Book Review: Knitting Lingerie Style Part 2

Today I'm continuing the review of Knitting Lingerie Style by Joan McGowan-Michael*.

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Chapter 4:  The Camisole

Most of the patterns in this chapter are impractical for me.  I wear camisoles almost everyday that I work teaching.  Because of my chest, V-neck shirts are the most flattering but not always the most appropriate for schools.  To cover up what the neckline reveals, I have many many simple store-bought camisoles.  These patterns generally aren't that type of camisole.  The Surplus Bodice Camisole though is a beautiful top that I would definitely wear to a school with a button down underneath.  I've never been a sweater vest person (they're too bulky and just add on the pounds for me) but this top is lightweight and uses a lot of lacework in the body.  And it also has my darts :o)

Chapter 5:  The Stocking

This might just be my favorite chapter.  Surprising right?  I've never even made a pair of socks.  But most sock patterns just don't appeal to me.  Knee socks are my favorite thing to wear in the winter but there seems to be a lacking of patterns out there for these.  Enter Knitting Lingerie Style.  There are 3 knee or higher sock patterns, one calf sock, and yes even the garter belt pattern to hold them all up.  Another plus:  they're all knit toe-up.  Thank you Joan, thank you so very much.

Chapter 6:  Lounge/Night Wear

How can you have a lingerie knitting book without for-the-bedroom knits??  OK so they're not really that risque, but the idea is there.  The chapter opens up with the Basic Baby Doll and Panty is very cute and I think the top can be worn as a top if you had something under it.  Maybe.  It might require some reworking.  Now comes my favorite pattern in the entire book:  Leggings with Mesh Sides.  I have the hardest time finding stockings/leggings that fit me.  I love that with this, I have a pattern to knit my own.  They go mid-calf on the model, but can easily be extended to the ankle or shortened to the knees.  They can take the place of store bought cheap junky nylons and be much much warmer in the winter if I want to wear a skirt.  I definitely want to make these eventually.

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Overall, I think this books is great.  I love the fashion history given at the intro to each chapter.  And though the patterns are no lingerie in the way we think of, they are all inspired by and embellished upon traditional undergarments.  I'm not sure I'll want to bring this back to the library.  Might have to invest eventually and purchase it.

*All photos have been taken from the respective Ravelry sites.  I have not been compensated for this review in any way.  This book has not been given to me, nor purchased by me.  It has been used as a library resource.

1 There is no photo on the book's Ravelry page so this one is taken from mysweetoldetc's project page

Publishing Information

McGowan-Michael, Joan.  Knitting Lingerie Style.  STC Craft:  New York, 2007.

ISBN-13: 978-1-58479-577-3

Ravelry here

Amazon here

Publisher here

Only one week left for the birthday giveaway!!  Enter now!

Book Review: Knitting Lingerie Style Part 1

I mentioned a bit ago that I took Knitting Lingerie Style by Joan McGowan-Michael* out of the library to help promote more investment in knitting books.  I can't say how much I love this book!  I really really really want to knit so many patterns from it.

The book is divided into chapters based on a specific undergarment.

Chapter 1:  The Bra

Breasts, as any woman knows, can be rather unruly body parts.  They bounce, jiggle, sway, and flop as a matter of course.1  Boy, do I know it.  This is one of my favorite chapters.  The first pattern is of course the Basic Bra. This does not look like an easy pattern:  underwire, lots of sewing and seaming.  The knitting itself seems simple enough though.  The pattern accommodates sizes A-D, disappointing because just a few years ago I was a DD and would have been (as usual with "fancy" bras) left out again.  Luckily weight loss made them go down a bit but I still find it a bit unfair.  I'm not yet entirely convinced that this pattern will work for larger cups though.  The cup is knit in two piece but they're knit flat and therefore do not "cup" on their own.  But I'm not really sure how the actual construction affects this problem (fingers crossed that it will create a cup).

Most of the other patterns in this chapter would not work for my chest but I do like the Gracefully Gathered Halter Top and Boy Short.  This pattern just screams tankini (bathing suit) to me.  I don't generally wear tankinis but I would considered doing the top with a bikini bottom or the bottom with a regular top.  They also look like great shorts for the summer or perfect summer pajamas.  I really want to make this one.

Chapter 2:  The Slip

The Basic Slip pattern looks great as photographed in the book.  A perfect late spring/summer outfit with white leggings (those may actually be some pedal pushers though) underneath.  I also like the Fit-N-Flare Trumpet Skirt.  I would definitely wear something like that to work.  Just a bit fitted with that little flare and ruffle around the bottom (uh, I guess hence the title).  I also love the photo- her topless with long wavy hair covering herself at the top.  Probably something related to me seeing Splash at too young of an age.

