Garter stitch isn't normally my favorite, its intriguing characteristics* notwithstanding. But I also prefer knitting to purling, so I started to think about designing a tank top using garter stitch, worked in pieces to take advantage of that nice Knit-Every-Row quality.
What about garter stitch as a background to set off other stitches? Nothing too complicated, or it might mess with the ease and speed of Knit-Every-Row. Perhaps...a border of some coordinating stitch pattern, and then columns of slipped stitches to play off the garter's texture.
I came up with a few possibilities. I swatched. I want to use a discontinued yarn for this project 
(Karabella Empire Silk in an incredibly rich gold, shown in the lower left corner of the 2nd photo), so I came up with the idea of writing up the pattern for different gauges--and so I swatched a few other yarns just for gauge. Clockwise from upper right: Tilli Tomas Fil de la Mer, Berroco Touche', Classic Elite Premiere, the Empire Silk, and RYC Cashsoft DK.
*It doesn't curl. It's reversible. It can be worked with knit stitches only. The row gauge is twice the stitch gauge, making things like mitered constructions and picking up stitches along the side edges quite simple.
I can't wait to see this one finished. Watching the design grow is fascinating.
Posted by: Judi | March 10, 2008 at 05:49 PM