Crocheted dress for a 6 yo

Remember the yellow dress I crocheted for my niece for her birthday late last year?

I am pleased to report that she has worn it a couple of times since.

In fact, as you can see from this photo, the dress has been crocheted extra long to take into consideration her growing height.

However, since the last time she wore it in her kindergarten (K2) Christmas celebrations, she has gone home to her grandma and declared that the dress was a no-go.

The reason?

The other kids at school made comments about her modesty, or rather the lack thereof -- apparently, they teased her about the see-through columns.

So I really need to get a little slip dress for her to encourage her to keep on wearing it!

In case you are wondering -- my 6 yo niece Ms P, hasn't complained about being hot in this dress. She has not just worn it indoors but we did walk a bit out on the footpaths in Orchard Road in the late afternoon.

Interested in the details? I have blogged about my making of crochet dress pattern in an earlier post.


This personal knitting and crochet blog of mine has taken a back seat since last September as much of my time has been directed to the new customers who signed up for our knitting and crochet classes.

Blogging requires one to commit proper desk time with all that thinking, writing, photo uploading and editing activities -- I just haven't got around to allocating time blocks to these and you just simply do not get much traction doing them in random bits and bites, if you know what I mean.

But I am still knitting and crocheting actively on the go.

So if you are into a reading mode, do feel free to pop by my other knitting/crochet blog - The Handiworks.



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Here's wishing Great Health, Happiness, Prosperity and Speedy Crocheting and Knitting to all readers this Lunar New Year!

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A brolly cozy

When it comes to crochet and knitting, we always tend to craft with our recipients in mind. Usually they are for our loved ones, such as family members, ourselves or the occasional furry pet.

But the other day, I crocheted for an it. You read it correctly. I meant to crochet for a thing.

The item is an umbrella. You might ask: what has crochet got to do to umbrellas unless I am thinking of using it as a swift (I already own one) or a lovely sunny brolly (the ones that don’t provide any protection against the rain, just the sunny rays)?

For one, it's my hubby's fault. He found this umbrella that he really liked but had an issue with the nasty rubber handle that has seen better days -- the rubber coating is wearing off and leaving an annoying sticky film on the hand whenever he uses it.

So I decided that I would help him out.

As I had my niece's thin yarn on hand, I crocheted a holder around the handle. It wasn’t anything too mindblowing; I just decided on a simple pattern and finally stitched up the ends to encase it around the handle.

The trick is just to keep measuring against the actual umbrella handle.

My niece Ms P was so amused when she saw the umbrella – I happened to bring it out with me on the way to her birthday party dinner as it was raining.

Ms P: "Ah yi ma ma (translated: 'auntie mommy'). The umbrella has the same yellow covering just like the yarn you used for my dress?"


Me: "er..."


Ms P: "I know! The umbrella is also feeling cold right? So you gave it something to wear?"

Kids! Sometimes they just say the cutest things.

GT is happy he can continue using the umbrealla and I just scored on myself a position on the insanely mindless crochet leaderboard!

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Pink + yellow = a happy fellow!

During Ms P's birthday last December, that is. All wrapped up beautifully with ribbon.

Knowing that pink is her fave color (isn't it a default trend color for all little gals under the age of 5?!), the pink capelet I was working on was also added to her birthday present repertoire. I attached a cute pink button to match too!


What's a birthday without a birthday cake? Not only did she get a real mini cake, a miniature crocheted birthday cake was also plated for her candle blow out.

Squeals of delight could be heard. I was extremely delighted.

Keeping in mind that Ms P's little bro, M kid is around and too young to understand why everybody is fussing and giving so much attention to his older sister, I also handed him a mini crocheted ice-cream cone. He gave an incredibly wide grin.

Unfortunately, I didn't manage to snap a photo of it. [During moments like this, I am really grateful for my crochet skills as mini amigurumi items can be whipped up quickly to appease my young audience.]

Given the heavy rain at evening, Ms P also very gamely wore the yellow crocheted frock for my obligatory photoshoot.

So in fact, when the capelet was unwrapped, M kid also insisted on donning it. At his age, he's pretty much mimicking what his older sister does and exercising his equality rights ~ Jiejie (chinese word for "elder sister") have, so should Didi ("little brother").

Being the big sister, she is quite obliging. You can see that she's very close to her little bro, M kid.

That was indeed a very happy night for all of us.

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Pink capelet completed

Remember the little girl who wanted a pink frock and the mini capelet I was crocheting for her?

I did get around to completing it.

