Still Waters

I love pockets.  I love pockets in dresses.  And I especially love the pockets in this dress that I recently knitted up for myself.

Pattern: Still Light Tunic by Veera Valimaki
available on her website or for download via Ravelry.com.

Yarn: Knit Picks Simply Cotton Sport (100% cotton)
12 skeins (approximately 1968 yards)
colorway: Prussian Blue

Needle Size: US4

This is a top-down garment from Finnish designer Veera Valimaki.  I've often admired her designs for their clean lines and classic silhouettes.  When I saw this tunic, I jumped.  For some reason that I can't explain, I had been wanting to knit a dress for a while. 

The pockets are an integral part of the design.  I love that they add a vertical element to an otherwise bottom heavy garment.

 

Modifications:

1. I knitted the sleeves in a smaller diameter to better fit my slimmer biceps.  I also added a few inches to the length of the sleeve so that it hit right at the wrist.

2. I knitted 2 extra inches at the hem as I knew from previous experience that this cotton yarn likes to shrink lengthwise.

3. I made a detachable cowl neck.  Basically it's a big loop that I made out of 2 skeins of leftover yarn.

How to knit a cowl:

1. CO 500 stitches and join in the round.
2. Knit 2x2 rib for approximately 5 inches lengthwise.
3. Knit stockinette for 2 inches.
4. Bind off and sew in ends.
5. Drape over neck as desired.

 

I named this garment Still Waters as a play on the pattern name Still Light.  The yarn is a deep saturated blue flecked with grays and purples.  It's a really lovely color that makes me think of a pool of water on a gray overcast day.  I like the feel of the cotton and the way it drapes - I wanted it to be a little roomy and not too clingy.

I love knitting top down garments because it's so easy to ensure the right fit. In the end I got a great looking tunic/dress that's comfortable and easy to wear - kinda like a long cozy sweatshirt. However, tights and boots aren't so easy to wear.  I forgot how gravitationally challenged I am in heels.

The price one pays for fashion.