Sliding on home with EZ at my side

Whooo, this was the first time I knit from bottom up to the pits, stopped, knit the sleeves, and then attached the sleeves to continue in one piece to the top. I was sweating there for a bit, but it's all together and looking good. I did a three-needle bind off under the arms - but put all the underarms on extra needles first while I got the whole thing together on one needle. Then when I could take a breath, I went back and bound those off to get rid of the extra four needles dangling in the inside. The first time doing something is always the worst. Still, I'm not sure it's worth it to save a few seams. Less bulk in your lap to knit in pieces and then put it together.

Corseting Away

I'm posting this for anyone who stumbles across my blog and gets tired of the same ole thing. I am working on another currently, but here is a more attractive view of my first finished corset with a lovely model. I just slapped it around her regular clothes, but you get the idea. It's actually big for her as it totally closes in back and when the right size is made, her waist can actually be drawn in easily 2-3 inches.

And here is my second corset. Kelli's clone was kind enough to model.

Natural Minimalist Cardigan Twist

What? A little knitting on a knitting blog? What am I thinking?
No, I haven't finished my lace cardigan yet. But maybe I'll feel more like it after I do something else that reminds me how much I love knitting. This is being done all in one piece. My inspiration is the Minimalist Cardigan in Interweave Knit's fall issue, but I didn't like that plain border that I thought might curl or something. My NMC will be a bit longer and will just hang open - no buttons, zipper, etc. Who really buttons their sweaters anyway? For some reason this sweater is beautiful to me - just Encore from my stash, but it's knitting up pretty and will be washable. Big debate is whether to make it full length sleeves or 3/4 - bracelet length.

Coutil, Supplies

Here is the real deal, coutil, corset fabric. And here we have supplies. Hardly looks like supplies for something to wear!

Bones and Grommets

This was the first fitting before lining is finished or all the bones are in. This is not a project for the faint of heart. And to think this is just a practice run..... Now I know why custom corsets cost a few hundred or more. Grommets went in so nice with my Osborne grommet setter. I bought some plastic coated steel bones for the back and some spiral metal boning for the rest - which has to be cut and have boning ends placed on them. All I will say is it involves a LOT of strength to cut with just wire cutters. And the tips - Lord help me. The tips require you to hold a pair of plyers in your left, a pair of plyers in your right - somehow (I guess with your third hand) you slip the boning into the tip which you grip with one set of plyers, then you use the other to squeeze the ends of the tips with the other hand while simultaneously squeezing both evenly. Yeah...that's what I said. My DH's helpful comments during these maneuvers could have resulted in some serious injury if he hadn't retired to bed when he did.

I'd tell you why I had to make two trips to Farthingales in Santa Monica for supplies this weekend except I don't want you to know quite how stupid I can be. Let's just say I'm geographically challenged at times. (And my mother who accompanied me on my first excursion is far too sweet to even raise her eyebrows at me when we returned empty-handed.)

Again, why am I making this? Is it because I need a corset? No. Is it because I'll wear a corset? I don't know. Is it because it's a challenge? Yep. Will I even want to make a second one? I doubt it. Generally I just need to do things once to prove to myself that I can. So I hope Kelli gets hers. It is highly doubtful that this corset will be a FO this weekend.