For some reason I really enjoy figuring out how to work decreases and increases into stitch patterns: witness all of my hats (Beaufort, Maple Seed, Rose of Sharo

If it's Friday, then it must be...

Pattern now available for purchase! As this dress took form, its violet color and the waterfall effect of the lace border brought the cascading blossoms of Wisteria sinensis to mind. And since W. sinensis means Chinese wisteria, and the lace border is a variation of "Chinese Lace" from Barbara Walker’s 2nd Treasury of Knitting Patterns—well, the name seemed perfect. Wisteria is a sleeveless dress worked in the round to the armholes, and the pattern includes instructions for girls’ sizes 3 months through 10 years. The Chinese Lace forms a wide, graceful flounce at the hem, and the vertical ribbed columns give a lean yet non-clingy fit, then curve gently around armholes and neck to echo the undulations of the lace. Difficulty level:  adventurous beginner to intermediate; stitches used include k2tog, k3tog, SSK (or sl1, k1, PSSO), SSSK, and YO.  Pattern requires chart reading, and the neckline finishing uses an applied I-cord. Sizes:  3-6 mo [12-18 mo, 2 yrs, 4 yrs, 6-8 yrs, 10 yrs], for chest sizes 16-17 [18-19, 20-22, 23-24, 25-27, 28-29] inches, or 41-43 [44-49, 50-56, 57-62, 63-69, 70-74] cm. Garment measurements in inches/cm:  Chest circ:  18.5/47 [21/53, 24/61, 26.5/67, 29.5/75, 32/81]; length in inches/cm:  18/46 [19/48, 20/51, 22/56, 26/66, 29/74]. Materials:  Classic Elite Provence (100% mercerized cotton; 205 yds/186 m per 100 gm skein), color #2622, Japanese lilac.  2 [2, 3, 3, 4, 5] skeins; US #6/4 mm circular needles OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE, 16-24 inches longdepending on size worked. Even after dividing for front and back, I like to work on circular needles, but if you don’t, (optional) 1 set US #6/4 mm straight needles OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE; 1 set US #6/4 mm double-pointed needles (dpns) OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE; stitch holders or waste yarn; tapestry needle. GAUGE:  21 sts/26 rows = 4 inches in rib patt (*p2, k5; rep fr *), slightly stretched.  CHECK GAUGE ON BLOCKED SWATCH. Some possible yarn substitutions:  Tahki Cotton Classic; for an all-seasons version, try Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, and for a cool weather jumper, Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Superwash or Karabella Aurora 8. Purchase pattern here!  Includes full written instructions, schematic, and chart for Chinese Lace, in the form of a pdf file which will be sent via email.

I've finished the written part of the pattern, so all that remains is to proofread, draw a schematic, and put it all together with a photo or two.  Or three. By the way, I'm afraid this one will not be a freebie--too much work and time fiddling with that lovely Chinese Lace!   

I just had to demonstrate what I meant when I said the hydrangeas must love all this rain; I've never seen them like this before.  I mean, don't they look Seussian, like they should be blooming under Truffula trees? What's that?  What do hydrangeas have to do with wisterias?  You think this post should probably be called "hydrangea hysteria"?  You don't give a flying f--- about a bunch of freaking freakishly blue flowers?  Where the f--- is the CHINESE LACE? Ah, yes.  Here, here she is, in child's sleeveless dress form, and I shall call her...Wisteria.  Why?  Well, the first time I remember noticing a wisteria vine, I was a college freshman, and knew (and cared) very little about gardens--and yet the cascades of purple flowers adorning the entrance to the Frick Chemistry Lab amazed me enough that I asked someone the name of the plant.  Since then, I've seen Wisteria sinensis (or Chinese wisteria--how perfect is that?!) on buildings, on pergolas, and ascending tree trunks, and it never fails to amaze.  As this dress took form, its violet color and the waterfall effect of the Chinese Lace border brought the wisteria to mind. And yes, instructions will be available soon, for girls' sizes 6 months to 10 years; I reworked the neckline today, and so the pattern should be up by (dare I say it?) next week. 

Sometimes it seems to me that the entirety of a knitting life must involve careening from one knitterly mistake to the next.  Some are not so silly--a consequence of pushing the envelope of one's skills, trying a new technique or stitch; some are GALLING--how many times while following a pattern for something knit in the round have I read the admonition to join, taking care not to twis