Tuesday, July 22, 2008

OF TABARDS AND SAND BUCKETS

A beautiful tabard emerges…

Above betru2u's (Ravelry handle) tabard emerges on the blocking table. It's spectacular, isn't it? It feels as though you could cross the computer screen to stroll her beach, feet splashing in the waves all the while. The photo also serves another purpose besides being purely inspirational as it illustrates one method of tabard shaping to perfection.

See how she picked up and knit her extensions above the curved lower front panels to knit the extra width? Once the back is complete and the three pieces (two fronts plus the back ) joined at the shoulder, she can pick up and knit along the full length of both sides to either extend her tabard or simply  finish the edges.  This will create a lovely roomy tabbard with a dropped-sleeve effect perfect for seashore days. The key is not to knit too much (no more than two inches) above the curved bottom as to do this will result in a kind of sleeve which will only gape and bunch rather than creating a lovely line from the shoulders.

gaugerebel2's gorgeous vest