My Fair Maiden

Please say hello to My Fair Maiden.

I'm not going to lie. I am exceedingly proud of this design. In fact, I just love it. There was much squealing with glee when I first tried it on my daughter, Emma.

Last summer, my daughter became obsessed with the Disney film Brave and insisted on watching it nearly every single day. The magic of Merida's story led to her interest in reading stories, such as The Princess and the Pea, Rumplestiltskin, Rapunzel, and other fairy tales on a nightly basis. My Fair Maiden is an ode to the damsels in fairy tales and maidens like Merida (from Brave). 

This garment is a sleeveless tunic and was designed with two purposes in mind: to be worn in costume play with a full tulle skirt and princess hat like a hennin, or to be worn in every day wear like over a slim fitting shirt with a denim skirt and print tights. 

It features characteristics of medieval dress, such as a high wide neckline, a slim fit in the body, and a slightly lower waistline. Beneath the waist is a short skirt with inverted box pleats.

A knit ribbon (worked at a looser gauge to reduce bulk and weight but add extra drape) is tied in a bow on the back and rests on the pleats. The ribbon is knit with a contrasting color in stockinette stitch and is worked horizontally at a looser gauge to create a more “ribbon-like” effect.

She is reading the funniest book in this picture, "The Worst Princess."

My Fair Maiden was designed with one inch of positive ease at the chest - it is slim fitting after all!

 This design was knit with the most heavenly yarn, Fibre Company's Canopy Fingering. It is a delicious blend of alpaca, merino and bamboo, which creates a beautiful drape when knitted into fabric - perfect for those pleats and ribbon!

Since, as you well know by now, I have children with significantly larger than average heads, I needed the accommodate that in the design. So, there are two options for the shoulder: seamed or hidden knitted tabs with sew-on snaps. Emma is wearing one with the hidden tabs/snaps.

That sweet girl of mine happened to go through a growth spurt between the time I began working on the tunic and the time I finished. So if I were to make it again for her, I would add an inch or two in length to the body. Otherwise, I could not have been happier with the final result.

Now, here is your chance to win some loot! Comment below and share what your favorite fairy tale was as a child. You have one week to enter. Next Friday (August 22) I will select a winner at random to receive a copy of the My Fair Maiden pattern AND 1 skein of Canopy Fingering yarn in the Crocus colorway! You may enter TWO times, IF you also go to the Ravelry pattern link here and "favorite" my pattern. Be sure to post in the comment with your favorite fairy tale for one chance and then post a second comment saying you favorited my pattern to increase your chances of winning the yarn and pattern.