the blue blog archives: still sweating

I hope all you pant-alongers got your magazines! Anyone else started their sweatpants yet? Despite the stockinette, I'm cruising along on mine. Not too far ahead, though. I'm only a leg up on you. (Ba-dum-bum)

I finished both panels of the first leg and seamed them together to get a sense of how it'll fit. Looks nice and roomy, so onto leg #2. I am knitting the legs flat as called for in the pattern. What have the rest of you decided to do? Anyone knitting the legs in the round? My small circular needle was busy (with a practice hat I use to show techniques and mistakes to my beginning knitting class), so I didn't consider knitting them in the round. But I was also thinking that seams might actually be better. Isn't it the case that many garments really benefit from having a seam to give them shape and help them hang correctly? I've thought about real pants that I would wear and I think I'd be wary of pants without any side-seams at all. Any seamstresses out there (Silvia?) who can comment on this?

Hey did you see that Bonne Marie was giving away Homespun earlier in the week to make this project?? How funny! I guess I'm not the only one who got a kick out of this pattern.

[UPDATE: I just noticed that Theresa has finished hers already! Check out the pics and her thoughts on the yarn, the pattern, resizing and knitting them in the round. Thanks, Theresa!]

posted by alison at 8:00 am | in sweatpants?

Comments

Hi Alison! Can you add me to the pant along? I am one of the recipients of B. Marie's lovely Homespun..I got the pattern yesterday! Yahoo!

Thanks!
Happy knitting!

Posted by: Carie at February 27, 2004 9:04 AM

Hi Alison! I generally put seams in heavier yarn or anything bulky or larger. But I'm looking forward to a comparison of yours and Theresa's sweatpants to see if my theory of seams-as-structure really holds water.

Posted by: claudia at February 27, 2004 9:26 AM

Hi Alison!

speaking as a seamstress, I have no problem eliminating seams anywhere. I've made gazillions of pants without side seams. It just depends on the effect you want (and of course with woven fabric you have grain to contend with, which affects things). The hang or drape of a garment has to do, imo, with the structure of the material and its orientation to gravity. I'm not convinced that seams help knitted garments hang better... but then, we know I'm the top down seamless girl. The awesome thing about knitting is that you can get just about any shape you want without seams-- pretty incredible when as a seamstress you think about darts or a princess line bodice or making a flirty cuff with a bunch of godets. In clothing construction I tend to avoid rules. My philosophy is know how to do each thing several different ways, know your materials, and use what works for the effect you want at the time. Can't wait to see your sweats!

carrie

Posted by: khipu Carrie at February 27, 2004 9:40 AM

I've started mine, just barely. I'm hoping to move along on them this weekend, though.

Posted by: gwyn at February 27, 2004 9:55 AM

I don't even want to imagine what I might look like in these sweat pants! I am still 10 pounds overweight from my twin pregnancy, then the surprise little guy. Plus the twin skin! So tell me--how does your tummy look? Do you exercise a lot? I think I might go for a tummy tuck at some point although I never EVER though I would say that. I'm a very natural not-very-vain type! You look great, btw. At least from what I can tell in your photos, LOL

Posted by: Karen Heinig at February 27, 2004 11:45 AM

Uh..what Carrie said. Pants have side seams in order to get them to fit to our curvy bodies. There are pants without side seams, but are the wide legged, palazzo pant variety. I've not seen the knitted sweats pattern, but I can't think of any reason you couldn't make the legs in the round. Your pants look cute so far!

Posted by: Silvia at February 27, 2004 1:00 PM

Yeah! What Silvia said. Hee!

Sweatpants are looking very good. What a fun knitalong. I'm having fun observing.

P.S. I personally prefer flat knitting. I find it is easier to block and I always block my pieces, even if they don't really need it. I have no aversion to circular knitting, but I'd rather limit it to smaller items, like hats, mittens, socks, etc.

Posted by: Becky at February 27, 2004 2:31 PM

If you want to knit in the round but also want side seams, Thomas Holm left a nice comment on my blog about this -- you can always add them later with crochet! If mine don't do what I want, I may try that. I think you'd get a cute design element and I have plenty of yarn left over.

I think pants with a side seam will look a little more trim and fitted than mine look.

I love the color you picked, Allison! I'm a bit of a blue fiend myself.

