Finished: Sweater and More

The sweater is finished!

It’s light and airy, so it’s great for spring.

I’ve used my bulky corespun yarn to whip up a new crochet hat:

Just-Like-That Hat.

Simple, quick, and beginner-friendly. Free pattern coming soon…

Last month started with a weekend in central Oregon. While strolling through Sisters, by a happy accident I stumbled upon Desert Charm, a cute little fiber store inside a gift shop.

I should have splurged a bit, because I wish I’d have grabbed more than 4 ounces of this alpaca-silk fiber. Spun as a thicker laceweight single-ply, I got over 650 yards, which will be enough to crochet a small shawl.

I don’t know how to describe this fiber. It’s really soft, but I found it hard to work with because it’s very airy, and sort of clingy. Escaping the craft area, these long and lofty little fibers drifted everywhere. I’ll be curious to see how much the yarn fluffs out after it’s been worked and worn.

Constructing my First Sweater

Can you believe that I’ve been crocheting for a decade, and I’m just now finishing my first sweater?

What can I say? I like small projects like hats and mittens. Quicker gratification.

I’ve been working on it for months, and it’s finally coming together. I just have to seam the pieces together and do the edging.

The pattern is the Spring Scoop Neck sweater from the May/June 2010 issue of Crochet Today Magazine.

 

By the way, those mats I’m using came from Harbor Freight. I got them in a 4-pack (about 4×4 feet) for 5 bucks when they were on sale. They’re great for blocking!

Warm Pup

Mila loves to go anywhere we go. Even though she stays active, her small frame and thin fur sometimes leave her shivering!

I chose pure wool for her so she would still be warm when she gets snow-damp. She seems to understand what the garment does for her and is happy to sport it.