Waiting for a pattern release

A few years back I found a sale of cotton yarn. It was a little 'minty' colored speckled yarn, just my color. I made a v-neck sweater for myself, named it Valace and produced a few photos. I like it and like to wear it.

 

In September last year Knitpicks introduced a new yarn named Color Mist. Its 75% cotton and 25% Acrylic, worsted weight, washable, and I could see it being ideal for Valace. Knitpicks agreed! Yaeh!

After knitting the sweater in Color Mist the photos looked amazing, don't you think?

Knitpicks wanted the chance to produce professional photos with their in-house photographer and I agreed to wait with the pattern release until then. WAITING IS HARD!!!!!!!
If you like this sweater and would like to look at the yarn and pick your favorite shade, here is a link to Color Mist

Some Details to help you decide:

Knitted Sweater Measurements: Bust 36 (39, 43, 46, 50)” with 2 (3, 4, 4, 5)” positive ease. Length 23½ (23½, 24½, 25, 25½). Upper arm 12 (12, 14, 15, 16)

Material: 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) skeins (each 219 yards/100grams) of Knit Picks Color Mist, 75% Pima Cotton, 25% Acrylic, worsted weight, in Lilac Breeze color #27460

Needles: US #7 / 4.5mm circular 32 inches long, or a set of straight needles, or size to obtain Gauge. One additional needle to hold work temporarily, same size or smaller. 

Gauge: 19 sts and 25 rows = 4” / 10 cm over stockinette stitch. 

The A-Team

I have a young Best Friend. Her Name is Julie. Everyone who knows me knows about me and Julie. It is a long story because we have spent many many years of our daytime work life in the same companies. Not once, but twice! From starting a company to getting laid-off together, getting hired on at the next company together, working on the same team, and eventually finding the jobs disappearing. All the jobs are squashed by Microsquash (microsoft).

Now, there is always a good side, right? Right.

I got to Baby sit last night. Julie now has 2 (did I say it loud enough) 2 beautiful little girls and I get to baby sit. Both their names start with A, so to me they are the A-Team.

A year back when the Big A was 2 years old I made her the yellow coat/dress. And then came Little A. I made her the pink coat/dress when she was just 1 year old.
I love them to pieces.

The pattern for this coat/dress April April can be found on my ravelry store oberpfalzerin. I just had to name it with 2 major As in it since it was created for my A-team.
The yarn is basic cotton from Lion Brand and the buttons are from a local button on-line store as cute as a button

A litle sweet heart

I hope everyone can see the love that went into creating this Jacket/Dress for Miss Allison. The colors were selected to complement her gorgeous red hair. Since my red hair is just a slightly lighter shade I have had already 60-more years of experience selecting colors that suit a red-head.
I think the final 'April-April' design turned out fabulous. Now it is time to write-up the pattern so other mothers and grandmothers can create this for their sweet hearts.

 

 

April, April, der macht was er will

We used to say that all the time when we where kids...April, April, der macht was er will (april, april, he does what he wants). It happened very often in April that the weather turned and outdoor plans to play had to be changed. I remember many Easter Sundays with cold fingers, from holding the umbrella without gloves. It was supposed to be April, Springtime!

Now April is synonymous with Springtime Knitting. Preplanned knitting.
My little friend Allison is 2. I can't wait to have her try on the new jacket I am making for her. We are supposed to visit the Etsy Guild Market this coming Saturday together.

I am sure I can get the other arm finished and the collar added today and tomorrow. Being on vacation this week in April is the thing to do for me.
I always enjoy April. It smells different, the wind feels different, everything is NEW.

There is one more really important thing to do and that is the buttons. I think I have found the perfect choice for this April, April jacket (Maentelchen). It is called Smiley Flower from as cute as a button.

As cute as a button

Sometime this week the woman that owns this online store and I will meet. Lucky me get's to rummage through her buttons. There is another project I was working on which needs special Antler buttons. But that project will have to wait until miss Allison has her April, April Jacket.

cau cau surfer is live

Well, the dress has arrived in Japan and one little girl is wearing it already.
This one was made following the size #3 of the pattern Cau Cau Surfer

It looks like she can go out and play as soon as the weather gets warm there.

This knitting pattern is now available at my ravelry and etsy shops for downloading. I must get back to making one more dress, the #1 size to be ready for Miss Allison's 1st birthday.

You know it is a really good thing that I actually like knitting the patterns I write. This Cau Cau Surfer in particular feels very soft and is flowing easily along on the knitting needles. It is also light and does not weigh much, so your arms are not getting tired as you knit along.

Cau Cau is a beautiful beach in Chile that this hand dyed yarn was created after. The waves, the eucalyptus forests, and the steep hills are all represented in the yarn. With my creation I’ve tried to continue the wave and the forest impressions into the pattern design. I think little girls will love wearing this dress as apron over their formal dress, as summer shirt over shorts, or as a beach outfit. The yarn is made of 60% pima cotton and 40% silk and will feel very soft and always comfortable. Since the yarn is hand dyed it is recommended to alternate between two hanks in assorted rows (2-4). I did not do that. Instead, when winding the hanks into balls, I’ve selected the darker shades for one dress and the lighter shades for another.
It takes 3 skeins for the three smaller sizes and 4 skeins for the size 2-3 years. You can find he yarn on e-bay right now for sale for $8.10 a skein e-bay seller

There are different color combination available from the yarn maker - Araucania

other color option available

Happy knitting everyone!