Unventing the Flower of Nepal
Happy New Year, Gentle Readers! As promised, here is a look at the Flower of Nepal, and the process of (re) designing it for you.
Over the last year, I started several blog entries that I never finished (Digital UFOs, if you will). And then promptly forgot they were never posted. Here is one such entry, which will, give a bit of background to the project I mentioned last time.
I said a while back that (some of) the reasons I never published this pattern are that it has shortcomings which might limit its appeal/knitability/wearability.
Called out in the photo above are the things the new version would have to address in order for me to consider it ready for primetime; i.e., good enough for my knitters.
While I’m not exactly disparaging the design, it was experimental when I made it, so I made choices for my own edification/amusement that I would not make if I expected it to be replicable by you. Some things directly affect the way it fits, and others are unnecessarily fiddly, even by my standards.
Those noted, here are the things I like about it, and that knitters who have seen it pointed out as good:
The color combination is both weird and wonderful. Nuff said.
The colorwork is all contained on its knitted hems, which both hide the cut steek edges and add both visual and structural gravitas.
The buttons and trims are cohesive to the piece, but somehow manage to tell their own story.
It’s really versitile and wearable, worked in superwash sock yarn that’s not heavy. A piece like this makes it easy to regulate your temperature and still wear a handknit indoors. Adjust the layer(s) underneath to suit your conditions and stay comfortable.
It’s actually a quick knit, compared to some other stranded colorwork productions. Once that big ol’ hem at the bottom is done, its just straigt on till morning in stockinette. Then some fun cutting and binding; and adding the (optional) trims and closures. Bang, you’re done.
My new and improved Flower of Nepal addresses the faults, while keeping the charms ot the original. Or so I hope. Stay tuned for the big reveal…