Is it Spring yet?

My oh my it sure has been a long winter here in the North East. I can't wait for some warm sunshiny 70 degrees weather. As a matter of fact our Thursday afternoon group started to knit cardigans for spring and warm weather. Below are some pictures of a very popular cardigan that we did and it all began with Pam.  Pam came in with this finished cardi knit in Ritratto a mohair blend, and we all fell in love with it. I ended up knitting 2 each in different fibers, Karen knit 4 also in different fibers and they all look wonderful and fit beautifully.  Pam has recently completed another, I forgot to get picture next time!! It such a fast project it literally took us 2 weeks to finish one sweater!!

Now at the same time I have been knitting and ripping  a top.

 Remember when I was knitting this top? It was a struggle, when I completed the back and began working on the front I noticed I was running low on yardage (as it happened I sold 4 hanks earlier and didn't realize) so I had 6 at 200 yds each, it should work right? Wrong the stitch ate quite a bit of yarn. So here we go rip.  I could have put it a side but I really like the yarn. It has great drape and it feels really soft for 100% cotton. Anyway to make a long story short I cast on 130 sts and followed  a pattern found on the internet "Shapely Tank Top" I liked the look of the tight fit on top and it has some short row shaping at the beginning plus I  would have enough yarn to make sleeves. I knitted and ripped till I had it just right. What I learned is from now on I will always use the crochet cast on. It's a great way to go back and add length to my top.  Because I was afraid that I didn't have enough yarn I made it shorter then I liked, but it turned out that I had plenty so I went back and ripped back the chain cast on, picked up all the stitches and Voila' perfect. No seam showed nothing notable. The top part fits perfectly and the sleeve length is great.  
I did change the pattern though. I didn't do the shaping like the original pattern, I decreased to the waist shaping more then required and  didn't increase for the bust so it turned out to be A-lined. Now after I completed it I realized that when the top is A-lined it needs to be a little longer then a regular top. So guess what I will be ripping out the bind off at the bottom and adding more rows (I still have some more yarn believe it or not!!)

 The yarn: Euro Baby Cuddly Cotton 202 yds 
 gauge on hank is 5.5sts = 1 in.

I got 17 sts = 4in. (4.25=1) on US6 needle make a big swatch!!

CO 135sts and decreased to 110 sts that made the A-line shape.

Cuddly Cotton A-Line top

Well I am knitting another top same pattern idea with a different yarn "Trendsetter Yarn" Zensation.  This time I CO 120 sts, we'll see how this top turns out.

A-line top in Zensation from Trendsetter Yarn

This winter I managed to finish this jacket knit in Debbie Bliss Pure Cashmere still have to add buttons but that's for next winter (it is quite warm)!!

a pillow knit by Pam in Dream in Color Jilly

this is knit in Frolicking Feet DK one hank 250yds

 I love spring knitting, it's the best time to begin something new or learn a new technique, pattern or just have some fun. Get inspired with new fresh crisp yarns, cotton blends, merino/cotton blends or try knitting with linen!!
Check out my Pinterest page lots of free knit and crochet patterns also loads of inspiration!!
 HAPPY SPRING HAPPY KNITTING HAPPY CROCHETING!!!!

AN UP DATE AND.....THE NEW YARNS ARE ALL IN!!

Well I finally finished the TCNJ Afghan for my son!! Hurray it took a while but a whole season of King Henry the VIII made it much easier to complete!   :-)  Now to my next project!!  I have a few that need to be picked up and completed  b...u...t...  I thought of something else   ;-} 

The new yarns arrived these past couple of days and well they are scrumptious really really scrumptious!! Let me tell you a bit about each and then we will see if you agree with me!!

Okay now here are

"The Yarns of Rhichard Devrieze

If you once loved Koigu you will love these yarns.  Peppino is a beautiful 100% merino high twisted fingering weight hand painted as only Rhichard can do.

 Peppino!!

 These two are the Worsted weights they are soo squishy soft

They will all soon be on the website!! 
So many choices..... 

Meanwhile go check out these wonderful patterns  on ravelry

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Ro69/over-the-rainbow 
by Emma Fassio , 
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/solemate/sweet-shoppe-shawlette
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/cdninswe/jeweled-cowl  (this one is free)  and  I found one more
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/cdninswe/ashton-shawlette-4
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nymphalidea 

Next new arrival is

Done Roving Yarns Frolicking Feet Transition!

Oh my these are flying off the shelf!! well no,... they haven't  made it on any shelf!!

Look how cool the packaging is!!

The Savanna by Jen Lucas on Ravelry

 








  
This is to give you an idea of how the colors work up!

Danielle on Ravelry

 


This pattern will comes free with purchase of yarn!

Hampden Hills Alpaca

 

Remember last posting where I talked about Hampden Hills Alpaca,  as soon as it arrived 2 colors found new homes!  I am left with Sangria and Chickadee (top left).  This yarn is so unbelievably soft it just glides on your hands!!


I've decided to knit my ever so popular "P2tog" Cardi with the Chickadee color and hopefully have it finished in time for the NY Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY.
I plan to visit Erica from Hampden Hills Alpaca,  therefore my thought was to be wearing this cardigan knitted up in her yarn.  Wouldn't that be perfect.  Wish me luck!!!

It's Been Some Time

Hello Friends, 

It has been a while, sometimes life takes over and you have no control over it.  June/July brought HS graduation for my youngest and then a chain reaction of college visits.  Till he decided and then more college visits and paper work and get ready to pack up.  That's where we are at now, finalizing all that is required and he will be off by the end of the month.  Quite exciting for him, overwhelming for me.  

My knitting is what is keeping me sane and focused, what I keep doing is begin new projects. I am up to 5 different patterns, a couple of cardigans, a top, a shawl, and of course an afghan for my college bound child.  Also needed some instant gratification and crocheted 2 shawls and completed. But my latest cast on is  a shawl which  keeps me knitting right now, this project I am really enjoying.  It's a stitch I found on Pinterest (Love Pinterest) but what makes it fun is combining yarns and colors that work with a particular stitch.
Here below are some pictures,

this is the afghan for my youngest, its much larger now

its coming along

If you look back in May  I began this project.  I was in a cotton/summer mood and decided to knit a top which I take with me when I need an easy mindless project. It will eventually grow up to be a A-Line top.

 This is the Mimi  Mink  yarn cardigan,  I look at it and promise myself to finish it.  Can't have it on sleep mode for too long cause then I will forget what my plan was.

Here is another project on vacation!  This is an old yarn from Debbie Bliss, the 100% Cashmere chunky from my stash.  Love this yarn and I stocked up quite a bit of this color.

And when I'm in an instant gratification mode I jump to crochet.  This was a great feeling to finishing in 2 days.  Also this is some yarn from my stash. I just had enough to finish this shawl.  
An original pattern!

 Here is another, this was crocheted with E.L. Silky wool and thread.

Another original pattern. 

How do you like?












And now this is what I am working on now and kind most excited about it.  I love the colors and the stitch.  The color of the yarn work perfectly with this stitch and a little "copper" sparkle goes a long way. The yarn is Done Roving Frolicking Feet DK in "Copper Pennies".  This shawl/wrap is working up rather quickly or should I say I am working it more and more.  I'm aiming to finish this one!!






















At the beginning of this post I stated 5 projects well as you can see it's actually 7.  Wow I must stop adding new projects and finish some. 

This is a good way for me to keep track, how many of you have this same itch of starting"ites" ?

Till next time !!