Twist Collective Blog

Twist Style Friday: Pont Neuf

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Published on Friday, 31 May 2013 01:12

Every Friday we feature one of the garments from the magazine in a post about styling. We suggest different ways to wear the garment in question using mock-ups from Polyvore. We encourage readers to tell us what they think about these outfits via our Facebook page or Twitter, and if folks want to make their own outfits, please tweet them at us with the hashtag #twiststyle. You can find all of the Style Friday posts here.

As you read this, I am most likely in a mostly operational car with my friend Jenn, en route from Toronto to Montreal. We two are going to see some friends this weekend, and it was kind of a last minute decision! Impromptu roadtrip! So I'm writing to you all real late Thursday night; I haven't even packed yet and we hit the road early in the morning. I'm not complaining though; I am really excited to reunite with my Montreal yarn girls, a group that includes the lovely, talented Kate Gilbert. You can be jealous if you want. We might go to a roller derby game.

I'll be jealous of you if you have made this sweater. Pont Neuf. Sigh.

I love everything about this. The garter edging, the sleeve length, the sideways lace, the off-center buttons, the slightly boat-y neckline. I think I'm in love. Let's get a bit of a closer look at that lace panel, shall we?

Swoon.

Because of the asymmetrical fronts, you will probably mostly wear Pont Neuf closed, but you could open the last few buttons to make room for a pouffier skirt, or undo the top few and let the lapel fold down in front.

Check her out with some pants and cute footwear.

You could also try something a little swishier, summery shoes and a flirty skirt.

How will you wear Pont Neuf?

I'll say hi to la belle province, and la belle Kate for y'all. Happy Friday!!

Knitting for Ourselves: Robin's (theoretical) Coventry

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Published on Wednesday, 29 May 2013 09:05

 We love showing you beautiful patterns in the pages of our magazine, but we also want to show them to you in new ways! Twist Style Fridays are one of the ways we work on this, but one of the limitations of a site like Polyvore is that all the clothes are shown on one body type! This feature is a way for us to show how we choose and adapt Twist garments to suit ourselves. You've met the Twist Team already on the blog, now you can follow this feature here if you want to know more about what we make when we knit for ourselves.

Age: 36

Height: 5’5”

Body shape: slim and boyish

Occupation: production assistant, technical editor, knitwear designer

Hobbies: sewing, gardening, vintage shopping

Place of residence: Montreal

Personal style: I am drawn to juxtaposition and unexpectedness. I like feminine clothing but I always pair it with something a bit more utilitarian or rough-around-the-edges. I love traditional menswear-type clothing: structured jackets, tweeds, plaids, leather, riding boots. Again, there has to be something a little unusual about the pairing in order for it to be interesting to me.

If I had the luxury of time to knit something that wasn't a work project, what would it be? I have been eyeing Coventry since Carly first approached me to write a blog post in the "Knitting for Ourselves" series. I am also a designer, and I do get my garments back from Twist. I am the sample size, so I have garments that I have knit that I can wear; however, I know them all inside out, and how much fun would it be to knit something that came out of someone else's head?

Here is what I like about the shape of Coventry: while it is loose and jacket-like, it is also quite short. This appeals to me because – as a person who does not have a generous and shapely bosom – if clothing is too oversized, I feel as though I am swimming in it, and I look like a boy. However, neither do I wish to wear skin-tight clothing all the time, and when it is cold, I like to layer as much as the next girl, so a few looser pieces are a must. It's all about the balance between the elements of a garment: I think if one element is exaggerated, something else should be understated. The vertical elements of this design are also appealing on a shorter garment. I find the composition of this garment quite clever.

I would probably make my collar detachable, because while I love the look of the scarf-collar, I have a boiled wool coat that has one and I find that there is less versatility for wearing it open. I would knit a little ribbed neckband, put cool buttons on it, and matching buttonholes on the scarf edge, so that I could attach or remove it according to my whimsy.

I put together a few outfits using Polyvore, showing how I would wear Coventry and what colors I might choose to make it. I love earthy tones and warm muddy colors. I don't usually choose clear bright colors for myself. I am pale and freckly with reddish-brown hair. I tend to choose loden green, mustard, red-orange, browns and greys.

For the orange-brown version, I paired it with tan cords and Frye boots, and punched it up with some orange accessories (how cute is the gingham phone cover?) I think boots go with all outfits. I have a rather large boot collection and wear boots 90% of the time.

