Sunday 20 March 2011

Warm Undies?

You may recall a month or so ago I posted a little preview of some knitting I'd been doing on the train (I'm getting to be quite brave about public knitting!)

Because I'd been to an exhibition and was rather inspired by this knitted ensemble by Tao Kurihara... well perhaps not the woolly knickers but I did rather like the bodice, which for some reason made me think of Marie Antoinette.


And so my knitting grew with more cables and a few bobbles... mostly made up as I went along, with an idea to create a bodice for the Austrian Queen of France.

I added some crochet edging...

And I had the idea it would be fun to add a whole pile of knitted cakes as a play on her alleged statement "Let them eat cake".

But somehow the cakes didn't work so instead I made lots of sugary coloured flowers trimmed with lace and pearls because she loved her garden and flowers and fancy trims were very much the fashion in the 18th century


More pearls, more ribbons and more lace...

And this is my bodice for Marie Antoinette so far...

I think it needs more work and I've still got ideas for those knitted cakes so you can be sure I'll be back to show you when the ensemble is complete but for now I'm quite happy with something that started as a whim!
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46 comments:

  1. Lyn Armstrong20 March 2011 at 09:38

    Gina that looks fabulous, I adore the flowers. Will you be doing a tutorial on how to make them?

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  2. Daisie20 March 2011 at 09:56

    That it really amazing, I love it! And who needs cake!? xxx

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  3. Heather20 March 2011 at 10:01

    What a super whim it was Gina - the bodice is gorgeous and very Marie Antoinette - you should have modelled it for us! I'm sure you'll solve the problem of knitted cupcakes, otherwise a cake stand of real ones might do the trick. However, your exhibit could attract unwanted pilfering!

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  4. Jodie20 March 2011 at 10:14

    Gina, you amaze me ...

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  5. Alice and Ginny20 March 2011 at 10:16

    very cozy! knitted clothes seem to be making a comeback, saw a knitted wedding dress at unravel this year. interested to see the how you incorporate the cupcakes, madonna styleee maybe?

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  6. Alice and Ginny20 March 2011 at 10:18

    cakes on her hat, or in her hair maybe? you got me thinking....
    happy sunday to you,
    ginny x

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  7. Iz20 March 2011 at 10:33

    I am seriously in awe. Cables and bobbles made up as you went along? Fabulous!

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  8. greenrabbitdesigns20 March 2011 at 10:43

    Wow Gina, what a brilliant work of art!! Really beautiful knitting! :)
    Only knitted cakes today though, it's Sunday, where's the real cake and the soup and bread!! ;)
    I have that little book too and there are lots of fun things to knit in it. :)
    Vivienne x

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  9. Diane Kelsey20 March 2011 at 10:46

    Absolutely wonderful! Have you seen the knitting pattern for the Royal Family? The article re was in The Telegraph.

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  10. Joanna20 March 2011 at 11:33

    That's beautiful Gina, makes my fisherman's rib cardigan for a little one look really boring now :)

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  11. Jane Housham20 March 2011 at 13:02

    Oh, really beautiful. I love what you've done with the cabling.

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  12. Frances20 March 2011 at 13:15

    Gina, you're creating a true one of a kind! Definitely over the top in the very best way.

    I really admire your creative imagination and sense of playfulness.

    Cheers!

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  13. Carol Q20 March 2011 at 13:26

    oh fab Gina. I lovely complex piece of knitting. I could really get into knitting something like that. I hope you're going to model it! LOL

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  14. Miriam Weaver20 March 2011 at 14:43

    I like the bodice, I'm with a previous comment on a hat I think would look fantastic. There seems to be a lot about knitting in public at the moment, during the 1970's I knitted every day in public on the way to and from work. That was if I managed to get a seat on the train and underground but I don't think it was unusual then everyone seemed to do it then! I have a story about losing my knitting but that's for another time, remind me to tell you about it next time I see you!

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  15. Miriam Weaver20 March 2011 at 14:45

    Ooops a senior moment, I meant to say the cakes would look good on a hat!

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  16. Celia Hart20 March 2011 at 15:34

    ... and will you be wearing it in an Easter parade?

    Those cakes would be great on a cake-stand style hat ;-)

    Does anyone want to chat to you about your knitting?

