Spring Wardrobe

In keeping with the spring theme, I crocheted another elegant shell. This was made using the "I Love This Yarn" in coffee. I used 2 skeins with a size H hook. Very fast, a total of 3 days but could of finished it in 2 - left off a row so it messed me up on doing the arm part. Spent an evening and some of the morning trying to figure out what I did wrong. Another lesson re-learned, do not try to do crochet project while I'm tired and frustrated! (Unless I'm doing straight mindless crochet w/o shaping)! I took a short nap and then figured out I left off a row and got the pattern to work. Back on the right track... I loved the yarn I used. So soft and sooo inexpensive.

I made the long trek with my daughter to Hobby Lobby on Saturday. It was about 1 1/2 each way. I finally bought some I love this yarn (in coffee , 2 skeins of RH in peach and 3 skeins of sinfonia). I was looking for cotton yarn for my next project. I must say that I was really happy with the I Love This Yarn. The consistency of the yarn was great and it's so soft. Not to mention the price. I was very impressed with this yarn. I may go back again this weekend or next to buy some more. I liked the color selection too.

I'm still putting off my orchid top. I'm going to make yet another Oh so easy, beginner's tank! This time I may try it in a cotton yarn from my stash. I'm a bit nervous since someone else is trying out my pattern. I hope there's not a lot of mistakes in my pattern!

I'm taking my 2 year old daughter on an easter egg hunt on Friday! Her very first, I'm so excited! (I wish my husband could be there but he's working) . It's at the lockerly arhboreum. It's a beautiful place and I'm sure there will be lots of flowers in bloom. The egg/toy? hunt is for children ages 2 to 4, which is just perfect for her. I can't wait to see my daughter hunt for easter eggs! I'll post all about my adventure next time! Happy Easter!

Knit Tank, Take 2

I finished my second Oh so easy, beginner's tank today. I made some slight modifications on this. I made the shoulder straps slightly shorter and ribbed the bottom and neck. I was going to crochet the edges but decided against it. I'm pretty happy with the fit. It was such a beautiful day today, mid 70s - I probably could of wore my tank out today!

RIBBING DIRECTIONS IN ADDITION TO PREVIOUS PATTERN

To add ribbing: Rib the first 4 rows. To do this:

Row 1: Cast on 60, K1, P1, K1, P1... all the way to end.

Row 2: K1, P1 to end

Row 3: K1, P1 to end

Row 4: K1, P1 to end

Row 5: Work Stockinette Pattern for 14 inches. Knit 1 row, Purl the next row...

To rib the neck area:

Follow directions for arm shaping from PATTERN on previous post until AFTER you finish the 1 decrease on each end. Then:

A. Purl Next Row

B. Knit 10 stitches then put stitch marker start of next stitch. (Rib) K1, P1, K1, P1...for the next 30 stitches, put stitch marker on the last stitch (#30), then knit the last 10 stitches.

C. Next Row, Purl 10 stitches to marker, then K1, P1, K1, P1 to last marker, then purl last 10 stitches.

D. Repeat Steps B and C one more time!

E. Knit first 10 stitches, remove marker and bind off next 30 stitches. Remove last marker.

Knit last 10 stitches. ****** PLEASE MAKE SURE THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 10 STITCHES ON EACH END OF THE NEEDLE*********

Now continue with directions (on making straps) from the Oh so easy, beginner's tank.

THESE Patterns have not been tested. Again, I'm not a designer (yet) so any problems please contact me and I'll try to help you. Thanks!~

**I can email you the "oh so easy, beginner's tank pattern" for easier printing!

I've been putting off my orchid top. Maybe I was trying to figure out what I yarn I was going to use to crochet this top. I have decided to use a size 3 crochet thread in a bridal white. Now it's off to do calculations and a swatch before starting my top!

Pattern for "Oh So Easy" Beginner's Tank

I was looking for an easy beginner's knit tank top but I couldn't find one easy enough to do. After some trial and error. I came up with this. It's very easy. Best of all it's done in a worsted yarn and a size 9 needle so it's a pretty fast knit!

Pattern is for a size small/medium only. Small will be a little loose while medium will be form fitting!

Oh So Easy, Beginner’s Tank

Questions or problems, contact me at Ravelry or Crochetville under Jasmom! Good Luck.


Size 9 circular needle (I recommend, easier to use) but you could use a size 9 straight, 6-7 oz. of worsted weight yarn (I used 1 skein of Red Heart Super Saver), needle

Stitches used: Knit, Purl, Binding Off, and Decreases in Knit (Put 2 stitches on needle and knit as 1).

Gauge: 16 stitches and 22 rows = 4 inches (done in stockinette: K 1 row, P 1 row)

( CORRECTION ON GAUGE DONE ON 3/20/08)

Directions:

Front and Back are identical. Make 2 then sew together.

1. Cast on 60 stitches on circular needle (do not join) or straight needle. Knit the first row and Purl the second row (Stockinette Stitch). Continue until piece measures 14 inches, ending with a purl row.

*Ends will curl. You can block with a cool iron later to smooth the ends. You may rib the first 4 rows to prevent the ends from curling. (To rib, K1 stitch then P1 stitch to end for each row, start next row also with a k stitch and then p the next stitch for a total of 4 rows). For this particular tank I made, I did not rib.

2. Start of arm shaping: On the next Knit row, bind off first 2 stitches on each end. For the next purl row, also bind off 2 stitches at each end.

