DIY Network

Alene Camisole Alene Camisole From "Knitty Gritty" episode DKNG-306

Never before have undergarments been so comfortable! Knitwear designer Joan McGowan-Michael, of White Lies Designs, visits host Vickie Howell to demonstrate her wearable knit lingerie. Wear this sexy little camisole design for lounging or sleeping or with jeans over a snug T-shirt for a romantic layered look.

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Knit-O-Meter Rating: Intermediate to advanced.

This camisole is knit directionally with the bodice yoke worked from the bottom up. The lower lace portions are then picked up and worked in a downward direction. The short-row shaping in the bodice offers a fine fit for curvy girls, and hidden interior elastic keeps everything snug and in place.

Finished measurements (figure A):
Bust (camisole): 36 (38, 41, 44, 48, 50, 54 )"
Length of camisole at size seam: 15 (15, 15-1/2, 15-1/2, 16, 16 , 16-1/2)"

Alene Camisole

Figure A

Materials:

4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7) skeins Alpine Cotton by White Lies Designs (100% cotton, 100 yds per skein) in Raspberry (or color of choice)
U.S. size 5 (straight), 6, 7 and 8 (circular, 24" length) needles
tapestry needle
size H crochet hook
1 yard 1/2" lingerie elastic
lingerie slides and rings for straps
optional: molded cups

Note: Remember that many yarns are seasonal and could be discontinued. If the specific yarn called for is not available, purchase a substitution yarn that comes closest to the specified gauge in your pattern. And be sure to make that all-important swatch to see whether the yarn works for your particular pattern.

Gauge:
5 sts per inch over lace pattern st using size 6 needles
5 sts and 7 rows per inch over stockinette st using size 6 needles

Lace Stitch Pattern (multiple of 9+4)

Rows 1 & 3: Purl
Row 2: K3, *yo, k2, ssk, k2 tog, k2, yo, k1, repeat from * ,end K1.
Row 4: K2, * yo, k2, ssk, k2 tog, k2, yo, k1, repeat from *, end K2.

Figure B

Camisole Bodice Back (figure B)

Beginning at lower edge of bodice and using size 6 needles, cast on 87 (93, 99, 107, 119, 121, 131) sts and work 1" in stockinette st. With RS facing, increase 1 st at each end of needle this and every 6th row 2 times-- 91 (97, 103, 111, 121, 125, 135) sts.
Work evenly until back measures 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6)" from beginning.

Armhole and Neck Shaping

With RS facing, bind off 5 (5, 7, 7, 8, 9, 11) sts at the beginning of next 2 rows and 3 (4, 5, 5, 7, 8, 10) sts at beginning of following 2 rows.

With RS facing, K 24 (26, 25, 28, 32, 29, 30) sts, bind off 27 (27, 29, 31, 33, 33, 33) sts, knit 24 (26, 25, 28, 32, 29, 30) sts to end.
Working on left strap, dec 1 st at each end every other row until 2 sts remain. Place sts on holder and cut yarn leaving about 3 yards of tail. Wrap yarn into a butterfly and leave it to hang at back of work.
Attach yarn to right strap and work as for left. When 2 sts remain, place on holder and leave extra as before.

Camisole Front

Cast on 87 (93, 99, 107, 119, 121, 131) sts and purl 1 row. With RS facing, knit across 38 (41,44, 48, 54, 55, 60) sts, yo, ssk, K7, k2tog, yo, work across 38 (41, 44, 48, 54, 55, 60) sts to end.
Next row, purl across.
Repeat eyelet pattern as established in previous row on every RS row, and at same time work increases at sides as for back.

For A or B cup sizes, omit the following:

When front measures 2-1/2 (2-1/2, 2-1/2, 3-1/2, 3-1/2, 4, 4)", work short row shaping as needed.

Short rows add length to the body of a garment without adding length to the sides. This can be useful for fitting all kinds of body shapes including protruding tummies or rear ends, curved spines and, in this case, bountiful bosoms. The short row area creates a "bubble" for the protruding body area to fit into without any distortion to the other areas of the garment.

Add short rows to the bust area of a garment by working thusly:

Work across RS to within 3 sts of end of row.
Wrap the next stitch (with yarn in back, slip next stitch from left hand to right hand needle, bring yarn to front of work, slip back to left hand needle), turn work around and work back to other end to within 3 sts of end of row. Wrap next st, turn, work back to other end to within 4 sts of end. Repeat, wrap, turn, work to within 4 sts of end. Wrap and turn, work to within 5 sts of end, wrap and turn to within 5 sts, wrap and turn. Repeat until * stitches on each side of front have been wrapped.
Next row, work all the way to end of row, picking up wrapped sts along with regular sts and knitting as one st. This will make your short rows all but invisible, and you've created a bubble in the garment for the bustline to fit into without distorting the hang or fit of the garment.

(*3 sts on each end for a C cup, 6 sts for a D cup, 9 sts for a DD, etc.)

Continue to work front as established until front measures same as back at side seams. Bind off armholes and neck as for back.
Steam front and back lightly and sew side seams.

RESOURCES :

Alpine Cotton yarn
White Lies Designs
P.O. Box 214883
Sacramento, CA 95821
Website: www.whiteliesdesigns.com