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Hello! Lovely to see you! Really, really lovely to see you! I have finished doing my accounts, and now I'm free to do creative things such as blog posts and work. And kiss the dog's ears.
I was working on my accounts last week, and it was a bit like being in a prison of pain.
Yes, I do get a bit melodramatic when I'm doing my accounts. Anyway, they're done, and I'm dusted.
And now I can do the Reveal.
I've been working on this dress for a few months (I think).
When I did this post, I had done the top section, and was starting to knit downwards. (You can find the details of the name of the pattern in that post).
And now it's finished, and I've worn it. It's exceedingly comfortable.
Shall we have a few more photos?
Hugo took these photos for me on Sunday, after we'd been to an Open Garden.
We go to a lot of Open Gardens, and the standard of gardens is always very high, but this one was very disappointing.
I've got four passable photos to show you.
The rusting, moss covered gates were the most exciting thing I could find to photograph.
Never mind, as I say, the standard is usually very high, if not extraordinary.
As we drove out of the gate at the end of the lane leading to the open garden, I saw the beautifully coloured corrugated farm shed straight ahead, and knew that it was the perfect backdrop for the reveal photos of my knitted dress.
It's just a beautiful colour.
I think I'm going to wear this dress a lot. It's very comfortable. I don't feel self-conscious about my lack of flat stomach when I wear it, because it does a fantastic job of hiding it, and I like that I'll be able to layer it with thin long sleeved t-shirts, or thin jumpers underneath. And I love mixing stripes, so this is perfect. I think it will be great in the winter with boots rather than trainers or shoes on my feet. Some of the things I knit don't get as much wear as they should, but I think this will be different.
Here's the knitty-gritty: The pattern is by King Cole, number 3027, using DK yarn. The yarns I used are: Wendy Mode DK in colour 205 (that's the lilac), and Patons Diploma Gold DK in colour 06125 (that's the green).
I knitted the Tunic Top version. I started by knitting the back, front and capped sleeves, (the cabled area), first. A provisional cast on kept the stitches on the first row live, so that when the top section was complete, and sewn up, I put the first row of the front and back (now joined), onto a long circular needle, and just knitted downwards, doing two rows of the green, and four rows of the lilac alternately, until I was happy with the length. I did a few rows of garter stitch at the end, which kept on flipping up, so to remedy this, I re-did the garter stitch, but in two sections, the front and back seperately, then just joined the garter hem sections together, and that has stopped it flipping up.
So there we go! One more dress finished! You'll have to wait and see what I'm doing next.................
Cheerio! Love Vanessa xxx
Oh my, how lovely! The dress looks adorable on you, and it's very figure flattering....not that you need it, but it suits you perfectly. I love the color combo, and you were spot on to select the corrugated backdrop...perfect harmony. Congratulations on a new dress, sweetly worn.
Posted by: Jan | May 09, 2011 at 07:47 PM
I love it Vanessa! it is a very cool dress and very "wearable"!!! And also very flattering, you are so clever!
I haven't commented on your last post because I popped in and popped out to quickly, but I did read the canine post and oh my god I can't believe Ellie pooed in the bank, that must have been mortifying! Aaaaa!!! My mum has a little terrior cross and she took her to the mechanics once and she (tallulah, not Mum) peed on a car battery. For gods sake! She is not allowed out anymore!
Wishing you a lovely and wonderful day!
Love Alice XXX
Posted by: Alice and Raymond!!! | May 09, 2011 at 08:19 PM
It's gorgeous Vanessa, I really think this is just beautiful and agree with you about the mixing of stripes, such fun! Anything that hides tummy extras is always a bonus xox Look forward to your next venture!
Posted by: Penelope | May 09, 2011 at 08:23 PM
how lovely........the dress not the rusty gate!
Posted by: ella | May 09, 2011 at 08:31 PM
Hello Vanessa
It's beautiful, wonderful!
perfect finish, I loved it!
