When You are in Love

It all started with a terribly expensive pair of too-small pumps HWWV bought for me. Then, we went to the store to return them for a size 9 (the 8's were too small and so were the half-sizes, but I was assured by the lovely salesman that the Italian shoes ran smaller, and that my feet were still ever so feminine; the Gucci shoe makers just made this particular model too small for some reason. No blame, no blame to go around, I'm sure. And all that foot-size discussion was immediately forgotten when I accidentally nudged Madonna out of the way to do a power grab for some powder blue mules on sale).

So it all started with these. We knew each other for, what? Four years, by then?  I did wear them a few times, and twice I fell in the parking lot outside our first apartment together. The guy upstairs, the Afghanistan-guy who sold carpets--probably smoking out on his porch--yelled down, "Hey, are you alright?...did you break an ankle or somethin?"

"No," I moaned up to him on two different occasions, getting up (and hoping the shoes weren't scuffed) and limping away.

It's a good thing I didn't wear a skirt like this on those two occasions because the guy who sold carpets would have seen my underwear. (Not that 50 or so people haven't seen my underwear recently, anyway.)

But this skirt. The one by Blue Sky Alpacas and worked up in the Blue Sky Alpacas Sportweight is, well, probably one of my most favorite knits of all time. Truth be told, I probably won't be wearing the cherry red Gucci's with this because the odds of falling in a parking lot and the skirt flipping up are way too high.

Still, just to knit it and dream it is enough for me.

I'll wear it with my Chuck Taylor's, but not the new brown ones. The old white ones. The ones that are older than my love affair with HWWV. (And we're talking older than 15 years old.) But 15 years is good. And the shoes are good. And the skirt is good, too. And if you want to finally knit a skirt that works, well, try it. (And add some elastic for the waist like I did.)

This is the skirt that I dreamt about all summer. Blue Sky Alpacas. Blue Sky Alpacas Sportweight in a brown color. Size Medium. I love it i love it i love it i love it i love itloveitloveitloveitloveit.

I got it all from kpixie.com. I think I used 6 hanks of the Alpaca Sportweight. Size 1 and 3 needles.

BTW: I added a few short rows on the back side so it wouldn't ride up...

Comments

[Connie]

Gorgeous. Isn't knitting a skirt in a wool-ish yarn hard though? Doesn't it stretch? I always thought skirts are best knit in cotton or some other inelastic yarn. But it looks great!

[Wendy]

This is knit at such a tight gauge that it honestly drapes perfectly. No stretch to be noticed. But it is short. That could have something to do with it...

[Jennifer-jcyarns]

Love the skirt on you. I also love the photography crew. Very nice, indeed.....

[Hilari]

Yay! It's finished!! It's lovely! Perfect fit! And I apologize for being momentarily distracted by the stray skeins in the picture.

[Tammy]

Love the photo shoot. Love the socks. Love the skirt!

Great job all the way around.

[Wendy]

Thanks, it's a little weird doing the model thing when you're not really a model and your child is jumping up and the dog and the cat and the...(But I wanted to show you the skirt).

[Debi Leshin]

it's stunning Wendy! And every minute you spend in the gym, aside from being great blog fodder, is clearly worth it when you can pull off this look as beautifully as you have (not to mention the lovely knitting!) Well done! :)

[Katinka]

The skirt is absolutely FANTASTIC -- rock on, Wendy! :)

[Krista]

Yeah, my guess is that you have to have just the right figure for that one. I'm thinking if it would take 20 skeins of yarn to knit it, it's probably not the right look for the wearer. Looks really cute on you, though.

And, it's fun to see the photographer in the background on that second shot. Almost like a self-portrait, in a way.

[p]

that second photo is wonderful, just love the look on all three of your faces :)
And the skirt looks fab

[Roxanne]

Awesome Wendy! You pull the look off so well! :)

[Debbie]

Love the skirt!!! The second photo is great - Girlfried is turning her nose up at those red shoes, though - too cute.

[Elizabeth]

It's so flattering. I think your daughter in the photo is eyeing it and wondering how many years til she can borrow your good clothes. Look out!

[Miz Booshay]

It's just fab! You're just fab!

My problem would have been the socks and shoes....and the shirt to wear with it....and you chose brilliantly!

You are the amazing stylish Wendy!

Oh...and the other problem with me and the skirt...the size of my butt...
hehe

loveitloveitloveitonyou

[elaine]

i'm totally obsessed with that skirt but haven't pulled the trigger yet. i'm assuming you made the shorter length? i'd love to hear about your short row adjustments because you may have just put me over the edge into the yarn buying vortex. damn it.

[Andrea]

Gorgeous! You and the family!
Let us know how it wears please. I am curious about sitting and stretching it out.
It's a shame the shoes don't get worn more, they're great.

[Leslie]

You look great in that outfit! The skirt fits perfectly. It all works, and I'd just practice my best walking to be able to wear it without falling. The photo is full, yes, full of things I'd love to comment on, but then this would be my blog, wouldn't it. The sweater on the mannequin, the cat in the corner, HHWV looking awesome, the yarn trail, Girlfriend, all reflected in a mirror. I'm thinking HHWV is an actual professional photographer at this point.

[Dorothy B]

Fabulous! I love it too. It almost makes me want to show off my varicose covered gams.

[My Merino Mantra]

The skirt turned out great, and you look wonderful in it. Too bad about the shoes, because they are cute! Could you wear them with another outfit, sans socks, and not fall? It would be a shame though, as that look is so pulled together.
Trish

[jess]

It looks great, Wendy! I've been waiting to see what you think of it since I know you've been a wee bit obsessed with it since you saw it. :) And really, it looks perfect!

(and I love GF and HWWV in the background of the second picture!)

[Marsha]

It turned out great and looks fab on you! I ditto everyone else's comments - you pulled the outfit together nicely and I love the ruby slippers - even if they are hazardous to your health!! Clever HWWV to get himself in the pic without showing his face!! And the sweater - is that for the you-know??

[jackie]

that's just awesome. i maintain that you are the fastest knitter on the planet, and you definitely have an amazing eye for what's going to work as an actual wearable item. i can't believe you don't wear your own good more often!

[Cheri]

It's great!! Love the last picture and how HWWV still can't really be seen. Computer boy wants to know if his usual outfit is shorts and flip-flops.

[Claudia]

Those photos are great! And that skirt is absolutely fantastic on you!

[john]

I have a crush on HWWV. Oh yeah, and the skirt's ok, too.