Anouk

Sometimes you see a pattern and you just know.  Practicalities might stop you casting on Right Now, but it sits in the back of your mind (or the bottom of your Ravelry queue), waiting for you.  You find the right time, and it's almost with slight trepidation that you re-open the pattern, sit back and cast on. 
 
Anouk is one of those patterns, for me.  When I first came across it, I was in love.  Of course, it helps that the baby in the photograph is adorable, but the dress itself just... spoke to me.  I loved the stylized design, the colours, the practicality of something that could have a longer useful life.
 
But, in 2004, I didn't know anybody who had a baby.  And, although I do sometimes make things just for the process, part of the appeal of this would be seeing it on a baby.  Lastly, I didn't have the "right" yarn, nor the money to go out and buy it.
 
But now, in 2010, I have a friend with a baby.  A baby girl, no less.  Ever since Helen announced her pregnancy, I've been planning to make this dress.  And now I have.
 
-- full dress
 
I bought the yarn (Rowan All-Seasons cotton) from the closing-down sale at the yarn shop in St Albans.  Even without it being a closing down sale, the selection of colours was smaller so my palette was more limited than the original.  But a nice selection of cream and two blues seemed just right.  The colours, of course, don't quite work with the original poppy motif, and so I designed a new one.
 

 
This was my first "proper" piece of intarsia colour knitting (I had previously knit a small swatch, several years ago, to attempt to understand the technique).  It's not perfect (note the uneven tension and pulled stitches), but I am very happy with it nonetheless.  Particularly as it's my own design.