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march 11, 2004
what not to wear Do you think Stacy and Clinton would approve of handknitted acrylic sweatpants?
But they're so comfortable!
Isn't that what the people always say? Well, now I understand. These pants are the silliest things ever, but I can't help it, I really, really like them! They're cozy and warm and it's just so cool that I knitted them. I'm glad that I ripped back the top and reknitted it in two pieces so I could keep the side seam. I think the side seam gives the pants a straighter look and keeps them from sagging. For those of you knitting these or considering how to resize them, here are some details. I knit the pants flat - 4 leg pieces, then I joined the two backs and two fronts and knit the top in 2 pieces. To size them up to what would have been the next size, I cast on 5 extra stitches for each leg piece. I did the same number of increases as called for in the original pattern, beginning them as written in the pattern. I cast off two of the extra stitches with the other stitches cast off at the crotch and knit 2 together when joining the two backs and the two fronts. I also shaped the top a little to keep it from being too bulky (I needed leg room, not tummy room) by doing decreases at the edges after 4 inches and 6 inches. I must have spent an hour and a half making that bleeping tie for the waist. I'm not very skilled with the crochet hook and the one hook I own was considerably too small for this yarn, which, as we recall, is terribly splitty. But I survived the crochet/Homespun torture and miraculously, that teeny-tiny tie manages to hold up the rather heavy pants. Overall, I found the pattern to be really simple - easy to size up a little wherever you need an extra centimeter or two -, enjoyable to knit, and the result is comfy, cozy and stylish to boot. When I'm wearing them, I feel like a hip momma coming back from yoga class. I'd even consider making another pair if I could come up with a lightweight yarn to substitute for the Homespun (can you think of any?). And then I'd love to take K's suggestion of trimming the cuffs with fabric. How cool would those pants be? Can you believe that I'm considering more of these crazy pants?! Don't tell Clinton and Stacy! posted by alison at 7:45 am | in
sweatpants?
Comments
They're really fun! Can't think of any yarn other than Homestead, unless of course you have money to burn and could afford Cashmerino... Posted by: Dava at March 11, 2004 7:56 AMLookit you! All comfy AND stylin! To heck with them! We'll start our own show! What TO wear, knitters edition! You do look like a real hip mama ! they do look shockingly comfortable. :) a goofy success! Posted by: carolyn at March 11, 2004 8:04 AMThey look great! Must say I am definitely jumping on the side-seam wagon. I still have to correct the slightly different lengths between my front pieces and back pieces. But after that I will be on my way. Great job! I can't wait to finish mine. Posted by: froggy at March 11, 2004 8:06 AMthanks for posting the tips for resizing! i think that's my main obstacle to starting these things already. i noticed someone else was knitting both legs at once to avoid the mismatched length syndrome and i think i'll try that too. do you think I-cord would work for the tie instead of a crochet chain? Posted by: vanessa at March 11, 2004 8:11 AMWow! They look great. I can't think of a lightweight yarn though, I think these would be great knitted with Cotton-Ease or something. It would take forever to knit though but, I'm sure you wouldn't mind at all :). Posted by: Sharlyn at March 11, 2004 8:14 AMCute! I think they look really good on you. I like the way the bottoms roll up a little. Very stylish. Posted by: Mary Beth at March 11, 2004 8:14 AMThey look really comfy Alison, I can't get over how good they actually look! What a clever design... I'll get my thinking hat on for a lightweight alternative to the Homespun.. Posted by: kerrie at March 11, 2004 8:45 AMYou look not only comfy, but svelte, Dahlink! Lovely job! Posted by: Marg at March 11, 2004 8:54 AMCute. So the side-seam-theory is upheld! Let me consider the lighter-weight yarn question. Posted by: claudia at March 11, 2004 9:15 AMIf anyone thinks of a lightweight alternative, do share! Your pants look great and they do look really comfy. I'm just on the second half of the first leg. Slowly but surely. :-) Posted by: sarah b. at March 11, 2004 9:20 AMAlison, they look great but will you let us know what they look like after they'be been lounged around in for an evening or two and how they stand up to constant wash and wear. Posted by: Linda at March 11, 2004 10:02 AMThose look good on you! As Stacy would say, "Shut Up!". Posted by: Caryn Lantz at March 11, 2004 10:04 AMBah. Stacy and Clinton can shut up. Stacy's outfits aren't always so hot, ya know... They look so great, seriously. They hang really nicely. I knitted mine in the round and I'm up to the top part...they are looking pretty saggy. But maybe they will be transformed once I put them on. Right? Right?!?! Posted by: Carie at March 11, 2004 10:07 AMThey look great! Definitely more shapely than mine (and you were a wise woman to avoid the striping Homespun). I'm with you... if I could find a good, cheap cotton blend alternative I'd be thinking of making another pair.. Funfunfun! Posted by: Theresa at March 11, 2004 10:20 AMI love the idea of trimming the legs in fabric--that is almost enough to make me consider making them too! I have my doubts about what Clinton and Stacy would say about handknits in general anyway... oh well... Posted by: Sharlene at March 11, 2004 10:31 AMGreat job on those, they look like they fit you just right. I just started the second leg. Never noticed how short