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!

46 comments:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  11. 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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  12. 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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  13. 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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  14. Ooops a senior moment, I meant to say the cakes would look good on a hat!

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  15. ... 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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  16. Wow! Ever neat idea! Nicely done!

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  17. 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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  18. Fun, pretty and so clever!

    Those flowers are gorgeous, perfect for MA.

    x

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

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  20. Wow indeed - that looks amazing!!!

    xxx

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  21. stop using public transport

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

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  24. 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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  25. 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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  26. 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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  27. WOW! That's a fantastic piece of knitting. Just beautiful, and playful.

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

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

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  30. just love this gina! the possibilities!

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  31. Beautiful. I'm glad you made it.

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

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

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

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  36. 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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  37. Wow that's amazing.You are so clever.

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  38. This is fantastic! Very impressive!

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

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

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

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