Etsy Tour – I Recommend It

June 10, 2009 by Minnie

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I attended the Etsy San Francisco Meet-Up last night and if there is one coming to your city I highly recommend you go! The Etsy people were all super nice, informative and enthusiastic about handmade and about their jobs.

I was SO JEALOUS of the tech people. Hey, I’m crafty but I’m a coder geek too. I spent my morning getting with WordPress MU and will spend my afternoon cutting fabric for my dress pattern. Maybe I’ve posted before about how much geeking and crafting resemble each other… if not maybe I will soon.

It was great to hear about other peoples Etsy experiences and then hear Esty’s feedback right away. It really makes a big difference for me since I kind of loathe forums and wading through a million pointless user responses.

I ended up having to bring my two year old and so I was kind of distracted, although, I have to say he was pretty good. Loud and squirmy… but good for a two year old!

Two things I wanted to say but was too distracted to get out:

1. I wish it was easier and less time consuming to upload pictures for a listing. Hook it up to Flickr? Allow multiple selections to upload at once? Something like Facebooks little java applet for photo albums?

2. Sub Categories – Whenever I am searching peoples shops I often am frustrated by the category sorting. I want a DRESS in MEDIUM. I don’t want to sort through 45 pages of small dresses.

I was happy to hear all the items that are high up on the Etsy’s development list and the possible new features. Shop rearranging is exciting and I liked the idea of a ‘Buy it Now’ widget for the Etsy Mini Shop’s and I might be willing to pay for that on a click by click basis.

Thanks Etsy peeps!

Check here for the tour schedule.

Have you read?

Vintage Crochet Baby Dress Pattern Review

There is something especially charming about a vintage baby dress pattern, and this Crocheted Cutie Dress #3112 has all the details that make older crochet designs so appealing.

The dress features a neatly shaped bodice, short sleeves, contrast stripes and a full lace skirt with a scalloped finish. It has that classic heirloom look without feeling overly formal, which makes it suitable for birthdays, family photos, baby showers or simply as a special handmade outfit.

One of the nicest things about this design is the balance between the structured upper section and the much softer, more decorative skirt. The bodice is worked in a simple repeating texture, while the skirt opens into a detailed lace pattern that gives the dress plenty of movement and fullness. The white trim around the neckline, sleeves and hem also helps define the shape beautifully.

The pattern includes instructions for sizes 1 and 2, with the second size shown in parentheses throughout. As with many vintage patterns, the sizing does not line up neatly with modern age labels, so it is important to check the gauge and finished proportions rather than relying on the size number alone.

This would be best suited to an intermediate crocheter, or a confident beginner who is comfortable reading traditional pattern instructions. The design uses chain stitches, single crochet, double crochet, treble crochet, colour changes, shaping, repeated lace sections and separate pieces that are sewn together during finishing.

The sleeves and collar are made separately and attached to the completed bodice. The back is finished with three buttons, giving the dress a practical opening while keeping the front clean and decorative.

The original version uses pink and white mercerized crochet cotton, but the design works beautifully in more modern combinations too. Sage and cream give it a soft botanical feel, lemon and white make it fresh and summery, while orange and ivory create a much warmer retro look.

Because the pattern was originally written for vintage crochet cotton and a steel hook, I would strongly recommend making a gauge swatch before beginning. Modern threads and hook-sizing systems can vary, and the bodice needs to fit correctly before the lace skirt is added.

The professionally reformatted PDF is much easier to follow than an unedited scan. It keeps the original stitch counts and construction while improving spacing and readability. It also includes a modern mockup and the original vintage reference image, which is helpful when visualising the finished shape.

Overall, this is a lovely pattern for anyone who enjoys making vintage-inspired baby clothes. The lace skirt is the real highlight, but the striped bodice and matching collar give the finished dress a polished, complete look.