my legs really are until now. Can you believe I only have a 27 1/2in. inseame? I look like I'm knitting for a munchkin. Posted by: Andi at March 11, 2004 10:55 AMBravo, lovely pants, wear them tomorrow so we can all go "ooh and ahh". Posted by: Amy at March 11, 2004 11:23 AMThose sweats look really good. I've been inspired...I might try them one of these days. Linda - I've heard from others that Homespun holds up pretty good to wash and wear, but I have no personal experience. Posted by: Rayne at March 11, 2004 11:25 AMso i finally get my new rebecca. and it has patterns for sweatpants (#14) regular shorts (#20) and hotpants (#27). is there some kind of knitting for your bottom-half revolution going on that i wasn't aware of?? Posted by: carolyn at March 11, 2004 11:44 AMGreat pants! I'm just finishing my second leg on mine. Way cool sweatpants! You look so "urban chic" in them. Tell me I don't need another WIP right now!! Posted by: Kristy at March 11, 2004 12:34 PMOK, this might be 100% pure Crazy Talk, but what about Lion Brand Terryspun? I've heard terry sweatpants are what to wear right now -- they MUST be hip, check out the price tag on those suckers. Anyway, if you wanted to use Terryspun, you'd have to 1) find some since it's discontinued and 2) rewrite the pattern to allow for the difference in gauge -- but hey, think how cool you'd be! Posted by: shannon at March 11, 2004 1:22 PMWell I'll admit, they DO look comfy! And the photos you took of them on you look a lot more flattering than some other ones I saw. I do think they would look cute with fabric trim. I watched What Not to Wear last night--I love that show! I'm wondering now if there are some other yarns that might work well with that pattern.....hmmmmmm Posted by: Karen at March 11, 2004 1:30 PMLOL - How cute!! They look comfy and fit you great! Posted by: Alysia at March 11, 2004 2:10 PMDK weight cotton? DK Plymouth Encore? Lighter, sure, but they'd take forever to knit... Posted by: Alexandra at March 11, 2004 2:32 PMI have homespun upstairs, and I cannot believe that I'm thinking about making these for yoga. More for the shock value of wearing knitted pants mind you, but still considering. What's come over me? Must be how darned cute they look on you. Darned cute...who knew? Posted by: Stephanie at March 11, 2004 3:26 PMNice Pants! Wait, that's a Dockers commercial. Have a great day! Posted by: secret pal at March 11, 2004 4:31 PMOh, wow...those pants are so great and you look adorable in them!!! You make Homespun look comfy and snazzy and not at all like it splits on the needles. Hee! Posted by: Becky at March 11, 2004 4:49 PMThose came out so cute! And they look really comfy. Thinking: yarn substiutes... mission falls cotton could get you close to gauge, or maybe Pronto/GGH's Goa (though you don't get much yardage from those). It seems like Elann may have some winter cotton that could be the right size... Great job! Posted by: Michelle at March 11, 2004 5:10 PMI must admit, I was skeptical but they look great on you! I still have horrible memories of the polyester knit pants from the 70's, esp. the way the knees took on a life of their own. Those memories burn forever! I've been in blue jean therapy ever since. :) Posted by: Kerstin at March 11, 2004 5:20 PMThanks everyone! As for my being svelte, well, it's all done with mirrors and I didn't show you the really bad pictures (eg - butt shots!). Stacy and Clinton will have to decide whether the pants pass muster or not. All I can say is that they are really comfy. They do want to slide down a bit when I wear them, mostly from the weight of the Homespun, but the legs aren't stretching out. That's where I think the side seam may really be helping. I love the idea of making another pair. Carolyn, I also saw all those little pants in the Rebecca mag. I'd definitely consider the long ones. And the yarn for the short skirt looks like it might be a good choice too. Thanks to everyone who offered yarn suggestions too. The crucial thing would be to find something lighter than the Homespun. Shannon have you felt the Terryspun? Know if it is much lighter than the Homespun? I feel like any sort of cotton would probably be too heavy, though. And to my fellow pant-alongers (and anyone else I can convince to make these crazy things!), I'm looking forward to seeing more pants out there soon! I'll let you know how the Homespun wears. As far as doing an I-cord instead of a crocheted tie, you'd probably just need to knit in a row of eyelets at the top of the pants. The crochet tie is just pulled through the stitches and an i-cord might be too thick for that. Otherwise it sounds like a great idea! Posted by: alison at March 11, 2004 6:21 PMfantastic! who would have thought sweatpants could be flattering? you deserve a medal for knitting with homespun...you already know how i feel about that yarn. if i come across the right yarn, i'm in for a pair. i find myself fingering every yarn with them in mind. so far, nothing makes the grade. Posted by: lisa at March 11, 2004 7:15 PMThey look great. I love the color. But are they itchy? Posted by: Kathleen at March 11, 2004 8:19 PMThey look very comfortable. I am curious to see how they hold up with washing. Do you ever go to Elann's website? You might get ideas for a substitute. Posted by: Melissa at March 12, 2004 6:25 AMI've just started mine today! Is anyone else knitting from the top? So far I've cast on the waist and increased down to the hips. Posted by: Ann at March 12, 2004 7:30 PMYours look great! I just finished mine about an hour ago! Posted by: kim at March 12, 2004 10:25 PMI have to admit that I thought you were a little nutty when you started this project. But, I stand corrected. Those look great! Posted by: Stacy at March 13, 2004 11:41 PM |
