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Maeve Shrug.




This bolero/shrug (or what should one call it?) is one of the most simple and minimalistic pieces I have made after really learning to Knit (with a capital K). I wrote earlier about not necessarily always knitting things that are wearable and this piece was one of the starting points for that thought process. It might not be the most innovative or exciting thing to knit but the end product looks really professional and understatedly chic. Something I really feel like I'm going to wear often and a lot.

I really actually "found" Carrie Bostick Hoge when I saw the Madder Anthology 2 a short while ago. She has the innate ability to create simple and minimalistic knit wear that still doesn't look boring or "too easy". And I admire her skill of transforming her pieces to have a whole new feel just by chancing the yarn weight from "summery" to "wintery" and vice versa. Who thought plain stockinette stitch accompanied only by some garter stitch details could look so good?


Mine doesn't drape quite as beautifully at the front as the sample does on the model; it might have something to do with my yarn choice - I chose 100% wool instead of the alpaca-merino-bamboo blend that was suggested - or maybe because my boobs are essentially bigger than the models - at least at the moment - thank you pregnancy! I do like the fit despite that. It might still be a bit too cold to wear it so I'm accessorizing it with a chunky scarf at the moment. But it feels like the spring is just around the corner.



I knitted the garter stitch collar back and forth instead of in the round. I mean, what's the point of garter stitch if you don't get to knit every round, right? The seam is at the back of the neck so it's not really even noticeable and there would be a visible shift between the knit and purl rounds even if I did do it in the round as instructed.

I'm shifting my knitting focus away from sweaters (my favorite things to knit) and trying to knit more scarfs and cardigans instead. I'm always half way done with my pregnancy and it feels like during the past few weeks my belly has really popped. And it seems to grow every day. Many of my sweaters are already starting to feel too tight and short. I don't see the point of making clothes that I won't be able to fit into for ages or knitting super large sweaters to accommodate my bump only for them to be way too huge in just a couple of months.



Pattern: Maeve by Carrie Bostick Hoge
Yarn: Garnstudio Drops Karisma # 72 light pearl grey
Needles: 4.0mm and 4.5mm

Comments

  1. Oh yes, Carrie! She is excellent at understatement and minimalism :) Lovely shrug, definitely a wardrobe staple!

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