Not only that, I did manage to get the label sewn on.

See that in the back neck? As much as I detest sewing, I managed to get the label attached.

At the time of ordering these years back, I didn't know that apart from sewn labels, there are also iron-on options. And I had a huge batch of these that I needed to use up so I am diligently trying to sew them onto my FOs whenever I can.

The inspiration behind this capelet is detailed in this post here.

Lovely isn't it? It could fit me but it's just too girly!

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Swirling around in a crochet dress

The silence is deafening. If you are still keeping up with my blog, thank you so much!

Blogger's been giving a little problem (or so I thought) but I am picking up from where I left from -- the project for my niece.

Purchase date unknown; this yarn lot may have been basking in the SABLE for at least 8 years or more -- I bought it from Spotlight then, not knowing that yarn quality plays a part in the finished garment's look as well as its longevity factor (for those who want to create keepsake heirlooms.)

It's an acrylic fingering weight blend which works well for the crochet project but in terms of quality, I won't hold it in the highest regard. But in a bid to reduce SABLE, this yarn meets my needs.

Since my mom (my niece's grandma) would most likely hand wash this hand crocheted summer tunic dress, I think it might last reasonably well . [I just tend to drop all my hand knits and crochet projects in the washing machine - I am lazy when it comes to laundry, I'll admit.]

On the other hand, I know my mom appreciates and understands all the time and effort I devote to my knitting and crochet so she really does take good care. [But Mom, please wear the ones I knit for you more often! I am more than happy to knit you more!]

 A WIP photo -- I love working with thin yarns but they do kill me at times with all that slow growth!

To counter any possible itch factor, I decided that a lining may soon be in order but that'll have to hold until after the dress is presented to Ms P.


I decided to switch to this fan and feather panel as I think the whole dress would look very heavy with the same body stitching. The lower panel also adds some lightness to the overall look.

Here's a photo taken during daytime. I know the sunlight does show off the stitches more clearly when I snap pictures but then my knitting and crochet habits tend to be nocturnal.

The dress does look awfully long and skinny huh? 

Another, in the night.

To get her comfortably dressed, I have also put in button closures on the back.

And then it was all ready to go!

I swear it fits my niece well.

Until my next blog post...

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Pink please!

Fueled by the enthusiasm shown by Ms P, my niece towards the crocheted capelet, I felt encouraged and crochet her a blouse top.

As you can tell, it's a top down pattern. [Actually when I put it on the mannequin, I saw the potential of this design being a fashionably chic neck bangle when crocheted using the right yarn!]

Then disaster struck. I showed it to my niece excitedly and got her to try it on for size. And we had a conversation that went like this:

The soon-to-be-5yo gal said, "Auntie Mommy, the armholes are a tad tight."

I replied, "Ok, I'll redo and fix the armholes."

And I proceeded to ask, "Do you like this?"

She went silent for a while and went, "I prefer pink better."

ARRGHHHH!

Then mustering all the calm I could, I told her, "P, if you really do not like yellow, then I'll abandon the project. I will not continue on so you wouldn't have this finished project to wear. Is that ok with you?"

She looked at me and then replied in the sweetest voice, "Auntie Mommy, do finish the project. I will promise to wear it. I just simply like pink better but it's ok if it's yellow."

Aww.... aren't kids just simply so adorably charming when they know they are treading on the edge of a volcano?

Got to hand it to her.

And so, the story continues.

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Inspiration behind Ms P's mini capelet

In my previous post, I spoke about how I originally chose a pattern.

The pattern is Chanson en crochet by Mari lynn Patrick (one of my favorite designers).

In fact, one of the gals has crocheted this piece before.

While it looks great on adults, I personally thought that the pattern was a little overwhelming on a little gal -- especially that extended lace section towards the hem edge.

Also, I figured a bigger curvature resulting in greater coverage would work for Ms P as little ones tend to be more hyperactive and fling their arms about.

So, rather than to frog and then re-wind the yarn, I got lazy and decided to work from it. Hence you see the side by side comparison.

Here are some of the pattern modifications I did:

• I removed the lowest section. 
• Introduced repeats of the collar sections (that involves re-calculating as usual.)
• Added a row of flower motifs.

All that the capelet is missing is its closure. I am toying with the idea of either a button or a tie-front option.

Suggestions?

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Something for my niece

My delightful niece (likewise, her little kid brother) addresses me as "Auntie Mommy" - a term coined by my younger sister who decided that her wonderful kids could well be mine; since I have none of my own. [Not that I am in desperate need nor have the urge to have some offspring yet.]