The colors are soft too, a happy choice.
The pictures revealed his dream!
Kisses!
Marcia
Posted by: Márcia | May 09, 2011 at 08:32 PM
I LOVE it - and once again, you are such a fox. I can never have enough stripes to wear either... in fact, to the extreme that whenever the boys draw me, I am always wearing stripes. Have a lovely day, love Kate xxooxx.
Posted by: kate is greedy | May 09, 2011 at 08:44 PM
Beautiful...and the matching shoes are superb!
Posted by: Therese | May 09, 2011 at 08:48 PM
Love that dress. I too am a lover of stripes.
June
Posted by: June | May 09, 2011 at 08:51 PM
Vanessa this is another gorgeous creation!
How clever you are! Lovely photos of you again - Hugo I presume???
Posted by: Gill | May 09, 2011 at 08:51 PM
That's fabulous! I love mixing the stripes, and you're right that you found the perfect backdrop for the photos. Congratulations on another lovely dress!
Posted by: Bonnie | May 09, 2011 at 08:54 PM
Brilliant dress, it so suites you. Your next knitting should be that Debbie Bliss summer dress pattern i sent you lol!!
Take Care
Love Carole from Rossendale xxxx
Posted by: Carole | May 09, 2011 at 08:54 PM
Wow, it's amazing, it's so you.
Posted by: Jacqueline | May 09, 2011 at 09:01 PM
Beautiful! The stripes are fantastic. You look great :)
Posted by: Trekky | May 09, 2011 at 09:09 PM
Well how fabulous! It really suits you Vanessa, although I don't know how you have the patience to knit a dress!Love the matching shoes too!Great backdrop!
Rachel x
Posted by: Rachel | May 09, 2011 at 09:15 PM
My first thought was just how much I admired you for hanging in there knitting all that length of the dress. I give up too easily. Second thought was how fabulous your dress is and looks on you Vanessa. You carry it perfectly. Definately a weekend for completing purple and green stripes. Your hair looks great too by the way. Like you we went to and Open Garden this weekend. We paid £12 to get in as it promised a 1940's village fete, theatre and more. Reality an ok garden and a few tables, no bunting, marquees or games. Still grumping about the daylight robbery. Bah humbug.
X
Posted by: Bobo Bun | May 09, 2011 at 11:41 PM
Love, love, love the dress! Just beautiful!
Posted by: ilsa-fay | May 10, 2011 at 12:44 AM
Hi Vanessa.. Buddy and I are waving to you from Oregon USA! Love the dress, it looks very comfy and flattering on you. My lilacs are getting near opening and my white azalea with the white lilac next to it are getting close. You're way ahead of us over there!! Hugs, Teresa
(Hope you pop over to see my latest pix.. :-)
Posted by: Teresa Kasner | May 10, 2011 at 02:29 AM
Lovely Vanessa, the beautiful dress looks really great on you, fab colours. Sorry to hear the garden was a disappointment, usually you have such lovely pictures of your garden open days. Roll on the next one...
Love Hen xxx
Posted by: Hen | May 10, 2011 at 08:37 AM
Hello, i can´t find a contact, so i want to ask you here. Can i make a link to your Blog? I like it very much. I have a new german wool blog. i can i post a picture of one rabbit? I like them very much. And yeah this Dress is really cool and the Shoes look so good to it.
i have not enough patience for so long Dress in "glatt rechts".
Greatings from Germany
Madame Flamusse
Posted by: Madame Flamusse | May 10, 2011 at 09:01 AM
Mmmmm...lilac and light limey green.
My absolute favourite colour combination.
In awe of the patience to knit a whole dress.I used to have the patience to do complicated major garments, now have the patience of a knitting goldfish- chunky scarves are us.Arthritis in the fingers hasn't helped!
So annoying when an open garden turns out to be pants.
