Fashion Feature: Crochet

Okay, I’m kind of taking the easy way out on this fashion feature because if there is one thing I don’t have to research or look for pictures for it’s crocheted clothing and accessories. There is really nothing I like better, and one of my favorite things to do is crochet. The dresses and other clothing you’re about to see? Basically my dream wardrobe.

Sadly, it can be difficult to find dress patterns in English. Crochet dress making seems to be more of thing for Japanese and Russian designers, although sometimes you can find a chart for the dress you’re eyeing, then of course you have to translate the symbols. But none of the dresses here had links to patterns so these are just to look at, there are some patterns at the bottom of the page for little touches of crochet.

So, no one is quite sure how crochet got it’s start, there are several different theories and all of them are worth a read if you’re interested in textile history. Historic pieces of crochet do exist but I won’t be sharing any today, for this one I’m sticking with some modern day examples of gorgeousness 🙂

Click on any image for a larger picture.

Sadly, I can’t find any info on the creator of this lovely dress.

No details on this one either. But I love the drape of the pineapple skirt and have seen plenty of charts that would mimic it.

This lovely dress was designed by Vanessa Montoro; a designer with some truly gorgeous crocheted dresses, you can check out her website here: http://www.vanessamontoro.com/en/

This is one of my personal favorites (and one I’m going to try and recreate some time, it is just so me!) this dress was crocheted by Anastasia Kuznetsova.

This seems to be Russian in origins though I’m not sure of the designer.

Also appears to be Russian, gorgeous lace flower motifs make up this pretty dress.

This poncho was crocheted by Jeanette of LutterIdyl and you can find her website here: http://www.lutteridyl.dk/

Love this wrapped lace skirt!

Another of my personal favorites; this rainbow vest was designed and crocheted by Mariana Rodriguez Segat.

If you’re looking for a more subtle touch of crochet in your own wardrobe you might be interested in some of these ideas:

Click on any image for a larger picture.

From a Russian blog: Use a Tee shirt, slit the sleeve and edge with crochet or tatted lace.

You could try this super easy necklace designed by Rhonda of Oombawka Design, here is a link to the Ravelry page where you can pick up the free pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/simply-easy-necklace

You can get the tutorial for this lovely top at: http://handykitty.tumblr.com/post/51389986887/have-you-got-an-old-scarf-laying-around-an-odd

A Doily and a Dress.

I’ve been crocheting like crazy lately to try and keep my fingers nimble. I haven’t been diagnosed with anything yet (don’t get me started on how slow this process has been, it took me over four months just to get an appointment with a rheumatologist) but it’s likely I have rheumatoid arthritis. My only defense against the pain, swelling, and stiffness is just to keep moving as much as possible. Sometimes, when I’m especially fatigued, I sit back and play with Play-Doh, kinda fun actually to just play like I did when I was a little kid.

But anyway, lots of crocheting lately and I’ve completed a doily and a dress that I want to show off, I had a lot of fun with both.

First up is my Wistful Red doily which I made from the free Wisteria Doily Pattern on Red Heart’s website.

I followed the pattern through round 11. Then for round 12:
(sc, ch 3 picot) in 1st st, ch 2, large shell in next ch 3 sp, ch 2, sk 3 st, +(sc, ch 3 picot) in next st, ch 2, large shell in next ch 3 sp, ch 2, repeat from +, sl st to first sc.

I love how it turned out!

Second up is a “multiaccessorie” that was designed by one of my favorite crochet designers; Elena Madsen. I’m wearing it as a dress in the picture but it can also be worn as a skirt, scarf, or poncho. The pattern is called Color Flow Skirt and is available on Ravelry.

I’m so looking forward to wearing this, I’m going to try and find a black dress to wear it with as I think it will make the blue pop more. It’s definitely one of my favorite projects to date, I’m thinking of making another in red.