Anyway...

So I constantly have her in mind whenever I feel the urge to get some toddler knitting/crochet projects started.

This recent project was sparked off by a conversation my mom and I had when we were mall shopping. My mom saw a poncho and commented that it is a very child-friendly keep-warm clothing item. Besides not having buttons to fuss with, there is also no need for the struggle to get the kid's arms into the item; unlike a sweater. And the coverage is sufficient.

Hence the idea of a capelet.

As usual, I have gone through the route of selecting a pattern, working it almost halfway through, then ripping it back entirely. I just wanted a pattern that had a bit more coverage (less lacey) and also more girlish.

Reason: Just simply because I wasn't satisfied with the way it looked.  [Does that ever happen to any of you?]


So this was the resulting piece.

I had decided to finish off with a round of crochet flowers and those had the stamp of approval from my niece who comments that she "loves pink!"

Well, if you know what that means...

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An FO from my sister

Remember the crochet project that my sister has started?

It's completed! For a debut project, I think her crochet tension is quite even.

I have just added some finishing -- the edging at the opening. Plus, sewing the cushion to fit -- all by hand.

Isn't it cute?

Finally, an FO for the year 2010...(I am sure that knitted lapghan didn't quite count since it was never given a proper edging; I am tempted to just leave it as it is.)

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Undecided

This is the second crochet project I started. Sometime after I started crocheting the hexagons.

As much as I love the cheery bursts of colors, I wanted a wearable garment. I am a Plain Jane where clothes are concerned -- plain colors for me please!

So I chose a pineapple motif (as this is commonly referred to) and got working on it. I started at 1am in the wee hours of the morning. Yes, I figured I was a little insomniac and figured that a little crochet work will get me tired enough to crawl back to bed.

Honestly, it was a wrong move.

Instead of feeling tired, crocheting got me so energized that I stayed up all the way until 5am. Then I woke up  around noon time and kept going. That's a serious crochet addiction, I tell you.

Then by 10pm at night, I am all done. All in less than 24 hours!

This pattern is originally a fully crocheted skirt.

I am now contemplating that instead of 100% crochet skirt, I might want:

• To pick up the stitches and knit upwards to the waist?
• Or maybe a toga top with this being the accent piece at the neckline?
• Or leave it as is and use it as a shawlette?
• Or do as what the gals are suggesting: turn it into a dress!

But seriously, I am tempted with the dress idea...

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By the way, thanks for all the well-wishes. I am so happy that my other blog is being featured on 3 Sep 2010 in The Straits Times, Urban titled "Craft your own fashion" (page 20).

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Picking up crochet again

My crochet hexagon project has been lying around longer than I intended it to be.




Most of the delay was a result of my getting distracted by other projects I have on hand (which I will blog about another day to keep focused on this entry). The distraction issue must be a common dilemma faced by other crafters -- I heard it's called "startitis".

Besides, the recent influx of new customers signing up for our knitting and crochet classes has been keeping me really busy, in a good way. These just leaves me with less time for my own projects. Oh, and my biggest gripe for those crocheted hexagons?



Motif crochet just creates lots of tail ends! I have tucked in those ends as I switched colors with the different rounds. However, those can get a little unwieldy at times. In fact, I have also joined the seams as I worked the last round of each motif so that I can eliminate join sewing.

As the project grew bigger, it became bulkier and was no longer fitting my tote. And so it ended up being the stay-at-home resident project.





I have to say I really love the colors though; it's so bright and cheerful. This project is taking shape and I am really excited.

In fact, the recent flurry of crochet projects by our customers is enough to get my younger sister, the cross stitch expert to pick up her crochet hook again. We both picked up crochet in our early teens from our mom but my sister decided to divert her interest to cross-stitch while I took to knitting and crochet.





Well, she showed me her WIP and asked me to critique her work. Well....the tension was a tad too tight -- wrong hook size. And acrylic yarn she bought from elsewhere -- not that I have any issues with that.

She could have simply come over and raid my yarn stash! With that invitation, she certainly did!




She selected this variegated yarn and I taught her a simple mesh pattern that will help lend some visual interest.



I certainly don't have to worry as she took to the new instructions readily. With a change of crochet hook and the new yarn, her tension was way better and the project is growing quickly as she committed the pattern to memory.

I am hoping she'll be interested enough to keep on crocheting!

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Going back in time - UFOs

Sometimes it's just amazing how we get distracted and lose focus on the project we have on hand.

