Sunday, July 13, 2008

DAY 7: SHIP SHAPING

SIDE WAVES TABBARD VERSION

A few messages in a bottle regarding shaping have washed ashore.

Here's the thing: once you've completed your side panels as per the guide, decide next whether you want a tabard or fitted vest. In both cases it may be necessary to pick up and knit a few rows above the panel's curved bottom for the tabard or between the curved bottom and the armhole/shoulder for the fitted style to adjust the width for your size. In my case, I picked up 35  stitches for the fitted version and 56 for the tabard and knit until I reached my desired front width. The tabbard has a long straight extension which is picked up and knit along the whole length of the piece, front and back, after the pieces are joined.

On the other hand, the fitted version has narrow underarm extensions picked up and knit between the armhole and the curved bottom edge on both sides of the front and back. Calculate the inches you need for your personal fit, pick up the stitches stitch-for-stitch between the underarm and curved bottom edge and knit until you reach your necessary width. In my case, I added approximately 1 inch to each side panel and to the side edge of both sides of the back between armhole and curved bottom opening. By knitting the back piece as close to my actual measurements as possible, and once the buttons were applied, the resulting vest hugged my body (once you see my body, you'll understand why EVERYTHING hugs me!).

The tabbard version, on the other hand, is much more forgiving with it's single button closure that allows a looser fit. Still, even the tabbard can be shaped a little using an side extension added to the underarm area in the same way as the front. In the fitted version sketched bellow, the two mini side extensions are sewn together with a button added for decorative purposes:

If you have questions not answered in either the guide, please contact me and I'll address it here. Hope to hear from you.