Chapter 3:  The Corset

The corsets pictured in this chapter are not meant to give the impression of being saved for the bedroom.  I honestly don't think hand knit fabric is even the best idea for these garments.  What we are presented with are garments inspired by the corset- narrowing the waist and emphasizing the bust.  Only the first pattern, the Basic Corset, even uses boning and this is the only pattern that remotely resembles the traditional undergarment.  I really like most of the patterns in this chapter because they actually *gasp* work with my body.  My favorite is the Waist-Cincher Top.  Not, it does not lace up or sock in your gut.  It creates the idea of vertical lines through repeated yarn overs and also uses yarn overs over the bust to 1- create increases to accommodate and 2- create the visual of darts.  I love accommodated shaping and in sewing darts are a must for adjusting my clothes :o)

Tune back next time for the rest of the review!

*All photos have been taken from the respective Ravelry sites.  I have not been compensated for this review in any way.  This book has not been given to me, nor purchased by me.  It has been used as a library resource.
1 page 6, Knitting Lingerie Style
Publishing Information
McGowan-Michael, Joan.  Knitting Lingerie Style.  STC Craft:  New York, 2007.
ISBN-13: 978-1-58479-577-3
Ravelry here
Amazon here
Publisher here

PS Don't forget to enter the birthday giveaway!!

Brooklyn Yarn and Fiber Guild

I should be doing some homework/cleaning/showering right now but I can't focus on anything until I write this up...

Today was the second meeting of the Brooklyn Yarn and Fiber Guild.  Not too many people showed up, most likely due to the crazy weather we've been having, but I think that was a good thing because it enabled us to get a lot done without a lot of distractions.  We were supposed to elect officers, but we got an email on Friday that for most of the available positions, only one person volunteered to run.  So basically they automatically got the job haha.  There were, however, two positions that no one nominated themselves for:  Technology and Secretary.  I had thought about nominating myself but figured I don't have enough experience or knowledge about technology in general to run so I held back.  If there was someone more qualified for the position then it would be more appropriate for them to take it.  But since no one nominated themselves, I emailed back volunteering myself.  A couple emails back and forth later, it was set- I am now the Technology Chair/Officer (not sure how it's going to be worded) for the Guild!  Yay!!  As if I needed to add more to my plate but being jobless, hey why not right?  Plus, a great thing to put on my resume, and great experience.

I'm not really sure what exactly I will be responsible for yet.  Definitely designing the website (so psyched for this portion) and maybe being a resource for those who don't have much computer experience.  I'd really like to do some like mini lessons or group sessions to teach the members about Ravelry, blogging, finding resources, ordering products online, setting up a Paypal account, and just other general resources.  One thing that's listed in the group's By-Laws is setting up a secure area for members only- and I have no frickin clue how to do that haha.  Also they were thinking of setting up a forum area (again, no clue) but I don't know how much it would be utilized compared to Ravelry.  It's something I guess we'll just have to test out and see how it goes or what most of the members would like.  I already told the group to think of things they want to see on the website and I've already started some sketches and lists of what should be there.  I'm such a dork haha!

As for the meeting, of course I was knitting.  I started the Land of Oz Shawl with my Magic Yarn Ball Swap yarn from Fearless Fibers.  You would think that this is the easiest shawl ever- mostly stockinette with a couple of yarn overs- but of course I managed to mess it up.  It's not that big of a deal and probably not even noticeable to a non-knitter, but I seemed to screw up a couple of the yarn overs.  I might drop stitches down to the problem areas and fix.  Even though this is simple stockinette, I might have to start throwing in some lifelines.

While we were at the meeting, one of the members (I so haven't been able to keep track of everyone's names yet) brought up a buuuuunch of knitting/crochet/fiber books.  She works at the library we hold the meetings at currently and told us that the more we take out the knitting etc. books, the more the library invests in more.  So I took out Knitting Lingerie Style by Joan McGowan-Michael.

I've glanced through this book before and though I don't have intentions of knitting anything from it right now, I'm glad I get to peruse it a little more in depth now.  Being busty, undergarments are a very important part of my wardrobe and I spare no expense on them.  I need the most support I can get so I'm particular about this stuff.  Also, I was working on knitting myself a bikini once upon a time and had to rework the flat-knit pattern so that it would fit my larger size.  I'm sorry but you can't just add stitches to the size small and expect it to actually hold larger ta-tas up.  I re-wrote the pattern with some short rows but never had the time to knit it up.  (A year earlier I had knit the entire sized small bikini for my assistant at the daycare so I'd already made it once and understood the pattern.)  Anyway, I digress.  But one of the first patterns in the book looked to be a bra so I wanted to take some time to look through the pattern and see if Joan was able to come up with anything feasible for the larger sizes.  I'll give my opinion as soon as I get a chance to really peruse it.

PS:  Check back tomorrow for a big announcement :o)