27.03.2014

Swatched, bought pattern, got ten balls of Rialto Lace, found needles, stocked up on stitch markers - ready to go! This may or may not get frogged - it has to be just about perfect for me to keep working on it, so, there’s no guarantees I’ll finish this.

31.03.2014

Well, top bit done. Almost. Just need to block it and sew the shoulders together now, I left the body length about 1-2 inches shorter than required by pattern, as I don’t want to attach the skirt part too low. The fit is pretty much perfect though, even though it’ll require a top to be worn underneath. Photo shows unblocked, unsewed progress. Yarn usage so far just over one ball, had to dip into a second ball of yarn for the last five or so rows for the top.

02.04.2014

Notes on top: The top has no shaping at waist, so a slightly elastic yarn works great for this. I’m using Debbie Bliss Rialto Lace, and while that isn’t elastic to the point of being Cascade Fixation, it does stretch a bit, and it helps with the fit a fair bit. The top I’ve made is with negative ease as well, if I remember right, I used a pattern size where bust circumference was two or so inches less than what it actually is.

04.04.2014

Blocking time!

07.04.2014

Starting the skirt. Picked up stitches along the bottom edge of the top, at a height of 3-4 sts from the edge. This should give a nice and smooth join for the skirt. Hmm…I may knit a lace “belt” kind of thing afterwards, will see.

That said, now I’m wondering why I didn’t do a provisional cast-on to start with.

Anyway! For the skirt I’ll start at Clue #2, need to add or drop a few sts to get everything to match, but well - we’ll see how this goes.

27.04.2014

Clues 2 and 3 done - stitch count after finishing the increase row on clue 3: 705 stitches.

28.06.2014

Yes, I’m still knitting this… I’ve only got three rows and bind off left now though. Three rows! I’m so going to finish this tomorrow. :)

29.06.2014

Knitting part is DONE! I forgot to count the total number of stitches at the end, but if it says anything, binding off took me four hours to do.

16.07.2014

It’s finally done! As in, completely, ends weaved in done. I had to knit a “belt” too - basically made a very simple stip of knit cloth at the minimum length it takes to go around my waist. Then I blocked it like no tomorrow, and stretched it as much as the yarn would ever stretch. Then sewed it just above the join of the top and the skirt. The belt is definitely more for function than it is for looks - you can’t really see it that well, but it makes sure the top part of the dress doesn’t stretch sideways any wider than I want it to, meaning the weight of the skirt part of the dress won’t pull the whole thing down too far. Now it looks exactly like I want it to.

NOTE: Yardage is approximate.