The battle of the Tea Dress.

Hello, is it me, or does it feel Autumnal? Slight chill in the air? For us knitters and crocheters the cold isn't too much of an issue, it just prompts us to get our needles, hooks and yarn out and start clicking away, making lovely woolly comforting hugging things. For me it's snuggling up infront of the fire with a "glass of something" time. The folks we didn't see at the knitting group all summer, pop up out of the woodwork and join us in our little gatherings. The nights are starting to draw in, curtains and shutters closing earlier in the evening. The word 'vest' will become everyday in our minds, for those of us who need that extra layer.

I never got round to using these photos above, on my blog last Autumn, but they've come in handy today.

I keep on looking at the trees to see if the branches are starting to look bare, and then wondering if I'm a bit ahead of myself. It must be the chill wind. Here in the North of England we do get treated to cold weather.

So, here we are then, my stripey dress, now re-christened my "Red Berries Blue Sky" dress, well on it's way to being finished.

I've just got to complete the arms, I want them to be full length.

The strange shaping down the sides of the skirt section won't stay like that. The reason it's there is that I'm knitting the dress downwards, and I started by knitting the torso in two halves. I then decided to knit it on a circular needle and save all the sewing in of ends that was going on. This stitch pattern results in lots of cutting of ends, you can't carry the yarn up the sides if the pattern is knitted flat.

I like the effect I'm getting with the five rows of stocking stitch followed by three rows of purl stitches, especially when the pattern is seen from different angles, it shimmers.

I've learnt things from doing this pattern.

It was going to be the top half of this Tea Dress.

Untill I finished the body of the dress, and it turned out to look awful on me, so I cut it in half.

Putting the bottom row, of the top half, back on my knitting needles.

I thought I'd knit downwards, increasing along the way, and make it into a dress. It wasn't all plain sailing, a bit had to be unraveled unfortunately, but as I like to say (frequently) "where ther's a will there's a way". There was also a break in the knitting of this stripey dress. I decided to knit something else rather than throwing this away in a fit of frustration. The thing I knitted was my fair isle dress.

I really do feel that I won't be beaten in the battle of the tea dress, it's become a matter of knitting honour.

And the battle isn't over once I've finished this stripey dress, because I am determined to do something with the bottom section of the tea dress I cut in half.

This section above. I do have "plans" for it, (I think). We shall see what I can do, I'm determined not to waste all the knitting that went into the skirt half of the dress.

An image of me as a dog who won't let go of a bone is starting to creep into my mind. Still, "waste not, want not" also springs up at the same time.

Anyway, I must be off now, I've got to collect Hugo from work, and then we're taking the doggies for a walk on the beach.

And just before I go, I forgot to mention Penny's wonderful pompom bunting above, of blog planet penny, in my last post. My last post was about bunting and other things, and I'd meant to flag up Penny's version, which you can see towards the end of this post. What a great way to use up bits-n-bobs of yarn don't you think?

Have a lovely weekend, and I hope that chill wind hasn't reached you yet. Cheerio! Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[clare]

ooo its lovely! dont blame you not wanting to throw the bottom half away, I wouldnt either :) could it not just be a skirt? I think it would be a lovely skirt in its own rights or a petitcoat style dress mmmmm
Clare

P.S love reading your blog

[Lucille]

Tenacious is the word that springs to my mind. You're right. It's chilly down here too.

[MiA]

Your striped dress is fabulous! I am also a bit fascinated by the stockinett/purl rows effect. Curious to see what you make of the bottom part :))

[Handmade with love by G]

The dress looks fabulous :))) I wish I had a fit body to wear knit dresses ;)

The bottom part could be transformed into a poncho maybe??? The pattern and the colour is so lovely to be wasted :))

Love,
G.

[Anne Donald]

Hi Vanessa - having read more of your blog, I've realised that you don't live quite as close as I thought! I will be seeing Lindsay on Sunday, when she hosts one of her fun 'Woolgatherings'. When I was in my teens, I crocheted two dresses, but since then my knitted garments have been somewhat smaller, so I am in awe of your dress! Regards Anne

[Isabelle]

hello! I like Clare's idea above!
By the way, what was the reaction like when you showed your dress to your knitting group friends?
Bon week-end!
Isabelle xx

[Alice @ Crochet with Raymond]

Oh wow... I'm getting excited about the big reveal of this dress...
I loved your autumnal colour scheme for today's post! I love watching the seasons change on the other side of the world, through my blog friends photos... spring is meant to be in the air here, but would you believe it has been snowing in NZ? Donw in the south island! The strong winds are bringing an icy chill to wellington, so its feeling rather autumny here today too!
Much love to you Vanessa and a nice big "keep away doggies" warning growl from Raymond to Ellie and Douglas!!! XXXXX

[Jenni at Baame Kniits]

I am loving that dress Vanessa!! Its turning out really well...can't wait to see what you are planning for the skirt! I would be like you...all that knitting and waste not want not :-) I came across a bunting challenge last week and I now can't find it have you seen it at all??

[Planet Penny]

I just love those red leaves against the blue sky! Gorgeous photos! And as usual I am in awe of your tenacity with your knitting. I'm sure that dress is going to be as sensational as the last one. Thank you for your nice comments on the bunting! love Penny x

[Pipany]

I so love all the autumny posts appearing in blogland at the moment and the colours in yours are amazing Vanessa. My golly you are such a quick knitter! I really feel put to shame for whingeing about Dave's jumper and will get on with it forethwith! x

[julie]

oh am so loving the colour combination (but I think I might have mentioned that before) Bluesky/redberry dress is looking like it may yet be my favourite, and I am sure that you'll do something great with the skirt piece - it looks like it would make a lovely skirt in its own right as it stands. Hope you have a marvellous weekend - we've not quite experienced the turning seasons down here yet, but we're always a little bit behind because of our warmer temperatures, although I'm definitely sensing a change in the air, and colder tempteratures in the mornings. Time to put the fire on soon I reckon!

[Penelope]

Thanks for all those explosive fire cracker colour! Love your dress ad certainly the bottom half of your tea dress is divine xox

[Planet Penny]

Just to let you know I have had so many nice comments about the pompoms I am doing a 'Pompom Bunting Giveaway', Didn't want you to miss out, Vanessa! love Penny xxx

[Carole]

Hi Vanessa,
Your blog on friday was soooo lovely and colourful. Autumnal colours are brilliant. That jar of berries would make a lovely picture, so get to it lol!
You strippy dress is brilliant, you are so clever.
Love Carole from Rossendale xxxxxx

[Siobhan]

Really love your stripy dress Vanessa - looks really easy to wear too. Think it will suit you perfectly, the colours are great and it's just right for now (what with summer having all but disappeared!) Can see you skipping through the autumn leaves in that one - will look nice with leggings or tights or jeans. Pictures of you wearing it when it's finished, maybe please? Think you are just brilliant for rescuing your knitting and ending up with fantastic dress - if you can do similar with the other part then wow, you are are a genius. I admire your tenacity and creativity. Brilliant. This weather of ours does have compensations doesn't it - wrapping up in hand crafted woolly pullies and scarves is one of them.

[Rachel]

I loved looking at all of the photos in this post! Your knitting is beautiful : )

[Jess]

Hi Vanessa, I've given you an award over on mine! :o) x

[Madeline]

ooh that dress is gorgeous! I love the colors and the shape!