Posted by: Kate | May 10, 2011 at 09:24 AM
Beautiful dress Vanessa and love the colours. Looks so comfortable and flattering too :-)
Posted by: Sally | May 10, 2011 at 09:32 AM
What an amazing dress - it looks great! I love your shoes too.
Posted by: skirmishofwit | May 10, 2011 at 09:40 AM
Very nice dress! I love the whole ensemble (green shoes : wow!)!
Posted by: Alessandra | May 10, 2011 at 10:32 AM
LOVE THE DRESS!!! I am going to have to make one for myself for sure! (if you can wear one then so can I ;-) ) Your shoes are a treat as well! I love those cables and the empire line, so good for hiding our sins :-)
Posted by: Jenni at Baa-me Kniits | May 10, 2011 at 11:44 AM
LOVE THE DRESS!!! I am going to have to make one for myself for sure! (if you can wear one then so can I ;-) ) Your shoes are a treat as well! I love those cables and the empire line, so good for hiding our sins :-)
Posted by: Jenni at Baa-me Kniits | May 10, 2011 at 11:44 AM
What a great dress. Can see why you will be wearing it so much. Looks really comfy. And - can't wait to see your next project. x
Posted by: Victoria | May 10, 2011 at 11:48 AM
It's such a gorgeous dress Vanessa. Gorgeous colours and so wonderfully flattering.
Absolutely loved your last post too. Your 'quietish' pottering posts are always my favourites!
Hx
Posted by: Heather | May 10, 2011 at 01:32 PM
How clever to spot lavender corrugation! Genius, as is your lovely dress,
Sarah x
Posted by: sarah-jane down the lane | May 10, 2011 at 05:00 PM
Oh, that is a gorgeous dress! It goes fabulously with the t-shirt underneath too. That's another thing I want to add to my endless to do list now! XD
Posted by: Steph | May 10, 2011 at 07:07 PM
"Oh, My! Doesn't she look pretty?" said Sir Henry as he look admiringly at Miss Vanessa's new dress.
"Well, yes - of course," replied Evangeline. "I simply adore what she can do with needles and yarn. She always makes the most lovely and happy things."
Audrey added sweetly, "I did her hair you know. I love how bouncey and full it looks."
And then the friends gathered together to have tea and chat some more with Miss Vanessa about the gardens they have seen and the places they have been. It's true - that this particular garden was a bit of a disappointment - not really having much planted, given the time of year - but it did have such a lovely lavender wall that showed off the new dress in the best possible way. They cherish their friend and are very happy to know someone so smart and creative.
Miss Vanessa is a treasure.
Posted by: Liz W in Missouri, USA | May 11, 2011 at 03:37 PM
That backdrop really is perfect for your photo's - serendipity at work! Always lovely to see your knitting and this dress is lovely and pretty; beautiful soft complementary stripes. It looks very flattering on - I love the layered stripe look. It seems like a perfect style, one that looks great but you don't have to worry about it in any way. Beautiful knitting too, the cables are gorgeous. I do wonder about trying to knit a cardigan sometimes but that is as far as it goes. I wouldn't be able to adjust the pattern like you do and it would just upset me if it didn't fit or anything. You are very patient and clever doing a whole dress (and several of them!) I love the comment from Liz W - she is right too, your hair is looking lovely.
p.s - I read your doggie interview post and thought you must have been so embarrassed by little Ellie in the bank - one of those occasions where the 'never apologise, never explain' rule might have worked. It did make me laugh though! The whole interview was lovely.
Posted by: Siobhan | May 11, 2011 at 05:33 PM
so charming in absolutely gorgeous colors and SO MUCH knitting! enjoy wearing your wonderful creation ...
love Barbara
Posted by: Barbara | May 13, 2011 at 01:32 PM
You've done an amazing job of the dress! The shape looks lovely on you and I love the background that matches it!xx
Posted by: Jessie | May 13, 2011 at 02:10 PM
Loving the dress and loving those juicy green shoes too!!
Posted by: Vintage Squirrel | May 14, 2011 at 10:06 PM