February 10, 2008

she sews, she knits, she sews knits

After wearing this dress twice without any decent pictures, today I finally snatched it off my bedroom floor (where else would it be while waiting to be washed?), put it on the dress form, and snapped away. Please excuse the lint and wrinkles.

new dress

This is my first time working with a knit fabric, something I've been meaning to do for some time. As is my tendency, I did a fair bit of research before starting. Some of it was helpful, but most of it only succeeded in intimidating me. Instead I ended up working from my observations of ready-to-wear garments, with healthy dose of instinct thrown in.

I still need to work on my finishing techniques (is there a way to finish crosswise seams without rippling?), but for a first try I'm really, really, happy with the results. And in love with my twin needle. And stabilizing elastic.

details, details

Also, this was my first Built by Wendy pattern (lengthened and altered for knit, of course). There's a lot of good stuff I could say here, but I think I'll save it for another post. Let's just say I'm eagerly looking forward to her next book.

new dress

I love, love, love this dress! The fabric is a very fine black cotton rib, heavier than a jersey but not quite a sweater knit. It's so comfortable, and it's the perfect dress up/dress down piece. Now I just have to come up with a name for it. Did I mention that I love it?

diptych

Okay, so these pictures are decent, just my hair isn't! Thanks, Dad!

10 comments:

Anna McClurg said...

I love that dress so much! Now you are giving me ideas...

Nicki said...

Great dress, I think you did a fabulous job! I just finished my first garment with knit fabric - a different BBW pattern. I was quite pleased with it until i saw yours ;o)

kayleen said...

in love with that dress! i have that pattern, but haven't tried it out yet...i'll have to now, because your dress looks better than the pattern pics.

Anonymous said...

That's so cute! It looks really good on you. I love the close-up shots of the details.

eatme_delicious said...

Very cute dress!

Anonymous said...

Oh wow!!! You are so amazingly talented... I just love how cute this dress is--and it looks so professional! Bravo for working with knits! I've recently been tackling them myself and having lots of fun learning how to *really* sew with stretchy fabric. I need to get a twin needle though... ;)

I had no idea there was a new Sew U book coming out! Hooray!! :D

Anonymous said...

oh gosh that dress is so perfect! i can only hope my built-by-wendy frock comes out even half as lovely. yay you!

Cookie baker Lynn said...

Way to go- your dress looks fabulous! Stretching across a knit is always tricky. I find it to push a bit on the fabric so there's not stretch as the stitch is formed.

I'm so glad you made and enjoyed the celebration cake! Thanks for the nice comment.

perfect bound said...

Pretty! I love the way you styled it with those boots. So many of my favorite dresses get rescued from the floor as well. I quite like the wrinkles.

softspoken said...

it's perfect! it reminds me so much of one of my favorite knit dresses which is my go-to dress that i can always trust on days when nothing else seems quite right! i've often worried what i'm going to do when it wears out, so since i have this pattern, too, i may have to do as you've done here!