Jul 17 2008
swishy skirt for the singapore summer
If you recall my last skirt, the Snapping Turtle, well, it was hugging my then-minimal curves. My curves have gotten a bit bigger now that I’m in Singapore—you have been reading about all my food adventures, after all. Yes, in Singapore I need a swishy, hide-all-evils skirt.
Skirt #12 (they can’t come up with real names for the patterns in that magazine?)
Knit.1 Magazine
Size: Medium (36 1/2″ hip; I wanted it to sit on my hips so I went with that measurement)
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Wool Cotton
Skeins: 10
Needles: Addi Turbo US 5 (and 3)
Started: Sunday, June 29
Finished: Blocked and dry Sunday, July 13
I cast on all 455 stitches for this skirt the day before I left to come to Singapore, and worked on the bulk of it on my 30-hour trip (and during lots of in-flight movies). The Friday before, my friend Julia and I had been poking through a pile of old Vogue company knitting magazines I have. This skirt from knit.1 caught my eye. I trust Norah Gaughan, so another knitted skirt made me intrigued rather than nervous. Plus I could see that the stitches were going in different directions due to the bias; I figured that would combat any butt sag.
So I went stash-diving and found the burgundy Debbie Bliss Wool Cotton. I knit Pam out of it, in blue, years back, and I’d bought the yarn in bulk at Stitches back when Stitches was still in King of Prussia, PA.
The skirt is held up with a long twisted cord woven into a ribbed waistband. I have plenty of room to make this bigger or smaller. And the drape of the skirt allows for any amount of gathering—I think it would hang nicely no matter what!
The eyelet feature is dead-easy to remember (it’s only 2 rows of eyelet—though the pattern is written in such a way that you might think it was more complicated). The pattern itself is also so straightforward, it made for excellent plane knitting. I’ll admit to major impatience to have it DONE already. It felt like it was taking forever, and I was also afraid I was going to run out of yarn. I have more at home, so it was going to irritate me greatly if I’d not brought enough. But I had just enough, so this was blocked and dried last weekend! The skirt barely touches your skin, so the 50% wool wasn’t too hot in the Singapore humidity. I swear! I’ve also grown really used to the heat here, so maybe I’m delusional. But if you get too hot, you can swish around and create your own breeze!
DUDE!!! i am very impressed. you rock the knitted skirts. and photographically, the first and the last pictures have such a great sense of glee and movement. even without your smiling face!! :) kudos to you.
Beautiful! You’re making me want to pick up the skirt that’s been sitting on the needles at only two rows in for about a month…
Ohhhh I hadn’t thought about the bias and multiple directions of the stitches - I bet that DOES help combat butt-sag! I think butt-sag is the main thing keeping me away from knit skirts. I have a very … powerful …. butt. (that’s probably a nice way of putting it.) Anyway, what a beautiful skirt, and it must have taken for-EVER to knit! I’m super impressed. :)
Gorgeous! I have that magazine…have been eyeing that skirt, but too scared to attempt it. 455 CO!!! Stunning and beautiful photos!
You have such an eye for the potential of patterns! This is lovely.
Oooh, I was thinking about that skirt too, but fearful of butt-sag!
Absolutely fabulous!
that is so adorable! i love it.
No one rocks the knitted skirt quite the way that you do, Minty. That color is gorgeous on you too!
Ohhh I’ve been loving this pattern too, and am glad to see it with such glowing results! The red is lovely. I might have to think about actually casting this on too…
I eyed through this magazine in the news stand a couple of weeks ago and didn’t even notice this skirt. But yours came out realy nicely, and it looks like a truly wearable skirt!
So cute! Must knit a skirt for myself!
I LOVE this skirt. You look so cute in it. Ever so slowly, you are breaking down my resistance to the knitted skirt. There might be one of these in my future…
I really like that one! Nice job!
this skirt is fabulous. such a pretty color and a gorgeous shape.
Lovely - it looks great! I’ve never knit a skirt as I’m not too sure how it would turn out!
It’s super adorable! New York is going to feel like Singapore for the next few days… and I can’t wait to get back Portland!
You make the best skirts. I’m always so impressed. This one is adorable on you!
I’m impressed that you knit this entire skirt on vacation. It’s awesome.
That is so cute! (runs over to Ravelry to add to queue)
Super cute! It looks great on you!
one word: gorgeous!
I’ve always been leery of the knit skirt but this is beautiful! I am totally going to knit one.
wow! what a cute skirt! you rock the knitted skirts girl!
Way, way, way cute! I’m so glad you had enough yarn!!!
And I’m also glad to hear you’re getting used to the heat - you seemed so nervous about it before you left. :)
you are so cute! happy happy summer in Singapore!
Adorable! You look fabulous. I love that fun, vibrant red.
I’ve never ever EVER wanted to knit a skirt.. now you make me want to knit two!
E you look fabulous in that skirt! I love how it flows!
