ConnieLene – KnitDesigner

Curiously “Peplum” has two distinct and almost separate definitions. Its early origins are Greek, and peplum was simply the word for tunic. The peplum, a term dating back to the 19th century, is also a short overskirt that is usually attached to a fitted jacket. My jacket is certainly a fitted jacket with a short skirt.

Is this the jacket you would like the pattern for? It has pointed sections over the hand and at the back of the peplum skirt. There is no collar and is very fitting in 12ply mohair. The mohair was black with sections of rich blues and is no longer available.

Jacket Pattern Brewing for rather a long time.

or one of these designs below?

Sleeveless with 2 button fastening and lapel collar, the peplum does not have a pointed section at the back.

Sleeveless again with pin fastening, no collar, but includes lapel flap. (not sure if that describes it or not – the lapel does not continue around the back of the neck). The skirt or peplum is much fuller and longer and without the pointed section.

and it made me rethink my pattern details.

My original multicolour capelet was created using stash yarns and small lengths of yarn. I weighed the completed capelet – and added 10% (if I remember correctly) and gave that weight as the required yarn for the piece.

BUT as I have discovered, and should have realised a long time ago that in the US yarn quantities is given in yards or metres. There is no way I could give the length of the yarn required for this capelet because I used many oddments of yarn to create it.

SO I have just recreated the capelet in response to the question and using only Moda Vera Bouvardia yarn, made in Turkey which is 70% acrylic 30% wool I used nearly 200 grams of this yarn. The length about 360 metres. I used 5.5 mm circular needles. The tension was 16 stitches and 34 rows knitted in garter stitch.

The result is quite lovely but I need to do further testing.

So I have knitted the capelet using Naturally Vero 100% wool from New Zealand. It is not quite finished yet – so photos to come. Sadly the yarn is now discontinued, is a standard 12 ply yarn. The amount used is approx 225 grams and the length will be about 340 metres.

So you live and learn.

When I am done testing – I will rewrite the pattern and send a copy to all those who have already purchased it.

I was so lucky yesterday to find Touch Yarns at Fieldays at the Mystery Creek Events Centre.

What will I create with the yarns I purchased yesterday? Who knows.

If I am creating for a specific pattern, or exhibition or competition which does tend to focus one somewhat then I would know which yarns or colours etc. But if I am wanting to create something outside of such parameters then I do let the yarn tell me what I should create. I have used Touch Yarns many times since I discovered them whilst in Dunedin to run Library training at one of our Dynix libraries quite a few years ago now. It may have have Dunedin Public, Otago University or the Teachers Training College. That detail has long gone, but the wool shop and Touch Yarns were a wonderful discovery.

These are some of the garments I have created which included Touch yarns.

I think I did, and there is not much to show – but I am giving a little peek.

Will it work – I don’t know yet,

and can’t show or tell yet

really I can’t

I have spoken at times of the cloak that I created back in 1992 – very nearly 20 years ago. This cloak has been in exhibitions, it has been tried on by many people, it has been photographed on many people. Sadly it is showing its age.

I am attending the knit retreat “Knitting in Nature beginning tomorrow, and I am taking my “Island” The Great New Zealand cloak with me to show to the other knitters there. Why? Well I am teaching a workshop on Intarsia Knitting and this is one of the best examples I still own of my intarsia creations. I hope that seeing it will still inspire someone of the group to try freeform intarsia knitting after they complete the workshop.

In late 1992 or early 1993 the cloak was in an exhibition at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand. The judges there decided that it was not suitable to be sold due to the fragile nature of the creation. I think 20 years of display and wearing is not bad for a creation of a fragile nature, using around 90 or so different yarns from wool, mohair to linen and a variety of fancy fibres. I actually think it has done rather well. And I am so glad it was not listed for sale as my family and I have loved it and worn it, as well as exhibited it.

I think “Knitting in Nature” may well be its last journey because it is rather thin and frail in some sections now, and we will store it away gently on our return to New Zealand and hope that we can still bring it from time to time and say “we remember this piece very well” and put it away again.

I am feeling rather sad that this piece that has been such a big part of my life is not going to be worn again BUT that does mean that it is time for another creation.