My Fashionable Life

I think you've hit the nail on the head with wrap dresses. I was reading a magazine the other day (can't for the life of me think what it was)that was saying the wrap suits all sizes from 10 to 18. It would have to be something drapey and fine though wouldn't it? Heck what do I know? You're the designer, I'm waiting in eager anticipation ;)

There is a knitted dress in the summer Interweave Knits--but it's more of a slip dress, and would indeed I think bag most horrendously at the bum.

I think your biggest challenge here will be to find a yarn with a big enough gague to make the project doable (so that it won't take you a lifetime to knit--or maybe it's time to look into machine knitting?) but fine enough to produce the kind of drape you want in a wrap dress (which I think would be a lovely way to go). I can't wait to see what you come up with!

I have a dress bookmarked in Vogue Spring/Summer 2000 magazine that is too die for. Very lacey, needs an underslip. It is knit in a Garnstudio yarn 'muskat'. I think because it is lacey it is not too heavy - something to consider design-wise, although I think there is no guarantee of eliminating baggy butt syndrome other than never sitting down - an ultimate cocktail dress!

I love DvF dresses and tried one on recently. I was very disappointed to find that it looked like a housecoat on me. I expected to see a svelte outline, and instead saw Mrs Overall from Acorn Antiques.

I think if you're under 5'6" (or if you are top-heavy - both of which I am) they don't work.

Shame!

If you can design one that does not hug the bum, I will be forever indebted to you. :D

This blogger knitted a dress:

http://lepullecru.canalblog.com/archives/2004/11/03/161042.html

scroll down for it. She also has in-progress pictures that you could find in her archives. This is the only dress I've ever seen knitted. But do be wary of the saggy bum.

I'm sorry, I wrote knitted. I meant knit. It's still early in my time zone. I'm usually not that egregious in my spelling and grammar.

I adore knit skirts and dresses, but am not willing to make one in a small enough needle size to not add horrible bulk. I made a knit skirt that looks laughably bad on me. I have seen amazing vintage pictures online, from the 30's and 40's. I think the DVF dresses are nice, if you aren't too busty. Maybe knit it so that the fabric lies on the bias? Super flattering.

great blog!
i get lots of handknit dress inspiration (for 'someday' knitting) from old spinnerin, mon tricot, and "needle and yarn" books...also ida riley duncan's "knit to fit" or "complete book of progressive knitting" has some great info on designing and knitting different skirt styles that might help. you probably already know all of this, so i'll stop.

A wrap dress would have one great advantage, you need not worry about getting the body into the dress. I hope you know what I mean :) I had that problem when I was going to sew a skirt onto a knitted bodice for my daughter and had to make sure the shoulders and arms could go through. As for the skirt, would a mermaid shape - like you can get from a bias skirt work on a wrap dress? There's a skirt pattern in one of my Japanese magazines that achieves this shaped effect by changing the needle sizes along the way. Many thanks for letting me know about the invisible elastic!

It's me again. For inspiration, look what I came across - take a look at the absolutely beautiful mermaid dress at this designer's site - http://www.domiknitrix.com/knittingblog.cfm

FWIW, the DVF wrap dress is extraordinarily unflattering on me. I find a drop waist is flattering on many people.

The trick to not hugging the bum is a skirt that's full enough at that point. You can make sure it's full enough by measuring on the diagonal around the biggest part in back and up around the biggest part in front and using that number for the hip measurement.

I love the lace idea with a slip (in contrasting color?) under it. There's a picture of one in a book I don't own: probably Richard Rutt's "A History of Hand Knitting" or possibly Anne MacDonald's "No Idle Hands."

Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Anna you are nothing if not ambitious - I cannot wait to see what you come up with on this one. I'm sure it will be gorgeous - I don't think I could pull off a knitted dress or skirt without my bottom looking the size of a tank. Keep us posted!! :-D