I don't usually go for blues, but I do like Prussian blue –a navy with a greenish tinge. I put my blue sweater with an overprinted tartan dress by Vivienne Westwood, some burgundy leather ankle boots and a grey satchel. While Vivienne Westwood is out of my budget, I sew much of my own clothing and there is no reason I can't have a similar outfit that is within my knitwear-designer means. In fact, I am working on a draped plaid skirt right now!

I always have a hard time deciding on a color, because I want All the Colors, and I don't have All the Time (or All the Money). It's easier with sewing because it doesn't take as long as knitting, so I really could have nearly All the Colors. I had to show the sweater in a favorite shade of green as well. I paired it with a burgundy leather skirt, and accessorized with a well-worn leather bag, green high-heeled oxfords and a carved Bakelite bangle.

The purple version is matched with a textured-knit mini skirt – I think a close-fitting mini skirt is a nice option for a swingy cardigan like this one. I find mixing silhouettes is usually quite reliable for producing wearable and attractive options. I accessorized with moto boots and a studded purse because I felt the outfit was looking a little too feminine otherwise. I like how the coral purse handles provide a vigorous splash of bright color, contrasting nicely with the tough studs.

Perhaps it sounds as though I spend an inordinate amount of time contemplating the minutiae of stylish knitting. In a way it's true, but I also feel that I am entertaining myself (and hopefully some others as well) in a non-harmful and fairly productive way. Luckily, I am balancing all this frivolously girlish glee with some recent backbreaking labor in my new community garden plot (turning over a 20 by 40-foot swath of overgrown field with just a shovel). I am no bonbon-munching lollygagger! If it weren't obvious, I feel that it is okay to occupy oneself in a multitude of ways, and not all of them have to be serious business.

Designer Post: Winona

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Published on Monday, 27 May 2013 10:41

Laura Chau is the designer of the lovely Winona cardigan from our most recent issue. She has contributed some other gems to our pages, such as Sheepcote and Cityscape. The original Winona was made with the delicious and summery Classic Elite Yarns Soft Linen, but Laura made one for herself with yarn from her stash! Read all about it here, or on Laura's blog. Check out our Winona style post as well!

For my version, I used stash yarn that I’ve had for a few years – Sliver Moon Farm fingering weight merino, which is super squishy and bouncy. I used less than 4 skeins in a lovely grey blue. I knit the size 36.5″, which fits me well in the shoulders with a bit of negative ease (an inch or so), but is nicely flared over my stomach and hips. It’s a more exaggerated silhouette than you might be used to, but it is so easy to wear. I’ll be wearing it over a dress (the one above is from Garnet Hill) all spring and summer.

Not a dress wearer? No worries, jeans are awesome too!

Twist Style Friday: Alvinda

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Published on Friday, 24 May 2013 08:29

Every Friday we feature one of the garments from the magazine in a post about styling. We suggest different ways to wear the garment in question using mock-ups from Polyvore. We encourage readers to tell us what they think about these outfits via our Facebook page or Twitter, and if folks want to make their own outfits, please tweet them at us with the hashtag #twiststyle. You can find all of the Style Friday posts here.

It was a good day for wool in Toronto yesterday folks! I wore handknit socks and a scarf while working on the styling last night for this post. I almost packed away my wooly sweaters and accessories when I moved at the beginning of May, but spring here can be a tricksy sort of season.

If I had one right now, I would totally be wearing Alvinda. An all-over lace cardigan always looks pretty and put together, whether you pair it with an evening dress or with jeans. I'll admit to feeling very very lazy about putting together cute outfits (to wear myself) this week. I've been to three weddings in as many weekends, most of which had additional rehearsal dinners or Sunday brunches, and they were all extremely lovely, but I had to look cute pretty much all the time. On purpose! I will leave you with just one piece of advice from all these nuptial adventures; if a chef invites you to his wedding, you should go. The food will be marvelous. I took a picture of my plate, and I almost never take pictures of my plates.

Alvinda can go with you to a fancy occasion such as the wedding of a chef or other sort of elegant friend. Perhaps a whimsical teapot themed party? Brunch with friends?

I want all of those shoes, just so you know. You can also wear Alvinda more casually, with separates. Like so:

Now I better go get knitting. I give handmade gifts, and I am behind! The last of the three happy couples got an IOU.

How would you wear Alvinda?