skirting the issue...

Just when I thought I had all the knitting books I needed and more...


This is a new one by Interweave Knits and is right up my alley. I keep being reminded that it is a very, very good thing that I don't have a credit card, else I'd have bought this one right away.

(I have a strange sort of mental disorder which equivalates "credit card" with "free money". (I gather I'm not alone in this, but it doesn't make it any easier to cope with, really). I only learned about this issue when Citibank kindly sent me a pre-approved credit card many years back when I had first moved to Toronto, gone to journalism school and developed a king-sized beer habit.

A few months later, I hit bottom when I attended at the video store to rent a $4 video using the plastic and it was refused. Now, I have had many, many humiliating life experiences relating to my own stupidity... but having your card seized and cut up in front of a line of about 20 people over a four dollar purchase comes fairly near the top of that list.

I gather since then that the practice of sending out pre-approved credit cards has become illegal in Canada. This is a good thing, I think.)

Anyway, I really, really don't need a book on skirts, given that I am still hoarding the yarn to knit this skirt, which I had initially decided I must knit last summer!


And there's another dress design in the works (or at least, in the murky depths of my brain). Think "leftover Curlilocks":

(Not in this colourway, alas. I'll have to content myself with fuschia, eggplant and plum, this being a stashbuster and all...)

...and "short wedding gown"...(and no, I am not getting married. Ever. You can quote me on that. Although it would be a good excuse to register at the yarn store...hmm.)

Actually, if I were ever to tie the knot with official sanction, I'd probably wear this dress:


Or I guess I could knit another one with all that Handmaiden stash:


Having said all that, I really should be concentrating on the SOTSii:


...and not to mention the Bespoke Jacket:

Here's my progress on that so far (the right front)...


I won't be wearing it for a while, though, what with the "minus 15 feels like minus 30" weather these days. So no big rush, eh?

A very happy Monday to you all...

Tuesday-on-the Balcony Perfect Dress - done!

And I even get to wear my red suede shoes! Now all I need is the Royal family-style wide brimmed red hat! ;-)

I *love* this dress. Although it's 50 million degress with the humidex up here, I don't care - I'm wearing it tomorrow to work!

Specs:
Yarn: Romni (work-handy LYS) Linen - 100% linen tape (worsted weight) - 12 50g balls.
Needles: 5 mm
Pattern: Saturday-in-the-park Perfect Fitted Dress - Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel (with some adaptations) - smallest size
Time spent: 30 hours approx.
Finished length: 35" approx.

Detail from Centre Panel:


Notes:
- I really like Stefanie's patterns but the book has quite a few errata. This pattern started off with one!
- original dress length in the pattern was 42" (for all sizes!). This on me would come down to about mid calf, so I made adjustments to the length of both top and bottom, comparing the length to the longest dress I own ;-)
- the linen is simply lovely. It is my first time working with linen but will definetely not be my last. I was amazed at how well it blocked.



Currently on the needles: the Sahara by Stitch Diva (www.stitchdiva.com).

"perfect dress" in progress...

(edited on 29 July after apparently way too much knitting time spent on 28 July, to show progress report:





Looking decent so far... although the neckline is a tad low. Oh well! ;-)

I am loving working with this linen (it is the LYS brand) - and the colour (which photographed here somewhat lighter than in "real life") reminds me of that of my first fancy dress in high school (which I held onto for another 10 years after!). I just realised this halfway through where I'm at now!

It is really difficult to see how the dress might look when done right now due to the mock cable pattern...

This is approximately 8 hours in.