Tuesday, September 07, 2010

Brave New Knits: My Milk Maiden

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Pattern: Milk Maiden
Source: Brave New Knits

I've been waiting what feels like ages to post about this here knit.Photobucket

I couldn't believe it when Julie Turjoman asked if I'd like to be included in her book about knitters and the interwebby blogosphere. I was so very, very excited! But it was, of course, all to be secret knitting.

I began work on Milk Maiden in early spring of 2009. At that time, the museum I work at had an exhibition featuring printwork of a number of Dutch masters. In particular, Lucas van Leyden's Milk Maid caught my attention.
While my own Milk Maiden isn't a totally faithful repro of van Leyden's barefoot farmworker, I took a few pieces of ephemeral inspiration from his engraving.

It's a fairly basic bottom-up raglan construction (you can't stop me on those sweaters!), with a bit of a fun twist with the ribbing on the bust and wee bit of lace detail knit separately and then stitched on afterward.

Photobucket These pictures were taken around May 2009, just before I mailed the pullover off to Julie for photoging and promotional purposes.

It's really very cool to see the same piece I knit being worn by a real model!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you, dear readers. If not for your continued support, I wouldn't have been much of a blogger. Would have missed out on so much inspiration. Certainly wouldn't have caught Julie's eye - it's all thanks to you that she thought to contact me, and I got to be involved in this great book.

Thanks so very much!

12 comments:

Rosie said...

awesome! Congratulations! Beautiful work.

kingshearte said...

That is super cute. Nice job.

Aesderina said...

you're an amazing designer and totally deserves to be in that book :) Congratulations!

LittleCanoe said...

Wow! That's so great. Congrats!

Andi said...

I saw this pop up on Ravelry this morning. Congratulations! It's a good looking sweater.

Angela said...

This is one of my favorite patterns in the book-- great details and shaping.

juicyknits said...

Your piece is amazing. I love the top-down design and the little lace piece really finishes it off.

Julie said...

wow, it's AMAZING!! I love the design. Congratulations, Teresa!! You totally deserve the recognition!!

Angela said...

I love this! I've seen previews on other blogs and I just fell in love with your design!`

StephCat said...

very cute & flattering! congrats!

Jane Richmond said...

Congratulations Teresa, it's absolutely stunning!

Hilary said...

I am SO behind on bloggy commenting this week, arggh! But hopefully you know that my feelings about this awesome sweater have not changed! Seriously, I love it...and I love the art historical inspiration and I love that it made it on the cover! Also -- I so agree about seeing ones design being worn by a real model! I'm kind of wishing I could track that girl down and have her model *all* my future knits!