Appropriating Scarf Patterns to Make a Skirt

Share via emailShare on TwitterShare on TumblrSubmit to StumbleUponSave on DeliciousDigg ThisSubmit to redditShare on MyspaceShare on FacebookPin it on Pinterest

A few days ago, I got a new Japanese pattern book, a book of Autumn-Winter crochet clothes and accessories. There are a few lace scarves in that book and I decided to appropriate them to make a skirt.

Crochet skirt in progress.

Crochet skirt in progress.

How do I know which pattern to appropriate?

There are lots of simple scarf patterns. These generally use only one block of design. However, what I wanted for a skirt was something that presented more than a single block of design since a skirt is not as flat as a scarf. A skirt has shape and volume. What I needed was a scarf pattern that presented at least two blocks of design that work well together.

My selection consists of one block of design made up of square motifs. The other block of design is made up of dc meshes. The dc mesh is also made more visually interesting by alternating rows of slanting tr’s and vertical dc clusters.

At the moment, I am very happy with this design that presents the lacy uniformity of square motifs and the variation of alternating meshes. I am also quite pleased with the way a line is made vertically on the skirt – that line where the block of motifs and the block of meshes join.

Materials

I am using dk weight baby camel yarn. Now this is not very stretchy yarn and the stitches I am using are not very stretch either. The resulting fabric will not have a lot of give which is why it is important to treat this fabric as if it were woven.

So I decided to look at some sewing patterns to see how skirts may be shaped.

Looking through various skirt styles, I am beginning to love the skirt again. I have pretty much neglected myself after getting married, not minding much my clothes or little pretty things such as make-up and accessories. It is sad since as a teenager, I was quite fond of fashion, design, and such things. Now I feel quite old and miss the brightness of my younger days.

The skirts I see while browsing through the Internet make me feel happy.

I hope to finish this crochet project soon. I also have that summer dress to look forward to finishing.

Skirt in Filet Crochet and borrowing from antique yoke designs

Share via emailShare on TwitterShare on TumblrSubmit to StumbleUponSave on DeliciousDigg ThisSubmit to redditShare on MyspaceShare on FacebookPin it on Pinterest

Antique crochet patterns can serve as sources of new ideas and inspiration for new crochet work. A particular book of interest is “The Priscilla Yoke Book, 1916” which may be found in the Antique Pattern Library.

An excellent book on the "yoke".

An excellent book on the "yoke".

Using a corset-cover yoke design from page 13 of the book, in combination with filet crochet, I made this white skirt using white rayon thread.

Skirt crocheted with white rayon thread.

Skirt crocheted with white rayon thread.

The hem of the skirt is based on the crocheted medallions from the yoke book. I added little blue glass beads along the hemline to add weight to the skirt, since rayon is such a soft and delicate material.

The Yoke design which I used for the skirt's hemline.

The Yoke design which I used for the skirt's hemline.

Continue reading