Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Tops, Tanks & Tees Knit Along!!!!

gemini by jane richmond
it's time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  i'm so excited!!!!! the new knit along is here folks!  it's the "tops, tanks & tees knit along"!!!!  do you love it?  i do!!!!  betcha thought we were doing shawls didn't you! lol!  i'm a firm believer in not forgetting to knit for yourself in the warmer seasons and tops, tees and tanks are the perfect summertime wardrobe staple so why not knit some this year? gone are the ugly, boxy sacks made of scratchy fibers that once bore a faint resemblance to a top or tee.  bring on the feminine, curvy, lacy, light, swingy, airy, sexy, and oh, so stylish knits we can now proudly call tanks tops and tees!  yay!

gemini by jane richmond
we're getting you all geared up for the summer sweater knit along and thought this would be the perfect interlude to dip your toes in the garment knitting pool.  learn some new techniques, master a pattern, use a yarn you never have, think outside the box and whip yourself up a gorgeous new addition to your summer wardrobe. bring out the linens, cottons and the lightweight breathable yarns and let's get spoiling ourselves!  don't be scared if you're fairly new to knitting - tops, tanks and tees are the perfect place for you to start experimenting with something larger than an accessory.  with our groups help, cheering, hand holding and applause you WILL  make it through and you WILL be wearing that super sassy shirt all. summer. long.

calla cami by carrie bostick hoge
as you can see from some of the pics above i've got a thing for the gemini top by my super talented pal jane richmond.  even though my folder was filled with pics of other tops this one has stolen my heart.  from the moment jane revealed it to me post knit in our lys i've been dreaming about making myself one.  i heart the lace detail and the fact that it's reversible. yes.  us gemini's love a dual personality.  so i will be whipping up a gemini for myself for this KAL ladies.  i'm still awaiting my yarn to arrive so i'll give you a sneak peek at that next week :)
 
1. edie by michele wang 2. francis by olga buraya-kefelian

in the meantime we're starting this kal off a little differently than all the rest.  instead of just jumping right in this is a heads up that the kal is starting.  we got lots of feedback from you ladies asking for lead time to get your pattern chosen and yarn ordered.  so we're going to try that out this time round and see how it goes.  let us know your thoughts k?  and the button...where's the button...well it's coming.  look for it in the next 2 weeks! i love how much you all love my kal button's so it will be ready soon for you all to hopefully sport on your blogs :)


i've chosen my pattern to knit but i still love giving you guys some hits of inspiration.  there's pics throughout this post of patterns i love and here's some more of my fave top, tanks & tees patterns....

hester pullover by amy herzog

ready to hear the deets?  here's the info my knitty pals...

start date:  april 11th, 2012
end date:  may 23rd, 2012 (the prize winners will be announced the following week)

*both knitting and/or crocheting is accepted and encouraged :)

enter the tops, tanks & tees knit along here:


*you must be entered & have started a project to be eligible for the giveaway at the end of the knit along.

you can follow along with all things tops, tanks & tees kal here:


i'm so excited you guys! i seriously cannot wait to see which patterns you ladies choose, the yarns you pick up and how lovely you are all going to look in your new spring tops, tanks and tees!  so go tell your friends, hit up your lys, grab a cup of coffee and let's get knitting!!!  what do you think? you likey?  you excited too?
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47 comments:

  1. It's finally here! So excited for this Shan! ...and for that button. I love your inspiration board, I would knit every single one of your selections, LOVE them all!

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    1. Love your top hun! Can't wait to whip up my Gemini. We're going to have to get a great pic of all of us wearing them at the same time! Gonna be hilarious!

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  2. Yayyyy! I was starting to get the shakes from KAL withdrawl. I have yarn for Gemini on the way, but that doesn't mean I can't prowl around Ravelry for a while and see if I want to knit something else as well!
    xo

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  3. can i somehow makes those with my sewing machine?! gosh, they are all drool worthy!!

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  4. So what are the rules if I was reading your mind and already started knitting a tank? It's my sitting-in-SC-heat-to-watch-softball project.

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    1. We aren't too picky. We just want people to knit or to start knitting if they have wanted to. If it's at the beginning by all means join in. Maybe you could make 2? That way you won't be sitting throughout the whole deadline with a finished garment? But yeah, join in :)

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  5. I wouldn't say that I thought it was going to be shawls...just hoping ;) This is exciting, though I'm not sure what I'll knit yet...especially since I want to use yarn I already have which might prove to be tricky. Good thing the start date isn't until April :)

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  6. so excited for this kal!! xoxo

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  7. Stay tuned for a guest post on great fibers you can use for spring/summer knits as well!

