DIY Q&A by Making Things

I've been getting emails from readers about the technical aspects of knitting. I've decided to start posting my answers on this blog. If you've got any DIY questions, just drop me a line.

Re: Valentino cashmere embellished knitted handbag

I cut out the picture of this same bag from an earlier Vogue issue. I then saw your website with the same bag and wondered if you might know where I could find the instructions to knit this. Please advise with any help available.

Sincerely,
Sandy

Dear Sandy,

I don't know of any particular knitting patterns for this bag, possibly because by the looks of it, it goes beyond just knitting, the assembly calls for sewing in a lining and probably sewing in a piece of leather on the bottom side of the upper flap (to give it shape and stability. The knit cable pattern you might find something like it in a stitch dictionary. Generally the look of this bag is really defined by the additional hardware and embellishments that gives it its character. If you find a sewing pattern similar to this shape, you could figure out how to knit the outer shell of this bag (you just need to knit the same pattern shapes that is in the pattern) and follow the remaining instructions for sewing in the lining, etc.

Keep Knitting,
Andrea

Fashion Video Podcasts

(ipod cases, Left: Kate Spade, $75, via, Right: Prade, $215, via)

Recently discovered that Fashion Telvision is releasing their shows as podcasts. So you'll never miss another show, or you can skip segments that don't interest you, and even better, no sitting throug commercials. Also came across the newly launch Vogue Fashion on Demand and Style.com's videos are also availible as downloadable podcasts.

Update: This just in, VogueTV from British Vogue. Features exclusives, interviews with experts, and catwalk videos, all of which is downloadable to your iPod.

Knit Story

(Left: Angora-and-wool dress, Stella McCartney, $1,245, at select Nordstrom. Cashmere pants, Ports 1961, $595. Cashmere hat, Burberry, $250. Cashmere fingerless gloves, Chanel, $260. Right: Wool sweater, $505, silk-taffeta dress, price upon request, both, Chloé, collection at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC. Wool hat, Stella McCartney, $295. Cashmere gloves, Carolina Amato, $45. Tights, Hue. Leg warmers, Sportmax, $140. via)

Check out this editorial from Elle magazine. The whole shoot is based on knitwear. Seeing knits so prominently featured (in a non-knit magazine) is a knitter's joy. You can tell I'm obsessed, would I be in the business of knit if I wasn't? One thing's for sure, a great sweater is always desirable, whether or not it's a big trend.

What I love about Fall...

(Left: Vogue, September 2006 cover, Right: Twinkle sweater shot in Chicago magazine, a shoot that La Coquette was involved in, via)

...is the heavy Fall fashion magazine and seeing all the sweaters arrive in stores and showing up in editorials, especially this Fall, more than ever knitwear had somewhat become the "new frontier" despite its deep heritege. It speaks volumes as to where we are as a society-- seeking comfort, a sense of tradition for modern times, the return of grunge.

On another note, as I said before that I cannot wait for the Marie Atoinette film to come out, I think I've been waiting for Sofia's film long before they are even made. Kirsten Dunst as Marie Atoinette on the cover of Vogue. I am waiting for this issue to arrive in Canada. Also check out this preview on Style.com and behind the scene video for this shoot by Annie Leibovitz.

Style Icon: Sofia Coppola

(Both from Style.com, left, Sofia on the set of Marie Atoinette, right, Marc Jacobs and Sofia)

Check it out, my favorite style icon featured in a slideshow at Style.com. I first read about Sofia in Seventeen when I was in high school! The article featured her giving a tour of her favorite places to hang and her MilkFed studio. Sh'es really come a long way since then! I can't wait to see Marie Atoinette.

Baby Alpaca in designer clothing

(Both available at Saks, Catherine Melandrino $355, James Coviello, $275)

When I first started Fable Handknit, alpaca yarn was fairly new, baby alpaca wasn't even available in yarn stores. But then alpaca become more like s staple fiber rather than novelty or exotic, probably because it is so versatile in nature. I chose to source baby alpaca because of it fine quality without its over-the-top price of royal alpaca (at this price you should just buy cashmere). However, despite it being a classic yarn, I still run into the odd yarn shop owner who will only carry one line of alpaca. You wouldn't only carry one line of wool, why would you only carry one alpaca line?

My friend came home for Christmas last year and I showed her the yarn I was selling and was surprised how soft it was, comparable to cashmere despite that it was one-fifth the cost of cashmere. And she asked me why it's not really used in ready to wear clothing. Most probably because its lack of marketing, the general public (who are not knitters) are not aware of its existence and its advantageous characteristics (a very strong yet soft fiber, very warm even in its finer weights, easy to launder). If anything, consumers are easily enticed by cashmere, even if it's only a 5 or 10% cashmere blend. Then again, many consumers don't even look at fiber content of clothing items.

That's why I am so thrilled to see some 100% Baby Alpaca sweaters from designers like Catherine Melandrino and James Coviello. It really means that alpaca is catching on.

Punk Pretty

(Both Marc Jacobs via Elle)

I love the idea for the two Marc Jacobs sweaters. At first glance it's so pretty with the lace and metal adornments, but on closer examination, the metal adornments are merely safety pins. Quite subversive, really. And the rest of us can get this look at home. An interesting aspect of this DIY is the possibility to tranform your cardigan than change it back you're you're tired of it.

My old post about Anglomania links you to a podcast by Johnny Rotten which explains the meaning of punk and why safety pins are such an icon of this movement.