As I mentioned last week, I’ve jumped on the knitted-skirts-are-the-new-sweatpants bandwagon and cast on for the Shakerag Skirt. (And if you’re wondering, that bright green strand of yarn? It’s how I keep track of my rows . . . It is not a “design feature.” )
I’m not usually a joiner-inner when it comes to knitting-alongs, but . . . this skirt is a no-brainer for me. I love to wear skirts in the summer, and this one is well-suited to my kind of summer wardrobe. And so far, the knitting is coming along fast enough that I may even get to wear it yet THIS summer. (We’ll see.)
My knitting time in the summer is fairly limited (because garden), but this all-stockinette-all-the-time knitting is moving along pretty quickly. (According to the amount of yarn I have left, I’m at the half-way point.) The big trick is gonna be . . . fit. I need to do some calculating to make some adjustments to the decreases as I move toward the waist. (Because waist? What waist???) But the pattern includes tips for adjusting for your size — and the pattern designer even offers her assistance if you can’t figure out how to make your skirt fit.
Anyway. I’m using the same yarn as Nell knit for the design. I thought about other options, but I really like the look of this yarn in the finished skirts — and it should be very wearable in warmer temperatures. It’s behaving nicely, it blocks beautifully, and the color is perfection (for me and my wardrobe).
The lace section is straightforward and “easy” to do. (I hesitate to use the word “easy” because one knitter’s “easy” can turn into another knitter’s “lace-from hell” very quickly, I know.) The toughest thing about the start of this skirt is that the rows are very, very long (as Kat mentioned, these are long-ass rows) (get it?).
I’m happy to have this . . . steady freddy knitting . . . for my summer project!
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What are you working on this summer?
You picked a pretty color.
I’m probably picking the wrong season for my knitting since I won’t need this until next fall, but I’m thinking of casting on a Sophie Scarf.
It’s coming along nicely! I have wondered about the name, and when I googled “shakerag” I found these:
1). A cloth held out as a signal for example to stop a train 2). An unkempt and disreputable person (archaic usage) according to Miriam Webster Dictionary. Similar to a tatterdemalion.
My guess is that you won’t be using your skirt to stop a train, nor will you look unkempt while wearing it. (Tatterdemalion made my day!)
I think it’ll look super cute on you! This sort of knit-knit-knit project is probably perfect for evenings and rainy days when you can’t be in the garden.
That skirt is going to be perfect for you! I predict you will be done with plenty of opportunities for wearing it this summer, despite all the garden chores.
LOVE this Kym. The color is so good! I’m betting you will finish and wear it a ton this summer. And, I need to get moving and cast mine on. I’m with you on “waist, what waist?” – I figure I just won’t decrease as much as is called for and with an elastic waistband, it should be fine (should being the operative word).
So cute! I’ve thought of wearing skirts or dresses more…they are so in style right now. But I have a question maybe you can answer. My teenage granddaughters wear what I would call gym shorts (my age is showing!) but are more accurately probably called yoga shorts under their dresses. Is this something that you do too? I’m thinking it could be comfortable or it could be rather hot in the summer. Any opinions?
Between you and Vera I’m quite tempted to try this but as you allude, I wouldn’t get it done this summer. Maybe I finish my summer shawl I started last summer? Then maybe think about a skirt. I did buy two new skirts from J Jill this past month as I want to wear more skirts–I think I’m finally past the age where shorts are something I want to wear a lot.
That skirt is going to be perfect for summer! I lack the patience to knit a skirt, but I do like skirts and casual dresses for summer.
The skirt looks great and I’m sure you (and Nell, if needed) can get it to fit perfectly. I’ve been on a shawl kick … garter and stockinette with easy-to-memorize increases … and maybe – just maybe – I’m ready to start a much-needed summer cardigan. soon.
I just cast on my second Hummelo, a fun summer cardigan by Martha Wissing. The first I made a few summers ago to wear over sleeveless dresses and I love it. What’s more, it was great fun to knit, largely because the stitch pattern makes it so easy to keep track of rows and decreases. That one is white, but the current version is a shade of blue fairly close to the one you’re using for your skirt. (I chose Juniper Moon’s Zooey, a cotton and linen blend, for both versions. I’m rarely so repetitious in my choices, but the combination is a winner.)
Marilyn – I wear some shorts by thigh society under skirts and dress (if barelegged) as they are cooler and more comfortable than real bike shorts — in lieu of a slip. Some people wear them for modesty, I mostly do because I have full thighs and this takes care of any rubbing. Also there are skirts (skorts really) with the shorts built in that folks (especially younger than me ones) wear instead of shorts, because they like them. Very cute!
I’m slow to the party with the knit skirt, but I think a knit skirt would be easily customized (to waist and hip, whatever proportions) and really comfortable. Looking forward to seeing yours finished!
That is one beautiful skirt. I see you wearing it with sandals and a summer-y top with maybe a floaty shawl as you stroll through a quaint part of town on your way to an outdoor cafe or restaurant with Tom. The days when I looked good in a skirt are far behind me, so it’s fun “styling” other people’s wardrobes for them as a substitute. So I hope you wear those sandals!
Woo! That skirt is looking AMAZING! We might need to do a collage of all of us in our denim-y Shakerags! (in lieu of being together in person!)
I want mine DONE asap… I have this big pile of knitting to get finished!
It looks very pretty. I wouldn’t dare wear a knitted skirt..too many lumps and bumps!
It’s fun to watch these skirts come along! And when it comes to a skirt, I think you’re wise to use the designer’s choice in yarn. (She obviously knows how it wears/washes/reshapes!)
Can’t wait to see you model your skirt!
Skirts are so nice in the summer. I’m enjoying watching three of you work on them. The color looks very wearable but then it’s hard to go wrong with a denim like blue. I’ve been knitting smaller projects like a baby hat and mittens.