    Also I forgot to mention...if you are looking for a linen blend and have a crush on Gemini we are all using Knit Picks CotLin Dk for our yarns. It's a blend of 70% Tanguis Cotton and 30% Linen and for $2.79/skein at 123yds I got my gemini for a steal and I'm making the large!!!! What a deal! And the colors rock too! Took me forever to decide!

    http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/CotLin_DK_Yarn__D5420162.html

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  8. I love CotLin. I'm using it right now to make a tee for my oldest son.

    And I conveniently already have yarn and pattern all picked out for myself. I just hadn't started yet. Now is the perfect time to get going on the Spring Garden Tee in some Paton's Bamboo Angora that I picked up on clearance and is totally yummy.

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    1. So glad to hear a rave review on the Cotlin. I'm waiting anxiously for mine to arrive. should be here any day :)

      Your Spring Garden Tee is going to be gorgeous!

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    2. I loved using CotLin too! I made a sweet little dress for my girl, Elsa, with it. Love it!!! Highly recommend it :)

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  9. I am still super new to knitting but wondered if I could join along with a crochet project? I need to get my "hooking" mojo back as I have been sewing a lot recently.
    Erin

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    1. Man I am so tired today and completely forgot to add that in. Yes, by all means crochet! I crochet too and usually add a pic into the post for crochet and forgot mine.

      I'd love to see what you come up with but I also encourage you to jump in and try knitting a top too. I bet you'll be amazed at how easy it really is.

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  10. Oh man...now I have been on Ravelry - ALL afternoon! LOL ... but I have some ideas; going to go strictly off of what's in my stash and my library if I make one for myself. I also have some ideas for some tanks and tees for my girls that I will definitely make!
    Yay!

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    1. Cannot wait to see what you come up with hun! It's gonna be gorgeous!!!!!

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  11. Vanessaverbeeck@hotmail.comMarch 28, 2012 at 1:51 PM

    Oh boy oh boy oh boy! This is just absolutely super amazing!!! Summers are so hot here, so I must have a cool hand knitted tank or tee!!! Which I can wear while knitting a sweater for my husband! Oh my oh my! And so much time to drool over patterns and yarns! I can't remember how I found you Shannon, but it was one of my better moments...

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    1. Awwww...shucks....so sweet of you to say. I'm glad you found me too Vanessa :)

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  12. Love the new KAL theme!!! I have so many tops I want to knit and now w/ your ideas, I think my queue just exploded. Not sure how I'll decide but am very excited--can't go wrong as they're all fantastic :). Thanks for organizing!!

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    1. Ummmmm...could you be my mascot for the KAL? You and your purdy pics? Seriously...cannot wait for you to choose your project so we can all friggin drool over your scrumptious yarn choices and pretty pictures. Ahmmazing.

      P.s. Waiting to hear more deets about your msg....

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  14. such fun eye candy today :D
    I really like the coral top, so pretty...
    you do such a wonderful job of forming a sense of community with your KALs, I hope to join in some time in the future, so please keep them coming :)

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  15. I'm thinking about knitting Gemini in Cotlin, too! I have a failed/stalled/ugh project in a gorgeous teal blue Cotlin that needed re purposing, this might be the time! (I was considering silky wool as well, but that is less summery...)

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  16. I'm new to the idea of a KAL but am very interested in trying it. I like the Madelaine Cardigan but the link is not working. Other than that, being newbie I have no idea what to do.

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  17. Ooooh, there's so many juicy ones up there. I also am in love with Coachella and want to knit that tank. But damn, there's some teasers up there. AND I just finished the Yoke sweater for my daughter so.... perfect timing!

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  18. Oh man your inspiration pictures have me wanting to join in even though I am pretty sure I'm incapable of knitting a garment for myself. Lol. Soooooo cute. Anything with asymmetrical buttons just kills me. And simple, subtly lacy, feminine....sigh.

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    1. C'mon Tara...you can do it! I know you can! I'm gonna send you emails whining at you to do some selfish knitting.....

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  19. Okay, so I found a pattern that I'm totally crushing on...I hope my bestie has a copy of the pattern...

    http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/16-off-shoulder-tank

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  20. i was so wrong! very sneaky with the shawl pattern giveaway yesterday ;)

    i'm commited to a Colour Affection for my mum - yarn is on the way :) i do want to crochet a top for my little lady. for me i'd love a knit tee but, i just haven't found one with nice shaping. i find most of them are quite boxy, and with the 'knockers' and 'hippolas' i feel like i would be wearing a tent. any suggestions??

