Glam rock

Or should I say Glampyre rocks. I've just finished my Simple Knitted Bodice and I love it. This was my March knit for the Sweater-a-Month KAL and despite being the third month of the year it's the first sweater (for me) that I've finished.

It's in Debbie Bliss Cotton Angora in Vintage Rose which I believe is now discontinued but still widely available on the likes of Ebay. It's a dream to knit with and doesn't feel like cotton at all. I describe it as like downy puppy fur running through your fingers as you knit (which makes me Cruella De Vil in the eyes of my friend Adam). On the downside though it sheds and pills like you wouldn't believe even after a few hours (under the arms and where I was carrying my bag) so because of that I'd be wary about using it again despite loving the feel. I finished it late last night and wove in the ends in the car on the way to the shopping centre this morning and put it on straight away so it's as yet unblocked.

This was my first top down pattern and I really liked that I got an early feel for the fit and could keep trying it on as I went along. I made very few alterations to the pattern. I added in an extra two rows after I'd joined it in the round so the purl ridges weren't right at the join and I dropped the lace panels on the sleeves to match the level on the body. I also changed the neck to a mitred V worked in the round rather than a wrapped across piece knitted flat. I also added a little extra length to the lower body. I love this pattern and could definitely see me making another but would perhaps change the whole neck so the V isn't so low. With this version I have to wear something underneath it and it has a tendency to drop so it's slung back over my shoulders. I also think I could get away with a smaller size as I thought it was a generous fit. All in all I really love it and will definitely be getting Stefanie Japel's Fitted Knits as I'm a huge fan of her designs.