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January 23, 2005

Vintage Toddler Dress

Quite awhile ago, I volunteered to finish a toddler dress that my neighbor's mother had started before she got Parkinson's (and later died). The dress is about 18 years old and she was knitting without a pattern (gasp!). I took it on as a challenge and boy howdy, was it. The back was several inches wider than the front and although the lace part matched, it was not identical. The armhole shaping had been started but that was it. I had to figure out what the dress was supposed to look like on top and also deal with the fact that the fingering weight acrylic yarn was rolling horribly in stockinette. I looked through a bunch of patterns and got an idea of what I wanted. I procrastinated for months but then once I got started, it was done in about two nights. I learned quite a few things from it. I had never used charts before and that was really nice way to get the design down. Having all boys, I have no experience with girl sizes so I had to use my three year old boy for a model, LOL. Her part of the armholes were floppy so I reinforced the whole arm and neck areas with single crochet. I wasn't totally happy with the result but it was much better. I decided to put a ribbon in the bodice to pull it in, which is actually a good way to make the dress adjustable size-wise. One big lesson I learned is that you should NEVER leave a WIP on steel needles for 18 years. The yarn was slightly discolored and I can tell where the needles were on the finished dress. I gave the dress to my neighbor and she seemed pleased. I think it turned out very cute.

Oh and can we say "ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY MATTRESS STITCH"? Is that not magical? I think the four coolest things I have done in knitting are mattress stitch, kitchener stitch, cabling and deliberately dropping a stitch.

Posted by DebC at January 23, 2005 02:53 AM

Comments

Lovely job! 18 years on the needles, does that set a record?

Posted by: Amy at January 23, 2005 03:45 PM

the dress is adorable!

Posted by: amanda at January 25, 2005 03:38 AM

You are brave to take on the finishing of such a project. It turned out great! Is the dress staying in the family?

Posted by: Leslie at February 10, 2005 03:04 PM

I think so - I gave her the dress and she said she had a heirloom doll that she was going to put it on. I don't think she intends to give it to her future granddaughters, LOL.

Deb

Posted by: DebC at February 10, 2005 04:25 PM