Desert Island FO

Although you’ll have to forgive me for the poor focus in a few of these shots (I still haven’t worked out the kinks of self-portraits here at the new place), the Waterlily Top is now officially an FO:

Pattern: Waterlily Top by Katy Ryan, from the Spring 2006 issue of Interweave

Yarn: Colinette Giotto, 2.5-ish hanks, color “Sahara”

Time Elapsed: The knitting took about a week

Modifications/Notes: Since I’ve been wishing lately that Interweave would publish this particular fact, I will start by saying that I knit the 38.25″ size for .75″ of negative ease in the bust. I really think that with a yarn as light and insubstantial as a ribbon yarn, negative ease (in the bust, anyway) is crucial for a nice fit.

I made some big modifications to this pattern, and I think they resulted in a fairly flattering knit. First, I shortened the whole thing by about 3″: my finished version is around 15″ from hem to bust. (I’m fairly long-waisted.) Second, while I kept the ruffle at the bottom of the tank I entirely changed the shape of the piece. The original was empire waisted and had at least 4″ of positive ease to the waist and hips (for me) in the size I knit. I just knew I’d hate so much fabric floating unattractively around my middle, so I made the shape more conventional and gave myself around 1.5 inches of positive ease in the waist. I’m really glad I did this, and if I were to make the tank again I’d give myself even less room in the waist.

I alternated from the 3 balls of Giotto through the whole piece, and I’m also really glad I did that. There was some minor pooling around the hem, but surprisingly it doesn’t bother me so much.

If I were to knit this again, I’d make more changes. After all is said and done, I think the tank looks pretty good, but would look lots better if I had changed the bias direction on the top halves to bias out rather than in. They still seem a bit at cross-roads with the v-neck, to me.

(Whoops! Edited to add that the usual FO round-up is available, as well.)

All in all, though, I’m marking this one down as a successful knit. I don’t typically wear tanks but if we happen to get a warm day, I’ll definitely reach for this one.

25 thoughts on “Desert Island FO

  1. I love the way this has turned out! I can honestly say that this is the first time I’ve liked a ribbon yarn, too! You look lovey!

  2. The mods totally make this. I’d never have knit this as it looked in IK, never–but you made something really successful out of it. Nice work, lady!

  3. Oh right on! You look like Venus on the half-shell in that little number!

  4. it looks fantastic! I am going to have to look up the original in the magazine to truly see all of your improvements.

  5. It looks great! Your mods really do make it look good– the magazine version is not nearly as flattering.

  6. Echoing everyone else here… you’ve way outdone the IK version! Love the colorway with your hair. And the fit is great!!

  7. Um, so maybe you could email your link to Interweave? I would not have looked twice at that pattern before seeing this version!!! It looks great!

  8. You have the eye! You’re probably the only person who saw that tank and realized its potential! And it came out fabulous with your modifications. Enjoy wearing it!

  9. It looks great. the modifications have made it so much more wearable and the colour is great on you. The length is just right too.

  10. The tank is absolutely gorgeous, and your mods give it a lot of style and fit. I totally get what you’re saying about the biasing around the V-neck; they are kind of at odds with one another. BTW, the tank looks awesome on you; it’s a wonderful complement to that to-die-for red hair! Many kudos on a beautiful FO.

  11. beautiful! the color looks amazing on you!

  12. I really love it! And you’re right, it’s very flattering on you. I wouldn’t have thought it would come out so well form the pattern picture.

  13. The modifications really made that tank great, and made it look great on you!

  14. OMG, Amy, that is gorgeous! What a perfect colour for fall, and the photo with your son is just perfect. I agree about the biasing out instead of in, but I noticed it only after you mentioned it.
    Enjoy wearing it, it fits you beautifully.

  15. Amy, the Waterlilly top came out gorgeous. It is incredibly flattering and the colors look amazing on you.
    Nice to see some pictures from your new place too. I love the one with Jacob.

  16. It looks great, Amy! So much better than the one in IK in terms of flattering fit. Empire waists are for the very young and/or curveless figures.

    Great photo of you, your son and the nasturtiums!

  17. Amy, this is just fantastic on you! Gorgeous color, very flattering shape — very, very nice.

  18. That is definitely a successful project! It looks lovely on you!

  19. I think it looks great on you! I’m sure it’ll get lots of wear.

  20. Amy, Let me join the chorus: the Waterlily tank looks beautiful. Your mods made all the difference. Does it match the vision you had in your head? I hardly ever seem to knit things exactly as written any more; results vary! (This is Cathy-who-was-afraid-to-blog, by the way.)

  21. It looks lovely on you! Just perfect.

  22. This looks really beautiful. I think you did a fabulous job.

  23. Love the sweater! Love the photos! They look like the pics in Interweave (the fresh ones – before the got all formal and fancy in the upcoming issue of IK)

  24. Beautiful! The colors are wonderful on you, and your modifications turned out well. The nasturtium foliage and blooms (and alyssum) make a great backdrop for your first photo… so pretty!

  25. I much prefer your version with the mods. I initially liked the Water Lily top, but thought it was much too long. Your version is much, much better. Very lovely and the colors are gorgeous.

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