Deflowering the Mens Knitwear Virgin...

Okay, I confess, I've never designed a sweater for men before. Never felt moved to before. But recently I was inspired - though it felt, more accurately, like compelled.

You know that feeling when a design epiphany strikes? It's either like a bolt of lightning or a fiery sunrise of increasing intensity that requires capturing NOW, or it'll be lost forever.

Inevitably it happens somewhere totally inconvenient, like a steering committee meeting, a grocery line, or during the last boarding call for your flight. That was how this, my first ever piece pour homme, was conceived as a hurried scribble on an airline napkin.

A few days later it evolved into this:



And not long after, this...





Introducing Le Tanguy, knit in Mont Blanc (100% lt dk cashmere), colorways Tobacco and Sky:













Apart from the few bits of ribbing, it's all stocking stitch which - at least for me - is quite soothing (and easy enough to do in a darkened cinema!). Not to mention quick! Before I knew it, the pullover had practically finished itself.

It gave me that feeling of saudade just seaming it up. *sigh* Simple a knit as it is, this has been one of my all time favorite projects. And it never hurts that Mont Blanc is so soft, it's terribly addictive!

I kind of like how the hand-painted semisolids give the sweater a heathered effect. It looks both polished and casually broken-in at the same time, like an article of well-loved, well-worn clothing from a wardrobe that's reached for over and over again.


WEBSITE UPDATE:

As most of you have probably noticed, the main website (www.sauveterredesign.com) is currently under construction. Good news: it's finally very very close to completion! Thanks to my genius web designer, there will be a more user-friendly viewing system for colorways, a little gallery, and I'm also considering a place for patterns. Le Tanguy might very well be one of them.

Unexpected Little Knits!

I was just about ready to do a little reveal of a new project today, but a little something has just arrived on my desk that deserves its spotlight. If you haven't already discovered Expectant Little Knits (ed. Suzanne J.E. Tourtillott; new from Lark Books), it's definitely worth checking out.



Just on the first flip-through I found several patterns that I'm putting on my must-have list, including a chic pucker-stitch tunic dress and a truly elegant houndstooth jacket, cropped to give a great classic a younger modern edge. My needles are burning for these pieces. And I'm not even pregnant! But you don't have to be to enjoy most of the great patterns in the book.

Amongst the designs is also this, which I've had to be mum about for nearly a year now. Keeping this little secret has nearly killed me, but finally she's out!

Introducing the Deauville Car Coat in Pippin (100% aran weight cashmere):



The coat, which has a shawl collar that wraps around the cutaway front and curved tail back, can be worn open or closed with a brooch. And best of all, it's versatile: great for both during and after pregnancy.





So that's my surprise for today. Stay tuned this week (that's right, you haven't read wrong, I mean this week) for YET ANOTHER reveal!

A tres bientot!