I finished the right sleeve and yoke of my Silver Belle. I was very concerned that it would be wa-a-a-a-a-a-y too large, so I crudely basted it together and tried it on.
It fit! The sleeve was even the correct length. I still have a few concerns.
1. It’s a very heavy sweater because the yarn itself is so heavy, especially with all of the cabling. There’s no shoulder seam to give additional support, so I am hoping that when I pick up and knit the collar it will feel as if it has more shape and structure.
2. Am I just way too old to wear this?
3. Will it be flattering? The neck will end up being fairly low.
4. Am I just way too old to wear this?
5. Is there a reason there are no photographs of the back of this sweater in the magazine or the download?
6. Are there no photographs of the back because I’m too old to wear this?
Wear what you are asking. Here are the photos. This one shows the front (and a lot of Lucy, that little trollop).
Here is the back. The middle two 4-stitch cross cables are on holders; they will go up the back with the two yoke halves being seamed there.
Looking at this, you may be wondering why I was so concerned about the size. Well, in this photograph I’ve unpinned the left half of the peplum. Look how far it goes around Lucy without being stretched in any way. Imagine how big it was when both halves were able to do that.
Sewing the peplum draws it in magically without looking puckered or gathered. This means one could play around a lot with the sizing. The Medium, which I am making, is supposed to be 36″ buttoned. It would be easy to adapt the Medium peplum to a size in between the Medium and the Large by adding a little length to the yoke between the sleeve and the neck shaping and then sewing it to fit. For example, if you wanted to make it 38″ around, you would add 1/2 an inch to the yoke before beginning the neck shaping. (It’s only 1/2 an inch because if you do that on the right and left, you add an inch to the fronts and an inch to the backs, giving a total of 2 extra inches.)
For something completely different, look at the luscious Zephyr Wool-Silk lace weight that arrived in the mail yesterday. (Who could have done this to me? I have no enemies.) It’s Cinnabar. I’m debating between two shawls for this yarn.
From Susan:
Many of you are rightly interested in the new design from Ruth Sorensen (to find the pattern, click on ‘Strikning’, ‘Patterns for Sale’, and then on the British flag):
Michelle has started a knitalong for this beautiful cardigan and I told her I would help advertise. Here is the link. I would join up in a minute, but I can’t take on any more projects right now. I’m ::blub::blub:: drowning!
From Susan — The Silvery Pink Belle looks gorgeous, should fit perfectly and you are not too old to wear it — believe me, I’d tell you if you were ;). It will be Belle-tastic!!!
Comment by lv2knit — August 26, 2007 @ 6:38 pm
That is one gorgeous knit, and it’s helpful of you to show how big the peplum is before and after the sewing. I think this design suits a variety of age groups.
Comment by Gale — August 26, 2007 @ 6:58 pm
Silver Belle looks so beautiful! And no, you’re not too old. I think Lucy is just throwing those vibes your way so she have it for herself!
Comment by Carol — August 26, 2007 @ 7:01 pm
Sally- Too old? Nonsense!
My dress form is a confirmed alcoholic- always falling over, but you’ll be
happy to know that she’s started AA for Dummies and is making progress.
What to do about the wanton behavior- I’m not sure.
Comment by Lorraine — August 26, 2007 @ 7:58 pm
Not too old!!
It really looks like it’s going to be a beautiful sweater — always interesting, but not too.
As for the cinnabar yarn, yum!
Comment by Pam — August 26, 2007 @ 9:20 pm
If you’re old enough to knit it, you’re young enough to wear it! It looks beautiful so far!!!
Comment by Angela — August 26, 2007 @ 11:25 pm
Too old? I don’t think so. The wrong age? Maybe.
When one is in one’s 30’s (or 40’s) one is still concerned with age, appropriateness and “the rules.” (like white before/after Labor Day) But, if you have enough obstacles before 40, that milestone (and definitely the ones leading up to 50) lets you know you can do whatever you want!
Remember when Gloria Steinem was told, “you don’t LOOK like you are 60.” And her response was, “This is what 60 looks like.” Amen, sister!!
Beautiful knitting, piecing and blog as usual.
Comment by PainterWoman — August 27, 2007 @ 1:07 am
Sally, thank you, you calmed my nerves about the size of the Belle! *^v^* I knitted Medium size and I thought that peplum was way too big for me, but I hoped I could take it in somehow while sewing the parts together. Now I can see that’s possible!
I don’t know about your age but I’m 33 and I’m definitely going to wear my Silver Belle! *^v^*
Comment by Joanna Kostrzewa — August 27, 2007 @ 7:19 am
Thank you soooooo much for these pictures! I am relieved to see it comes out well and really beautiful!