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    1. Well....I've got big knockers and hippolas so I'm making Gemini. There is shaping and I know for a fact that jane's patterns are great for being able to knit to your shape and add room for curves cause I have done it. When you are working top down and you get to hip or waist shaping go in more or out more where you need it. Add more rows if your hip to waist ratio is longer or shorter. That is what I do.

      I have a very high waist, bigger hips and big boobs..lol. But my arms are small as is my back width for my cup size so with Jane's patterns I'm always able to size the back and arms to fit my body. It's great!

      I'll keep my eyes open for you for another pattern though if I spot one. I think a few above in the post may have curves too. That Madeline Cardi is gorgeously shaped. Or pick a fave cardi and just shorten the sleeves :) I'm sure we can find something for ya.

      Come post yoru question in the rav group and let's see what the other ladies think too.

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    2. One thing that I do is to see the finished knits on ravelry. Many people post photos of themselves in their knits and I always look for people who are about my size and see if it is something that I would find flattering on myself. Also, if I find that no body has made a larger size then I know that it's probably a pattern for the smaller body type.

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  21. FYI your Ravelry group link has too many "w"s (ie "wwww")

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  22. This is exactly the motivation I needed to knit myself a coachella! (have you seen this tank? Check it out in ravelry, I'm so in love...) But I just spent an hour balling the yarn for my shawl, I hate having too many projects going at once... Guess I have until the 11th to whip out a shawl! Thanks for all of the super knitting mojo! You rock!! I'm so stoked on this KAL!

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    2. That's the one I've bookmarked for myself since last summer! I really want to make Coachella too. AM off to the wool shop today in hopes of finding the right yarn. :D

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  23. I love knit tops, but i can't use it because sweat like crazy, you recommend some yarn in particular?

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    1. I would recommend a lightweight and breathable yarn like linen and cotton blends. Do a looser or airy lace pattern and you should be good to go ;)

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  24. Love Coachella (it's in my queue, too), but I'm going to have to do some searching. It might be a little tough later in the summer to wear my usual size. Oh, dear Ravelry... :)

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  25. Great selectionsI I really love the Jan sweater, looks so fresh in that lemon yellow. I already have the Hester pullover in my favourites, I think I am seduced by the sleeves. I think though that the Roxborough is the one for me. Having said that I've never made a sweater for myself so I'm a bit scared that it will not looks as great as it does on the model!

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  26. So many gorgeous knitted things! I really need to learn to knit, but for now I'll vicariously live through you and others by watching what lovely things you make!! ;)

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  27. What strange destiny has brought me to your blog! Today, I decided to pick the perfect summer top for 6 skeins of CotLin, that I had lying around. I fell in love with Gemini, and I casted-on during my kids' naptime. Then, I flipped through the other projects and blog posts linked to Gemini on the Ravelry pattern page, and I found your blog. How can I NOT participate in this KAL?

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  28. i love this idea!! i've never done a KAL though and was wondering how late can i decide to join in?? we are in the middle of a move and don't want to over-extend my sanity!! (ps- completely been drooling over the gemini and now you've given me even more to drool over!!)

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    1. You can join in whenever you like. You don't have to have your garment finished by the deadline though we do encourage it. We know life happens and the main thing about the KAL is to get people knitting and trying new things with a warm, friendly support group to lean on and cheer each other on. So yes, join in when you can :)

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    2. that's great! i got sucked into looking at yarn today so it's only a matter of time before i get sucked into doing the KAL!!

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  29. Eek, I've just entered and I'm worried now. Hope I am up to everyone else's standards. I haven't knitted for years!

    I think I am going to go with this pattern. I know it is technically a jumper but I figured, since it was a holey one, it was perfect for summer! Well, England's barely existant summer anyway :P

    Thanks for having me!

    - Adele @ Mammy Made

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  30. I co my Gemini the first of the month and have
    made it only to R. #8 so far.
    This is a 'first' for me
    first Jane Richmond pattern
    first top down sweater/tee
    first time using 100% cotton

    Cascade UltraPima 100% Pima cotton in Pink Sapphire #3702

    I'd love to have company while 'working' my way through this project.

    I'm here via your Rav thread on JR group.

    Gerry

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