Web-Letter, Issue 36 – Nantucket Island Tank Greetings, again, from CEY! While Pam is out of the office working on the photo shoot for our Fall 2008 pattern booklets, Cecily Glowik and I have put together this week’s web-letter—with the help of designer Cirilia Rose. We're always looking for great knitwear designs. Cecily came across a few designers and asked if they would be interested in coming up with something in one of our new Spring yarns, Cotton Bam Boo. Among the submissions was this slinky tank with elegant cables trimming the neckline designed by Cirilia Rose. Read below how she was inspired to make the Nantucket Island Tank. And keep your eyes peeled for more Spring designs by great upcoming designers.
The Story: From Cirilia: "As a native of New England and a knitter, I enjoy a good, snowy winter—my reason for loving wool yarn. When it finally does warm up, I'm faced with a problem—what to knit and what kind of yarn to use? CEY Cotton Bam Boo presents unique challenges, but I'm learning that this yarn has alchemical properties for an emerging designer! My swatch in confirms my suspicions—this yarn is cool and SLINKY! It drapes beautifully and seems cool to the touch, exactly the sort of thing for something to slip on as the mercury rises. "As for stitch patterns, this year has been a real "cable moment" for me—almost everything I've made or been attracted to has had a cable in it. Cotton Bam Boo isn’t the sort of yarn that calls out for cables. In fact, its slippery nature can make cabling a challenge. But I wanted to give it a go anyway, and I like the result. The single cables that I used remind me of rope or the lines left behind in the sand after waves recede. The crossings are flat and almost imperceptible, but the panel makes an interesting edge and adds dimension to the smooth fabric. To make the cabling easier, I used a bamboo double-pointed needle as a cable needle to prevent the stitches from slipping off." Cirilia Rose designs, knits, and studies in Western Massachusetts. You can read more about Cirilia on her blog. The Yarn: Cotton Bam Boo — 52% cotton, 48% bamboo The blend of cotton and bamboo makes a great warm weather yarn. It is soft and cool to the touch and has a slight sheen. It knits up at six stitches to the inch—a gauge that allows for delicate stitch work and lovely lightweight drape. The Stitches: Cirilia’s tank uses a right slant and left slant within the cable trim. By using the cable panel directly on the edge, the cable crossings soften and become a subtle detail. Cables worked as a vertical panel surrounded by purl stitches are sculpted and dimensional. But worked in a drapey fabric and curling over the edge, they look quite different. When swatching cables for your own original designs, try playing with different backgrounds for different effects. Garter and seed stitches make great backdrops for cables. And crossing stitches on a stockinette stitch fabric without benefit of a separate background can make an interesting, discreet texture. Learn how to create cables.	more photos The Pattern: Here is the free downloadable Nantucket Island Tank pattern.
On Ravelry? Find this design. If you do not yet have access to Ravelry, add your e-mail to their list, and check back once you've received your invitation.
Sign up to receive weekly Web-Letters from Classic Elite. Email: