The challenge begins! Tash from Knitsch Yarns has set the rules:
“The rules: Knit a dress. It can be any weight, it must reach past one’s bottom, and it must be finished by the end of 2012.”

I would love to knit a dress, so in the spirit of the challenge, I’ve designed a pattern for a dress that I want to make for myself, and I’m offering it as a free pattern to anyone who wants to join in!
(Note: I have not finished knitting this dress yet, so there is a chance of finding errors in the pattern. I welcome any corrections! Also, I wrote it at 5:30am during a sleepless night.)

Features of my dress, called New Year’s Eve (because it will be the perfect dress to wear next New Year’s Eve when I finally finish it that day!!):
• Customizable to your body – try it on as you knit, and you choose the size of the shoulders, armholes, waistband, length etc
• A cute peek-hole in the front
• Stretchy stitch used in the top section
• Firm waist-control area
• Fun zig-zag chevron skirt
• Skirt is fashionably shorter at the front (which also means less knitting!)
• I’ve used some of my favourite stitches that feature in my books - see photos to get an idea of what the fabric you will knit should look something like.

1/1/12: I have just updated the PDF because I had missed out the finishing details. If you have already downloaded the pattern before today, you will need the new version.

11/6/14: I’ve finally been knitting this and I’ve added a picture of my update. I’ve also made a few minor alterations to the pattern, so there is a new version to download.