As I said a few weeks ago, I’m a big fan of Shibui yarns. (I only wish I got a discount for promoting them!) I finished yet another project in Shibui recently and finally took some not so great photos of a great pattern.
Truss is a tunic designed by Shellie Anderson for Shibui Knits. Her version has a deep thigh high split, but I toned mine down. It’s knit holding one strand of Maai with one strand of Pebble. Maai is a light chainette type yarn spun from 70% merino and 30% alpaca. Pebble, the same yarn I used for my Leigh, is a tweedy blend of recycled silk, merino, and cashmere. By itself, Maai is very stretchy. Combining it with Pebble reduces the stretchiness and produces a cozy, plush feeling fabric that feels wonderful against the skin.
I made a very few small modifications to the pattern.
I made the side seam longer. The slit in the original is very deep — thigh high. I decided that wasn’t the best look for me. I added the sleeve stitches by knitting across a provisional cast on. That gave me live stitches so instead of a sewn seam at the bottom of the sleeves I was able to do a 3-needle bind off. Finally, I cast on a small number of extra stitches for the ribbing and then decreased in the first row of stockinette so the ribbing would hang straight without needing to be overly stretched when blocked.
P.S. I live, as many of you know, in Washington, DC. Right in the city. Here’s who I saw outside my window this morning.
P.S.#2 Robin, below, said the fox was brave to chance it in the big city. But we live near a large park that runs down through the city to the Potomac and we’re in a residential area that doesn’t feel urban. We have deer, lots of birds (hawks, pileated woodpeckers, various songbirds), squirrels of course, raccoons, and even the occasional coyote. There is one large buck who frequently walks down the middle of the street. Hard to believe that we’re in the city.
I Truss(t) you’ll wear this often!!
That foxy dude will turn many a vixen’s head!
Comment by lv2knit — December 19, 2015 @ 5:19 pm
Gorgeous!
Comment by Thea — December 19, 2015 @ 7:03 pm
Oh this is just beautiful! Shibui yarn is so nice!
Comment by Barb R. — December 19, 2015 @ 10:32 pm
Sally, I love your sweater./tunic……it is something I would wear……and it looks like I might be able to complete it!
The fox is a handsome dude. We had a much smaller version of your fox, taking a nap under one of our pine trees in the country outside of Two Harbors, MN. a couple of years ago.
Cathy Rootness, one of Susan’s Thursday knitting peeps.
Comment by Cathy Rootness — December 20, 2015 @ 12:54 pm
I love this! And wow on the fox!
Comment by Penny — December 20, 2015 @ 3:02 pm
Love your mods to this great pattern. That’s a brave fox chancing safety in the big city!
Comment by Robin F. — December 20, 2015 @ 7:58 pm
The sweater (tunic?!) looks fabulous on you!! And the fox is gorgeous!!
Comment by Lee Cockrum — December 20, 2015 @ 10:49 pm
Love your Truss! Very classic looking with lots of wearability. I’ve never tried Shibui but look at it often on various websites. I look forward to giving it a try. Love your fox photos!
I favor them over coyotes for sure. The elementary school where I work had a coyote “lurking” around the playground and this was just not acceptable. Principal reported its presence to police and they must have done something or contacted some agency as it has not been seen again. I carried an empty pop can with pennies inside as I walked to my car after dark – just in case. Poor creatures don’t have enough rural space to live anymore!
Comment by Kathy W. — December 20, 2015 @ 11:36 pm
I live on dead-end street off CT Ave. that abuts Rock Creek and we have seen more and more deer lately–there’s a group of 4-5 “young adults” who are quite used to the coming and going of us building residents and they just look up briefly from the pansy beds they are snacking on! But I’ve not seen any foxes yet… will have to keep my eye out. A friend of mine who has a little farm near Annapolis has foxes … and BTW, no more chickens! 🙂
Comment by Laura — December 21, 2015 @ 5:04 pm
Truss is lovely: beautifully knitted and a very flattering style, particularly with your mods. While the fox outside your window is cute and handsome, I think it may be time to get another dog!
Comment by Pru — December 23, 2015 @ 3:22 pm