Saturday, December 01, 2007

I'm in Magknits!

This is so exciting, I'm in December 2007's Magknits for my pattern Excuses! I've made a lot of excuses during my life, but this is by far the best one (haha, I have been waiting months to say that line!) Scroll down past the pictures to read how to adjust the pattern.

I'd like to be able to say that I won't forget you all now that I've become an international superstar, but I'd just be raising false hopes. Just kidding, just kidding. I will happily sign a printout of the pattern for each and every one of you, with the certainty that you will lay it next to your pillows at night. Okay, let me stop. Hahaha, I promise I haven't been drinking (but that doesn't mean I won't start soon). :)

Okay, seriously, I'm really excited. It's my first time. No, no, don't speak, just hold me. (What is going on with me today? I think I haven't had enough to eat. Yeah, that's it.) My first time having a pattern published, that is. Oh, no, that's a lie, I do have a fingerless glove pattern in the Pattern a Day knitting calender for 2008. But this is a little different. I didn't even know that it would be in this month's issue, but got a congratulatory email on Ravelry (btw, y'all, I'm on Ravelry as "mwedzi". Please find me!).

Some additional shots:

It took me forever to get this shot, even though it's dark, so somebody's going to see it!:





And so you can see the shape flat:



Another shot that was hard to get. It is surprisingly difficult to get action shots of knits.



Oh, and a couple more notes about sizing that got edited out of the final copy.

For bigger busts (C and up):
The pattern has severe decreases to go from bust to underbust, so it is designed to cup your breasts. I designed this pattern specifically because I was tired of knits only doing side waste shaping and ignoring booby shaping. But if you are larger on top, choose the size that corresponds to your bust size and knit that size to the point of the bust decreases. If your arms don't get as big (relatively) as your breasts, stop the decreases for the arms when you reach the number of stitches for the sleeves of the next smallest size. Then start the bust decreases 1/2" earlier than called for in the pattern and do enough decreases to get to the number required for the next smallest size. Continue the pattern as written for the next smallest size.

If you don't want as much negative ease:
Simply choose the next size up. The pattern has 3" of negative bust ease. Notice, (clever me), that the sizes are also done in 3" increments. So if you want a sweater that simply skims your body, just go up to the next size (so that you knit your actual bust measurement, not the "to fit" measurement).



Okay, I have to go eat now, or give myself a tranquilizer, or something.

46 comments:

Harlem Purl said...

Oh Wow Nikki, I am thoroughly and truly impressed! Congrats on the pattern, I love it because its so girly. I do have to admit that the negative ease does scare me cause I got rolls girl :-)

inukshuk71 said...

Congratulations! The design is feminine and looks like something out of Hamlet or Nottigham, I love it and will try to knit it someday for when I want to feel like a princess :)

Nikki said...

thanks! And if the negative ease scares you, you can make it with no negative ease by simply moving up one size. The negative ease is 3" and the sizes are in 3" increments, so going up a size just puts you at a body-skimming knit.

Moggle said...

Great pattern, love the body-hugging fit.

Sharon said...

Hey! Just saw you on MagKnits. It's beautiful. HUGE congrats, chica!

Natalja said...

Congratulations on this wonderful and very sexy design!

Adrienne said...

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unknown said...

It's a beautiful sweater Nikki - congratulations!!!

caroline said...

Congratulations! I was just looking at the new Magknits last night and thinking it was one of their best issues yet. I want to make everything in it!

-- Caroline
http://cindc.wordpress.com

Kris said...

oooooo...super sexy! Congratulations!

Heather said...

I love this pattern! Congrats- you look fabulous by the way.

Octopus Knits said...

Ooo, it's very pretty! Congratulations, Nikki!

Anonymous said...

I just found your blog from Magknits, and I just loved reading your posts! I do hope that you will post more frequently in the future as you have great taste and wit! I can't wait to make your curvy tank top!

Emily
veganknitting.typepad.com

Melissa Morgan-Oakes said...

YAY!!!!!

knitaly said...

Congratulations Nikki!
Where did you take the first photo of the series? I'm curious about it, is ir some place in Chicago?

All of your patterns are very feminine!

dickie said...

Beautiful! I love your choice of color for the edges!
Awesome silhouette too.

That first picture is great. It looks like that little church-y courtyard thing with the fountain in the middle near Water Tower... is that where that was taken?

