First Communion Dress Revealed!

My sweet Chickee! The weather held out and we had a great day. Chickee was very happy with her dress and overall, I'm happy with it. It was warm enough that she didn't need to wear the shrug. The dress is made of Plymouth, Jeanne, DK.
Here is me and Chickee in compliance with the 'Dressed up' decree. I need to show you more photos, Chief looked so handsome too. But today is reserved for Chickee. Now, I haven't crocheted in like 4 days, so back to work!

Design Journey: Chickee's Dress DONE!

I'm so excited that this is done! It finally feels "finished". (Although I may go back and re-do the embroidered flowers.) The top feels better, not as plain as before I put on the sleeves and flowers. Now, with the sleeves, I probably could even take the flowers off..... You'll have to wait until May to see it on Chickee, but here it is flat. I also put a short 3 row edging on the shrug sleeves.

Design Journey: Chickee's Dress

Can you see the hint of embroidered 'Lazy Daisy' on the right? And the tiny crocheted flower on the left. I was trying to decide which type of flower to use just above the crocheted waistband/sash. I was somewhat unhappy at the quality of my lazy daisies, but I like how subtle they are. They add just enough interest without being too obvious. I'm going to make 4 or 5 across the front. Wish me luck! I also started taking off the armhole edging and crocheting a cap sleeve in the skirt pattern around the armhole. When I get one done, I'll show you a photo, then I'll decide if I want to keep the cap sleeve or keep it sleeveless. I sewed up the ends of the shrug, so now it has armholes. I need to decide if/what kind of edging to put on it. Decisions, decisions! It's what design is all about. It's what makes every project unique and shows me how much more I still need to do! I hope to finish the dress by the weekend. (That would be a relief!)

I hope you had a great Easter/Passover. We had a nice day here. Of course, no one took a photo of me wearing the Super Speedy Shrug, but I took lots of photos of the kids.

Design Journey: Chickee's Dress

It's NOT finished yet! But I know many of you are anxious to see progress, so I'm making myself vulnerable for you and showing you this First Communion dress. Ok, most importantly, Chickee says she likes it. I'm not thrilled that the dress is hanging lower at the waist than I had planned because the skirt weighs much more than I had anticipated. I knew this would happen, but I didn't think it would pull down so much. So the waist line is lower than I wanted it.
I think the back looks nice. The top front is too plain, so I'm thinking of adding some surface embroidery along the sash. I might also add a little cap sleeve to help it be less boring.
The shrug is not done, but is coming along and I think it helps balance out the skirt.

Don't forget to listen to me on YarnThing tonight if you can. See yesterday's post for the links.

No Joke!

March was a huge, busy, thrilling, stressful, exciting, hopeful month. Thanks for hanging in there with me! Let's get back to business:

The Horizon Tote pattern is coming. My helper had an issue that delayed us a little, but it's not her fault, because clearly I was a huge part in the delay. But it's coming, I haven't forgotten.

The First Communion Dress hasn't been touched in like a month. Instead, I bought a tiara/veil and assembled them, ordered and mailed the invitations, and we began discussing the menu. We've also had meetings and banners to create. It's a big deal for Chickee and she is very excited.

I got to give my acceptance speech on Getting Loopy for my 'Flamie' award on 3/30. You can hear it here on archives if you missed it.

What else is new? Chief has been busy making more birdhouses. I'm just thrilled that he has found something that interests him that is NOT on the computer. Still, he can only make these with Captain's help.

Design Journey: Chickee's Dress

Can you see the sash at the waist? It is attached on the front only and then it ties in the back. I'm getting more and more happy as it is getting closer to done! Yes, at some point, I'd like to make this pattern available. :) All done but the details!

Design Journey: Chickee's Dress

Here's the First Communion Dress at about the half-way point. I plan on putting on a sash or tie, the skirt needs about 12" more. You may be able to tell that the bottom 3" of the skirt in the photo, the fabric has become more open. I'm working on a shrug in the same stitch pattern as the skirt. I think that I'm going to embroider (in white) some lazy daisy type flowers just above the waistband. I haven't decided if I'm going to add a cap sleeve or not.

