I'm nervous, so be nice....

I've done it! I've written my first big pattern.

I have designed stuff for myself before, always with intentions of "someday" writing down the pattern, but when "someday" comes... I can't remember exactly what I've done and my notes are total crap... so I don't write it. This time, I designed a top for myself with the full intention of attempting to write the pattern. I sketched a picture, I took lots of measurements of myself, I did a gauge swatch, I washed my gauge swatch, I cast on.... I knit through the yoke and down past the bust when I discovered that my original idea was NOT going to work..... I had managed to make a top that looked like I had rows of gills along my back, it was NOT flattering..... I frogged.... I cast on again, but with a few adjustments to my design idea and began knitting.... This time it worked.... It was magical..... And before I knew it, I had a finished top. It was a bit tight (I had planned it to be tight, but felt it was too tight and that made me unsure), but I wore it out to knit night to see what kind of response I would get.... It was VERY positive... the girls thought it was lovely and convinced me to go ahead with the actual writing of the pattern. My plan to knit a tight top in silk worked perfectly... as I wore the top it stretched out and became super comfy... just like a nice fitting pair of comfy jeans......


Here is a link to Ravelry where you can buy the pattern if you'd like......

Silk Peasant Tee (Ravelry Link)

or you can buy the pattern right from here without a Ravelry Membership (if I did it right) for $3 US

Project "Spin-a-sweater"

I decided a while ago, that I was ready.... ready to attempt to spin the right yarn for the right project. I had attempted to do so when I spun the yarn for Chey's Handspun Cardigan, but in the end.... my spinning wasn't quite what I needed for the project I had in mind (it was spun too loosely and too thick for the navajo 3-ply yarn that I had aimed for). It was close, however.... very close... and so, I thought I would attempt to spin yarn for a cardigan in the latest Twist Collective issue. Carol Sunday's "Poplar & Elm". I needed a sport weight yarn and I had 1000 grams of an 80% merino 20% silk roving in my stash (a gift from my Dad and his wife, who support and encourage my fiber infatuation). I decided I would attempt a 3 ply sport weight..... and went from This:



to This:




approx. 650m of 3-ply sport weight yarn (between 12 & 13 wpi... yarn has not been finished), with another 400m of singles to be plied (I'm estimating the finished yardage of the singles, not the length of the singles)..... enough (I hope) for the above sweater, but with 3/4 length sleeves........

and a TON of roving left over...... a least enough for another sweater......