Thinking about necklines is about to twist my brain up into a pretzel. And not even a nice-looking pretzel, either.
I'm talking about a loopity-loop that is such a tangle that it wouldn't get cooked all the way through, or evenly for that matter.
Something that not even salt would stick to.
So, for a change in routine and an opportunity to return four balls of that nasty Mini Boucle that was leftover from my last knitted nightmare, I went to the LYS and got this new Gedifra
Highlights 052 magazine. Gedifra is good and bad at the same time. On the one hand, they're the types that will have you use about 20 balls of novelty yarn in six different flavors in smitters and smatters. Then, when you've finally finished and you try the sucker on, you discover, to your horror, that you look so short and so rounded and so overdressed you'd think you were channeling Tammy Faye Baker on a bad day.
And even though Tammy Faye Baker is probably one of my most favorite people ever, I wouldn't want to look like her on a bad day. Maybe on her best day I'd want to look like her because she's a happy sort. But, if I knit something for hours and hours with expensive novelty yarn and size 13 needles, I'd rather look like one of the Gedifra models with all the mod boots and fancy hair and lanky thighs. Definitely not Tammy Faye Baker on a bad day. Not to mention the mascara.
Anyway, Gedifra is good on the other hand, too. I think Gedifra--at least half of the time--is cool because they think outside the box. I'm not into the flash and glare or the super heavy yarn. But I tell you what, these cats turn out some nice lines.
It could be the models, though, come to think of it. In fact, awhile back, I knit something up from a Gedifra pattern and I look like a bag lady in the thing. (Well, at least when I'm not yucking it up for the camera.) I have to say, however, I do get some wear out of it. I wear it on those "bloated" days when my self esteem is so low that not even an ill-fitted, loose, and ugly sweater will make me feel worse.
So, here was my short list of designs from the current magazine that I like. I don't think I'd knit them per the instructions. But I do like the lines.
http://www.casa-creativa.at/gedifra_highlights_052/m756.htm
http://www.casa-creativa.at/gedifra_highlights_052/m744.htm
http://www.casa-creativa.at/gedifra_highlights_052/m772.htm
http://www.casa-creativa.at/gedifra_highlights_052/m749_750.htm
...But after remembering the bag lady debacle that Gedifra introduced into my home two seasons back; I'm not so sure. Especially if I keep wearing the thing with those Star Trek boots.
I could see you in the first one. The others, I'm not so sure about.
Posted by: elizabeth | January 03, 2006 at 07:03 PM
Man, I am having some serious 80s flashbacks here. It is not pretty.
Posted by: Chris | January 03, 2006 at 07:24 PM
Hmmm.....have you noticed all the models are about a size 0? Or maybe even a size minus 2?? Yikes.
The first one is cute, though!
Posted by: Michelle | January 03, 2006 at 07:39 PM
What's it say about me that I actually like that? Looks cozy and warm, or I may just be stuck in some time warp or somethin'.
And HEY--get yer feet off the table woman! People gotta eat there.
Posted by: heather | January 03, 2006 at 07:40 PM
eh, no one eats there, Heather! We haven't had a sit-down meal in that room for years!
Posted by: Wendy | January 03, 2006 at 07:45 PM
I love your sweater too....of course since it is cold here in Chicago....we wear such things on a regular basis.
I love your pictures!
Posted by: Lynae | January 03, 2006 at 07:53 PM
just to let you know, I knit your cute Boogie time for my son's 7th birthday-- he is going to freak. out. when he sees it! I wish it were my idea!
Posted by: Carole | January 03, 2006 at 08:33 PM
That's cool, Carole...I can't wait to see it! Where'd you get the time piece?
Posted by: Wendy | January 03, 2006 at 08:39 PM
Ah, Wendy I love your Gedifra pics! They're classic with a twist of trendy. I'll show you may only foray into Gedifra knitting. In their defense I substituted yarns, so it may not look as they intended http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/msanfordw2dds/detail?.dir=a629&.dnm=8eac.jpg&.src=ph (I hopefully linked to it, it's the orange/yellow sweater if you get into the whole album). Terribly 80's. I live in Orange Beach,AL so I call it my Orange Beach sweater. I also wore it on Halloween as it reminds me of cotton candy. Fortunately, tacky froo-froo is always in style down here.
Posted by: Michelle in AL | January 03, 2006 at 09:19 PM
Michelle, your Orange Wonder doesn't look like cotton candy to me, but it definitely has that Gedifra feel!