Here we are in MARCH! National Crochet Month! Time is flying. I didn't get to crochet at all this weekend...not at all! Busy, Busy, Busy. If you are the praying type, our family could use some prayers this week, especially Thursday, as one of our extended family is going to begin chemotherapy on Thursday. If you are the "good vibes" type, we're not picky, we'd appreciate 'good vibes' sent our way too!

Design Journey CAL Huge Tote; Design Journey: Chickee's Dress

It's coming along, but I'm switching back to the First Communion Dress for a few days. Last week was SO productive, and this week has been full of starts and stops. Unfortunately, this week is more common. I did Fasten off a project two days ago (the gold sneak peek). Also, I think I have a better solution for the FC dress. I wasn't liking how the skirt fabric was becoming. It was seeming too dense and stiff, not good enough drape. So, I put it aside. (I didn't frog it). And I started crocheting the skirt right onto the bodice in rounds, like I said I didn't want to do originally. I skipped some stitches out of the original stitch pattern to make the fabric lighter and we'll see what happens. It has more of a "random" and whimsical quality now, which might be nice compared to the very structured bodice.

Design Journey: Chickee's Dress

The front is plain, and the buttons will go in the back. I made the front first (photo above). On the Wrong Side of the Front, I planned out where the buttons should space out so that when I crochet the two backs, I'll know which rows to put the buttons and buttonholes. I marked the spots with the stitch markers, and moved them up and down a few times until I got them spaced the way I wanted. Then I wrote the pattern, and made the two backs, and sewed on the buttons.
...making progress!

Design Journey: Chickee's Dress

I'm re-thinking the skirt design that I had swatched up for Chickee's First Communion Dress. I re-took her measurements to make sure that they hadn't changed dramatically from the first time I took them a couple of months ago.

I bought a full slip for her and she tried it on. I figure it is easier to find the slip and get the dress to fit over it, than to design a dress and try and find a slip (for a 7 yo, who will only wear it once) that will match this custom-made dress.

Even though I'm re-thinking the skirt, I want the bodice to be pretty plain, and I'm more nervous about getting the bodice right than the skirt, so I will start with the bodice in a plain stitch because the skirt will be more ornate. I'm thinking that the bodice will need buttons up the back, because it is cotton and will not likely stretch much for her to pull it over her head. Also, it will be fairly fitted, with not much ease, again, hard to pull it over the head. So, it will be like a cardigan only turned the other way so that it buttons up the back. It will be a front, and two backs. Also, it needs to be a fairly conservative neckline, again, the buttons will help. I already bought the buttons. I have six 1/2" buttons in white. While I would have preferred shank buttons so that I could crochet them in, I couldn't find white shank buttons, so these have 2 eye holes and I will likely sew them on with thread opposite the buttonholes and I won't have to worry so much about the design part making corresponding placement for the buttons opposite the holes.

I already did my math based on my swatch. Still, I'm going to make a paper pattern on graph paper, the exact finished size that I am trying for. This is so that I can double check that my gauge is matching the finished measurements, and if it's not, I can make the dress fit and then re-do the math later and change the gauge.

A sketch for the Design Journey: CAL Purse is coming on 1/31. check back and see!

Design Journey: Chickee's Dress

I took my swatches, knowing that the two swatches equalled one complete ball of yarn. I held the swatches up to a dress that Chickee currently wears and used it to guess-timate how many balls of yarn will be needed for the dress. (I have already used almost 2 on swatching).

I started "the Math". There will be more math after I decide how much "ease" the dress will need and what size to make it guessing how much Chickee will grow. Ease is the amount of space that is between the body and the garment. Measure your chest, for example (with just a bra on). Then take out your favorite shirt, lay it flat, and measure the chest. It will likely be 4-6" bigger than your actual chest measurement, depending on how "close" you prefer your clothes to fit. How many inches you add to your 'actual' measurement to make the 'finished' measurement of the garment, is a design decision. All the minute decisions that a designer makes add up to why one dress is different from another, and another, and another, and is what makes them original. The more unique decisions the designer makes, the more original it will be. Any of my fellow designer readers want to chime in, I'd love to hear from you!

