Actually,
this is what I’m talking about:
It’s either turtlenecks under jackets, or jackets that are turtlenecks. This one looks more like a turtle dove to me:
The fluffy look does mitigate a bit against the severity of the tight, high-necked sweater beneath a tailored jacket, although it's a bit extreme for my tastes. To tone down this look, consider Nana Chakoor’s pattern. It uses thin-gage yarn (4-ply) for the body of the sweater, which will create a thin fabric that can be worn underneath a jacket. And Chakoor uses fluffy kidsilk haze to form the ruff at the neck.
Other good ideas from Chanel: The belt matches the fabric of the jacket:
If you’re thinking of knitting one
of these, all you need is a buckle to complete your ensemble!
Are Fall Knitting Patterns In Synch with Fashion Week?
Not particularly. Although Rowan
Magazine 46 abounds with turtlenecks:
The problem for me is that the only form-flattering turtleneck is the striped sweater, Thorington, which is knit in kidsilk haze:
Thorington
The rest seem to require super bulky yarns. The model is entirely swallowed up by UIST, in spite of the fact that she’s an amazon:
UlST
Here’s how tall and thin her figure really is
in a sweater knit in a normal-weight yarn:
DAMASK
The chunky turtleneck, ULST, is almost deforming to her natural figure!
Marple isn’t much better. The giant fuzzy sleeve hovers,
like the trunk of a wooly mammoth, about to devour her hand.
MARPLE
At least Preston echoes the lovely saturated reds that are so hip this
fall.
PRESTON
Rowan’s Rowan
Magazine 46 is almost
entirely missing the body shaping and cling we are seeing even in heavy weight
fabrics this fall in designer shows. Even bulky weight jackets are tailored
right to the body, which you can see in these two coats by Chanel:
Compare that fitted look with the bulky wools below:
CHEADLE, STOCKPORT
I know knitting can make us all crazy at times, but is it really necessary to knit yourself a straight jacket? Cheadle, to me, screams, “Take me to the asylum!”
CHEADLE
In Stockport, the massive cable pattern covers up any shape this woman might have had. This is like an ambulatory cable with a woman hiding inside.
STOCKPORT
I’m a big fan of
Rowan, but I just don’t understand what’s gotten into their designs lately.
They seem to be lumpy, shapeless cable-heavy creations whose only purpose is to
showcase a new line of expensive yarns.
In contrast, Here
are some tailored looks featured in Interweave Knits and Louisa Harding this
fall:
Top left is Rivelin, top right is Ladybower, both from Louisa Harding’s Little Cake pattern book. Bottom left is Trellis and Vine Pullover by Carol Feller, and bottom right is Farmer’s Market Cardigan from Connie Chang Chinchio, both from the Fall 2009 Interweave Knits. What I like about these patterns, is that they show off our figures, instead of showing off the yarn.