Comment by lillysmuul — August 27, 2007 @ 10:39 am
I love the sweater! The lace yarn is simply yummy!
Comment by Connie — August 27, 2007 @ 10:58 am
Hugs and thanks for the honorable mention! NO YOU ARE NOT tooooo old to wear it…. but just in case you decide you are…….. I’ll be happy to take her off your hands!! 🙂
Comment by Michelle — August 27, 2007 @ 11:41 am
It looks beautiful and you are most certainly not too old!
Comment by alicia — August 27, 2007 @ 12:03 pm
OMG! Your progress on Silver Belle is awesome!
I found you via Joanna who just joined our KAL. I hope you will join too and show us your updates!
http://voguesilverbellekal.blogspot.com/
Comment by Stacey_CrimsonPurl — August 27, 2007 @ 12:18 pm
Answers:
1. You can always stabilize the shoulder seams if need be. Just keep knitting.
2. No, you aren’t too old to wear this.
3. It is a very flattering design. My only concern is that it may emphasize a large, um, posterior. If you can live with that, so can I. It is very modern to wear a tank under a sweater, so if the neckline is low, a simple tank or camisole will do the trick.
4. No.
5. The front is so cool, why would they use up space taking pictures of the back. Don’t worry about it.
6. The back looks fine–except for the whole big bottom thing. But we’ve already had that talk, haven’t we? You aren’t too old. Well, you may be, but you aren’t too old for this sweater. It will be fine. Shut up and knit already.
Comment by K2Karen — August 27, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
It’s beautiful! And, goodness, you’re certainly not too old — it’ll be lovely on lovely you.
Comment by Wendy O'C — August 27, 2007 @ 8:13 pm
It looks great – and if it’s not too young for me, it will never be too young for you. The reason I won’t knit it is that I am ample in the posterior – well everywhere, and the less accent I put where I sit, the happier I am.
It is beautiful. Keep knitting and you’ll love the final result.
The Cinnabar is beautiful. I’m working on a scarf in their purple and love working with this yarn. Enjoy!
Comment by Gail R — August 27, 2007 @ 8:47 pm
No, you’re not too old! It looks fabulous! I love all those cables and the color too! I had to ‘delurk’ and let you know I’m so happy you’re making Belle! I ran out and bought the magazine! Cinnabar is a great color for the holidays… m 🙂
Comment by miyamojo — August 27, 2007 @ 10:02 pm
I actually really like that sweater! And you know I wouldn’t say that if I didn’t mean it……I think it’ll look very good on you; just make sure it’s nice and fitted!
Batman says he wants to take a nap in it 😉
PS. The frosting turned out REALLLLLLLY good the first time, no tinkering needed
Comment by Nora (surly's daughter) — August 27, 2007 @ 10:23 pm
From Auntie Soup: If Nora can make her own Cock-Eyed Cake, will she still love me 🙁 ??
Comment by lv2knit — August 27, 2007 @ 11:34 pm
Wow! Pink Belle is looking absolutely smashing!
Comment by Romi — August 27, 2007 @ 11:47 pm
Wow! Your progress on Silver Belle is amazing. You truly inspire me to knit like a fiend! I don’t think there is an age limit on Silver Belle. It is a truly gorgeous knit. Can’t wait for pics of the FO.
Comment by lisa — August 28, 2007 @ 9:35 am
The Silver Belle is absolutely gorgeous! Can’t wait to see it completed!
Comment by AJ — August 28, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
thanks so much for the photos and progress report — this is next on my list and it’s wonderful to see it detailed here — I’m pretty mistrustful of Vogue’s patterns, altho’ I’m assuming that Debbie Bliss is going to want to protect her name and there will not be the usual errors. btw, I’m voting for “not too young a sweater style”
Comment by materfamilias — August 28, 2007 @ 7:55 pm
I also can’t wait to see this completed and hopefully modelled by you, and not just your friend! And I am sure I speak for a lot of other knitters who have added this to the increasingly long To Do list, please let us know of any changes you made. Past experience with Debbie Bliss patterns has required a certain amount of tweaking.
Comment by WendyM — August 29, 2007 @ 1:52 am
Your Silver Belle is beautiful! Thank you for all the detailed photos and commentary on it. I liked the design when I first saw it, but now I like it even more.
Comment by Toby — August 31, 2007 @ 7:28 pm
Hello ! your Silver Belle is wonderfull… my vocabulary is too poor !
could you telle me how long it is at the botom of the peplum (on the pattern, it’s written 38.5 for size 3, mine is 58 for the same size, but I don’t unse the same wool)38.5 semms to me very small
thank you for your answer and sorry for my english
Comment by Kokolat — September 22, 2007 @ 2:30 am