Sewing: Toddler Dress

 Every year, around this time, when it grows steadily warmer, I have an urge to do some spring sewing for my kids. This year too, I have found myself drooling over all the lovely clothes on Pinterest, for the last couple of weeks. Sadly, I do not have much fabric at hand and no chance to go shopping until the kids' exams are over. But still, I found a piece of plain purple cotton and taking inspiration from this top, got out my sewing machine. I was too lazy to look up the associated tutorial and did my own thing, but there definitely is a free tutorial for those who maybe interested.

 It was a quick, fun project, in which I got to expand my skills in sewing pleats. And I may have to do another one for my older daughter soon, as she wants one too, in the same color.

 

Swish Pleated Skirt

Thus named, I finally wrote the pattern for the skirt modified from a vintage design and had it test knitted. It has gone up for sale at my ravelry store.

Swish Pleated Skirt is knit in rounds from bottom up in two colors.

Yarn weight:  Aran / 10 ply (8 wpi)

Gauge:  8 stitches and 12 rows = 2 inches in st st on 5 mm needles

Needle size: US 8 - 5.0 mm

Yardage: Approx 500(600, 650, 700, 750, 800, 900) yards MC(main color) and 150 (200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450) yards CC (contrasting color).

Sizes available: 2 (4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14) years.

Finished measurements:
Hip: 22 (23.25, 25.5, 28.25, 29.25, 30.75, 32.25) inches.
Length: (easily modifiable)14 (16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26)inches.
Pattern Difficulty: advance beginner. Requires knowledge of knitting in round, slip st, k2tog, SKP, yo and I-cord.

A Twirl Of Pleats

I just finished up a skirt for my daughter who wanted me to make something for her, especially after my last two knitting projects were for my niece. And now, my son wants to know when i will knit something for him. I guess I should be grateful that they appreciate my hand knits, alhamdolillah.
   Coming back to the skirt, I took the idea for it from a very old Patons pamphlet which my mother-in-law gave to me a while back. That pattern called for fingering weight yarn and the front and back panels were worked separately.

 I worked the maths to use Aran weight instead, and knit the skirt in round. Also, I added a drawstring for ease. It turned out quiet well and I am happy to get such a nice long length out of the yardage I had. The yarn is  from American Thread Company's Dawn Knitting Worsted which I got from a friend.

It turned out quiet well and I am happy to get such a nice long length out of the yardage I had. The yarn is  from American Thread Company's Dawn Knitting Worsted which I got from a friend.