What could be more fascinating than stranded knitting? Beaded stranded knitting! Usually, I would shy away from combining two intricate techniques together in one garment. But that was before I saw Chanel’s Paris Rome fashion show:
To me, this fabric is spectacular. Actually, most of the stranded motifs in this collection were “inspired” by British knitwear designers, but that’s another story. Getting back to the gorgeous textiles, in particular, I was struck by this sweater:
Determined to replicate the effect of beading over stranded knitting, I hunted through my old Rowan magazines. And Marie Wallin’s Anya pattern leapt out at me!
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/anya
This is a free pattern available on Ravelry, appropriate for an advanced knitter. Why advanced? The design is made up of one pattern repeat of a huge stranded block, with moss stitch above forming the upper body and neck. So in order for your color work to reach the beginning of the armhole shaping, your row gauge and that of the pattern need to match. I tested my row gauge by knitting the different stripe and moss stitch panels all the way to the top, and measured the whole piece’s length. This was a great practice run for the real pattern:
My swatch was considerably smaller in row gauge than the pattern until I washed it. Then it lengthened quite a bit and pulled in on the Fair Isle sections. So I am REALLY glad I created such a big swatch! This is part of my new resolution to prepare thoroughly before casting on patterns. If I had not prepared, after washing, my sweater would have become much thinner and longer than I wanted.
However, the more I looked at the funnel-necked section at the top of the pullover, the less I liked it. The black rectangular frame for the neck created by the design seems particularly harsh. I am not really sure it even looks great on the giraffe-like lady wearing it, because the style emphasizes the angularity of her thin body. Imagine this style on a shorter woman with broad shoulders and a square chin!
So I have decided to continue the stranded pattern up on either side of a V-neck collar. I used the cable pattern from the hem for the neck edging. This extended line of cabling will fold round the back neck piece. Of course, it is risky to alter the pattern, but I believe I will wear it more often if the neckline is flattering and the waist is shaped as I have done.
Now that I have finished one piece, I am taking a little rest. it is challenge to strand AND bead a seamed garment because you have to work both techniques from the wrong side of the fabric, where you can’t see anything. Also, the beading against the fair isle background is not as visible as in the striped sections.
However, I am strangely obsessed. Does anyone know of any other great beaded stranded designs? I may need to knit more...