MINUTIAE OF THREADS
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
[Insert relieved and very satisfied sigh of pleasure]
When I started this folded top in March, I truly believed it would take a while to finish. I knew how many hours in a day there are (not enough) and I know I don't always have the chance - or energy - to knit for considerable periods of time to make inroads on things made with minute threads. Despite the fineness and fragility (in appearance only, it's actually quite robust as a material) of the yarns, this knit up quickly + 1 thread Habu Merino in charcoal, and 1 thread Habu Ramie in Sumi Charcoal, on 2.75mm needles. This piece looks deceptively simple, but does actually have a lot of subtle and exact shaping, particularly to the front fold and lower hem lines. Getting a small fold (remember this is to fit a 12-18month old baby) like this to sit and work precisely is harder than it seems. I've talked before about the asymmetry which runs around the bottom hems, the neckline and through the folded section, and I love that the finished piece has those very diminutive shapes to them.
Deliberate, yet coincidental.
What I would love to see is this knit in other fibres and colours + a smokey laceweight alpaca, a variegated Lornas Lace Helen's Lace, a natural linen, a watermelon coloured silk (thanks for putting that colour in my head Di!) and I am very much coveting that idea completely, or a lavender cashmere or maybe even a light weight tweed.
The origami nature of folded fabrics has become a small ritualistic diversion for me which I really have been enjoying immensely. There is a calmness and serenity to simple forms structured from behind or within. I likened my schematic pattern sketches to joinery drawings, and the process of making and pattern writing has been very similar to the construction manufacture of small pieces of furniture, albeit for the body. I love folds, I love the hidden nature of them, the reveal, and the containment. I can't help wondering through this project, about the voids and shadows left over by the folds, which led me as I sewed this up, to wonder about holes - wide open gaping holes and small intense holes to hide within. Deliberate holes, and coincidental holes. Stay tuned, for after I'm finished with folding, I'd like to explore pockets, holes, openings, buttonholes, and closures.
This is beautiful. I keep coming back to it and admiring. I'd love something like this for myself.
Make sure you patent your design!
Posted by: Jane | May 10, 2007 at 05:25 PM
Beautiful. It looks so pretty and so soft.
Posted by: suzy | May 11, 2007 at 09:52 AM
how beautiful, this turned out perfectly! habu yarn is just wonderful.
Posted by: ruth-anne | May 12, 2007 at 04:17 AM
Do you want to see it in other colors/yarns, but don't want to knit them yourself? Consider sending me the pattern... I can test knit for you. Please? And sign me up for the adult version, if you create one. This is simply gorgeous!
Posted by: Auntly H | May 12, 2007 at 06:56 PM
so so very lovely...
Posted by: anita | May 16, 2007 at 08:48 PM
Amazingly beautiful!! And this really is the most stylish piece of kidknits that I've seen. I'm seriously coveting one for my 2yo (and myself too) so please don't let us wait too long for the patterns! Promise?
Posted by: Maryann | October 22, 2007 at 07:10 PM