Shalom Cardigan

This cardigan is flawed (my sweater...NOT the pattern) but I think I still like it.

Pattern: Shalom Cardigan

Yarn: Peace Fleece Worsted in Ancient Fern; about 3 skeins?

Needles: US #10.5

Notes: This yarn has been in my stash FOREVER it seems like. I've attempted several patterns with it but none worked out. You see, this yarns is extremely rustic and scratchy and pretty thick to boot. The color is absolutely gorgeous though! It is an overall brown color but with strands of green and flecks of dark red and purple.

I made so many minor little modifications to this pattern but did not make detailed notes. Obviously I added two more button holes. And I increased after the yoke in attempt to give it an "A" sillouette but halfway through the body I because nervous that I would look like a box so I added waist shaping to compensate. I think these mods were fairly successful. However, when I attempted to do something (honestly I don't remember exactly what I did) about the large armholes it did not work.

All in all, I think wearing it over a darker undershirt hides some of the flaws (the large armholes!) and I think I like how it came out enough to actually wear it occationally.

keeping busy...

I'm not sure if it was a publishing problem or a Google Reader problem but for some reason I couldn't get my last post to show up in Google Reader. Well, in case anyone missed it, I was just showing off my new quilt pattern.

Anyway, I was busy this weekend with some custom little mini quilts.

Also, has it dawned on anyone else that Christmas is only two months away!?!!

I've been thinking about knitting some new Christmas stockings. I know I've already made stockings for the three of us but they are kind of plain (which is a GOOD thing sometimes) and I am in the mood for something a little more interesting and fun!

I was thinking of making a different style for each of us. I like the argyle for myself (not sure what colors yet) and the Mix-and-Match for Hubby and there is one other design that might be good for Jack. I don't know....it was just implusive thought when I saw the stockings book on my shelf. I'm going to block my cardi first and then see what I feel like working on.

Introducing....

My new quilt pattern Play It Up! I am so proud of how these quilts turned out! The blue/green quilt is a large lap size quilt and the pink/brown one is a baby sized quilt. I really wanted to show the variations in color schemes that are possible just by using a darker or lighter solid between the colors.

I'm always looking for patterns that show off the gorgeous designer fabrics that are out there and I really think this one accomplishes that. I mean, that is one of the big reasons that I got into quilting....the fabrics are so amazing and I just want to display them all over the house! This is pattern is definitely doable for a beginner as well.

The pattern is a PDF file listed in my shop.

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend! I am just about to bind off my Shalom Cardi so I will update on that soon!

plowing ahead

After letting it sit for a week, I decided to go ahead and continue on with my Shalom Cardi. I'm still not sure that I am going to like it but I don't have much more to go to find out. This Peace Fleece is definitely NOT my favorite yarn to work with. I have attempted several different patterns with it and I find it very rough, itchy and stiff. The color is GORGEOUS (sorry, it doesn't show up in the picture at all!) but it's really a very "woolly" yarn and not one that I would use for garments. But, it is what I have in my stash and I am really trying to use it up on something! I find it interesting how many beautiful garments I've seen it used in on Ravelry....maybe it's just me?

Anyway, here are more Big Butt Baby Pants! These are a gift for a friend with a new baby (well, new as in 2 months ago LOL!). Again, I used flannel because they live way up north and it is soooo soft and snuggly feeling. Very fun project that took practically no time at all!

my weekend

My creative juices have really been flowing lately! Must be this fall weather we're having. Unfortunately, I'm not happy with my current knitting project. It started out okay, but now I'm not so sure. Sorry, no picture of it at the moment.


There is one thing I'm super excited about right now though. I'm working on writing up my first quilt pattern to sell! Look at these pinks on the chocolate brown background!Another thing that makes me happy right now are these pants:They are the Big Butt Baby Pants pattern from Made by Rae. Although my baby certainly does not have a big butt (he's a lean little thing!), they fit wonderfully if you just go down a size. They are sooooo easy to make and the directions are extremely well written. I've made two pairs for Jack, a pair for my neice, and two pair for a new baby gift. I'm making them all out of flannel since the weather is cooling down. They are great "lounge" pants!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!