Bolero

AHHHHHH!

Quilting has taken over my life, but since my little cutie has two summery dresses, short sleeved and sleeveless, to make them more useful in a climate that rarely gets to the high 70's, (or 22+ C), I found this CUTE bolero to make.  

Pattern:

Design B - Tie-front Bolero with or without Lace Pattern

by Sirdar Spinning Ltd.

from Sirdar 318, Lazy Days & Holidays

I found this pattern at the Sirdar website.  I extended the ties by attaching an I-cord (not shown in the photos).

Yarn:

Ultra Pima by Cascade Yarns

DK / 8 ply, 100% Cotton, 220 yards / 100 grams

I'm as happy as she is!  AND she learned to tie a bow for the occasion. 

Looming

This might look familiar.  It did to me, but only after I started measuring out the warp...

Compare to this from 1-1/2 years ago...

I guess I like the colors.  These are not as vibrant as the previous project, and I hope to weave in twill and waffle weave.  The warp is just under 10 yards long... For you non-weavers I want to tell you, THAT'S JUST CRAZY!  For you weavers, you know that already! :)

Cotton thread

I don't know... When does thread become yarn?  Yarn goes through a needle so that can't be the criteria.  This is 5 lbs. of 8/2 cotton.  The idea of using variegated colors for weaving intrigues me... so I bit bought it!  How many towels...?

Much to do... Too much to do!

Crazy busy.  Taking on an extra job which more than doubled my expectations.  That would satisfy me, however, in a delusional moment I said YES to playing an organ/trumpet concert!  And it's right around the corner now!  In Gallup, NM, at a tiny church which I haven't seen (only pictures), music that I recently tallied at 76 minutes.
The plan:  To cut out a few pieces, and make one of them an encore... Wishful thinking!  No intermission, to cut down on escapees!  Teehee....

Meanwhile, knitting is hit and miss, but I've REALLY got to try to follow a pattern.  It would be nice, and relaxing, but I don't seem to get fussed about ripping things out and starting again.  Which is good, because I think I've done that multiple times with every project this year!

I'm especially happy with this:

It looks great under my maroon jacket, and better with a scoop neck top underneath it.  Anyone else? I get SOOOOO excited upon finishing something that I just pop it on, and snap a picture, and never go back for a better one. Well, that's just me.

I, also, finished a beautiful top using my coveted "Byzantine" colorway in Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light---YUM!  Love the yarn - love the color, alas, a bit small for me, so it will be passed on.

In both of these tops, I changed the lace pattern...
The stripy one needed something that I could use with the stripe width, and the Byzantine needed less openwork.
I must say, the Knitter's Stitch Bible has been sitting on my shelf for years, and these two are the first stitches I've taken from it!  And it works!!

OK!  So now I'm late for everything today, but nothing that's serious-- I'm off to "Clean the Scene", annual Geocaching Earth Day Clean up at the local reservoir... and a cache or two.

Happy Spring!  No snow here!

(By the way, check out my updated page "Finished".)

Need a gift?

I did, and often do...  What do you give a crafty friend?  You know that it doesn't have to fit, just be soft and a little clever!

Happy Birthday, Marty!

I had to show her what to do with it...and then she showed me!

159-26 Waffle Love

by DROPS design

from Drops 159

Something Monumental

Or, it COULD be monumental, if I had more time...
A Blanket:  Yggdrasil (a free pattern)
See Ravelry:
yggdrasil-afghan

Yes, it is monumental... I started 5 months ago, and worked on and off... It became Huge and not portable.  It was/is heavy (1000+ grams), yet I have another 1000 grams of cotton yarn which can be used to complete two more borders.  But enough is enough, and 140 cm square will make its way back to Norway for the rest of the winter.

I give you an extra large photo, because...it's extra large!  I'm going to miss it, but I know we will meet again.

Love those borders.  Too bad they get bigger... The next one requires picking up stitches and knitting stockinette, followed by the cable border again.  A project for late 2015, perhaps?

Around we go, and where we stop...

Yes, that is to be expected of a blanket.  The center tree section is finished, and the first braid border is finished...  Not big enough for a "curl up on the sofa" blanket, so I imagine the two (intended) borders will be added.  I like!