Design Journey: Chickee's Dress

I sewed the swatches together to get a feel for how I would sew the skirt to the bodice. I made a couple of different tries until I chose the method I will likely use. (this could still change!)

I took all the measurements from all the sources and put them on one page for easy comparison. I made another couple of sketches. I'm thinking of making the back bodice different from the front bodice to capitolize on the scallop-y shaped edge that the stitch pattern makes. I'll show you later.

At this point, many experienced garment designers would likely feel confident submitting the swatch and sketch to a buyer for consideration. This should ONLY be done if you feel CERTAIN that you can execute the plan competently. If you don't feel confident, then you need to keep going with the design until you feel that you can competently deliver what you promise in your submission.

This is a Cicada on Chief's nose. Yuck. We get an infestation of this bug, loud, stupid, slow bugs every year, some years are worse. This was an easy year. A few years ago, the 17 year Cicada cycle hit with a vengeance. They really do hit like a plague. I think this was the only one we saw this year. They don't bite, they are just a nuisance. They do "fertilize" the earth with themselves as they die off all summer.

Design Journey: Chickee's Dress

Chief noticed the beautiful sky and asked if he could take a photo. Here it is!

Where was I? I washed and dried the swatches for Chickee's dress. I measured them and noticed that they both shrunk about 1/2 ". The patterned swatch "crumpled" up a little bit, so I smoothed it, watered it down (wet block) and pressed it gently flat with my hands, and let it dry on it's own. It's flatter (flat enough), but is not as soft as the machine dried one. (file this info in my head).

I made the swatch of the increases and decreases. I think this will be for the skirt. I think it will be a side-to-side construction with rows running from waist to hem to give the best flare.

I got out the ole' measuring tape and took all of Chickee's current measurements. Now, the First Communion is in April/May. I wonder how much she will grow between now and then? Any guesses? I made note of some of her wishes. She thinks that she wants the skirt kinda full. She wants the waist tighter. She wants the dress to hit her about mid-calf. She doesn't want the bodice to hit her too high on the neck. She thinks she wants a shawl rather than a bolero/shrug/cardigan. I might have to veto this because she might be walking with a lit candle at some point, and I don't want her tugging a shawl into place while holding a candle, walking, and perhaps wearing a frothy headpiece of some sort to be determined later.

The plan is to now take Chickee's measurements and compare them with the ASTM standard sizing guides and the CYCA sizes and see where they fall. She is 7 and is probably of average size. We will see!

Last night, while thinking about falling asleep, I was thinking about how I would construct the bodice, side to side? top down? bottom up? Will there be buttons up the back? Which construction method will be easiest? which one will look the best? Will I use the same stitch pattern I have been playing with for the skirt or do I want to pick something else? How will I tie the bodice together visually with the skirt? Do I keep the dress all one piece, or would it be smarter to make it a two-piece set that only appears like a dress? (Will this be acceptable for the ceremony)? Do I want to do a waistband for the skirt or just sew the skirt onto the bodice? How do I want to segue between the bodice and the skirt? Chickee wants it tight around her waist. How do I do this with the skirt and stitch pattern I am practicing? do I need a tie or sash? If so, would it be too busy to use the same stitch pattern? Should I use a more basic stitch pattern? should I go with a satin ribbon or something different than crochet?

She wants a rounded neckline. Which stitch pattern will give me the easiest result? do I want to do top-down or bottom-up, or side-to-side. What neckline do I think would look best (despite my 7 yo's opinion?)

Much to think about!

