Clementine's Collar: Take 2

Last week I ripped out Clementine's first collar and settled on a second version, which I think is more in keeping with the rest of the sweater:

I know, a lone collar is not very exciting. You'll just have to trust me on this one.

With Marnie's fabulous ribbed neckline solution in mind, I tried out a couple of different treatments for the "corners" where the raglan decreases run. My first attempt looked like this:

We'll call these the "knit base" decreases

My second attempt looked like this:

We'll call these the "purl base" decreases

I thought I would like the purl-based ones better on paper, but in person I like the knit-based ones. Due to poor planning and a refusal to re-do the collar again, my sweater has both kinds. Knit-based on the back raglan corners and purl-based on the front.

I think of it as a sampler. *smile*

The final version will have purl-based decreases all-around. Neither version looks like Marnie's decreases as I remember them (Marnie's were truly elegant), but both are cute, and I like the final result. I also used the sewn bind-off for 2x2 ribbing found in Vogue: The Ulitmate Knitting Guide again, and I can assure you that once you have done it a few times it really does get easier.

Now you may be thinking to yourself: "Self, Julia finished this sweater almost two weeks ago. She also photographed the collar in natural light, which means she could have done a final photoshoot for us. What gives?"

What gives is that like everyone else out there in blogland I have had the not-so-hidden desire to design, publish, and perhaps even occasionally cover my costs in doing so by selling my patterns on my site. Clementine is my maiden voyage.* As such, I have a special photoshoot scheduled for her this weekend, which I hope that you will all enjoy sometime near the start of next week.

As for the sale of the pattern, I will be offering it on my site for $7, with 50% of the proceeds to go to the Dream Center, a local Los Angeles shelter that has taken in numerous refugees from Hurricane Katrina.

Please DO NOT purchase the pattern simply because you want to give to the cause. I think it's really important that all of the money that we have earmarked for charity at this time go directly to the people who need it, and I want to reiterate my support for the cause of curbing our own spending habits and giving to others here. However, if you are in the market for new patterns and find that this one suits you, know that 50% of your purchase will go directly to a great organization that is helping people in need.

That's all on Clementine for now - she'll see you again next week!

*For those of you who dig the freebies - don't worry. I'll continue to offer those and publish in the free mags as well.