Posted by: Wendy | January 03, 2006 at 09:29 PM
You look good in your Gedifra, dear. Lovely shoot, boots and modelling on the table. Vogue Knitting and Rowan should take some lessons from you on this!
Posted by: erin | January 03, 2006 at 09:42 PM
I like YOUR Gedifra.
The new ones - not so much. The first is probably the best of the lot but my suspicion is that on most people it will look like Great Aunt Bertha's jumper. "oooh, isn't it lovely, dearie!" The green cable is guaranteed to make anyone look fat. The drop shoulder thingy would just drive me nuts. The capelet thingy - I couldn't look at it too long because of the hair! I remember that hair. I had that hair. God, I'm vintage revival now.
Posted by: hornblower | January 03, 2006 at 10:01 PM
Hey, I like the yarn! I kinda like the trendy tweed sweater. Your designs are better, and have a better fit. Those yarn company designers don't have a clue on the fit or wear~ ability of their sweaters. They just want to sell their yarn. There are big clamps and clothes pins behind each model to make the sweater look good. Truth be told ... I know...I used to work in the business.
I wanted to tell you thanks for offering to knit with me. I was at my LYS and they helped start the SMJ and I was off and knitting. You know how that goes..... I didn't mean to ditch your kind offer.
Posted by: gina L | January 03, 2006 at 10:13 PM
Oh, dear. I really like that green one. Well, on that completely anorexic model. I love the color - it would look great on me - but, oh, I think twas not designed for a) short folk, b) size 14 short folk, c) folk with short, fat necks, d)last but not least, 38D's. The "on the table" shots? Looks to me like the beginning of a crazy Star-Trek-boots-with-loose-knitwear strip-tease.
Posted by: Erica | January 03, 2006 at 10:27 PM
Oh, your poses are so funny! And as always, you have a gorgeous house. It makes me envious.
The second pattern (that lime green one) is my favorite. It looks so comfortable and I would knit it, but I'm not as bone thin as the model. It would make me look like I'm wearing a scary knit trashbag.
Posted by: Sherry | January 03, 2006 at 10:49 PM
Oh, I forgot to say - congratulations on being nominated for Most Entertaining Knit Blog. I voted for you, of course!
Posted by: Sherry | January 04, 2006 at 12:39 AM
I think the hair on the model is aggressively ugly, but I like the green cable sweater. Or at least I like the way the cables were done. Would I knit it though? Almost certainly not.
Posted by: Laura | January 04, 2006 at 03:02 AM
Why is Tammy Faye one of your favorite people?
And I'm trying to think of the last time I saw someone *sober* dancing on a dining table... :)
Posted by: June | January 04, 2006 at 03:32 AM
Like the dancing on the table photo. As for the models, have you notice they are starved Amazons? Anything looks good on a humane cloths hanger.
Liked the hair on the 1st model photo. Course I'd love the 80's to return.
Posted by: Debbie | January 04, 2006 at 04:10 AM
What is with the hair on that model? Didn't her mother ever tell her to stand up straight? I think you need to give her some lessons.
Posted by: Chris R. | January 04, 2006 at 04:47 AM
Maybe it's because I got no sleep, and it's pretty early, and I'm out of it, but "lanky thighs" made me giggle, and now my goal for the day is to try to work that phrase in to a conversation. At work.
Yeah. Gedifra can be scary. I'm having 80's flashbacks...scary ones, like when my aunt made me listen to Twisted Sister and put KISS make up on me when I was 5. I have a hard time wearing eyeliner to this day.
Posted by: Sarah | January 04, 2006 at 04:50 AM
You are full of surprises!
It's always so fun to come here.
Posted by: Miz Booshay | January 04, 2006 at 05:37 AM
I've recently discovered your blog so thought I'd say hello. I actually like the 1st 2 patterns--although 4 years of high school German is no help in deciphering the blurbs that go with them. Have to agree that your own photos are pretty darn good, especially the 1st, where the recessed light gives you that lovely halo effect.
Posted by: Angela | January 04, 2006 at 05:58 AM
Liked your runway "spoof" on the dining table - especially the star trek boots and the goofy hair!! What lengths you are willing to go to just to entertain us!! Props to HWWV (I'm assuming he's your photographer) for being such a great photo meister and being cool enough to play along with all your antics!
Posted by: Marsha | January 04, 2006 at 07:10 AM
I have never dared a Gedifra. Maybe it's that the models are all so thin and angry. I like a happy stick figure. I love the second pattern. Love the green and love that the cables are soft and flowing. Not all fishermany-in-your-face.
Posted by: Jonelle | January 04, 2006 at 07:12 AM