Flair

Here it is! my finished Flair.....I am so pleased with how it turned out!!



I also like the look with a long sleeved shirt underneath:

I didn't add a button at the very top because I knew I would never wear it buttoned up all the way but I like how it looks like this: Pattern: Flair from Knit and Tonic Wendy

Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton in Graphite; nearly 4 skeins

Needles: US #7 Addi Turbo circulars

Notes: Because I'm such a copycat, you can read about the mods I did here. Thanks for the inspiration Lara!

I have to admit that it was not love at first sight when Wendy first put the pattern up. It looked so boxy and the angle of her pictures never showed a good view of it IMHO. But when Lara made hers up a little more fitted looking I really saw the potential for this to be a great sweater. I made the smallest size by the way and I'm glad I did.

Secondly, I was doubtful about the Blue Sky cotton yarn. I used it for my Licorice Whip sweater and it has pilled to the worst degree! but I gave it another chance because hey, this yarn is so soft and yummy! you know what I think the difference is? it's the gauge. Licorice Whip was knit on US #9s which made for a looser fabric more prone to pilling. I think the tighter the gauge the less pilling there will be. I love the tight fabric that the #7s produced.

Oh and FYI, you better try it on as you go to make sure it's fitting correctly because if I had followed the directions exactly as written I would've had a MAJOR crop top look going on!! I mean, it's already got a little bit of a cropped look, which I think is good but you don't want something that ends above your belly button! I added an extra 1.5 inches in length but I know I'm long waisted so I pretty much have to do that for everything I knit.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!

Huh.

See my progress on my Flair? well, there should be only 4 button holes there but I already have 5 and am going to have to do two more. I'm thinking maybe I didn't count properly between button holes. My row gauge seems to be correct. I hope it doesn't look funny with so many buttons! Oh well, at least they're even.

Another new project

Okay, I hate to admit it, but it took me a little while to figure out what some of your comments meant regarding the "What Not to Wear" cardigan in my previous post. You'll be glad to know that this cardigan was featured as what to wear in the shopping spree portion of the show. Whew! I couldn't have y'all thinking that that gorgeous, cashmere sweater was dumped into the trash or featured in the infamous "360 mirror"! hehe! I wish I had a better picture of it but I am determined to actually make this.

In the mean time though.....
I am a shameles copycat!! I just loved Lara's Flair so much that I had to make one for myself! yes, yes, I know! I told you I wanted to make the Phildar Swing Jacket next....but this will be a really quick knit, I just know it! and you know I can't resist a quick knit. I am still going to make the Phildar Swing Jacket (PSJ) because even though Wendy calls Flair a "swing cardigan" I think it really has a different look. I actually already have the yarn for the PSJ and will probably try and swatch for it this weekend. I just have to make this before summer gets here so I can actually wear it!
And just to show you that casting-on isn't all I ever do (though lately it feels like it is..heheh), here is a little progress shot of the Tatami Kimono.

I zipped though the back portion pretty quickly but have slowed down quite a bit on the sleeves. Those are size US 3s that I'm using! It's hard to tell much from this picture but it's knit all in one piece and you don't drop the stitches until the very end.