My niece, Gianna, and me.
You may remember me writing about my search for the perfect lay-flat edging for a pullover that turned into an all-over fabric pattern. Yes, Vertical Drop Stitch--fun to do and great looking--is now the body of my newest pullover pattern--Gianna.
Gianna is named for my 19 year old niece who lives in Germany. Gi and her very best friend, Sina, were here for two (too short) weeks. We had a wonderful time. I don’t get to see Gianna very often, and any time with her is so precious.
Gianna (the pullover) had a long incubation period. Initially I freestyled the design from the bottom up in Berroco's Maya in Cacao. I made it with ¾ length sleeves and a mid-hip length.
This summer, when I was writing the pattern up, I kept worrying that bottom up construction just wouldn’t give the knitter the same flexibility to customize fit as top down construction does. When I knit I like to adjust body and sleeve length to fit me perfectly and that is so much easier to do when you are knitting from the top down because you can try it on as you go. So I revised the pattern and re-knit the pullover for top-down construction. The second time, I made a larger size with short-sleeves and a cropped length in the Gulupa (purple) colorway. Short sleeved and cropped ‘cause I only had a few hanks in my stash ;) and though it is not a bad look, it was not what I wanted to publish. Not wanting to knit the pullover again (!) I had a sample knit up in the Avocado colorway with long sleeves and a longer bottom-of-hip length. Finally it was just right!
This is the most comfortable top. Not only is the Maya yarn soft and cozy, but the vertical drop stitch provides lovely ease (it is a modified rib stitch) to gently follow your curves--no waist shaping necessary--and looks great alone or layered over your favorite shirt.
Vertical Drop Stitch shown in it's relaxed state on the left (how it looks as you are knitting) and in it's stretched state on the right (how it looks on your body).
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A note about the sizing. The finished measurements for this pullover will seem very small. The Size 2 that I am wearing above in Avocado has a finished measurement of 27". I have a 36 ½” chest and I still have plenty of room, and I mean plenty. I prefer the fit of the Cocoa version which has a finished measurement of 25 1/2". Pattern instructions include how to pick the best size for you. You can get more pattern/sizing details here.
Gianna and Sina left Monday, I miss them already.
Sina and Gianna mugging for the camera at FM Light in Steamboat Springs, CO.
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