Stripes!

I love stripes like a toddler loves apple juice. Something about a stripe just makes me happy. A quick run through my closet produced these shirts.

Stripes and knitting are a match made in heaven. Changing colors row by row in an orderly sequence is just enough variety to keep the knitter entertained. But stripes have gotten a bad rap. Every woman "knows" that horizontal stripes make you look wider. It is drilled into us practically from birth that vertical lines = slimming and horizontal lines = not slimming.

How can I reconcile my love of stripes with my desire not to look as wide as the side of a bus? Break up the horizontal line of the stripes with a little intarsia.



Take a look at Interleaf, my latest design for Twist Collective.
Stripes, right? Wide stripes and narrow stripes.
But the overall impression is vertical colorblocking, not horizontal stripes! There is a little bit of asymmetry at play here, too. The blue stripes wrap around the left side to meet their partners on the back; the gray stripes wrap around the right side.
Other flattering design features include a shaped waistline (very slimming), and a square neck to show off pretty collarbones. The armholes are close enough that you don't need to worry about bra exposure.

The intarsia technique used in this design is as simple as can be. No intricate shapes, and no more than three sections in a row. If you are new to intarsia, or need a refresher, this issue of Twist Collective also includes an article I wrote explaining everything you need to know.




The yarn is Tahki Cotton Classic Lite - crisp, smooth, cool, and perfect for a hot summer day.

While you're clicking around, be sure to take a look at the rest of the Spring issue. My personal favorites? Belleville, a classically feminine cardy by Anne Podlesak, Sugarbeach, a girly summer aran by Fiona Ellis, and Aello, a gossamer lace shawl by Marnie MacLean.