Gorgeous!
wow, that’s an awesome knitted skirt. i rarely see ones that i like, or can even imagine wearing, given my own curvaciousness, but this one? it looks perfect on you. love the yarn, too. it lent itself well to this project. well done!
Cute! I would have never thought a knit skirt would be swirly! In my mind they are either stiff or limp.
I think I am almost on the knit skirt train. I have my ticket in hand and am looking cautiously at the station.
This is amazing. YOU are amazing. It is so beautiful and looks so fantastic on you. I love everything about it.
I love the skirt, it´s beautiful! (I love skirts!)
(sidenote: today I´ve saved your post until after lunch time, just in case… ;) )
i am too much of a wimp to wear knitted skirts, but you are certainly rocking them! this one is no exception - it looks fab on you! and yum, db wool cotton …
love it. great color and design - super flattering on you.
It is lovely, and you look gorgeous in it!
I didn’t think I wanted to knit a skirt, but I’m so impressed with how great this looks, I’m seriously pondering it. Great knitting and great photos!
It’s AMAZING! Love the color and the fit is great. I’m sure you’ll get a lot of wear out of it. Heading to ravelry right now to queue that one up!
It’s official: you are now the queen of knitted skirts! Love the swishiness on this one :)
It’s super cute! I might have to try this pattern.
I adore that skirt! I’m probably going to copy you and make one of my own…but in a different color. Those shoes are really cute too. Your stitches look perfect on the close up shot.
That is gorgeous! And I lvoe the yarn you chose. I probably have that Knit.1 somewhere (my aunt got me a subscription). I’ve never knit myself a *real* garment. Maybe you’ll have inspired me. Maybe…
Another amazing skirt, Erin! Every time I see you crank one of these out and your gorgeous modeled pics, I feel the call of the knitted skirt, forgetting momentarily my big calves and how horrible I look in knee length skirts.
Glad you’re still managing to knit in Singapore. From what my husband tells me (he lived there for two years when he was a high school student), I don’t think I could even look at yarn and needles if I were there!
Enjoy the rest of your trip.
Looks beautiful!
Looking good!
I HAVE to make this one. HAVE TO.
Ooh how perfect. Love the color, the pattern and it sits just right too.
Minty, you got Crafted!
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2008/07/mintyfreshs_knitted_swirly_ski.html
beautiful! it looks great on you. and i was just about to say you’re on the craftzine blog but someone beat me to it!
Yup, that skirt is awesome! I still can’t believe how drapey the wool cotton is. That Ms. Gaughan, she’s quite the knitwear genius!
Stunning!!
Wait — why are you taking 30 hours to fly from New York to Singapore??
Very pretty!
wow! it really looks great!
oooh! i’m working on the same skirt right now! (altho its taking me forever)
your finished skirt is so lovely that its really encouraging me to sit down and get some more knitting done!
YET ANOTHER SKIRT that I am debating asking you to make for me! sigh. It’s either that or learn how to knit.
Beautiful skirt, I think I might pick this project if I ever get around to doing a skirt. Your pictures certainly make it convincing! And wow, why does it take 30 hours? GEEZ!
Wow, what a beautiful skirt - and you look so cute in it. Skirts aren’t something I’ve seriously considered knitting, but you may be changing my mind!
Which issue of Knit.1 did you find that pattern? Please email me at bgcyclist@gmail.com
Thank you!
what a great skirt! the colour is awesome, the pictures really show it off. personally, I’m a bit afraid of knitted skirts, but they always look great on you.
You know, this has been on my mental list since the mag came out. I’m glad to see it knit and now know I must add it to my own collection.
This is beautifully knit & looks stunning on you!
I’m moving to Singapore soon and have been fretting about sustaining my knitting habit … this looks like a good potential hot-weather project!
Beautiful!
The skirt is gorgeous on you! I love the photoshoot - beautiful!
the skirt is absolutely gorgeous!!! really beautiful knitting I might even be tempted to consider making a skirt (yikes) plus your previous posts on all the delicious food is making my mouth water love the spicy food!!!
Very beuatiful skirt, nice, neat stitches and of course the pic is very very well taken.
Oh that’s just perfect. And the photos are beautiful!
totally and utterly in love.
it looks fabulous on you!!
You are *totally* rocking this. Nice work!
I love this skirt! I was wanting to make it but wanted to know how it turned out! It’s beautiful. Hooray.
Oh, ha ha ha, the first time I read through I thought you said you needed a “swishy, hide all ELVIS skirt”. Heh heh, now it makes more sense.
Phenomenal job, I love your new knitted skirt.
A beautiful skirt and if there are any evils to hide, which I doubt, it’s certainly doing its job! ;)
I’m knitting a rectangular stole for afghansforAfghans right now using some of the Debbie Bliss wool/cotton that I had in my own stash. Not usually a cotton knitter, I like this stuff. Too bad it was discontinued. :/
Fantastic skirt, Erin!! You are a skirt knitting wonder:)
I, too, love the skirt and NEED to know which issue of the magazine it is in. This is the first knit skirt I have seen that makes me go WOW - I could wear that. Great job.