I write this from a plane over the Amazon forest right now, that feels pretty good, to be honest. Today I start my bike trip around South America. Isn’t this a crochet blog thing you say? It is, that’s why the focus of this post will be to talk about the project I’m taking with me, because any crocheter knows, a long trip needs a project.
I’ll might have a lot downtime during this two or three months I’m going to go from Bogota, Colombia, to my hometown in the south of Brazil. We have no set itinerary. So to keep me busy and maybe you entertained I want to write about it during this time. But not that much about the trip it self (But who knows, sometimes the trip part will take over.) But mostly about the project that I’m taking with me.
A crochet dress.
I have it in my mind for three years now I believe. I have started it twice already. I’ve been calling it The Insanity Dress, but I will find a better name for it along the way. But I am definitely a bit crazy for this one.
First, because it’s the first dress I’ll try to crochet. I have knitted one this year, but that’s not the same as we all know.
Second, I decided that I wanted to make it in black bamboo yarn, super thin. And using only half double crochets.
Yes I know, crazy.
Black? Famous for being hard to see. Especially in poor lighting.
I’m using a 2.5 mm hook, and my favorite stitch. But with the very fine yarn this thing will take forever.
Lastly, bamboo yarn. I imagine anyone who’s worked with it has a love-hate relationship. The feel of the fabric and drape is great. But it’s slippery and splits all the time.
Even with all the cons laid out, I tell you, the look I have in mind… Worth it.
I wish I was good at drawing to properly translate the image I have in mind. I guess you will have to stick around for a bit and see if I finally finish this dress.
My plan is to write about it once a week, maybe every other week. Telling what I have done and how, maybe by the end you can make yours too. (no bike trip required)
For now all my yarn is packed up. I’m still working on the swatch so I can redo all the math from before. The first two times I started with the skirt, it didn’t turned out the way I wanted.
I tried it the first time crocheting in the round. Not a fan of how the “scar” from finishing a row and starting the next looks.
The second time, I worked in two panels. The increases for the hips worked, but not a 100%. After two years, I figured it was better to just start over. Also, pretty sure my measurements changed.
I hope to share photos or videos of me crocheting around in different places for the next few weeks. For that you might need to check my instagram, I’ll try my best to have a daily update of this dress and trip. I hope you stick around to see the final result!
I’m not quitting this dress a third time. I am finishing it!
Here is a summary of the next parts
Crocheting on two wheels (Part 2) – Where I talk about the skirt’s front panel
Crocheting on two wheels (Part 3) – Here you find the back panel
Crocheting on Two Wheels (Part 4) – All about the top portion
Crocheting on Two Wheels (part 5) – The mistakes I made and how to fix them
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