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...
you can't have him, john.
Posted by: Wendy | October 27, 2006 at 08:14 AM
If you hadn't posted progress pics I wouldn't have believed that it was knitted skirt.
Beeee-you-teee-ful.
The shoes are divine.
Posted by: Juti | October 27, 2006 at 08:20 AM
love the look on girlfriends face. and omg, you look fabulously wonderful. the skirt, the socks, the shoes, the model...just perfect!
maybe you've shown it before and i've missed it but what is that gorgeous blue and green striped number hanging up over there?
Posted by: meg | October 27, 2006 at 08:21 AM
the blue sweater is a sweater designed by Camelia Hamilton Tuttle? (I think that is her name) for Noro.
Posted by: Wendy | October 27, 2006 at 08:23 AM
Awesome! I stay in clogs, I trip in heels...so much for grace.
Posted by: Carol | October 27, 2006 at 08:26 AM
Too cute! It's about the only knitted skirt I'd consider wearing if I could get away with something that short, nice work!
Posted by: Sasha | October 27, 2006 at 08:37 AM
Beautiful, beautiful! You look great, it's nice to hear of a knitted skirt that works! :0)
Posted by: Charity | October 27, 2006 at 08:52 AM
Best. Photo. Ever. (the three of you)
Posted by: anne | October 27, 2006 at 08:56 AM
Love the skirt - it looks great, definitely something i will add to my long list of things to knit. However, my only question is - where's Chuck? I can see The Bunny, you, Girlfriend, and HWWV, but no Chuck...
Posted by: Katie | October 27, 2006 at 08:58 AM
p.s. I loooove the shoes too...
Posted by: Katie | October 27, 2006 at 08:59 AM
I love this skirt, you look so fantastic!!
ps. Madonna?!?!
Posted by: elizabeth | October 27, 2006 at 09:02 AM
yeah. Madonna. The one and only (and had really dirty hair.)
Posted by: Wendy | October 27, 2006 at 09:05 AM
That is awesome. I also love the tableaux of mother, child, knitting, needles, notes, yarn and HWWW taking the photo with the flash turned backwards for bounce.
Posted by: Wen | October 27, 2006 at 09:11 AM
It's so great! I wonder if it would fuzz up after a couple of wears? I get in and out of the SUV (picking up kids) a lot. Or, is it a "special occassion" knit to be worn on evenings out with hubby?
Posted by: Sarah | October 27, 2006 at 09:13 AM
My life is now fullfilled Wendy, thank you sooo much *sheepish grin* I now will continue on with knitting the skirt.I fell in love with it months ago, searched and bought the pattern and then haulted onit until you were the ...well..guinea pig making it LOL. It's sooo Fab!! Love it!!
Posted by: DebbieJ | October 27, 2006 at 09:18 AM
That's a nice looking skirt, except you're missing just one thing to complete the outfit. Where's that HOT lips vest? (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)
If I had been endowed with different physical attributes (i.e. boobs) then I'm sure I'd knit myself one. I'll just have to get by with socks, beanies and sweaters I suppose.
Posted by: Adam | October 27, 2006 at 09:24 AM
Oh. My. GOSH!!! That's INCREDIBLE!!! I'll just have to get over my gauge issues to get crankin on my mini, because I MUST have one of my own!
I, too would LOVE to hear your notes on this pattern, the short-rows and elastic! And, thanks! for being the test pilot on this pattern, I'm sure a bunch of us will be knitting minis from your super-hot example! Beautiful FO!!!
Posted by: Kari | October 27, 2006 at 09:52 AM
I love the skirt, shoes, Girlfriend, and skeins of yarn, but what I'm truly jealous of is your photographer. He's standing on a footstool! Getting an angle! My husband will take my FO shots, but I'm lucky if I'm in focus... Anyway, fabulous.
Posted by: Sarah | October 27, 2006 at 09:52 AM
How is it that you can get away with not only a knitted skirt, but a skirt that short? It's so not fair. My dear, you look fantastic. And I love the socks. And the shoes. And, of course, the skirt.
Posted by: elizabooth | October 27, 2006 at 10:37 AM
Fantastic! - I have to make that and I have a stash of blue sky sportweight! I hope I look half as good!
Posted by: joy | October 27, 2006 at 10:44 AM
You can keep your husband (he IS yours alone, after all!) --- I want your THIGHS.
Posted by: townie girl | October 27, 2006 at 10:54 AM
hey it's HHWV! hi!
sweet skirt by the way and lovely shoes.
Posted by: maryse | October 27, 2006 at 11:09 AM
Soooo sexy! Great job!!!
Posted by: Valerie in San Diego | October 27, 2006 at 11:25 AM
Your skirt is perfect in every way. Please wear it to your daughter's preschool -- make those snarky moms covet watcha got -- and you've got it!
Posted by: dris | October 27, 2006 at 11:26 AM
About Madonna? Before the "pointy bra", many years ago, she came into one of my client's clinical laboratory, which was then located near to St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica. I used to work for a large corporate giant in the medical industry and we sold them a chemistry analyzer that ran a battery of tests.
One day, she came in with her body guards to get a blood test done. She was so petite, in everyway. My client was so surprised with the way she looked in her everyday get up...nothing special.
Anyway, love the combination of the mini, knee-hi's and the shoes.
I. Need. To. Work. Out. PERIOD!
Posted by: Leah | October 27, 2006 at 11:32 AM