The Badge

I haven't knit a whole heck of a lot of garments, socks, scarves or other stuff for boyfriends in the past. Come to think of it, I haven't knit a heck of a lot of garments, socks, scarves or stuff for guy-types like husband, father or brother, either.

(Worse, I didn't really ever knit until recently. So, don't mention the boyfriend part to you-know-who.)

It could be that I have a little girl, and girl stuff is sort of top of mind, but truth be told, if I had a choice, I'd knit for just about anyone with a bit of flair. You know, just about anyone who will wear the garment, the pair of socks, the scarf or some other type of thing with aplomb and a flick of the wrist. Or possibly the hopeful, "Still Hungry" look us knitters eeek out when we finally don a finished item for the first time...

You might know it as the Sweaty Look looking back at you in the mirror, the "I just knit this and I'm not quite sure" look we get from time to time. Or, the "Don't you dare look in the back there, where I accidentally dropped a stitch and didn't notice it until 12 more inches into the pattern but dang it I'm wearing it anyway....to the PROM" look.

Because, isn't this the Badge?

And I'll be honest about the stuff up top. I'm not a fan of the Fair Isle. All that multiple yarn-strand action rattles my brain. Sometimes I wonder if the whole problem stems from being blind on one side but I figure that's just a big excuse.

I just don't like performing the Fair Isle. So I faked it.

Enough said. Except to say, I finished the pullover version of the Cheap-o. Pattern will be available soon. (But don't get mad at me if the Fair Isle is not-so-fair. I just couldn't be bothered with all those strands. Just too many strands everywhere. Ugh.)

And I wanted to show you the cap-sleeved version of Sahara. I'll be sure to tell you when Stitch Diva makes it available, but this particular version blew me away.

Doesn't she have that hungry look?..Or is she begging you to look deeply into her eyes and not at that particular dropped stitch there under the left arm? (Just kidding.)

Sahara should be ready in a week or so. We're (I'm) just ironing out some particulars and trying to revive ourselves (myself) from the excitement of it all.

Comments

[fluttercrafts]

THAT is friggin GORGEOUS. Oh heavens, woman. I am trying to get through nursing school, can you PUHLEEEZE quit giving me so many wishtoknits?

[Leslie]

I loved this pattern when I first saw it, and now that I know it's yours, I love it even more. Absolutely fabulous!

[Katie]

Just saw your comment about the neckline being adjustable, so now I have Sahara on my "wish to knit" list too! I can't think of any occasion where I could get away with that low of a neckline, with my unglamorous lifestyle and little kids! Thanks for going that extra mile in devising variations in your beautiful patterns!

[Lynda]

.... I used to have hip bones.

[Jen the Knittingspaz]

Love the sahara pattern! She looks a bit hungry, yes, but it's the eyes that scared me honestly. now if only Tilly Thomas wasn't such a splurge for me...

[keohinani]

oh, and i meant to ask you before getting distracted by the hungry eyes...hehee, hungry eyes...dirty dancing...patrick swayze...*drool* oh shoot, wait. what? oh yeah.
would you happen to have the yarn requirements for your pattern already? i mean, maybe i missed it somewhere or i'm supposed to wait until it comes out...maybe? idk. i just know i have three skeins of tilli tomas pure and simple and i'm wondering if that's enough... well, actually, i have two skeins of one color and one of another and i'm wondering if two is enough for the main part of the pattern so i can get away with having the third for contrast on the neckline.

[wendy]

off-hand, I think a size extra small uses three balls for the body. You might get away with doing the sleeveless version with two and then the neckline with the other one, but that would be cutting it close. I think that the neckline alone would take one ball of the contrast color...I did mention in the comments that the final yardage requirements were being worked on as I type this!

[no_one_of_consequence]

Hungry look? Um, yeah...she certainly does have that hungry look...probably because she needs to freakin' eat something! Oy vey! I mean...I have nothing against being thin, but this is a bit over the top.
My disgust is in no way reflective of how I feel about the Sahara pattern - it is drop dead gorgeous in your usual style - I just don't like the models that the Stitch Diva Studio tends use. Not that I don't like the models personally...just the body image they tend to encourage seems unhealthy and unrealistic...but I digress with my tirade into the insanity of female body image in America.
Your pattern is lovely.

[spirals]

We are all anxiously awaiting this pattern release in our knitting group. We had quite a discussion last week about what looks to be several knit two togethers arranged vertically over the breasts - are they really there, and if so are they visible/noticeable in the actual piece or is it the lighting of the photos?

[wendy]

There aren't any k2tog's! The center section is actually tacked together so you can adjust it. The neck edging is a jewel-like stitch pattern.

[Lizbon]

Oh goody - adjustable neckline = wearable for Lizbon. Happy happy joy joy. Now I don't have to go bra-shopping (I hate bra-shopping).

[YarnBotanika]

WOW, I am so behind on blog reading. W, this is an amazing design! Congratulations...!!

[Heather]

Holy *&$^! Is this one of your designs? It's GORE-GEOUS! I'm waiting on the edge of my seat for the details!

[shobhana]

i *love* your fair isles! very pretty!

[sarah]

My jaw dropped when I saw that photo of Sahara. . .that is *just* my style. Will definitely be knitting that in the near future! Congrats!

[Kirsten]

The Quick-o-cheap-o is adorable, fake fair isle and all!
And that Saharah - well, I don't know if it's the photo and the promise of a thinner, younger, better self, but must have, must have. . .

[Tara]

Didn't the kids in the "Children of the Corn" movie have eyes like hers? Whew, scary! Good thing she is wearing such a fantastic-looking sweater!

[Stephanie]

Gorgeous design. I may have to add that to my list.

[Sara W.]

How weird! I saw the ad for Sahara in IK, and immediately dogeared the page, having no idea that you, my favorite designer, were the one who designed it! I knew there was a reason I instantly loved that sweater. I can't wait to knit it... and wear it!

[Account Deleted]

I would wear this sweater every day. It's beautiful & *sexy*.

[Stephanie]

Sahara really is beautiful! But what's wrong with that model? Her eyes are boring into me and I hear a faint voice in my head saying that it wants to eat my brain.

[Christina]

Awesome pattern! Can't wait to get it.

[Miss Scarlett]

I love that top so much!
Now, to shed the tremendous weight preventing me from wearing that with aplomb.
Seriously your patterns are such perfection Wendy.
Also - something freaky is going on with that chick's eyes. Hungry, not so much. Possessed? Yes.

[Boo]

Absolutely gorgeous! Keep it up!

[Andrea Instone]

Beautyful, but what a shame: When available I can't buy it not having a credit card ...