I was so excited to knit Coachella that I ran to Liberty, determined to find a suitable substitute for Berroco suede. This is something I almost never do– buy yarn for a pattern. I have so much in my stash I usually try to just knit with what I have. I tried to swatch some silk from the stash but it just wasn’t right. So I found some Rowan Bamboo at Liberty and the manager there just happened to be knitting with it and showed me her project. A lot of it was ribbing which was causing her to “lose the will to live.” After knitting Coachella a second time, I know the feeling.
The manager’s project had this beautiful drape so I though the bamboo would be perfect. I was wrong about that. I don’t know the texture of Berocco suede but I’m imagining it a bit bouncier, perhaps more clingy rather than slippy like the bamboo. At any rate, it was much too heavy, causing the draping over the bust to lie in flaps rather than those sexy, clingy gathers.
I have two tops like this already in my wardrobe– one by Lulu & Red and the other by TRAIDremade. I seriously love them both, so I had high hopes for this design.
I think also being busty is an extra fit challenge. Originally I knit the large and it was way too big for me. This time, I knit the medium. I added more increases after the hip shaping to make it longer and to accommodate my hips. That part fits perfectly, but the bust is still way too big.
I did two rounds of short rows as called for in the pattern to fit a “D” cup (though I am actually a “G”). It is much too large– there’s room for two more breasts in there. If I knit it again I would omit the bust shaping.
At first I thought my gauge was off so the second time I knit it I measured obsessively as I went along, just to make sure I didn’t need to change needles. I suppose if I knit it again I might go down a needle size just for the bust portion. But I probably won’t knit it again. I’ve completely lost interest. Though if I got my hands on some of the Berocco suede I might reconsider…
July 27, 2007 at 2:25 pm
I’ve got this on my list of things to knit….I too rarely go with the called for yarn, but maybe I will go buy the Berocco suede.
July 27, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Oh no! I was planning on knitting Coachella, too. I also have the bust issue…this is discouraging…
July 28, 2007 at 5:02 pm
How disappointing, it’s been on my to-do list too, but I think it might get canned.
August 7, 2007 at 7:57 pm
I ran out and bought the yarn for this as soon as I saw it on Knitty, being a beginner going on intermediate knitter. I thought “great… some new things to do and a great top”. I knitted the swatch and it looks VERY seethrough in a black “Zorro” Berocco Suede–likely better in a more skin-toned color. (No, I’m not a particularly loose knitter). I’m not sure I’m advanced to the point of playing with different yarns, and the needle size is already quite small (I’m still not the fastest knitter on the block). I’ve been waiting for reviews and may now save my time for something else… and the yarn for my rapidly growing stash.
August 15, 2007 at 10:05 pm
Thanks for your post – I was just thinking about doing this in bamboo because I want a little shimmer on the folds, but was wondering about the choice of the ribbon having more body. I’ll keep looking! ~ N
August 16, 2007 at 6:13 am
Hi Noralita. I think some of the issues with fit I was having had more to do with the heaviness of Rowan bamboo. It’s a beautiful yarn. I now have 6 skeins of it…what to do?