Design Journey: Chickee's Dress

So, I went through my stitch dictionaries to find some stitch patterns for Chickee's First Communion Dress. I wanted something not on a grid (squarish), nothing too see-through, something that I thought I could increase and decrease, something I could make my own. Here are two swatches. On the right is the sc swatch. I have no idea why I always insist on doing a swatch in sc first. I guess it just gives me experience with the yarn, gives me a general feel for how stiff the yarn wants to be before I help it along with changing hooks and stitches. It's like a little warm-up. Both of these swatches are around 8" square. I stitched them, wrote down their sizes, the number of rows and stitches of each, tied knots in the tails to indicate which hook I used. (In this case, a "G" = 6 knots). In my notes, I noted that I used a "Bates" hook. (I do also use Boye hooks frequently).

These swatches are currently in the washing machine, then they will go into the dryer with the rest of the load of whites. The care of this garment is really secondary, because I really only expect Chickee to wear it one time, since it is a special occasion dress. Still, I want to see what will happen to it, and it's good experimenting for future projects.

This yarn is Plymouth Yarn, "Jeannee"
I started with this yarn for several reasons. It's 51% cotton, 49% acrylic. It's soft, it's bright white, it's dk weight, and I have BUNCHES of it in my stash. Let's just say it was slated for a different project, Plymouth helped me out, then the project didn't happen, and Plymouth said I could keep the yarn! So 'Thank You' to Plymouth yarn. It's the least I can do to give them a little plug. I will likely try out other yarns for this project, but really, since I have enough on hand to finish the whole project, I should try and use it. (I also like it). Let's see what happens when it gets out of the dryer. These 2 swatches have used an entire ball of yarn.

Next, I'm starting a new ball of yarn to make another swatch to play with the increasing/decreasing of the stitch pattern.

Design Journey: Chickee's Dress

I want to make Chickee a First Communion Dress. That in itself, means that some of the design process is a "given", like it will be white. Sometimes when I am designing, I have nothing at all in mind when I start with hook and yarn. This will require some planning. Here are some preliminary sketches with thoughts and questions scattered around. There are a few different top ideas and different skirt options.

I have made some goals to give myself direction...

I already know the color, that's a given. But if I didn't know the color, I would be thinking about what would be flattering with Chickee's coloring, what colors she likes, what colors are available in the yarns I want, etc.

Yarn: Her First Communion will likely be in May or late April. In Ohio, that means that it could be cool or it could be pleasantly warm (or there could be snow, lol). I will rule out wool, I am going to think more like, cotton, linen, or blends. I'd like something not too expensive. Because it will likely be all the same yarn, I think I will rule out corn, because while I love it, it's easy to care for, it tends to get "weighty" when you use a big quantity of it. I want something DK weight or lighter, maybe something the weight of Lustersheen. (But I'm not sure I want acrylic....)

Style: With spring, I'm thinking sleeveless, but with wanting some modesty for church, maybe a removable bolero/cardigan topper. I think that I want something simple on the bodice and more elaborate/decorative for the skirt that can be repeated in the bolero somehow to tie them together. Obviously, nothing too lacy (see-through would be bad), but some laci-ness on the lower rows of the skirt might be ok if done in an "eyelet" kind of way. Generally, around here, dresses are usually more knee to mid-calf length, not floor-length, and not higher than the knee.

Time to keep thinking about the neckline and shapes and maybe choose some yarn for swatching...

Design Journey

Do you want to go on a design journey with me? I'm thinking about letting you in AT THE VERY BEGINNING of a design and letting you come with me until it's completion. I expect this to take several months because the design that I'm going to do is not for publication (because I wouldn't be allowed to share those), but a design for Chickee that may eventually be a self-published design, I haven't decided yet. What do you think? What do I think? Do I want to open myself up and my process up for your voyeuristic pleasure? I'm thinking that you all, dear readers, would like this very much. Maybe I should try it. I'm not going to do a regular post on it. I'll label all the posts about this as "Design Journey: Chickee's dress". My self-imposed deadline for the project is April 30, 2009. Why April 30, 2009? Well, if I decide to do this, I'll tell ya!

Here are the first day of school photos! Wow, they are getting big! (wipes tear)