Spring lace sweater

I had this idea in my head and couldn't find a pattern out there that fit everything that I was looking for, so I decided to try my hand at designing it. It came out just like I wanted it to! So here it is for all of you to enjoy :-)

Materials:

• ~4.5 skeins of Knit Picks Cotlin DK yarn (~600 yds)
• Size 7 24" circular needle
• Tape measure
• Tapestry needle
• Stitch markers
• 1 pin back (optional)

Finished size: fits 34" inch bust

Gauge: 5.5 stitches per inch and 7 rows per inch

Necessary skills / Required stitches/abbreviations:

• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• Kfb: Knit front and back of stitch (increase 1 stitch)
• Pfb: Purl front and back of stitch (increase 1 stitch)
• YO: Yarn Over (increase 1 stitch)
• K2tog: Knit two stitches together (decrease 1 stitch)
• SSK: Slip two stitchs as if to knit. Pass back to the left needle and knit together through the back. (decrease 1 stitch)
• P2togtbl: Purl two stitches together through the back of the loops. (decrease 1 stitch)
• Knit in round on a circular needle
• Cable cast on

Pattern:

CO 128 and join in round (careful not to twist)

R1: P all stitches placing markers every 16 stitches (use different markers than round marker so that you can tell when a round begins)

R2: K1, K2tog, YO, K2, Kfb, SSK, K1, K2tog, YO, K2, K2tog, Kfb around (8 times)

R3: K2, K2tog, YO, K1, Kfb, SSK, K2, K2tog, YO, K1, K2tog, Kfb around (8 times)

R4: as 2

R5: as 3

R6: as 2

R7: K all stitches removing markers as you go. Place new markers after 23 stitches, 18 stitches, 46, stitches, and 18 stitches (23 remain for end of round). Again use different markers than the round marker.

R8: K to last stitch before marker. Kfb. Slip marker. Kfb. around. (Do not increase at round marker)

R9: K all stitches Repeat rows 8 and 9 until 60 stitches are between the markers where there were 18 originally (sleeves). This should be about 7 inches from the top of the work. End with a R9.

On next row, K to first marker. Bind of sleeve stitches as follows: CO 2 stitches using cable cast on; bind off 6 stitches. Repeat to next marker. (You will have to bind off the last sleeve stich over the first stitch after the marker. K across the front stitches. Repeat bind off for other sleeve. K across the back stitches to finish round.

On the next row, K to one stitch before arm hole gap, CO two using cable cast on. K3 (you should be at arm hole now). PM. K1. CO two using cable case on. K to one stitch before other arm hole gap and repeat. K across back stitches to finish round. There should be 92 stiches for the front and the back (184 total).

K 7 rounds straight.

Begin body shaping decreases as follows: K to 2 stitches before marker. SSK. slip marker. K2tog. K across front stitches. SSK. slip marker. K2tog. K across back stitches to finish round.

K two rows straight.

Repeat these three rows 6 times total (80 stitches remain for front and back - 160 total).

Knit even until the shirt measures 10.5 inches from the arm hole. Increase before and after marker on each row for 10 rows (100 stitches for front and back - 200 total).

Knit until shirt measures 13 inches from armpit (measure straight - not along seam where the hip increase is) or 20 inches from collar (or desired length)

Bind off as sleeves.

Weave in ends and block (if desired).


Flower:

CO 64

R1: Knit

R2: K1, K2tog, YO, K2, Kfb, SSK, K1, K2tog, YO, K2, K2tog, Kfbimes)

R3: Pfb, P2tog, P1, YO, P2tog, P2, P2togtbl, Pfb, P1, YO, P2tog, P2imes)

R4: as 2

R5: as 3

R6: as 2

R7: P2tog for all stitches

R8: K2tog for all stitches

Bind off with purl stitches

Curl into spiral and either sew onto shirt or pin

Summer's New Routine

Now that I have more time on my hands, my days look a bit different. I am going to try hard to be a better housewife and mother with my extra time. Here's the daily routine:

• wake up. feed Xav (and me). play with Xav.
• Xav goes down for first nap. devos. do a chore (clean something, organize a closet, etc). shower. free time?
• feed Xav lunch (and lunch for me). play with Xav (maybe bike, walk, or run errands).
• Xav goes down for second nap. do a chore. possibly start dinner (depending on how long it needs to marinate, etc)free time.
• feed Xav snack. play with Xav.
• Xav goes down for third nap. free time. Mason comes home.
• Feed Xav dinner. Mason and Liz eat dinner.
• family time.
• bedtime routine (feeding, bath, etc)
• Mason and Liz free time.
• bed.
• repeat!

The major goal is to concentrate on getting at least those two chores done and getting a good dinner on the table. Good dinner means something that involves mixing ingredients, not like a Stouffer's Lasagna or Voila frozen meal (which is the usual go to!).

From fiber to scarf

I wanted to share a recent project and show it's progression...

I began with fiber (bamboo merino blend)

Spun it into a single

Plied it with metalic thread to make this yarn

(Close Up)

And crocheted this scarf

(Close Up)

Resolution update 5 months in to 2010

• charity knitting: fail. Didn't get anything done for charity this month. I hope to get back to that this month.
• devos: pass. Finished working my way through Proverbs. Moving on to Galatians - 2 Thes. I hit a good routine during the last month or so at school and I hope that I can get a good routine going at home this summer.
• reading: pass. Read Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult (didn't really like it. ok didn't like it at all). Read Hunger Games by S. Collins. (loved it. reading the sequel now).
• fitness: pass. Still losing a bit of weight (down to my goal - 12 more to get to where I was, but I am fine if I stay here). Enjoying walks with Xav. Hoping to get out on the bike with him this summer.
• enjoying family: Of course!!! I am thrilled about summer being here so that I have all day every day with my precious baby boy :-)