shayneknitter
Entry #41 Zee-Zee the Giraffe
I can at last reveal the name of my client, Ms Zee-Zee Giraffe.
She approached me asking if I could possibly design a 'zebra suit' (as she called it) since she hadn't found anyone else to design such a garment. The zebra suit, she stressed, was very important to her because she had long wished to "run with the zebra", (her words.) As she ages she feels time is running out (no pun intended) for her to do this.
We had many discussions and fittings. It resulted in a mini dressed. She wanted an attached, fabulous and wild mane to blow in the wind. She also wanted accessories featuring red beads to remind her of her favorite red beans from the Lucky Bean Tree. I was never able to persuade her to let me design underwear. It seemed it was never a decency or decorum issue for her. She explained it would hinder her running and it would make it impossible to stretch, bend or splay her front legs at the water hole.
Let the wind blow high
Let the wind blow low
Zee-Zee where's yer ... (sorry and apologies!)
A word to the safari-minded: keep your eyes open for Ms Zee-Zee this summer as she 'runs with the zebra.'
Designer's notes: so I'm a designer now am I !? Well this is the first thing I've ever designed totally from scratch, without a pattern. If someone asks me if I've ever designed anything I suppose I'll have to say, "Yes, a mini zebra dress for a giraffe."
Seriously, thank you for the wonderful way you nudged us to think creatively because otherwise there's no way I would have thought of doing this.
Technical details: The back of the dress consisted of a mitered square chosen for its ability to drape over the mid and rear of the body. It was not a perfect square because it was knitted until about 16 stitches remained. Also, short rows were worked into the stripes to make them uneven. Extra K2 togs were done to continue the shaping. The 16 stitches were turned into K2, P2 rib at the neck edge to make a sort of stand up collar. A few extra stitches were added on to make the collar wider. Stitches were bound off at the left and right edges except for 6 stitches at the center back. These were knitted into a long strip of st st, long enough to reach the head. The strip curled naturally and so black and white fringe pieces could be threaded into the curled piece to make the mane. The ends could be tied together and concealed. Stitches were picked up on the left and right front sides of the mitered square. They were knitted across in uneven black and white stripes using short rows. They were joined at the front using a three needle bind off. The top of the dress has a narrow black edging made by picking up and knitting and binding off all at the same time. Purposely there was no edging to the lower front edge. Narrow i-cords with red beads knitted into them became the chokers that also held the mane to the neck. I-cords on the legs are decorative ... Zee-Zee's vanity.
Materials: Knit Picks Palette yarn and size 3 needles.
The story developed as I worked and it influenced the design. The wooden carved giraffe (from Zimbabwe) stands 15 inches high. It became a perfect model that I used to fit and drape the knitting as I worked.
Entry #41 Zee-Zee the Giraffe
I can at last reveal the name of my client, Ms Zee-Zee Giraffe.
She approached me asking if I could possibly design a 'zebra suit' (as she called it) since she hadn't found anyone else to design such a garment. The zebra suit, she stressed, was very important to her because she had long wished to "run with the zebra", (her words.) As she ages she feels time is running out (no pun intended) for her to do this.
We had many discussions and fittings. It resulted in a mini dressed. She wanted an attached, fabulous and wild mane to blow in the wind. She also wanted accessories featuring red beads to remind her of her favorite red beans from the Lucky Bean Tree. I was never able to persuade her to let me design underwear. It seemed it was never a decency or decorum issue for her. She explained it would hinder her running and it would make it impossible to stretch, bend or splay her front legs at the water hole.
Let the wind blow high
Let the wind blow low
Zee-Zee where's yer ... (sorry and apologies!)
A word to the safari-minded: keep your eyes open for Ms Zee-Zee this summer as she 'runs with the zebra.'
Designer's notes: so I'm a designer now am I !? Well this is the first thing I've ever designed totally from scratch, without a pattern. If someone asks me if I've ever designed anything I suppose I'll have to say, "Yes, a mini zebra dress for a giraffe."
Seriously, thank you for the wonderful way you nudged us to think creatively because otherwise there's no way I would have thought of doing this.
Technical details: The back of the dress consisted of a mitered square chosen for its ability to drape over the mid and rear of the body. It was not a perfect square because it was knitted until about 16 stitches remained. Also, short rows were worked into the stripes to make them uneven. Extra K2 togs were done to continue the shaping. The 16 stitches were turned into K2, P2 rib at the neck edge to make a sort of stand up collar. A few extra stitches were added on to make the collar wider. Stitches were bound off at the left and right edges except for 6 stitches at the center back. These were knitted into a long strip of st st, long enough to reach the head. The strip curled naturally and so black and white fringe pieces could be threaded into the curled piece to make the mane. The ends could be tied together and concealed. Stitches were picked up on the left and right front sides of the mitered square. They were knitted across in uneven black and white stripes using short rows. They were joined at the front using a three needle bind off. The top of the dress has a narrow black edging made by picking up and knitting and binding off all at the same time. Purposely there was no edging to the lower front edge. Narrow i-cords with red beads knitted into them became the chokers that also held the mane to the neck. I-cords on the legs are decorative ... Zee-Zee's vanity.
Materials: Knit Picks Palette yarn and size 3 needles.
The story developed as I worked and it influenced the design. The wooden carved giraffe (from Zimbabwe) stands 15 inches high. It became a perfect model that I used to fit and drape the knitting as I worked.