Sock Yarn is irresistible.
Every knitter has a skein or two (or 12) of soft, squishy sock yarn in gorgeous colors in their Stash.
My Yarn Stash included 3 skeins of sock yarn rosy-pink with yellow, darker rose and purple highlights. Never had any idea what to knit with it, but Oh! Those colors!
The yarn found its purpose when news of baby girls came along!
Doubling the yarn produced a gauge that worked for Bellarose, a topdown ruffled cropped cardi/shrug designed by Tiaga Hilliard.
The pattern was designed for 20 sts/in on size 7 needles. Size 7 needles produced a very loose fabric even with the doubled sock yarn. Size 5 needles produced a nice fabric at 22 sts per inch. To accommodate the difference in gauge, a larger size was knit.
Topdown patterns are perfect for babies. Limited seaming and finishing! No bulky seams!
The ruffle is just too cute!
The sweater decided it needed a matching bonnet. The lace stitch of the ruffle edges the bonnet.
Two babies – two sweaters.
The second sweater modified Misty Lily by Gabrielle Dansknit. It is also a topdown pattern with a lace panel. Designed for fingering weight yarn, the sock yarn was knit single strand on size 3 needles.
The lace panel was just the right touch of elegance to the sweater.
The body of the sweater was modified to an A-shape below the underarm seam.
The softness of the yarn, the lace pattern and those gorgeous colors made it perfect for a beautiful baby girl.
The Button Stash contained several small yellow buttons that were sewn onto the sweaters prior to gifting them.
How many dresses are too many to take to a wedding?
The necklines were rounded and the notch was eliminated. The bodice was lined with a plain white knit. The stretch of the knit fabric eliminated the need for the center back zipper.
The bodice back was modified for the deep V and button closure. The back skirt was doubled and pleated. The skirt was seamed closed on one side to ensure those wonderful Caribbean breezes did not blow the back opened!
The neckline was squared to reflect the 1960’s pattern neckline. The length of the dress hits just below the knee – the perfect length for a even gathering at the beach!
Hours.
The date of the shower was quickly approaching when the fabric arrived. I quickly added few squares on either side of the panel and then sandwiched iron-on quilt batting between the fabrics. 
It was not an A-B-C quilt. It was a B-C-D-A quilt.
Love the Free People look. Boho and comfortable!
To reduce the cavernous neckline, a pleat was sewn at the “V.”
Of interest to those of us that strive to keep everything even and “just-so.” T-shirt remakes have taught me that T-shirts are not symmetrical.
Statuesque women deserve clothing that fits and flatters.
