It's been four years, and I bought some stuff.

Four years have come and gone since I've written here. I've gotten a new job, a new second job, got married, was 'essential' during a pandemic, and bought a house. One thing has remained the same: I am a terrible cold sheeper.

My next pet project, however, is to use that yarn to make things I'll actually wear. Shawls are fantastic and all, but I'd really like to have some sweaters, t-shirts, and maybe even delve into socks. I find I stick to one or two shawls all winter and the rest are all just folded up in a box. I want to try out the idea of a "me made wardrobe" of sorts. Considering I can't sew and I get hot all the time, this will have to be a whole bunch of short sleeve sweaters.

Recently, I've completed [warning: Ravelry links ahead until I figure out somewhere else to host projects]: 

Sugar Maple out of The Lemonade Shop's Truly Outrageous. I *love* the mini rainbows that pop up in the sea of blue and it fits perfectly! I did a size 38 in size 4 (US) needles. 

Continuing on The Lemonade Shop trend, I also just finished T Shirt Romantique. The yarn for this one is 'ImPEACHment' and I adore this peachy color. It's so bright and happy! This had a provisional cast on, which I don't know if I'd willingly do again. Picking all those stitches up was a chore and I learned I can barely crochet a basic chain. However, I love the final product! I added some ribbing to the bottom to prevent rolling and this also fits very well. Sizing for this is a small with size 6 (US) needles.

First FO of 2017

So, first thing's first.  I finished the baby blanket!  This took me a little over a month, which is actually pretty good when it comes to baby blankets (for me, anyway).  By finished, I of course mean I still need to block and weave in the ends.  The pattern was super easy, and, bonus, it's free!  At first, I was turned off because of the charts, but they make a lot of sense in this case.  (I hate charts.  HATE. Charts.)

Look at this work of art!

I used KnitPicks Brava Worsted in Lady Slipper.  The actual color is far more purple than the image above is letting on.  The yarn is 100% premium acrylic 218 yards/100 grams.  Generally I run far, far away from acrylic yarn as all I picture is SuperSaver.  I can feel the scratchiness thinking about it. Brava is super squishy and soft - I was happily surprised.  I would use this again if I had anything that called for a worsted weight yarn that needs to take a beating.

With the baby blanket complete, I can finally work on my schweater again!  This is Ease by Alicia Plummer.  It's a paid pattern ($6.50) and the pattern is simple and easy to follow.  I used size 9s for the body and sleeves and 6s for the body ribbing.  I tried the 10s the pattern calls for, but it was way too large.  Luckily, my darling boyfriend pointed that out, because I like to live on the wild side and not do a gauge swatch.  As of today, I've finished the right sleeve and I'm working on the left sleeve as I write this.  Hopefully, I can update this blog again soon with Ease as a FO.

I'm making Ease out of  KnitPicks Preciosa Tonal Worsted in Panther.  It's a worsted weight 100% merino wool 273 yards/100 grams.  It is so, so soft.  I'm in love with it's softiness.  It's advertised as a tonal but it's sort of a striping yarn between dark gray and black.  This doesn't bother me at all, but there is some color pooling right in the front of the sweater.

Current works in progress:

• Ease 
• Catskill Mountain Shawl 
• Fox and the Grapes Shawl 
• Striped Socks 

Finished Objects:

• ABC Baby Blanket   Completed 1/27/17

Acquired:

Nothing! Success!