May I add my comments about the Vintage Knits Camisole? Although I'm in agreement that sizes should go up higher, I made this thing in the medium size, which corresponds to my actual size, and it's pretty huge. My gauge was correct-- it just fits really loosely, not at all like the pictures in the book. So, maybe these patterns WILL work for larger folks...

If you do decide to knit the acorn camisole, let me know. I started it and got stuck with the pattern and decreasing. I got about 15 rows into it and dropped a stitch and because it was a lace pattern I could recreate it and ended up pulling the whole thing out!! Ahhhh, 1 night of work down the drain. I'd like to know what you think of the pattern directions. This is the first lace pattern I've attempted. I'm wondering if I should attempt it again or start with something simpler!

Even if there wasn't a sizing problem with that Vintage Knits camisole, I would tell you to shy away from it. I tried making it and it is hiding in shame at the bottom of a drawer somewhere. It didn't fit right anywhere. Not only that, but I had multiple people with different body types try it on and it didn't fit anyone right. I think you'll be more happy with the Interweave tank. Good luck deciding!

You are so right about sizes Polly but it isn't just knitting patterns. Go into any shop and one style of grament might fit you best in a size 10 in another shop you need 12. Even though I'm lucky enough not to have to resize patterns for my shape, I too always go by the finished size.

Love the cathay picture.

Sarah x

It depends on whether you want a fancy top or one that's a little more casual and sweet. I made the camisole in the smallest size (still wear it often) and it was still loose. So while I do think that there should be additional, bigger, sizes, I hope that doesn't mean that the smaller sizes will get bigger, too. There are still knitters who are 30/32...

Did you know that the VA museum website has a link to your blog?
http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion/knitting/weblogs/index.html

Incidentally, your Cathay photo is almost identical to the photo on my blog of the cashmerino I just purchased. I was so confused as to where I was when I surfed to your blog!

I have been telling myself not to buy any more yarn for the last couple years. But who can resist it? :) Your Cathay yarn looks soft and will be great for the Acorn Camisole.
Recently, I have been following your post and I think you have a great blog with beautiful works!

I totally agree about the sizing, I couldn't even look at the book. I just love the Cathay, I have some of the gold to do either the Assymetric top or the beaded one. I just have to ask myself though if I could afford the strain of the beads on my purse and my sanity!

What about "Soleil" in Knitty? Nice wide straps on that, and scope for jazzing up the design with more lace or edging.

I agree the Interweave Knit tanks would be much more interesting to knit.

I also agree with your viewpoints on sizing. Even when I'm at my thinnest I still have a large chest and bust sizes in some sweaters just don't work. But I'm also happy people are still designing knits, who knows maybe in 5 years the trend will be gone and we won't have such a wealth of patterns available, then we'll just be happy with whateve we can get our hands on.

I couldn't agree more, Polly. It's a grievance I have with Debbie Bliss, too; all too often, her size small is 32, size medium is 34, and size large is 36.

Add to the problems over sizing the problem of what to do with bra straps in all those itty bitty tank tops!

yeah the patterns in vintage knits are great - but there are some of them that don't even go up to 36!!!

That Sarah Dallas tank is almost exactly the same (if not identical) to a pattern in Rowan 35 called Arabella (Sarah Dallas design) and that pattern calls for Rowan 4 ply cotton and goes up to a size 40 bust...

I get very annoyed with pattern sizing, to call a 40 chest an XXL as one of the patterns on Knitty did is just insulting I think.

If they yarn companies were clever they'd do all patterns up to very large sizes as then they'd sell more yarn, even if it's just a ball or two per sale it's still going to make them more money than it costs to size up stuff...

Anna

I have been itching to get my hands on some of that Cathay. It looks divine!

Love your Cathay. I might have a bit more of it in stash myself . . .

i've been working with Cathay recently myself... it's LOVELY. i thought silk was lighter than cotton, but i may be wrong. the cathay certainly seemed to have better yardage than an equivalent DK cotton.

At the Knitting and Stitching show I was with Debbie Tomkins when she cornered Sarah Dallas to ask her why the sizes were so small, and that there was nothing in the book she could knit that would fit her. Answer was that that was Rowan's brief, they stated the sizes that the patterns had to be.....and though people generally were smaller then, there were still some larger ladies around (like my aunties, who were certainly not all 32's!)

I hear you on the sizing thing absolutely. I was checking out Kim Hargreaves new site the other day, and her patterns, as always, are gorgeous, but the biggest size, I think, was a 38. (Not to mention she only sells in kits, so even if you wanted to size up, you couldn't just buy the pattern.) It's frustrating because it just doesn't reflect the way women are shaped. I'm a relatively average-sized girl and I frequently find myself knitting the biggest size, simply because the sizes start at 32 and stop at 40 or 42.

You tell em Polly!! Fluffy girls (me, not you!) want pretty knits too!!!

Hee-hee, are you sure you're showing us everything that you just bought?

That is a beautiful color and I know it's a nice yarn. Nice buy! Happy times knitting it up

Love your new yarn! I need some Debbie Bliss for a baby blanket I am going to make. I also love that Camisole from interweave knits... good luck knitting!

hmmm, cathay. I have some in teal, and am wondering what to knit with it. I say lace or some sort of ribbed pattern. I didn't know that JL had some garments instore, must go and look.
Dawn

I have similar thoughts to Kay on the straps on the acorn cami. It looks like trouble to me! I'm not surprised you couldn't resist the Cathay - it's lovely stuff isn't it.

Hear, hear on the sizing. That book just taunts me, although I think the pattern I am most interested in (that DK cotton jacket) can be upsized quite easily without fuss.

To me, the straps on that acorn cami look like Trouble. What's to stop them from stretching? What's the plan (I know you have one). xoxo Kay