The light is terrible at this time of year. Daylight photos of these dresses were even worse than this flash photo. If you put on your sunglasses and ignore the white flash, you can see the lovely dresses that I knitted from the super-simple-baby-tunic pattern which I found on Ravelry.
This is a lovely pattern, so quick and easy to knit. Even though it is free, "caveat emptor" applies as there are minor mistakes in the front bodice instructions. But most knitters will be able to spot and solve them easily. I just thought I should mention them. I don't usually recommend patterns that contain mistakes. But this dress is so beautiful, I have made an exception.
I had yarn left over from knitting a hat and scarf set. The colours are not typical baby colours, so I added some pink. The patterned yarn came from Poundstretcher and the pink yarn is from Hobbycraft. They are both double knit weight, but the patterned yarn was thinner and tended to roll at the hem. I added a couple of rows of double crochet (UK) and that seems to have fixed the problem. Yay for learning to crochet!
Here is a close up of the buttons:
They are lovely quality wooden buttons that were generously sent to me by Joanne of the Cup On The Bus blog. There were hundreds of buttons of 2 sizes, plus one lonesome flower button. I have sewed that to the centre of one of the bodices and it looks really at home there. Thanks, Joanne.
I really like the way these dresses turned out. I am going to send them to Operation Orphan. The pattern says it will fit a baby aged 0-3 months. But I think it would last a bit longer than that. The beauty of Ravelry is that you can see comments from other knitters. Many say that the dress can still be worn as a little top when the baby grows.
This pattern is very adaptable and economical. Even with the buttons added, it weighs only 48g which I think is amazing. How do I know it weighs exactly 48g? Well, I finally caved in and replaced my useless kitchen scales with some digital scales. I have already used them a lot for weighing parcels, wool, and even food(!) so it was a good purchase. If you choose a really special yarn and add flowers, bows or lace etc, you will end up with a unique gift for someone. Or you can use a cheaper yarn for a really practical top that will become a favourite daily outfit.
Beautiful! I think two babies are going to be very lucky to receive these. Ali x
ReplyDeleteawh the dresses are so cute........I must look up the pattern. I agree Ravelry is great especially for looking up projects to see the comments of other knitters.
ReplyDeleteThey're beautiful :) I'm sure they will be much loved and cherished
ReplyDeleteYou found a place for the special button. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThose are adorable - great yarn combination too. That pattern yarn makes it look like you embroidered little roses on the cream stripes.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that crochet came to the rescue! :)
This is self-patterning yarn and is supposed to look like flowers. It doesn't always work out if there are too many or too few stitches per row. These dresses had almost the right number of stitches. I'm fairly pleased with the result.
DeleteWhat cute little dresses and how nice of you to donate them to those in need! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteI love knitting and having something useful to do with it all is a great thing.
DeleteWow how generous of your to make the cut dresses and then to donate them. You did a great job with creating them.
ReplyDeleteI'm just grateful that I have a reason to knit. The family can only put up with so many hats and scarves!
DeleteThey are beautiful Una, great yarn choice.:) x
ReplyDeleteIt chose itself really, Linda. Sometimes the right pattern and yarn are just obvious matches.
DeleteThese are beautiful. Maybe for twin sisters?
ReplyDeleteNOOO! I'm a twin and we hated being dressed in the same clothes. Though, these dresses are slightly different, so we might have been happy with them.
DeleteHi Una,
ReplyDeleteWow those are simply the cutest baby dresses I have seen. Awesome awesome. colour co-ordination is superb!!
Hugs,
Ruth
I enjoy planning colour co-ordination. I must be a frustrated artist.
DeleteLovely dresses!! I am glad to hear too that I am not the only yarn weigher!! xx
ReplyDeleteI'm a recent convert to yarn weighing. But I can already see how useful it will be.
DeleteLovely little girly dresses, Una. I love my digital kitchen scales too and wouldn't be without them. Also very useful for weighing yarn, particularly when playing 'yarn chicken'! (Is that the right phrase??)
ReplyDeleteYes, I've heard it called "yarn chicken". I think the scales will pay for themselves in various ways.
DeleteBeautifu, very cute dresses!!
ReplyDeleteGreetings...
Thank you!
DeleteThose are such pretty wee dresses and great that they are going to a good cause. I love my digital scales and yes, wool is often weighed. Jo x
ReplyDeleteMy digital scales have changed my life! Not only for knitting things, but it has made it so easy to sell things on Ebay too!
ReplyDeleteThose dresses are precious, Una. They will be appreciated and enjoyed. And I also have found my digital scales (bought for making soap) to be useful over and over in weighing yarn! Who would have thought it? It's very useful to weigh yarn to the gram, and know if you have enough to finish something :)
ReplyDelete