Zippety Doodah, the fun continues…
Last year, at the end of the winter season I picked up a chunky wool hand knit funnel-neck shell from Banana Republic. It was in my favorite colors! It was wild and variegated. It was $9.99!~
The Super Plan was to turn it into a Cardigan. That’s right, add sleeves, a zipper and a new improved Crew Neck. Here’s what it looked like to begin with:
I’ve opened the neck seams to get ready to frog the funnel down to the primary neck edge. I’ll use the yarn I harvest to finish off the bottom of the cardi with a few rows of ribbing.
Next comes the FUN part – STEEKING! This is where, after you mark the center of the piece, sew a couple of rows of stitches vertically down the *Ladders* between stitches or through the vertical center of stitches themselves. I used regular sewing thread and a machine to do this. After you’ve secured the center front, you CUT the piece open and VOILA – cardi galore!
here’s the shell after stitching and cutting…
WHOOT! This is almost as fun as felting! In the same naughty way, you are doing something On Purpose that you usually avoid, in this case, actually using a sharp instrument to CUT the yarn!
hey, now it’s a vest~
And NOW the FUN ramps up even more! One of ChicKnits Top Ten New Year’s Resolutions of 2005 is the edict to Wear More Color! Back away from the Black – get back On Track with some Bright, Cheerful, MODERN TONES!
How about a little BLUE?
…read the Shell Notes HERE
Thank you for visually explaining steeking to me. I knew what it was in theory, but until I saw those two rows of stitches, I couldn’t visualize how the technique could possibly work.
Hey! Come back here!! I’m going out of town until Friday at least. You’re going to make me wait until then to see how it turned out!? Is there a blog police?
Bonne Marie – I knew this was going to happen: First, the Election. Then, the Tsunami and the California Mud Slide. Now, sharp instruments and knit manipulation. Will Bonne Marie ever achieve detente with knitted garments? Will she continue to strike back at Corporate Retail America? Will it never end? Stay tuned!!
Hee! It makes me happy to see that there are others who get nervous excitement from taking scissors to knitting. I like it; it’s like riding a rollercoaster!
Bonne Marie, you are brilliant! Re-purposing a 9.99 shell from B.Republic makes tons of moral and fiscal sense. I’m going to keep an eye out for similar textiles so I can have a similar smart experience–I am very impatient to see how your shell-cardi turns out! Snaps and Woofs!!