Tuesday, September 30, 2008

The Coat

I finally finished The Coat. I was determined to take it to Moscow because I didn't have much else to wear. So I did the minimum finishing possible, i.e. just enough to hold it together and not have strands of yarn showing (shame, shame!). I have not woven in the yarn on the interior pockets. It still has no buttons and I didn't do the slip-stitch edging as instructed.

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I love it, even though I suspect that all the alterations I had to do to it caused my summer-long knitting hiatus. I love it, though I wish the collar would stand up more like this all the time. A little starch maybe?

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The Coat



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I love wearing it with slacks, and full skirts, and pencil skirts. It dresses up with a crystal brooch as a closure for the ballet or dresses down swinging open with a pair of jeans. I love it with turtlenecks and v-necks. I love it with pearls and I love it with tiny Russian icon pendants. It travels well and dries nearly overnight.

ETA: It's been so long since I've posted a finished object that I forgot to add some important details:

Pattern: Washi and Tsumugi Coat, Hand-Knit Works, by Setsuko Torii
Yarn: Habu Shosenshi Paper and Habu Tsumugi Silk, knit together.
Needles: US 6 Addi Lace Weights (perfect for the paper and silk)
Mods: I will make it again, but I've learned a few things. I knit the top as one piece, which meant no shoulder seams and makes it more comfortable to wear I think. I knit straight across the back, which would have eliminated grafting had I been more mindful of the size. I will make the sleeves longer next time. It has always been necessary to extend the length of the sleeves on most of my garments and I simply forgot this. As is the sleeves are 3/4 length, which actually works out just fine, but I wish I had been more aware. The pattern was an X-Large, I think, rather than a Large as the pattern was labeled. I will be more mindful of size and fit as I knit next time.

Nicole: I would be happy to help if you have resumed working on your Coat. You can post here or e-mail me at Ava.R.Smith AT Gmail.com. I would be happy to help anyone else too.


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15 comments:

  1. It looks absolutely lovely and well worth all the headache that it caused you. The fit and styling looks great on you.

    You can also try ironing it to get it to stand up more. I did that with the green tunic that I made to be able to sew it together on the machine and keep the shape.

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  2. It's very stylish and fits you well.

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  3. It looks great on you. Feel free to pat yourself on the back!

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  4. So classy. The first thing I said when I saw you wearing it was, "Work it, girl." You wear it well.

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  5. I agree! You are fierce in it!!

    I enjoyed the journey with you on this projects...the good bad and grafting :o)

    And I understand about how some project induce the lose of knit mojo!

    Fall is here so comfort knitting on the way!

    Great work on your habu coat Ava!!

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  6. Gorgeous! And I love it with that...is that a skirt? dress?...you're wearing. Very beautiful.

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  7. Ava,
    You make me want to run to my needles, drop all my other projects and get my coat finished!! I am almost through the upper back, with the whole front still to go. I have been wanting to finish this coat, wanting very much to wear it - but seeing it on you!! Now I will obsess about finishing this coat, obsess about wearing it.
    Thanks for the kick!

    Nancy

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  8. It caused some trouble, but it's GORGEOUS! I think you're going to get a ton of wear out of it. Congrats on finally finishing!

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  9. Oh, this turned out really great and it looks fantastic on you.

    Thanks for posting your email and offering your help - I will contact you once I start - I stashed my Habu Coat kit far away, so I won't be tempted. I just have too many UFOs that are in need to be finished...

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  11. Wow - definitely worth all the work. So chic! And you look great in it, must be so hard not to wear it all the time.

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