I won the pattern and couldn’t wait to start the project. With a few modifications due to my yarn and to fit my slim daughter.

Pattern is very well written and with 390 yards fingering yarn the project was done pretty fast. I rated it with medium difficulty because I had to get the rhythm of the lace pattern. In the beginning (with only part of the lace pattern involved) I was still confused. I would recommend to print out at least the most important parts of the pattern instead of only knitting in front of the iPad.

Gauge / Maschenprobe

required: 22 sts x 28 rows
is: 23M (evtl. 24) x 31 R = 10 cm
Stitches are almost correct; little deviation on rows. I will keep it in mind.

Numbers

age DD: almost 5 yo
height DD: 112 cm / 44 inches a few weeks ago…
Chest Measurement DD: 54 cm
Armhole Depth: 12 cm
Waist line: estimation: 27 cm (note to myself: have a closer look when Deva is 25 cm long)
belt: 10 g

Modifications

Some modifications due to different gauge and knitting the size 3T instructions for an almost 5yo.

1. Belt ribbing 8 rows
2. Belt: 7 sts. (with 3,0 mm needles = US size 2,5)
3. Neckline: picked up stitches, did a wrap & turn at the end, knit three rows, bound off knitwise (with 3,0 mm needles = US size 2,5)

Stitch Pattern

Stitch Map

Story

13JUN2013: I was thinking about Deva. Everyday the last week. I don’t need a big project. Today I started with dyeing some fingering weight yarn. I will go down in needle size to produce a garment that fits my slim child. Did a mini swatch on size 3 needles (3,25 mm). Very happy with the yarn and the colours.

14JUN2013: Today my Ripples Shawl was switched to another needles. I need the size 3 needle for Deva. Cast on is done. Not sure about the front shaping. Chest measurement is 54 cm (between 24M and 3T for an almost 5 yo). Gauge is slightly off.

15JUN2013: Summer Party at “Kinderhaus”. Not too much time to knit. Front and back not yet closed. How to find the waist line of a 4yo?

16JUN2013: Front and back joined. Did some extra repeats to have adequate armhole depth. 17 cm total length. Added to a long sewed skirt it could make a beautiful dress also.

18JUN2013: Belt ribbing is done. Waist: between lower costal arch and iliac crest. I am still astonished it is so simple. I never noticed until now. Not that it would be really important for this project.

20JUN2013: 30+ degrees Celsius (86+ F) in our home. Too hot to knit. Almost ;-) I have to decide on the total length of the garment. Gosh! I had a hard time. Note to myself: RTFM! “Length is measured from the underarm to the end of hemline.” I finally read this sentence. I agree: the length for a 5yo should be 28 cm. 5 cm to knit. Yippieeh!

21JUN2013: Bind off. The body ended with a row 8. I purled the next row but still followed the lace pattern for the middle three stitches. 5 garter ridges. Bind off: purlwise. Deva is fitting our little girl really good and I am looking forward to finishing it soon. 44 g left.

I ribbed 8-sts-belt and opted for a 7-sts-belt with 3,0mm needles (US size 2,5). Aiming for 44 cm.

22JUN2013: Belt is done: some 10 g. The neckline is pretty short and so I decided to modify the pattern. Need to charge my camera’s akku to do some pictures.

gelernt

Die Taille wird gemessen in der Mitte zwischen unterem Rippenbogen und Beckenkamm. Mir ist nie aufgefallen, dass da ja gar nicht viel Spielraum ist. Und Stricken bildet doch!

Bei Barbara Walker gibt es ein Muster namens Fan and Cable Insert (Third Treasury, S. 167).

Excuses for not writing everything in English. Any international questions or comments are highly welcome. I understand German, English, Spanish and Catalan.