At Liberty

Yes, at liberty to start another project!  The  sundress is finished at last.  Hurrah!

What was expected to be a quick and easy project became a career, entailing  continuing education, extra hours, supply problems, and lowered performance expectations.

This all started with a child’s vintage filet crochet yoke.  Purchased at least 15 years ago, it was saved for a someday granddaughter. Now, I have the granddaughter, she is the right size and I was ready to go.  All it needed was a smocked  Liberty of London tana lawn skirt.   How hard could it be?

Before I got very far on the smocking, I thought it would be nice to add Florence Roberson’s smocked puffy pockets.  It took two full days to locate the pattern.

Before I pleated the pockets, the top may edge needed to be finished with a tiny hem or trimmed with lace.  Since I was using a crocheted yoke, a crocheted edge seemed in order.   My first and last crochet project was a pastel granny square baby blanket for my newborn daughter in 1978.  Hmmmmm….so I pulled out some how-to needlework books and learned some simple, basic crochet.  Continuing education is good!

NOTE: The links above take you to  earlier post about the sundress and  pockets, which are just sweet as pie.

The skirt is smocked with Florence Roberson’s plate Diamonds, by Ellen McCarn.  Smocking on Liberty or any print presents the challenge of achieving enough contrast without “fighting” with the print.

I was pleased with the effect of sharply contrasting purple rows above and below the smocking. I had this mostly smocked when we went back to North Carolina to escape the heat, but managed to leave the dark purple floss behind!  Supply problem!!   So I was delayed in finishing it until I could pick up more floss at the life-saving WalMart in Boone.

The back is smocked without the points.

Entredeux was joined to the outer edge of the yoke for ease in joining the skirt to the yoke.  Then it seemed like a good idea to use my newly acquired crochet skills to crochet around the yoke.  Talk about extended hours! I sat on the cabin deck for hours and hours trying to get the look I wanted.

My performance expectations were lowered as  I settled for three rows of single crochet and then picots.  I did get a lot more practice crocheting and was generally pleased with the results.  But I wish I had taken that how-to-crochet book along.

A tuck was added underarm at each side.  Opening that up later should give another year or so to the time Laurel can wear this.

Overall, I am pleased with the dress, but it was a much bigger project than I had anticipated.  But isn’t that what usually happens?

This project is included in Elizabeth & Co.’s “Be Inspired” Linky party.  Check out all the inspiration there!