3 Knit the next row, and purl the next row.

4. On the next Knit row, decrease 1 stitch at each end.

5. Continue with stockinette pattern until piece measures 2 inches from start of arm shaping ending with a purl row.

6. On the knit row, make sure you have a total of 10 stitches done in knit then start your bind off (#11 stitch is the one that is actually start the bind off), bind off until you end with the last 9 stitches on your right needle. You will have 1 stitch on your left needle from the bind off - now knit those last 9, giving you a total of 10 stitches total on each end of the needle.

7. Purl the first 10 stitches and attached a separate piece of yarn here for the next 10 stitches and purl the last 10 stitches.

8. Continue with stockinette pattern until piece measures 6 inches from the beginning of bind off (straps).

{Again, you may want to lightly block with a cool iron because ends will curl AND you can make the strap shorter if you prefer, 5 or 5 1/2"}.

Now do the same for the back piece!

9. Sew shoulders and side seams. Weave in all ends. (Optional: doing a single row of single crochet to make the neck and arm area). I did not for this tank.

Measurements:

Straps: 6 inches (you could make it shorter if your prefer)

Arm Shaping: 2 inches

Length of Tank: 14 inches from below arm to bottom of tank

Width of Tank: 16 inches across

My Cupcake Top

This was not what I started out making . I was looking for a crochet or a knitting project to use my new yarn that I had purchased but ended up using something else all together. The few patterns I tried, I just couldn't get it to work. Wrong gauge, way too big, etc...so I searched through my books/pattern for some ideas. I decided on the cupcake top. The pattern is from the book, Happy Hooker - Stitch n' Bitch. I used just over 1 skein of the Bernat Softee Baby Yarn in pink.

The recommended hook was "I" but I only used that size for the shells for the trim. For the top, I crocheted it using a size "K" hook. At times the stitches look a bit sloppy due to the large hook.

I also had trouble with getting the right gauge on this top but with the K hook, I felt comfortable with the starting chain length and thought it would fit. I think it's a bit tight for my liking but I still like this top a lot. I worked on it quite a bit these last few days because I wanted to finish this quickly. I want to start on my next project, the Orchid top by Lily Go. I have been admiring her work and I finally decided to buy the pattern. It was pretty inexpensive comparing to some of the prices of patterns out there. I hope all goes well on that top.



Here's a photo of my cupcake top:

Back to Crochet

I'm still on a 1 or 2 skeins kick, easy projects...so I decided to crochet this "elegant shell". I saw this pattern before but I really didn't like it. Maybe it was the color? I really liked the ones on Ravelry so I though decided to crochet one. I used yarn that I had intended to use for another project. It took under 2 skeins of caron simply soft in a light blue. (H size hook). The pattern is free from the Lion Brand website.

This is a very easy and fast pattern. I was a bit unsure about the fit but with the finishing (2 rows of sc around the edges) it was a perfect fit! I LOVE this! This is something that I would actually wear a lot. I am thinking of making another one in a different yarn/color. I'm not sure yet. I may even alternate between knitting one project and then back to crocheting !

As a reward to myself, I stopped in a LYS today. (It's the 2nd time I've been there but the first time I just looked around). I bought myself some cascade yarn in a green color and some plymouth yarn in a purple variegated color. (I'm anxious to try out these yarns)! Enough to make 2 more shells.

Today was such a beautiful day, it was in the 70s! I probably could of worn my elegant shell out!

Now I'm going to take my daughter out to enjoy the great weather!

My Week and Shrug This #4

My mother in law was in town with us all week. It was great to have the company and someone to talk to. I really enjoyed her visit. She got a chance to bond with my daughter and we even worked on a knitting project together. I was trying to finish my shrug and she was starting on a shrug which she finished. It turned out beautifully, she used 2 skeins of homespun in blue. I wish I had taken a photo of it before she left. It was also nice to show her all my crocheting and (some) knitting projects. She was so positive about all the things I made. I think she liked the short n' sweet I made for her too.

I finally finished my "shrug this" yesturday. This is my 4th knitting project and again, I made the shrug (practice makes perfect). I used a pair of metal knitting needle this time in a size 11 instead of 10 1/2. I noticed with the metal needles, my stitches were not as tight. I used 2 skeins of Bernat Softee Chunky Yarn in Red. I really loved the way this turned out. After a light blocking, it was a much better fit than the other 3. I like the color too. My next knitting project will probably be a fitted tank top. I'm actually going to try a different project. (I still need to try out my harmony needles that I purchased)! For now, I think I am going back to crocheting. I actually started crocheting the elegant shell today. I'll proably be able to wear it when I'm done - today the weather was just beautiful!

Valentine Short n' Sweet

I finished this last night. It took a little over 10 days. Crocheting really has not been a top priority where every free minute is crocheting. I usually crocheting in the evening when my daughter is setting down and getting a movie or two. I was a little nervous that I may not finish this on time. Yesturday, I crocheted both the sleeves and weaved in the ends last night.

It feels good to get this done. I'm glad that I'm not stressing today to finish this. Normally, my M.O. is to wait until the last minute but not this time. I even started cleaning the house a week ago and just doing some cleaning every day! Change is good. Anyways, my mother in law will be in later this afternoon. I sure hope she likes it and it will be a good fit!

This is made with 1 big skein of red heart super saver in cherry red. (I wanted to use a different yarn but I didn't like the selection of red colored yarn at Walmart). Later, I ordered some red yarn (and my new harmony needles) from Knit Picks but I decided to just go ahead with the red heart. This is crocheted using a size H hook. I had some trouble with the 1/2 shell increase on the front but I printed the diagram which really helped! Crocheting this the second time around, I was able to pick up the pattern pretty quickly.

Here's a photo of my Valentine Short n' Sweet, maybe I can get a photo of my mother in law wearing it later!