First love

March 04 2011 – thisisknit

Less than a year ago, Nikki (nixx on Ravelry) taught herself to crochet. Like many new crocheters and knitters, she had a particular project in mind. Having learned the stitches, she started looking at patterns, but none of them were exactly right, so as the project took form in her mind, a number of different patterns were melded together to shape it. She ordered the yarn: 20 balls of Louisa Harding Mulberry pure silk DK. At 2487.2m, that's quite a lot of yarn. And then she made this. The detail is breathtaking. See those sparkles? That's seven hundred Swarovski crystals. The entire dress is lined with silk. Nikki brought these pictures into the shop to show us a couple of weeks ago. Remember what we said about loving to see what the yarn grows up into? A final view of the whole dress. Nikki, it was a privilege to be associated with the making of your dress. Thank you for letting us post about it, and for sharing these beautiful photographs.

21 comments

  • This is Knit Blog · Finery: September 16, 2020
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    […] Mulberry Pure Silk here before – it’s been used to astounding effect in FOs like Nikki’s wedding dress and KittyKahBoom’s Aeolian shawl, and we think it’s one of the loveliest yarns we […]

  • Anne Hoey: September 16, 2020
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    Hi everyone.
    I am inspired by the beautiful wedding dress on show. Congratulations. You must have felt sensational.
    I was wondering if anyone could help me?
    I am trying to track down any patterns for crocheting a Communion dress for my daughter.
    She is only 6 now, so it’s in two years, so at least I have given myself time to accomplish Mission Possible???
    If you know anyone who has a pattern languishing in an attic, please ask them to dig it out.
    I will pay for any costs involved.
    Thanks in advance.
    Anne

  • thisisknit: September 16, 2020
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    Hi Anne! That sounds like a really lovely project. Our immediate place to search for this sort of information is Ravelry – here’s the results of searching for a child’s dress in crochet.

    It might also be worth asking in the crochet groups there. You could try Crocheters In and Around Ireland, here’s Crocheters in the UK, and the biggest one by far is Crochet on Ravelry (the US crocheters in that last one will be using US terminology, but you can find our guide to pattern translation here.

    We can’t wait to see what your daughter – please share it when it’s finished (or when it’s being planned, or when it’s almost done – we love all the stages).

  • Maire Treanor: September 16, 2020
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    I have been crocheting Clones Lace for 22 years, since my eldest daughter was a baby. I made the christening dress for the next 2, and thought I was doing well. It is a family heirloom. I told my youngest, now 19, about this dress. I hope they will be able to do something like this. It has really inspired me. Also a few people have said that I should try using yarn. Seeing how well this turned out, I would be tempted. I am used to using 60 and 80 mercerised thread!

  • Janet Blackburne-Quirke: September 16, 2020
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    What a fantastic achievement and a fabulous gown. I made 2 communion dresses for my daughters – one inspired by a blouse pattern and the other a combination of a christening gown pattern and a dress so I know a little about the work that went into the wedding dress. But I have been crocheting for 38 years since my granny taught me as a child. I don’t think I could have made a dress only 1 year after learning to crochet. As a family we still have blouses and a child’s dress made, in a rose and shamrock Irish crochet design, by my late grandmother over 30 to 50 years ago. Well done Nikki!

  • This is Knit Blog · That was the yarn that was: September 16, 2020
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    […] Nikki’s crocheted wedding dress to a a treeful of decorations, we’ve been delighted and astonished all year with the beauty, […]

  • Trish McCarthy: September 16, 2020
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    What a magnificent dress. Well done Nixx! And you only started crocheting last year! A very special work.

  • Skippy: September 16, 2020
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    That is absolutely AMAZING!!!

  • thisisknit: September 16, 2020
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    And Nikki’s dress caught the attention of Louisa too, when she visited the blog… http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/louisa-harding-lovers/1562534/1-25

  • Bionic Laura: September 16, 2020
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    Wow! Just absolutely stunningly beautiful. Well done to you Nixx, it must have been a labour of love to design and make. Amazing.

  • thisisknit: September 16, 2020
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    We’re so delighted that this amazing project is getting the incredible feedback it so thoroughly deserves!

    Did we mention the circumference of the skirt when spread out is something like NINE metres?!?!

  • Nixx: September 16, 2020
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    Thank you guys for putting this up and for the lovely comments. I am delighted to show it off having spent so long on it!

    A good friend persuaded me to learn and then taught me over a quite a few pints of guinness… Best thing ever, thanks Tricia ;)

  • Sinéad: September 16, 2020
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    Oh my, that’s absolutely fabulous! Such detail! I’m amazed. Congratulations on making such an heirloom garment.

  • Enormous: September 16, 2020
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    That is fabulous and so special. A real family heirloom. Congratulations on the dress and the nuptials :)

  • Cathy: September 16, 2020
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    Jaw-droppingly amazing! WOW!

  • Deirdre: September 16, 2020
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    That’s just awesome.

  • Maryl: September 16, 2020
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    Fantastic! congratulations on your fabulous design………

  • sheknitupthat: September 16, 2020
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    WOW.

  • Alifeofherown: September 16, 2020
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    Wow! That is so beautiful. Amazing work.

  • Siobhan: September 16, 2020
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    That is breathtaking! I’m speechless.

    Wow.

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