm not sure it's immediately apparent, but we're all wearing a sweater knit from the same pattern. We've done some collaborative patterns in the past that easily  highlight the difference yarn variety and minor fit adjustments can make. This time around, however, we basically have three different sweaters.  
Picture
First, doesn't Liz look like a mermaid perched here?! This picture literally makes me want to burst into songs off the soundtrack of The Little Mermaid... I digress. Liz has a very well defined style and she frequently gravitates towards a vintage, 1950s silhouette. She's also very petite (side note: you should see all the math she has to do in order to get sweaters to fit her. No joke). She wasn't sure she would ultimately wear the Beekman Tavern sweater as it is designed to fit: boxy, oversized, boat neck, so she set about making modifications to make her version a fitted waist length crew neck pullover. The resulting garment absolutely has a vintage flair to it. And, it fits her beautifully! 
Picture
Meg intended to use this project as a stashbuster. She had an ample amount of yarn remaining from her Catherine Jacket, and it was her mission to use it ALL. She totally succeeded. In order to use the yardage she had, Meg converted her sweater into a tunic length sweater dress. Meg was able to get additional length by adding pattern repeats into her sweater. She didn't want her dress to be shapeless, so she added waist shaping along the sides. It was a very effective use of shaping and her sweater nips in at all the right places. 
Picture
My version of the pattern is the truest to the original design. However, I cast-on on an airplane...in the dark...  in an over tired state of mind.  I majorly botched the stitch pattern over the center panel. By the time I realized what I'd done, I had already knit six inches into the body of my garment.  DOH! Being the, sometimes, lazy knitter that I am, I decided I didn't dislike the erroneous pattern enough to RIP it back. I deemed it a design feature and forged forward. Only we will ever know that it's a mistake. :-D  
Picture
Picture
I knit the rest of the body as instructed without any shaping. This is a new silhouette for me. The sweater is quite... roomy. But, it's also very comfortable and easy. I feel very 1990s Ralph Lauren, but I love the way it looks with a straight skirt, like I'm wearing it here, and I know it will pair nicely with jeans when fall rolls in. 

The only other changes I made were adding an extra set of decreases into the neckline shaping (i needed this to keep it up on my shoulders), and eliminating the neckline split that the pattern is designed to include. All three of us opted out of that little split. It's completely a matter of preference, but I don't get it. It looks accidental, and I don't think it's very pretty. 
Picture
Pattern: Beekman Tavern by Thea Coleman
Yarn: Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool- This yarn is workhorse! I used it to knit my Oblique more than four years ago. It's one of my most worn sweaters, and it's held up to the abuse of frequent wear! And, I get a sweater from two skeins. There's no beating that. 
Picture
Following these photos, we rewarded our talented photographers Mike and Felix with brunch. We warmed ourselves with coffee and nourishment and discussed our upcoming group travel plans! Oh, I can't wait!   
10 Comments
Liz link
3/25/2015 05:20:44 am

I know I've said it already and I'll say it with each project we do together - I do love how all of our sweaters are so different. :) Still loving your shoes & the styling of your beekman.

Reply
Miss Crayola Creepy link
3/25/2015 05:27:10 am

I love that you guys are besties and get to make and photograph fun pictures together. I wish I had some girl friends to do that with!

You mentioned a mistake in the front of the sweater, but honestly I don't see it at all. It turned out beautiful!

Reply
Lynette
3/25/2015 05:32:01 am

exceptional job showcasing this pattern. each sweater looks completely different. i love each person's modification. oh yeah, your shoes are fabulous!!! :D

Reply
Susan link
3/25/2015 05:51:00 am

This is amazing! I love seeing different interpretations of patterns.

Reply
Meg
3/25/2015 07:06:16 am

I love how your version turned out - it's so snuggly! Also, I need to check out that fisherman's wool asap. And those shoes. I love those shoes.

Reply
MarrieB link
3/25/2015 02:12:28 pm

Your sweater looks great! Really enjoy seeing how each of you customized the pattern.

Reply
Nat @ Made in Home link
3/25/2015 07:41:55 pm

how awesome to see three different versions of the same pattern! Clearly a very versatile pattern, Love your neckline, I do have a thing about boat neckline, so I may just have to use your notes to make my own! Thanks for sharing!

Reply
Renee Anne link
3/26/2015 04:39:03 am

I love that you all make the same sweater and they all turn out so differently!

Reply
kristieinbc link
3/28/2015 01:08:33 am

All the versions of the sweater are gorgeous! You all look like you're having so much fun modelling them. You've hit on such a great idea, this knitting the same sweater pattern with your friends.

Reply
houseofpinheiro link
3/31/2015 11:18:37 pm

I really love your knitting post as a trio. its so inspirational.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    “The
    follow us in feedly
    “Vintage

    Archives

    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010

Thank you for respecting the intellectual property rights protected by the copyright laws of the United States and International Copyright Treaty.
  • Home
  • Knitting Patterns
  • Contact Me
  • About Me
  • Project Archive