I love this pattern. It’s perfect for idiots like me, who have no idea how to shape armholes, necks etc. And I love how I can try it on, and adjust it to fit my small frame, while making it! This is my first attempt at clothing, and loving it so far!

Using black nylon thread which is a bit heavy. Also using differently sized hooks as I crochet along, to get a more custom-fitted garment, as I don’t have the recommended yarn. The nylon thread comes in 1/2 lb sizes by weight. Using #5 for the neck rows, and #3 for everything else throughout. Don’t know what it is in ‘mm’ sizes…

Because my thread is so thin, I decided to follow pattern instructions for the largest size : 44”, and it was a wise decision. No re-calculations were needed to make it fit, and all I did so far, was omit a few rows to shorten the torso length, as I am so small.

Gauge with my thread : I got - 29 dc in blo and 12 rows = 4”

Aug 9th
have completed neck, yoke, bust and 11 rows of waist sections, and one ball of thread so far.

Aug 14th
have 2 sick kids….on hold for a while….but managed to complete as much as the pattern had. I plan to make this into a dress, so i need to sit and work out the increases for my hip area, and write them out, and figure out how many more increases i need to do.

Aug 24th
Finished hip section. Continuing on to make it a dress, falling just above, or on my knee.

Sept 11th
Finished! You can see where the second ball of thread starts, as it is slightly thinner, and a different shade of black. I was going to make a fancy hem but decided not to as the difference in colour bugged me. This will just be a prototype for future project/s…

total thread used : 2 balls of 1/2 lb weight each.

Finishing touches:

Bottom edge - Did 2 rows of sc as the thread was almost done. Did the sc through both loops of previous dc row.

Armholes - with #5 hook, one row of sc.

Neckline - I didn’t exactly make a ‘turtleneck’, so i just did some rows of sc again with the #5 hook until i ran out of thread. Ended up with 4 rows in total, which give a finished feel to the neck when i fold it over. I did the sc’s through both loops in all 4 rows, and i tried to keep it loose while making it.

I’m pleased with the dress. The only problem was not getting thread to match, but now I have an idea how much I need, for the next time!

(my 3 yr old wanted to model….she did the “Elvira” look)

Sept 2010….have washed the dress in my washer at least once, and surprisingly (!) the texture came out a little softer. Stood up pretty well to the “gentle” cycle. A few stray ends were more visible after the first wash, but easily sorted out with a naked flame.

Dec 27th, 2010….have given the dress away to a really good friend who migrated 10 years ago.