the blue blog archives: comfy chic

It came out a little less chic than it's namesake, but here it is: my comfyKami.

Although it was originally inspired by the chicKami pattern (which I will have to make according to the pattern someday!), I redesigned it to more resemble my first tank girl top. I knit it straight and at a much looser gauge than the other tanks I've knit this summer, so it has a light and loose sort of feel. The all seasons cotton is so soft when knit loosely. Since I was working with oddballs of two colors, I wanted to do some fun stripes. Borrowing Kerrie's great reversible idea from her reversible tank, I tried to make each side interesting, so it could be worn as the front. Here's the other front and a side view. What a fun, fast little project.

posted by alison at 8:19 am | in tank girl chic

Comments

That looks really good Alison, I love the different colours you used! So many tanks but not enough days in the week, that must be nearly true for you?

Posted by: kerrie at July 9, 2003 7:44 AM

What a cute little top! and stripes again. I love how you can 'have your cake and eat it too' with the two stripe patterns.

Posted by: michelle at July 9, 2003 7:46 AM

very very fun. i am all about stripes. and lordy don't you have the tannest arms!!! i've got skin color jealousy right now!! as usual you've finished your knitalong before it even really began. august 25 for you on the R.C.!!

Posted by: carolyn at July 9, 2003 8:26 AM

I LOVE it! I love it knit straight! Looks very loose and comfy for summer. I just may have to do one. Let's check the stash......and the idea to make it reversible like that is fabulous.

Posted by: Karen at July 9, 2003 8:28 AM

Funky! I like the different front and back. It looks great, and very comfy.

Posted by: Johanna at July 9, 2003 8:39 AM

love the stripes! add me to the ChicKami list too! can't wait to get started.

Posted by: deb at July 9, 2003 9:02 AM

Love the tank Alison. The stripes look great, and the reversible idea is a great one!

Posted by: BrendaH at July 9, 2003 9:08 AM

I love it!! Will you wear it on Sunday? And don't tell me I missed the showing, lady. I'm so tempted to do this one. I could make Kerrie's pattern for Liv and Chickami for me. Matching mom-daughter tanks. I know one little female who would be thrilled with the idea. :)

Posted by: Kerstin at July 9, 2003 9:46 AM

Terrific! I really like this one! knitty.com could use your work -- esp. after the Cleo "surprise" they just posted! ;-)

Posted by: Marg at July 9, 2003 10:13 AM

I love that tank. I have the tank pattern as well, but I figured I'd knit it for my sister. I'm knitting her the SitCom cardigan right now. But, I like how you did it loose. I'm not a sleeveless type of person, but that would be so comfy around the house!

Posted by: Gail at July 9, 2003 10:31 AM

Very clever! Isn't it satisfying using up odds and ends?

Posted by: Loose Ends Melissa at July 9, 2003 10:50 AM

Love it! What a fun top

Posted by: Linda at July 9, 2003 10:52 AM

I love it! You crank them out so quickly, and so beautifully. You *are* the Tank Empress of the Universe. I bow to you :-)

Posted by: Becky at July 9, 2003 12:28 PM

cute cute cute! love the striping.
what is the gauge you are getting?
latifa

Posted by: latifa at July 9, 2003 2:14 PM

Thanks, everyone. This one was so easy to knit. I really have to give Kerrie the credit for the reversible idea. And Bonne Marie's pattern calls for the front and back to be the same, so I thought why not make both sides colorful.

Kerstin, I totally love the idea of matching tanks for you and Liv. That would be soooo cute! Don't suppose I could get away with putting the boys in tanks, huh.

Melissa, it really is fun to use up odds and ends from the stash! I've got several sets of all seasons cotton which look good together (lilac and purple; beige and brown), but aren't enough yardage together to make even this camisole. I'm thinking little purses maybe???

Marg, thanks for the compliment. If I ever come up with anything truly original, I will send it in to Knitty. But I'm more of a take a pattern, change this and add that kinda girl.

Latifa, the gauge I got was exactly 4 st/in, which is pretty loose for me! The other tanks I've made with all seasons cotton were knit at about 4.5 st/in.

Posted by: alison at July 9, 2003 3:53 PM

Alison - you are brilliant! I love the Reversible Stripe combo you picked! Thanks for making my design more irresistable to even me!!!

Posted by: Bonne Marie at July 9, 2003 6:27 PM

I LOVE the way you did the colors on your newest tank! I'm wanting to do some stripes with the next one I start but if I do it anything like yours, I'll have to knit two pieces instead of in the round...or do it intarsia-like..gotta think about this! LOL

BTW, for discussion's sake, I'd love to hear from others about what makes a tank a tank & how is it different from a vest (tighter armholes, not as much ease?)? Is it a sweater without sleeves? AAAAAAAND what is a "shell"? Or is it just a convenient name for a summer top?

Posted by: Jessica at July 9, 2003 6:47 PM

I love love love that you made your tank reversible. It looks fabulous and fun. I haven't even swatched yet! This weekend, I swear...

Posted by: alison at July 10, 2003 12:02 AM

That tank looks good. Great idea and wonderful execution!

Posted by: claudia at July 10, 2003 8:42 AM

You're cranking out tanks, lady!
You look really good in your tank, and the colors especially compliment your tan.

Posted by: Lynette at July 10, 2003 1:50 PM

This is my very first garment I’m going to knit. So some of this stuff I am saying probably sounds pretty silly to you but I have to ask anyway and tell you about it. Without Alison’s help I would never have started in the first place I would have had to admire other peoples work and say I wish I could... I whish I could...
I’m about 3 in into my ChicKami Tank I use All season cotton. I changed to No 8 ndl’s 4stitches to the inch I cast on 170 stitches for 42inch seize. No 7 needles was a little to stiff for me. I hope that is OK.
Yesterday my sweet husband took me to the yarn shop that is about 40 miles away from our house. I went crazy buying yarn. On the way out my husband glanced at the two big bags I carried out asking me in unbelief is this all you need for knitting a little tank top. I told him yes I need all of this because if I change my mind about the color I’m going to use, I need all of this He just shook his head and mumbled something in his beard I didn’t understood. After a (long) while he said as long you have fun doing it. Isn’t he just a sweetheart.
Alison thanks again having lots of fun
Marga

Posted by: Marga at July 19, 2003 5:33 PM

I am about 6in into my tank. I need to make it a little bigger about 6-8 stitches. Do I need to rip it or can I increase the stitches without it looking funny?
Discouraged this morning

Posted by: Marga at July 21, 2003 10:08 AM

Marga, I'm sorry to hear that what you've got isn't going to fit. Hang in there! Even ripping is a regular part of knitting.

But if you don't want to rip there are some things you can do. You could start doing the increases as written in the original pattern. You won't have the corresponding decreases from the bottom to your waist, but if you start at the waist and increase slowly, I think it could look okay. Another option is short rowing bust darts into the front section. There are very good step by step directions with pictures at knitty.com (see the last topic on that page). Some people have done this for their Smooch tanks and it works very well, giving you extra room where you really need it.

If you're not sure about these, starting over is probably the best option. Don't get too discouraged. It happens to everyone. When I was still learning and took on a big project, I had to rip the entire thing out twice (check out my elizabeth III archives)!

Posted by: alison at July 21, 2003 12:38 PM

Thank you for your encouragement Alison….Rip it, rip it, or is it frog it.

Posted by: Marga at July 21, 2003 5:00 PM