My Custom Fit Tank

I've been talking so much about new Custom Fit program from Amy Herzog that we'll be offering - can you tell I'm excited about it?  Ginni and Mary and I have been busy running through the whole thing to get a feel for how to make it best work for you.  We've photographed and measured one another, analyzed our personal style preferences, and talked about our favorite sweaters and why we love them.  Armed with that information, we've each selected a solid sweater yarn and a Custom Fit Sweater design to knit for ourselves.  We've swatched and measured, washed and weighed (our swatch, that is).  We've input our measurements into the computer, and received our own custom fit pattern.  Pretty exciting stuff! It does seem like a lot of effort before the cast on, but it's really important to have a fabric you like, and know what's going to happen to it over time. And since you've done all that swatching ahead of time, when you get your patttern you can just cast on and get started.  

For my project, I've chosen Nantasket, Amy's simple scoop neck tank with a mesh lace trim.  (Photo courtesy of Amy Herzog Designs copyright 2013)

In her pattern photo, Amy's wearing this as a vest over a blouse, but I'm want it as a summer tank.  I've chosen beautiful Cotton Lustre from Rowan because it's a dream to knit and I love the feel of the fabric against my skin.  Since it is going to be an against-the-skin garment, I was really happy that my swatch came through the wash and dry absolutely perfectly.  My stockinette gauge is 4.36 stitches per inch, and the swatch didn't change a bit in the laundry.

It's been a very busy week at the shop, with lots of new yarns coming in, so it was Friday before I was finally able to cast on, but it goes really fast.  You start with some garter stitch and then  this pretty little mesh lace edge worked on a US size 9.  Even though this is a lace pattern, I'm using my Addi Turbo needles because Cotton Lustre is a tape yarn and knits best for me on a less pointy needle.  

I've just changed to a US size 10 for the body since the yarn is so stretchy. In this larger picture below you can see one of the things that makes Amy Herzog designs fit so well and look so nice:  There's waist shaping in every sweater, and the shaping happens under the bustline rather than at the sides.  Notice the stitch markers?  That 's where my waistline decreases happen.  This positioning of the shaping gives the garment a flattering line and creates a structure that conforms to your body. 

I'll be posting more about this process as I go along.  If you're interested in the Custom Fit program, be sure to register for one of our workshops.