Larjmarj said...

SupahSTAHH!!!!!

(doing the Molly Shannon pose)

Virtuous said...

LOL @ Tranquilizer!
Gurl you deserve it! CONGRATS!!!

I love the top!!

And I am so going to "friend" you in Ravelry.

Proud of you!!

Nik said...

Welcome to the club, my dear. I am completely proud of you, even though I don't know you personally.

Feels good, don't it? Enjoy your moment, girl.

Keep designing.

Anonymous said...

congratulations! and it is indeed very pretty!

Angelika said...

What a nice pattern and it fits you perfectly. I have a whole bin full of novelty yarns and don't really know anything else but scarves to make with them. Thanks for the idea.

Unknown said...

Beautiful work, Nikki! My absolute favorite in this issue.

Congratulations!

Karen said...

Congratulations! It is a beautiful sweater. It is certainly in my after Christmas knitting plans.

Phyllis T. of Knitgirlll06 said...

Congrats! It's so nice to be in the company of such a creative Sistah. It has such a wonderful use of color and detail. I wish I was small enough to wear that.

Karine said...

I am soooooo jealous. Not just because your a published knitting auteur but also because your pattern is gorgeous. I will add it to my list of stuff I want to do, right after I learn how to add the short rows necessary to make that top fit my tatas..s

AR said...

Congrats! You look great, and that sweater is so cute!

Marianne said...

Wow, I'm so impressed ! Just thought I would take a look at your site after your nice comment on my bunny. You make beautiful things and they fit you perfectly !
A hug from the black bunny :-)

tenacious knitter said...

Hysterical! I'm sure I would feel the same way :) Enjoy it, it's a great pattern and it's now on my to-do list - thanks!

Alyson said...

It's a VERY pretty design! I came to your blog from the Magknits pattern - I think you should be very proud of this. It's beautifully fitted, and I love that it uses novelty yarn (which most of us claim to hate but somehow have in stash...) in a really lovely way that's not like "Look at me, I'm novelty yarn!"

Elizabeth said...

Thanks for the pattern compliments on my blog, and DITTO. I had queued your pattern before I even heard from you!

Charlie Chuckles said...

Congrats! This pattern is gorgeous! I have added it to my Ravelry queue for when I lose 5 stone!!

Sisterly Knits said...

I'm a super fan! :D

Kara The Midgie said...

Thanks Nikki! The pattern is beautiful! Also, THANK YOU for writing the pattern to include big girl sizes! You rock!

Ann said...

I love the sweater. What a great idea to use a schmancy yarn for accents. It really ends up taking center stage! You pattern is now on my to do list.

Shorty said...

Congrats!!! Your sweater is gorgeous.

Sam said...

Awesome sweater. Appreciate all the detail and thought in the pattern drafting. Congratulations on a job well done.

Brenda in Toronto said...

found you via magknits - LOVE the sweater!! It's going in my queue!

Jenni said...

WOW! That's fabulous! I love it and you are adorable.

Thanks for stopping by my blog, Alum Creek.

I love that your pattern has special directions for different size busts. I will have to put it on my knit list.

WandaWoman said...

Very cute pattern Nikki! Good going1

Dulcinea said...

I love this design! I actually want to knit it, and I very, very rarely knit from patterns. I can't remember the last time I saw a sweater pattern this flattering and adaptable. It would be a great way of using small amounts of gorgeous handspun.

Anonymous said...
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noricum said...

I came here from Magknits.... *awesome* sweater!

nordwolke said...

Belated Congrats!
I stop by from time to time on your blog. You are funny and your knittings are great. I have finally started knitting and I will hopefully knit my first sweater soon! "Excuses" is a wonderful sweater!

tiggsy said...

Hi, I sorry to email this way, but I recently got introduced to Magknits magazine, and I loved your 'Excuses' knit top, but before I could print the pattern the magazine was taken down, would you be willing to pdf me a copy of the pattern for free or a small fee?
Thanks
Tammy

Unknown said...

I love the design and is on my list of to do's. I have found some wonderful specialty yarn that will work with this. I just need to decide on a worsted weight. I can't use Patons Wool because my hubby does the laundry and I know what would happen to the sweater of he washed it.

Cora

Gr8ful Momma said...

Beautiful work....I wish I had seen this before MagKnits disappeared. There are very few patterns with larger busted women in mind.