Modified glee

Published on Saturday April 21st, 2007

glee_progress1.jpg

Meet Glee, as she exists so far. Little Miss Glee is basically a Big Fat Experiment — the kind where you don’t know whether it’s all going to come together until the last stitches are bound off and the last hook and eye are sewn in place and you can try the thing on. The thing is, this little top looked cute on Carrie and on the pattern envelope. But once I bought my own copy and dug into it, there were some red flags. Crimson flags. Incarnadine flags. Ahem, no waist shaping? Nothing to trim the little madam down after she progresses past my bust? If I were a boobless boy, this might look good. Alas, I am not. Not even alas. I embrace my shapely femininity. (Cue Free to Be You and Me.) But what to do with tube-ish Glee? (Okay, those last few sentences read like Gilbert and Sullivan, had they written any scores while blind drunk. Sorry about that.)

Short rows. Hell-bent-for-leather decreasing. More short rows. More decreasing. Now some increasing, and I’m nearing the end. I took it off the needles once, just after the bust, to see how I was doing. Now it’s hold-your-breath, race-for-the-finish-line knitting, and the mood is one of anxious anticipation rather than glee. There will be glee if the thing fits like I hope it will, but not yet.

I do like this yarn, though. It’s Garnstudio Drops Silke-Tweed, and it makes a nice cohesive, slightly nubbled fabric. More than that, I love the color: indigo with flecks of red, green and white. You can kind of see it here, but it’s better in person.
glee_progress2.jpg

Okay, I’m off to concoct some sort of costume for Michelle’s Twin Peaks-themed birthday party (Happy Birthday, Michelle!), and then I’m going to spend a little QT with Rorschach, some hot ginger tea, and the BBC Pride and Prejudice, which you can never watch too many times and is unparalleled on rainy afternoons.

But quick, before I go, give me an opinion on Glee’s sleeves: Little cap sleeves as in the pattern (what you see above plus four rounds of 1×1 rib), or elbow-length like Carrie’s? Vote!

20 Comments to “Modified glee”

  1. Katy Comment Says:

    Mmmm…I like the elbow sleeves, myself. I think it makes it a bit more versatile, unless you want to put Glee into heavy summer rotation.

  2. Janet Comment Says:

    i think i’ll actually vote for cap sleeves, but that might be due to the beautiful weather we’re having here today because it finally feels like spring!

    the yarn does look beautiful! i can’t wait to see how the “experiment” turns out 🙂

  3. laura b Comment Says:

    Hope all those mods work for you! I like the elbow sleeves, but I think I have to vote for the cap sleeves. Looks great so far… keep truckin’!

  4. emily Comment Says:

    elbow length for sure, I think…especially in the tweedy yarn. looks cute so far. (eagerly awaiting Rorschach progress too)

  5. Karma Comment Says:

    I think a tweedy yarn lends itself toward more than just summer wear, and an elbow-length or 3/4 length Glee would be especially useful here in the lovely Pac NW. Good on you for making modifications as needed; I would definitely have wanted some sort of curvy shaping, too. 🙂

  6. minnie Comment Says:

    i suppose it depends on what shape your arms are in. are they sleek, and sexy? or do they bulge? or bag? if the first, i’d say cap sleeves. if the second or third, i’d say carrie’s version. i have real biceps (too many years hoiking around cases of gallon cans, and feed bags (foodservice & farms, lol)), so i can’t wear cap sleeves. they make me look like popeye!

  7. whurleygrrl Comment Says:

    i agree with you about the BBC Pride and Prejudice. i can knit straight through all six hours. regarding Glee, i wouldn’t do the elbow length. either make it longer with true 3/4 sleeves, or possibly the cap. but like minnie said, only go for cap if you feel your arms are flattered by them.

  8. Lisa Comment Says:

    I vote for elbow length sleeves if you have the yarn for it. That’s what I’m going to do. Looks great so far! I’m not even past the raglan increases… Glee is on the back burner until my sister’s wedding shawl is done.

  9. carrie m Comment Says:

    well, i’m obviously partial to the elbow-length sleeves, so i should stay out of it. love the tweedy yarn, tho.

  10. jess Comment Says:

    good for you for all the mods! I know I’d have to make the same ones.

    I vote elbow length too — I think it makes the top more versatile. 🙂

  11. Brenda Comment Says:

    Glee looks great! I would go for the elbow length sleeves. I love the color you chose for Glee.

  12. knittingphilistine Comment Says:

    I am loving Glee in tweed…
    and pretty please show us some photos from the Twin Peaks birthday party?? (season two has just been released on dvd–woot!)

  13. stacey Comment Says:

    I think cap sleeves would be really cute…..looks great so far – you are doing a major overhaul of the pattern – brave!

  14. Debby Comment Says:

    I’m not familiar with the wool, but the darker color and “tweed” nature tell me it’s more of a cool weather sweater, so I’d vote for the longer sleeves.

    Your waist shaping sounds amazing and adventurous (to me), and I’m hoping it turns out just right for you! Looking forward to seeing the finished sweater.

  15. britt Comment Says:

    I like longer sleeves, so 3/4 sleeves.

  16. john Comment Says:

    You had me at “boobless boy”.

  17. gabriella Comment Says:

    Hi there – I just finished up Glee a few weeks ago and had the exact same issues – without shaping it looked like a giant green bag, and I was NOT pleased with that. I ended up frogging the whole thing (oh, the pain) to make the smallest size, and adding a good bit of waist shaping. I also did elbow-sleeves, as I don’t think cap sleeves look right on anyone, regardless. I’m really happy with the finished product and have received compliments from non-knitters, even! So my vote is elbow sleeves, for sure, and I hope your waist shaping mods work out. ~gabriella 🙂

  18. joy Comment Says:

    yikes! i have the pattern but didn’t look it over… i may have to take the way of the blue garter and figure my strategy. in time, of course. don’t want the knit ADD to sit in. good luck with the shaping! i’m sure you’ll be fine. as for sleeves, i’m partial to the elbow lengths because hawaii offices have tendency to blast the a/c.

  19. Katie Comment Says:

    I vote elbow sleeves! Glee looks great so far ~ I hope she stands up to the test when you try her on again. You’ve certainly put a lot of work into her.

  20. rebecca Comment Says:

    Oy! cap sleeves are *not* easy to wear, though do lend themselves to layering options… My vote is elbow length! (or a full 3/4 if you have the yarn.)