FO: Short & Sweet

Fell in love with this yarn when I found it on sale at Ewe'll Love It [Ravel It!] ages ago. Of course I had to wait for it to speak to me about what it wanted to become. Either that or wait for a pattern to call out for the yarn! Whichever way it happened (how can I possibly remember we're talking over 2 years ago now!) the yarn and pattern came together for a great garment!

Project details:

Pattern: Short and Sweet [Ravel It!] by Angela Best [Ravel It!] published in Stitch 'n' Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker [Ravel It!]
Size: L
Yarn: Knit One Crochet Too 2nd Time Cotton [Ravel It!] in Borealis (love this colorway)

Hook: Brittany 5.0mm H hook, 5.5mm I hook for edging

Pattern Changes: added some overall length, being the amazon woman that I am!

Previous Posts: Last Progress Report and Initial "Startistis" Post

FO: Into the Woods

Well at least it was called it "Into the Woods" when Robyn [Ravel her!] blogged about it back in August 2008!! Yes this is another almost 2 year old project for Robyn. My job was the sweater main body and pocket pieces.

It is still on my queue for my husband.... but not so sure I could finish off the 4 zippers as well as Robyn did. After her amazing finishing job, Robyn took this photo of the vest modeled by her husband.

Since it is now published, I can fill in the details a bit..

Project details:

Pattern: Rugged Winter Vest [Ravel It!] by Robyn Chahula [Ravel her!]

Source: Crochet Today Jan/Feb 2009 [Ravel It!]

Size: L
Yarn: Moda Dea 'Bamboo Wool' [Ravel It!] (now discontinued, but was a great soft wool)
Colorway: Dark Gray

Hook: Brittany 5.0mm (per usual for Robyn's patterns, I had to drop a size)

FO: Drops 89-15

I love this sweater!! If you've ever read this blog before you know I love Drops Design patterns [Ravel It!]. They are designed well, they use charts, the garments are flattering... you get the picture. I love the subtle designs they create with every day crochet stitches to achieve interesting crocheted fabric. This pattern used BLO dc and cross dc beautifully (IMHO).

Project details:

Pattern: Drops 89-15 "Crocheted cardigan in muskat" [Ravel It!] by Drops Design [Ravel It!]

Size: L-XL
Style: I considered the collar to be optional. I chose to not add it.
Yarn: Reynolds 'Madrigal' [Ravel It!] (discontinued.. a JCA find for me)
Colorway: Speckled Natural

Hook: Addi Turbo 3.5 mm hook

Pattern Changes:

• Shaping - I started with a longer chain to accommodate wider hips (!), decreased for waist shaping while adding more rows to accommodate my height, the followed pattern to increase for bust
• Collar - I did not add the collar.

FO: Austen Lace Muffler

One benefit of delayed blogging is I can come out and tell you all about contract crochet projects because publication has already happened! I worked on this project for Robyn almost 2 years ago now and it was published in Interweave Crochet Fall 2008 as Austen Lace Muffler [Ravel It!] The yarn, Blue Sky Alpacas Royal [Ravel It!], was absolutely scrumptious to work with. I can only imagine how amazing it would feel against one's neck. Soft doesn't even begin to describe it.

I'm back

Simply put here's where i've been...

I've also been crocheting a little for myself, a bit more as a contract crocheter, but mostly overwhelmed by the above. I'm trying to dig out and mount a comeback onto the crochet scene!