When the DanDoh trunk was here for the retreat last month, and Mary, Ginni, and I did what any reasonable group of knitters would do: we tried on every single thing.
All three of us are between 5'8" and 5'10". We are not the same size. Ginni has a 38" full bust, I'm 36", and Mary is 42". We wear the same sweaters differently — and that turned out to be the whole lesson.
Here's what we noticed.
Bubbles // DanDoh Linen // 50" Finished Bust
This is where the conversation started. Bubbles has a 50" finished bust, which means Ginni is wearing 12" of ease, I'm wearing 14", and Mary is wearing 8". You can see it in the photos. On Ginni and me, it floats. On Mary, it skims. Both work — but they work differently, and which one you prefer comes down entirely to your own taste and how you like your knits to feel on your body.
What I love about a garment like this is that the lace does quiet, beautiful work. It keeps all that ease from feeling heavy. It's cool enough for summer, breezy enough to layer in April.
Agave // DanDoh Linen // 50" Finished Bust
Bubbles started the conversation. Agave stopped it. That color. The leaf lace. It's sophisticated and a little dramatic.
Same 50" finished bust as Bubbles, but this one has a more defined sleeve — longer, with a bit more structure — and that changes the silhouette. On Mary, it reads polished. On Ginni, it reads effortless. On me, layered over a black long-sleeve top, I think it felt kind of editorial. I want this on my needles right away.
We also had Agave in off-white with the flutter sleeves, which reads completely differently — softer, more relaxed, a little romantic. It's something you'd wear to dinner on a warm evening.
Woven Shadows // DanDoh Linen // 46" Finished Bust
This is the one where the ease math gets interesting. At 46" finished bust, Ginni has 8" of ease, I have 10" — and Mary has 4". Four inches on an oversized, side-to-side construction is more fitted. You can see in Mary's photos that it reads more intentional on her, more shaped. Honestly, it's stunning on her. But it's a different garment than what Ginni is wearing. Same pattern. Same needles. Same yarn. Different body, different story.
The scalloped hem is in this design softens the architectural quality of this design. I love how easily Yumiko's designs change mood. This is a garment that works over jeans, over trousers, over a skirt with boots.
Skyline // DanDoh Linen // 50" Finished Bust
Skyline is the most architectural of the group. That diagonal diamond detail is structural — it creates movement across the body and draws the eye in a way that makes fit almost beside the point. At 50" finished bust, it has the same ease story as Bubbles and Agave. As with all her designs, the fact that they are open means that you can completely change the look by changing the underlayer.
This is Yumiko's newest design, and she gives you the options for this sleeveless version as well as one with long sleeves.
Reflections // Cotton Air (Two Strands) // 50" Finished Bust
A few things you may already know about Reflections but I want to say again: First, it's knit in two strands of Cotton Air, which allows you to create that fun marled look. Plus the two strands give you great drape without having such an open fabric. Second, you can wear it either direction, so whichever color you want by your face, that's the one you put up top. We had a whole conversation about this in the shop.
The colorblocking does something interesting for fit: when you have a bold graphic story happening, the eye follows the color, not the silhouette. It's a useful thing to understand about garment design — certain elements redirect attention, and you can use that intentionally.
You like?
All of these patterns are available through Ravelry, and we have DanDoh Linen and Cotton Air in stock. If you want to talk through which design might work best for your measurements and your preferences, you know where to find us.
Warmly,
Ellen
ps: I love kits, but with DanDoh, there are so many options - size, length, sleeve type, color, kits are not really practical. But, we're here to help you, and we will happily put a custom kit together for you.