Casual Elegant Knits
FG: Cindy, I want to thank you for hosting me today on your wonderful blog. I am a big fan of your work. I am delighted to tell you and your readers about my new book Casual, Elegant Knits that I co-authored with Dawn Leeseman. There are 24 projects for men and women in this book. We introduced them by grouping them into three collections. Each collection is only a suggestion of how to style the garments according to the mood of the particular theme. Any of the designs in the book can stand alone to be worn with the existing wardrobe (not necessarily knitted). Some of the designs are unisex, some can be dressed up or down, and some can be substituted with designs from another theme. We hope that people will get creative with the ways to wear our designs. We also encourage knitters to think about different colors and some yarn substitution as they knit the garment. Of course, you have to be very careful with the yarn choices. Especially for knitted skirts.
CM: I love knitted skirts. Can you tell me more about how the idea for these skirts came about?
FG: Sure. I’d be happy to talk about skirts. Both Dawn and I are wearing skirts most of the time. When the shape of a skirt is matching your figure type, it adds a lot to your look. You want your skirt to be flattering and feminine. Sometimes it can be a bit flirty. When you knit a skirt, you do not want to change much (including yarn) from the pattern you follow. When you design a skirt, you are careful about your choices of the yarn and the shape. So, I am happy that you wanted to discuss this topic today.
CM: I'm a great lover of knitted skirts but rarely find a pattern that is flattering. What body type would look best in the Little Flirt Skirt?
FG: I think that this particular shape is flattering for most figure types. The key is in the length. If a person is slender and has good legs to show (the height does not matter here), you might want to go for a shorter, even mini length, on this skirt by shortening the straight part from pleats to hips. If the figure is what sometimes called “a pear shape”, you can make this skirt much longer from pleats to hips and the pleats it will distract from the parts you want to play down. This pattern is very adaptable is what I am saying. I want to add one more thing, if I may. Be honest to yourself about the size you choose to knit. Knitting skirt is NOT forgiving. It cannot be too tight. It should not be too loose either, but the tight one is the one to watch out for. I am sure your readers know what I mean.
CM: I'm glad this skirt can be a mini. I love mini-skirts!
CM: Why did you choose Cascade 220 100% wool for the Little Flirt Skirt?
FG: I was looking for a wool yarn because it has memory. I mean that some people are concerned about sitting down and getting up with the skirt bulging out. A good, not very soft wool helps to bring the shape back. Any yarn that has some elasticity and holding the shape (You know it by experimenting with the swatch. Make a good-size swatch, take some dull object and push through the middle of the swatch for a few minutes. If after that your swatch can rest and come back where it was, you got a good yarn for a skirt.) is my choice. I also like that Cascade has so many colors that if a knitter does not want to have a black skirt, he/she can go with some other color. I made a short and burgundy-colored skirt for my daughter and it looks wonderful. Our wonderful tech editor, Ursula Reikes made this skirt using Gallway from Plymouth in blue. If you are on Ravelry.com, here is the link to her skirt.
CM: Please tell us how the fit and shaping of this skirt makes the pattern unique.
FG: This skirt is knit in the round from the pleats up and ends with the elastic band to fit many waist sizes. The fabric on pleats needed to be less dense and the flair must be obvious, I also did not want to bring any attention to decreases as the skirt tapers in towards the waste. My decision was to use different size needles to obtain the shape.
CM: Would the Little Flirt Skirt knit up quickly?
FG: Very. I made this skirt in three days.
CM: My kind of pattern!
CM:The pleats really make the Little Flirt Skirt. Would they be something an advanced beginner could knit easily?
FG: Absolutely. I even think the person who only knows how to knit and purl and work on round needles can do it. There are some decreases and yarnovers, which makes it a learning project for some. We are always on a learning curve with knitting techniques.
CM: With the Tailored Skirt, why did you choose a rayon yarn?
FG: This particular skirt was designed to go with a silky top that Dawn made. It could not be wool. Rayon is a good yarn content for a nice drape and it still keeps the shape. Make sure you are wearing a slip under any skirt to help with keeping the shape.
CM: The skirt appears to have panels but is knit in one piece in the round. How do you do this?
FG: Good observation, Cindy. The skirt is worked in the round and the lines that make a look of seams are knit in a different stitch for the contrast. These lines are adding some interest to the design and help the skirt have a sliming look.
CM: Would the Tailored Skirt look good on almost anyone?
FG: That is my belief. Just look at it. Does not it feel that any figure type will benefit from this shape? As I said before, be sure you are making it not too tight, though.
CM: Is this an easy skirt to knit?
FG: Yes it is. I think it is easier that the Little Flirt Skirt.
You can find Casual Elegant Knits at Amazon.com or your favorite book seller.
FG: Cindy, thank you very much for letting me explain some of the aspects of the skirt designs. Many people are asking me about it. I hope I gave some people motivation and courage to wear knitted skirts. Thank you for hosting me today. Now I want to know about your newest work. What are you up to?
CM: I'm actually spending a lot of time designing a new website for myself. I have a couple of new charts from The Art of Knitting 1897 ready to go up but don't want to publish them until my new site is completed. I've also been busy creating illustrations and charts a couple knitting books that will be out some time next year. And, of course, I'm always knitting something - too much on the needles to go into.
FG: Great. I will be reading your blog. Well, thank you again. If your readers want to know more about skirts, I will be talking tomorrow with Amy Polcyn of Frottez about skirts also.