Second time I’m knitting this pattern. I’ve tried to do it with a merino yarn, but didn’t like the fabric and colour at all. Besides, in Rome it’s way too hot for wool in spring summer and most of autumn.

It wasn’t easy to find a proper fibre, I hope this one will work. I’ve chosen bamboo (with a bit of wool) because it’s suitable for warmer weather, it’s anti-perspirant and anti-microbic, and has a nice silk-like lustre.

Fabric looks nice with 3.75 mm needles, so I will give it a go.

Modifications:

Last time I’ve knit an extra small (the gauge was slightly off as the yarn was fluffy), and it was tightly-fitted. So this time I’m doing a Small, with some mods:

• Increased 2 extra sts in the back.

• Increase once more for the bust before separating, and adding two or three extra repeats afterwards, as I am an E cup.

• Stitch gauge is spot on, row gauge is slightly off (as usual!), so will have to make some adjustments.

• I’m not doing the “seam lines”, I don’t like them, and I don’t see the point of having fake seam line, I believe seamless looks more polished, and the increases look better too.

• Trying on as I go, increased bust/neck to 41 sts, not sure I should add other repeats, as I’m an E cup, and last time I’ve knitted it was definitely tight around chest. I will ponder it for a while, then resume knitting.

• So, on the chest part I had 8 more stitches than for the small size, I did more decreases until I hit the Small size again.

• Knit two more inches before beginning back decreases, I want a lower back, and I also will have to gather it tightly with the ribbing, in order to keep it from falling from my shoulders. I know that from the previous time I’ve knitted this: the back opening shrank too much, I didn’t like it. I want a generous opening. The difficult part is make the dress stay put.

• Started doing increases every 7th row for 6 rows, then alternating every 7th and 8th row, since my row gauge is smaller.

I had to do the back ribbing before finishing the dress, because it appeared to be so loose, I wasn’t sure if I had to unravel it and knit it again with modifications. But I’ve managed to make it tighter by picking up less stitches (as suggested in this project):

• gathered one every two stitches along the sides, from shoulder to beginning of back increases

• two evert three stitches for the back shoulders and increase section (but I think I should have picked up one every two)

• one to one in the lower back

• three every four in the front

Also did three short-row on the back, and cast off tightly. I used 2.5 mm needles for ribbing and casting off. This helped a lot.

The problem with this pattern is that it’s not designed to fit generous busts such as mine, so the dress is really tight around the chest (despite adding several stitches on that part), is actually loose around the waist, and it doesn’t stay put with a simple rib as suggested in the pattern. BUT picking up less stitches, doing some short rows and tight ribbing helps a lot. I had to give lots of time tot he ribbing, use different needles and cast-off methods, but it was necessary, if I am to actually wear this dress without fearing it will fall off me. It also helped to look at the other dress I’ve knitted (I haven’t unravelled it yet) for modifications.

The skirt really takes FOREVER to knit! I don’t want to do this ever again!

• Did 18 increases and decided that it’s enough, however it looks! If it’s not long enough, I’ll block it aggressively…

• Body, skirt, and back ribbing took exactly 935 meters/1022 yard or 92 grams of the yarn (almost 10 skeins).

• Doing the back of the hem with fingering yarn, scraps of red alpaca.

• Sleeves: decreased the extra stitches every 3 rows, then started dong the pattern decreases on the 14th row. Did 3 decreases (half sleeve). I like the shorter sleeve.

• Wish I had done one or more repeats, I believe a longer skirt looks more elegant… I’ll try to add a tiny bit of length through blocking.

• I have river pearls for buttons, but I’m not convinced they look good on red.. I will see if I can find better buttons…

It looks A M A Z I N G on me!!!!! This is my new favourite dress!!! I absolutely love it!!!

Afterthoughts:

I was able to add a bit of length and drape to the dress through wet blocking, and the fabric overall looks gorgeous.

But as most of the wight is in the skirt (I also used a heavier yarn, so it’s understandable), the dress is dragged down, and the back and waist tend to stretch more than I wish they did. So I came up with a solution, as I had done with the other dress: I threaded a strand of the same yarn through the ribbing, from shoulder to shoulder, and pulled it, gathering the back a little bit. I will attach a button and wind the yarn around it, adjusting for modesty every time I wear it. I will add a few pictures to demonstrate how I can raise the waist and tighten the back with this method.