Alice in Wonderland

al8

It’s done! And it now occurs to me that I never really explained what it was for other than that it was for school. I’m taking Literature and Film and we predominately are looking at adaptations. Since the course critiques and discusses adaptations, my Prof. said it was good for us to try it for ourselves and see what it is like. We have to adapt one of the texts that we have read in the course. We are allowed to use whatever medium we want to do the project and I went with knitting. Someone baked a layer cake as their adaptation one year so I don’t think my sweater is too crazy. We also have to write an essay that accompanies our piece that explains what we did and says a little something about adaptation.

al10

Anyways, it’s pretty much done. I still have to weave in the blue ends on the sleeves and seams, but I wanted to get some pictures while there was light. I think I’m going to end up turning it in as is. I’m a bit afraid to block it because it has been so damp that I’m worried that it won’t be completely dry by Monday morning when it is due. I’d rather have some wonky stitches than turn in something damp. I don’t think anyone who is marking it will really notice. I also am skipping a detail that I wanted to add because of time. I had wanted to embroider “eat” on all the little cakes, but I haven’t started the essay portion so I don’t think it the embroidery is going to happen. Then there’s the fact that I have zero embroidery skills… It probably would look pretty terrible.

al9

If I did it again there are a ton of things that I would change. I’d use less positive ease. I’d move the intarsia down a few inches so it looked a bit more balanced. I’d make Alice’s skirt a different shade of blue so it doesn’t look like her legs just magically appear out of a weird squiggly white line. If I had a ton of time to do this again, I’d dye my own colors so I could get her legs right. I’d also use a finer weight yarn so I could make the intarsia more refined.

al11

It’s not my favorite project ever, but it didn’t turn out completely ugly either. I think that if I wasn’t working on a deadline I would like it better. There is something about deadline knitting that makes me hate whatever I’m working on towards the end.

ETA: I forgot to talk about the yarn! I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes on 5mm needles. Knit Picks was really the only way I could do this project. I looked into using Cascade 220 because they have a nice range of colors, but the cost of buying 220 yards of every single color I needed (around $150) made the project go out of my price range. Since Knit Picks Wool of the Andes comes in 110 yard balls (and because it was Knit Picks), it was much cheaper (under $70) and I have a lot less excess yarn leftover. It’s not the softest yarn in the world and I’m not confident that it will wear amazingly, but it was pleasant to work with. In case you wear wondering, I had to plan ahead and coordinate my order with my Christmas break so it got to my parents’ house in California at the same time I did. I brought it back to England with me.


Posted

in

,

by

Tags:

Comments

15 responses to “Alice in Wonderland”

  1. Your sweater turned out beautifully. Seeing it all put together, it strikes me as very fresh and whimsical. You did a lovely job with the color work (particularly the shading). It reminds me of something we might see Nicky Epstein turn into a child’s afghan. Bravo on your fabulous work!

  2. Wish this was my assignment! Love the sweater, I think the bunny is fab! I was suprised to discover recently that you can get some Knit Picks yarns over here but it still makes me a little grumpy that Knit Picks themselves won’t offer shipping 🙁

  3. I think this is an epic accomplishment. Everyone who sees this sweater will be instantly impressed. And it has just the right about of whimsy. I say well done!

  4. what a sweet sweater!! the colours look really good, and the detiasl are awesome. it’s great!

  5. It looks awesome! Sometimes working with constricts make for a very interesting finished product, even if you don’t feel that it’s perfect. I seriously love that little bunny, though.

  6. It looks wonderful! I loved seeing it take shape from the beginning. Knitting for school is the best.

  7. Nice work! I particularly love the White Rabbit. I hope you get top marks.

  8. What a brilliant assignment! I love your jumper and I hope that you eventually will release a pattern that your fans can buy! Me included, of course. 😉

  9. When I want to block something and I don’t have much time, I use a damp dish cloth and an iron to steam-block. Works like a charm. Pin down the sweater, place damp cloth on top, put iron on cloth and steam. It dries in seconds and looks beautiful, especially with colorwork.

    1. I forgot that was even an option! I’ll have to see if I can find everything I need to do that. I always wet block my knitting because I drag it around with me to weird places so I like to give it a wash when it is done. Thanks for the reminder.

  10. I love it! Super creative display of intarsia!

  11. that sweater is awesome! i love the colors. just wow.

    what a cool assignment.

  12. It’s so cute on you! The fit is really nice, and I’m so impressed by your colorwork. Well done!

  13. ianna

    this is uber marvy…I especially love that the images are high around the neck, sort of acts like an abstract yoke.

  14. I love Alice in Wonderland, and I love this sweater, it is gorgeous. The blue colour is so sweet and Alice-like, and it is a really flattering fit. I hope you get top marks for your assignment!

Leave a Reply to Kara Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.