I have many of those instances and this is just one of them.

I have pulled these squares out of my stash / UFO / WIP sack and have no idea what I was intending these squares for.

Perhaps they are meant to be dishcloths?

Or facecloths?

But as I looked closer, there are several patterns that I used.
Maybe I had intended to piece them together for a patchwork project of sorts? Say, like a baby blanket?

Honestly, I really couldn't be sure.

I think these UFOs are lurking around in my sack for at least 5 years.

I really need to be more disciplined with my WIPs as well as the projects I have on hand. Rather than aborting them mid-way, I should really persist right to the end.

So now I really need some suggestions and thoughts as to how I may utilize these squares.

Ideas / suggestions anyone?

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Wrap and pull

Still revelling in the fun of basic shapes, I have decided to continue with my pursuit of hexagon work.

But this time, in crochet.

My original intention was to use the crochet hexagons to add width to the lapghan (which I had envisioned initially as a sofa coverlet or a blanket). However, as per my earlier post, you can see that it's a tad too narrow and more suitable for a single person use.

Besides, the colors I chose for this new crochet project is probably too great of a contrast. [Yes, once again, I have raided my stash.]

However, I really do like the colors together. My niece just loves to stack them up. If I crochet them larger, they will work well as mug coasters.

They are not-me-colors; but together the colors put me in a happy chirpy mood -- they serve as a great mood lifter, don't you agree?

I haven't referred to any pattern chart specifically. I just developed the pattern on the go. It was quite easy to figure out.

The only thing that is bugging me is -- what should I turn this into? The ladies say nay to cushion covers, saying that I have already done it previously.

Besides, as one of them said,

"There is no way of showing this project if it doesn't leave the house!" 

LOL! We are just a hilarious lot sometimes. 

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Everything about the Lily Chin crochet lace dress

Edited to add:
Several people have wrote to me asking where this pattern is available. I tried locating it myself and found that it's somehow not showing up. But there's the direct link to the Interweave Store Lily Chin crochet dress pattern page for the e-purchase download. 

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Well, this is it!

This entry got delayed as I was trying to take reasonable photos of the dress. I am happy to report that the pre- / post- washing doesn't have much changes to the length, width etc.

The modelled, chest out, look far far away style.

No head shot coz that would probably spoil the photo.

So just use your imagination to envision the whole look ok?

Many have asked me for more details about this dress. Here are the notes:

Pattern: Lily Chin designed lace crochet dress found in the first issue of Interweave Crochet.
Size made: the smallest and teeniest (coz I modified the skirt from bodice down to have it body snug.)
Yarn used: 9 balls of Schachenmayr Nomotta Catania
Needles used: size 3mm and 4mm crochet hooks

Time taken: 2.5 weeks from start to finish -- that's a personal record for something this size (my crochet flowers motif top took the same amount of time too!)

Pattern construction

This pattern is worked in 2 directions:
- From below the bust/bodice up to the neck.
- Then pick and crochet downwards from the lower edge of the bust for the skirt.


Pattern modifications:

The dress draws in nicely and shortens automatically due to the smaller hook I used. I also added 2 more shell rows below the bust (by picking up from under the bust) when I realized that due to my hook change, the bodice ended up too short. [For those of you whose bust may be low set, you may need to add 2 rows or so of plain shells before you go into the shaping.]

I lowered the neckline as I found it too high for my liking. This is with much trial and error.

Other than that, I also found that there's a slight gap where the sleeve meets the bust so I added a small shell dart (as an afterthought), making it less obvious.I started out using the measurements for the smallest sizing but from the skirt portion, I went down 3 repeats from the start so it has a slimmer silhouette.

So as you can see, sometimes, I just like to fiddle with a pattern too much! LOL!

I have managed to find a black slip from my wardrobe which works fairly well. Except that the slip neckline threatens to do peek-a-boos at all times. So my students suggested a snap fastener to be sewn on the inside to make it stay in place.

Here's another with me sitting down.

Nothing too indecent...though I have to remember to do the obligatory dress sweep

before I sit to ensure it doesn't ride up too much!

So this is concludes my adventure with this lace crochet dress! I really love the way the dress fits and the minimal swing that makes this dress feminine yet chic due to the lower neckline. 

You can bet that this will be my favorite dress in my wardrobe from now on! [Until I knit or crochet another one, that is! (grin)] 

PS. Thanks to Jeanie for putting this up on her CrochetCast (aka podcast) -- do go check her out!

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