Trying it on

We had several folks in the Leonardtown shop today to see Valour all finished and to try it on.  It's always nice to be able to try on a sample garment to see how it fits and how it hangs.  Even if it isn't your size, you can get a sense of how much larger or smaller you might want to make it and whether it would even be a flattering style. 

As I said, I made the Medium which is designed to fit a bust sized 36-38.  I am a 36, and I like the overlap across the front this size affords.  As with all designers, you need to look carefully at their standards against your measurements to see how they will work for you.  The wonderful designer Chris Bylsma once laughing said that all knitwear designers wear a medium!  Knowing that, you can see if their medium is the same as your medium. 

This size fits Evelyn just fine with plenty of fabric to overlap at the front

The wonderful Duffy, who was a good enough sport to let me take her photo despite having all the wrong accessories, and had not yet gone to the "beauty barn" thought she would like just a little more fabric across the front.

Since I am fairly new to many of these younger Rowan designers, I really wanted to examine the finished lengths.  In most patterns I need to increase the body length for my own garments by about 2", but the  finished lengths in the Rowan Colourscapes books are actually long enough for me.  This length was also perfect on Duffy, who is also long-waisted.

Evelyn, who is petite, might want to make her vest a little shorter. 

 Everyone was very pleased with the look and feel of Valour, and again, I just can't wait for fall!