I went to Foyles bookshop on Tottenham Court Road the other day at lunch time. I love Foyles as it feels like a bookshop should feel and has a lot more soul than a many of the other bookshops that have opened in London recently. Obviously I had to go and visit the crafts section where I stumbled across two books that seriously left me wondering.
This is the first one.
Sexy Little Knits by Ashley Paige. Check out the cover. Not really my kind of knitting to be honest.
But this. Oh my.
The ways in which this is wrong are, in my view, too many to enumerate. (And yes, I agree, to each his/her own).
Then I came across this book.
Knitting Lingerie Style by Joan McGowan-Michael. Now I love Joan McGowan-Michael's designs on her website White Lies Designs - I think that her fitted cardigans are stunning have been toying with making this or this.
But lingerie? That doesn't strike me much as something I'd particularly like to wear. Oh and let's be clear, I think little camisoles and the like are lovely. This, from the book, is very wearable.
As are these:
But the set from the cover? I don't think so and as for the knitted bra/thong set....
Would I actually wear either of these? I think not.
And yes, I think the photos are gorgeous and I am actually thinking of buying the book because of the camisole and a couple of other bits. But please can this be the last of books on knitted underwear. Pretty though some of it can be (assuming you have long long legs and a perfect body), knitted underwear is just wrong. Period.
(And I clearly need to have this conversation with Interweave Knits too. A knitted thong... What were they thinking?)
Posted by Amelia at May 30, 2007 05:23 PMI bought this book, and maybe only five styles out of the thirty two in the book are real undergarments.
The rest are inspired by lingerie and almost every last one of them are things that this middle aged mother of two would make and wear happily and modestly.
The Bed Jacket is gorgeous (and next on my list) and the Trumpet Skirt is also a winner.
My advice is to keep an open mind with this book in spite of the flirty cover. Otherwise you'll overlook all the gems buried inside.
Posted by: Moxy at June 16, 2007 03:45 AMI completely agree with you as knitting underwear is not my thing too. I think I will keep to my knitting of the normal stuff - jumpers, scarves, socks, wraps, etc!
Posted by: Ann at June 5, 2007 01:05 AMI too agree....unless we are talking serious wolly stuff, meant to keep you warm.. knitted pants are for babys and todlers... not grown up women.. These days are gone!
IDA
Posted by: IDA at June 4, 2007 04:14 PMI am with you with every word you´ve said!
Posted by: Krawuggl at June 4, 2007 03:41 PMOh, dear dear dear...
Along the same lines, many of the knitted bathing/swimming suits I've seen obviously weren't thought through too well.
Love that green cami, tho!
i wouldn't necessarily say that it's wrong, but it does seem like a awful lot of work for something without the right support.
Posted by: polly at June 3, 2007 03:05 PMI agree, knitted underwear is just wrong, thats why we have M&S.
Posted by: yvette at May 31, 2007 08:44 PMIs the bikini knitted out of paper yarn? Because that would really make it perfect. :)
I actually did buy Lingerie Style--not for any of the lingerie, because even if I don't mind finishing, I'm not about to deal with underwire! But I do like many of the camisoles and some of the sweaters. I haven't knit anything out of it yet, but the patterns look good and the sweaters seem to have that same aesthetic that I like so much in her White Lies designs.
Posted by: Amy at May 31, 2007 04:28 PMI do like the camisoles. I am actually finishing one right now which is a copy of an ancient undergarment. But a thong...! The fringe picture reminds me of a 70's hippie thing, though, kind of fun :)
Posted by: hege at May 31, 2007 03:44 PMNo knitted underwear isn't really my thing either, not sure what to say about the thong, just be careful what yarn sub to use, lol. The socks and the camisole look nice though
Posted by: Tracy at May 31, 2007 01:50 PMUmmmm... now I was wondering about a nice mohair thong ;)
Posted by: Tracy at May 31, 2007 09:13 AMalso, how incredibly fiddly to knit a bra! even if there is no fringe *shudder*
those socks are very, very cute.
Posted by: kris at May 31, 2007 07:31 AMI reckon these books are marketed at bewildered men trying to find a gift for their knitting wives/girlfriends! It's easier than buying REAL lingerie!
Posted by: Meg at May 31, 2007 02:40 AM