    Celia
    x

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  17. Suztats20 March 2011 at 16:29

    Wow! Ever neat idea! Nicely done!

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  18. Jan20 March 2011 at 17:16

    It looks so soft, a bit sexy, and terribly romantic. How sweet it would be with a long pink skirt...flouncy, of course!

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  19. Joanna20 March 2011 at 17:30

    Fun, pretty and so clever!

    Those flowers are gorgeous, perfect for MA.

    x

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  20. kat20 March 2011 at 17:34

    just gorgeous - I love it, it is so frou frou, yet textural

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  21. Sarah Payne20 March 2011 at 17:56

    All I can say is Wow!

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  22. wonderwoman20 March 2011 at 18:02

    Wow indeed - that looks amazing!!!

    xxx

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  23. jude20 March 2011 at 18:21

    stop using public transport

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  24. vintagerockchick20 March 2011 at 18:46

    I love it - will you make me one when I get down to a Size 8 please? And if I DO, I'll wear it on the train. With no jacket. x

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  25. Julie20 March 2011 at 19:13

    Well! I am totally in awe! And without a pattern too! Wow!

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  26. Greedy Nan20 March 2011 at 20:06

    That is a stunning piece of knitting - shame I don't have the 'right sort of body' to go with it or I'd make one for myself! Loving the knickers too - perhaps in red . . .

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  27. Diana Studer20 March 2011 at 20:51

    Apparently it was brioche. Can you knit a brioche? Course you can! Do you want to? But that golden yellow ... wouldn't sing with the pink and white prettiness.

    Was disconcerted, when I lived in Zurich - to be told, you are not allowed to knit on the trams! Train was fine.

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  28. alice c20 March 2011 at 21:46

    I am ridiculously excited by this because I saw it when it was just a few rows of knitting.

    Awesome knittage, Gina.

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  29. walter and me20 March 2011 at 22:18

    WOW! That's a fantastic piece of knitting. Just beautiful, and playful.

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  30. Tracey Petersen20 March 2011 at 22:23

    No way this is underwear. I'd definitely wear it on the outside!

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  31. menopausalmusing20 March 2011 at 23:03

    Delicious!

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  32. Emma20 March 2011 at 23:43

    Oh, just lovely. Maybe a little itchy on the ni oh, I mean cakes!

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  33. Unknown20 March 2011 at 23:58

    just love this gina! the possibilities!

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  34. Dolores21 March 2011 at 04:38

    Beautiful. I'm glad you made it.

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  35. silverpebble21 March 2011 at 09:55

    That is absolutely stunning - a feat of kitty design and engineering. Wow.

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  36. Downunderdale21 March 2011 at 09:56

    glorious stuff Gina -

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  37. julie21 March 2011 at 11:28

    Wow Gina! A wonderful whimsical creation - love those cables and the flowers are perfect!

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  38. Scented Sweetpeas21 March 2011 at 13:14

    oohh I love your knitted Spring corset, so gorgeous and the flowers and colours set it off perfectly. all you need is a gorgeous satin skirt flowing from it, a perfect outfit.

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  39. Fi21 March 2011 at 19:41

    How gorgeous.

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  40. Patchwork Linda21 March 2011 at 20:10

    Wow really lovely, you must wear it on a train journey now.You are so clever.x x

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  41. Rubyred22 March 2011 at 07:55

    WOw, such amazing work! I onnly just saw the comment you left but here is a link to a pattern for a rose http://the-dark-knit.blogspot.com/2008/11/crochet-roses.html.
    Hope it helps!
    Have a grat day!
    Rachel x

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  42. Angela22 March 2011 at 08:54

    Wow that's amazing.You are so clever.

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  43. Trekky22 March 2011 at 11:06

    This is fantastic! Very impressive!

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  44. A time to dance22 March 2011 at 13:40

    I love it Gina, what a wonderful creation...will it ever get worn? Its so beautiful...

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  45. Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers22 March 2011 at 18:39

    Your Marie Antoinette bodice is gorgeous! This is my first visit to your blog - it's beautiful.
    Janice.

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  46. Jill22 March 2011 at 22:56

    Quite a whim! Nothing like the vests my grandma knitted me way back when...

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