Thursday 10 August 2017

1960's Hemlines

You really do have to take a second look at a dress you have made but never really worn. What on earth was wrong with it?
 
 It was a good colour, I had a cardigan and shoes to go with it, it had a beautifully detailed collar I crocheted myself and it was 100% cotton. What was wrong? 

I wore it to work last week to find out. Oh yes, after a days office wear, I found out. It was too short. Every time I had to swing round on my wheelie office chair I pulled it down a few inches. I suppose it was a vintage pattern from 1968 so short hemlines were very much in fashion then. Possibly the way women were viewed in offices was different then too but that is a whole other story!



I decided to use a variation on my pillow case edging tutorial (on the left bar) to give the hem another inch or so. 

Size 30 crochet thread
1.75mm hook

First make a row of blanket stitch across the edge of your hem where you want the edge to be attached to.



Row 1: Join yarn in the first blanket stitch. Ch1 to start, make 2dc, ch1 in each blanket stitch to the end. Join with a ss to first chain.



Row 2: Ch3 to start,1tr into each dc and 1tr into each ch all the way to the end. Join with a ss into the top of the chain 3.



Row:3 4ch to start, *1tr into next treble, 1ch, miss 1tr,* repeat from * to *. join with a ss to the top of the first loop. 



Row 4: 3ch, 1tr into the first ch space, *2tr into the next chain space* repeat from * to * to end.



Row 5: Pointed edge as follows: ch1, 1dc in the first stitch, miss 2tr,(3tr,3ch,3tr,all in one stitch) miss 2tr, 1dc, miss 2tr, repeat fan shape.. Repeat to end.

Fasten off and admire!



Much better and I am really looking forward to wearing it again now. I have been having a wardrobe sort out if you haven't already guessed. Some stayed, some went, some was re homed to friends, some went into a revisit pile like this one. 

I am back in love with this dress now. Happy days. 
Jo xx

6 comments:

  1. What a brilliant idea. We are just trying to crochet a dollshouse blanket using crochet cotton and a 1.5mm hook. Will wait and see.

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  2. Looks super on you Jo. What a great solution.
    Love your hair too.
    Jacquie x

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  3. Terrific way to refashion, and it adds a bit of pizzazz too!

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  4. I love the purple cropped cardigan too - unfortunately I cannot crochet so will look for knitted patterns or fabrics and make adjustments. Keep up the good work. Thank you.
    Carol
    GB
    OAP

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  5. That's such a cool solution! I love the crochet and the way it matches the collar. It looks great

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  6. That's amazing, I never would have thought of that. Clever lady, do you feel more comfortable in it now? It really suits you. x

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