Mulligan Skirt

The Minoan set is going very nicely - loving the surplice and shrug - so I started on the skirt on Thursday.

Good Stuff
The yarn is lovely, I'm loving the combination of colors and it's fun to knit.

Bad Stuff
The gauge was too loose, the skirt seemed too long, I wasn't happy with the hem circumference compared to the waist.

So, long story short, I ripped it out today and I'm reknitting it on needles 2 sizes smaller.

Do I love doing this? No. But I don't really mind. It's a fun knit. And this is the beauty of not having an editorial deadline for this whole adventure. Am I the only person in the world who actually works faster WITHOUT a deadline?

I'd rather have it as something that I am proud of, than something I swallow hard and turn the page when I see (yes, every designer has those projects...)

I actually kind of like the skirt I came up with, but it's not right for this project. It's something to remember, though, when I want to do a version of a pencil skirt, and I think it would be very flattering. But then, I'm one of those insane folks who think that a good sized booty isn't a bad thing, and a curve is just part of our makeup.

With or without curves, we all have the potential to be gorgeous.

That potential rests inside of us, what our mothers said was true. So much of beauty is a confident and happy feeling, which is really hard to achieve when we judge ourselves too harshly.

But this started as the story of a skirt...

As an homage to the long Mediterranean tradition of weaving, I'm hoping this skirt - this entire Minoan set - will bring to mind different weaves and woven patterns as the knitter works them up.

So today while Gerry had his last skiing lesson (I chickened out - my arm is STILL sore from last week and I just can't afford to do any more damage to my mortgage-earning limbs) and Max tore up the slopes on the half price, used skis and boots we got him at Play It Again, I ripped and reknit. I got one of the 8 sections done for the skirt, and I am much happier with this version.

Yes - you read right - Gerry has finished skiing lesson #3 and took 4 trips down a 'real' hill. Twice he thought better of it at the top and sat down for a bit, but each time he made it down. I am so proud of him I could cry. Me, not so proud of myself - but at least I gave the skiing a good try...

My plan is to include panels that are worked with the triple twist drop stitch (I used this in a shawl for Vogue last year) and when the whole skirt is complete these stitches will become a sort of "warp" into which I will weave a contrasting ribbon yarn for 8 woven panels.

The garments of Greece at this time were woven, not knit. I was so pleased when Ruth mentioned in the comments that she felt the tops had a woven feeling - that's exactly what I'm going for. I love the book Woman's Work by Elizabeth Wayland Barber, it gave this non-weaver a greater appreciation of the traditional way of creating fabric.

Chiton
My knitter in Holland, Miriam Tegels, is doing amazing stuff with the yarn I sent to her. She's projecting that I didn't send enough, so more will be on the way as soon as it arrives from the manufacturer.
She sent a photo of the piece en route, she's such a dear!

She's enjoying the Buffalo Gold Lux as much as I did - it's a lot of fun to knit up - and the beads I sent seem to be working out well, too.

I'm so psyched to see this piece finished!

Update: In case anyone had any question as to Miriam's amazing speed, look what she sent me today. A testament to her speed AND to the knitability of this beautiful yarn. This is going to be a wonderful piece!!

Ravelry as Design Tool
I'm Raveling about each of these projects as they're in process to raise interest in the HoTN project in general. It also gives me a good place to keep track of how long each garment is taking me, needle size, etc.