Posted by: Theresa at February 27, 2004 2:36 PM

Sweats are looking great! I just tried to send you an email but it got bounced back.

Posted by: Sara at February 27, 2004 2:38 PM

I'm utterly confounded by this Banff craze. Your Banff looks pretty good with the modifications, but in general, it is an incredibly unflattering sweater. Seems to me like a pattern guaranteed to look horrible on just about any body type. It even looks horrible on the pattern model. Why is the whole world knitting it? Can someone explain?

Posted by: Kristin at February 27, 2004 2:55 PM

I'm a bit of a sweatpant skeptic. I kinda wanna join in because it's something different and everyone raves about Homespun but I'm still not sure. I'm just going to wait till you're finished and, we'll see ;).

Posted by: Sharlyn at February 27, 2004 3:40 PM

Just stopped by to say I finished my poncho. The Rowan Zephyr was a fairly easy pattern and the neck turned out fine. The heather quality of the yarn didn't translate well to the photo, but maybe I'll post a closeup. I would join another knit-along, but I'm anxious to start a purse from the Folk Bags book and the Rowan Nevis cardigan pattern. I wonder if anyone wants to purse-a-long with me. Is this knit-a-long central?

Posted by: Elizabeth at February 27, 2004 5:19 PM

Thanks for the seamstress' perspective Carrie and Silvia. Silivia's explanation about the curves makes a lot of sense. I'm still with Becky, though, I just like me a good seam. And like Claudia, I'm anxious to see the difference between mine with seams and Theresa's without. But seeing Theresa's has got to be encouragement to anyone considering doing this in the round. Sharlyn, I'm actually pretty skeptical about the sweatpants myself (especially after starting with the splitty Homespun). But I thought the idea was such a riot that I had to make them. Still I'm not really expecting them to turn out so great. Here's hoping for a pleasant surprise. Theresa's look very good, so I'll be happy if mine come out at all like hers.

Kristin, I do think that Banff is a flattering design on Jenna (the model in the Knitty photo) and on many who have made it so far. I suspect that others agree with me and that is why they are knitting it. The pattern itself is extremely well written and very enjoyable to knit, which would perhaps be another reason why so many are giving it a try. It's clearly not a style for everyone - a point which several have mentioned, including myself in this blog. There's no pressure for you to make it or even like it. Don't worry about us all looking bad in our Banffs. We seem to think we look okay. Maybe you could let us keep the illusion. ;0)

Posted by: alison at February 27, 2004 5:29 PM

I'm back! Only because I want to add my name to the pant-along. I left that comment and then 30 minutes later I was walking over to Ben Franklin to buy the yarn. I'm silly for knit-alongs, what can I tell you?

Posted by: Sharlyn at February 27, 2004 7:14 PM

mine are coming along well, in the time that I've actually sat down and worked on them, LOL. I'm also doing mine in the round, and loving it!

PS, my blog has moved!

Posted by: Jen at February 27, 2004 9:05 PM

Ah to be young and svelt enough to wear hand-knit sweats...!!

Posted by: Marg at February 27, 2004 10:24 PM

I'm with khipu Carrie! Is anyone trying the sweatpants using Barbara Walker's plan for pants from the top down?

Posted by: Ann at February 28, 2004 5:26 PM

Cool idea, Ann! I've got to get that book!

Posted by: alison at February 29, 2004 10:38 AM

Wow! I can't wait to see Allison, Carrie, Sharyln, and everyone in these pants. I just saw Theresa's and they do look so comfy and soft. I am seriously considering knitting up a pair. I'll wait and see what you all think about it before I jump in.

Posted by: Teresa at February 29, 2004 2:09 PM

Just a note to say that I have the current IK issue and there's no way I'm going to be making these pants! I'd look horrible in them!
If anyone wants the pattern, and can't get the magazine, I'll be happy to rip those pages out of my magazine and send them along to one of you knitalongers! Just drop me an e-mail!

Posted by: Christine at February 29, 2004 2:31 PM

Please add me to the pant-a-long. As soon as my Edwardian Homespun arrives I'm in. I've been looking for an excuse to try the top down pattern - maybe give the legs a little cropped flare at the botton and call them my yoga pants!

Posted by: Ann at March 1, 2004 2:03 PM