New Dress Is On The Way

Apr 26

Written By

After the Violet Gift came off the machine, I got a new project to cast on. My very close friend Akiba asked me to make a birthday gift for a very special woman in her life. She thought a handmade dress will be the best way to show her appreciation and gratitude.So, this week I was sketching, planning, choosing and winding yarn, knitting multiply swatches to find the perfect tension and breaking my head over the shape, neckline style and finished measurements of the future dress.I am facing several difficulties. First of all, I've never met this lady in real life, so I don't have the slightest idea what her measurements might be. Second of all, she lives in the USA and the dress is supposed to be a surprise which gives me zero chances to take any measurements myself or ask her to do it. The only information I have is my friend's description of her body type, and her husband's approximate notes of her height and weight. And from my personal experience men are not to be trusted in these questions. I have a picture of her where she wears like three layers of clothes. Not very helpful :)It would be ok if I was going to make a sweater with a generous ease, but this is a dress. They can be completely unpredictable. My friend says that her friend prefers close-fitting garments and is very particular how they fit her. Great. I have no space for mistakes.I literally have dreams about this dress. Two days ago the whole finished image came to me in a dream, I am not exaggerating - I really saw every single detail of it. I called my friend and described how I see the final design, yarn and color. She says this is so her style! Ok. This part is over.Next. Measurements. As I said I have some reference points, again, based on assumptions and not the real measurements. So I started to look for standard measurements in hope to find some clues what I am supposed to get at the end. Oh, boy. Why, why do people call standard measurements "standard", if all these standards are different from one another and one standard can be absolutely out of standard in other standards?!! I think it's obvious now that I am freaking out about this dress. :)I have one week left (!!!) to finish the dress and it seems like I am going to make it at nights as my day job is so crazy right now. No need to panic... At least that's what I repeat to myself.Anyway. I have the following ready:

Skeins of beautiful 100% cotton of my favorite neutral color

Final measurements with ease that I am still not 100% sure about, but I just don't have time left to recheck and "retweak" all the numbers. So, my only option is to follow them and hope for the better.
The sketch of the dress.

What is left: