Amsterdam Coat - Update 1

Last Sunday I started the Amsterdam Coat by Doris Chan. This is a free pattern available through NaturallyCaron.com. I'm using some Red Heart yarn - I know, I know. But the color (Earth and Sky) was just too awesome and I had to try it. I bet it will soften up with a wash or two.

This jacket is just flying off the hook. The pattern is very simple and quick to work up. In just four days I am almost ready to add sleeves and be done! I love all of Doris Chan's patterns but I think if you are looking for a good one to start with, this might be it. It seems to be the easiest of the four Doris Chan jackets I have made so far. (By the way, next on my list is the Lacy Duster I've had my eye on forever)

Here is a picture of the neck shaping.



Sorry about the burst of sunlight down the middle, I took a million pictures trying to get the light right but as you know this is a perpetual problem for me.

I don't know how I can have a light on, a lamp on, a flash on my camera and still end up with dark pictures like this but this is a picture taken just after making the band and starting the "skirt".



As of right now I have used three skeins of yarn and I'm almost finished with the skirt section - about four more rows unless I want to add some length. I also added two rows to the body but I didn't want to add too much because it will gain a lot in blocking.

I'm taking a break from it tonight to work on an old hibernating project and give my hands a change of scenery but it should be finished quickly.

Outta Chocolate Complete!

I finished my Outta Sight jacket a while back. I was waiting to get some pictures of me wearing it before I posted this but it doesn't look like that will happen soon so I'll just add them here later when I get them.

I'm really happy with how this turned out and can't wait until the Fall to wear it. I love the color. It's Caron Simply Soft Eco in Chocolate and I had two skeins left over so I can make something else, possibly one of the tanks made from the same pattern in the book. I didn't make the string that laces the front together, I may do that later or I may just get a few clips next time I visit the craft store.

Here are some pictures of the blocking. It gained a lot of length with the blocking and I love long jackets. I think it's going to look really cute with some jeans and a tank.

Beaded Jewelry

My grandmother's birthday is this weekend so a few days ago I started to work on a broomstick lace shawl for her. Despite my testing the initial base sc chain twice, after the first row of lace it was apparent that it was going to be a little small. I kept going, hoping that with blocking I could make it work and then as a last resort I could make another panel and add it on at the top to widen it at the shoulders. But after four days of working on it and becomming continually more discouraged I gave up and went back to the pattern books to find something else.

I came across a page of crocheted wire jewelry and that's been something I've wanted to try for a while. So I got out a hook, wire, beads, and findings and started to figure something out. I started stringing beads and wrapping wire and before I knew it I had made half a bracelet and never even used the hook! But I was accomplishing the goal which was to have a gift for my grandmother so I was still happy although it wasn't what I'd set out to do in the first (or second) place. It felt odd to be making a crafty gift that wasn't crocheted. But for now crocheted wire is still on my to do list and here are some pics of the finished products. A bracelet and earring set in blue.

Outta Chocolate - Sleeve 1

I've finished the body of my Outta Sight jacket and started the sleeves. I had my boyfriend take some pictures of me wearing it. Unfortunately he just began snapping away and mostly at my clevage. So here in these salvagable images you'll just have to ignore my goofy face - look at the jacket and only the jacket! And especially do not notice the drip of sloppy joe on my shirt. I cannot help it, the sloppiness was overwhelming.

Futuregirl Handbag

This month I got the opportunity to do something really fun... test a handbag pattern for Alice of Futuregirl.com! I have gotten the RSS feed from her blog for a long time and everything she does is gorgeous. So when I saw her post asking for pattern testers I went immediately to leave a comment. I just knew I would be too late to meet the five person cut off but, lo and behold, I was the second person! Yay!

I would have loved to do it in cotton but I didn't have enough so I used my Red Heart Super Saver Fleck in Sky Blue. I absolutely loved the pattern and I'm sure I'll be using it a lot in the future. I made the large and it's a perfect size for most of the women in my family. My grandmother carries a purse more the size of a small apartment complex but this will definitely be great for my cousins (and for me). I love the flat bottom and the way the handles are made - much better than the way I made them before. She'll be publishing the pattern for free on her blog so keep an eye out and you can make one too!



I've got to pick some fabric and make a lining for it now. More pictures to come.

Gibson's Granny Square Blanket

I finished the granny square blanket for my son today. I'm quite happy with the way it turned out. It's a great size for him and the colors are really calming, which can't hurt! I probably could have added another round or two but I didn't want to run out of yarn while putting on the shell edging so I played it safe. I'm not the biggest fan of the shell edging, it's okay, but I really wasn't sure what else to do on a granny square base. I need to brush up on my edgings I suppose. But I think it looks great and Gibson certainly likes it.

Outta Chocolate Progress

Just a quick post to show you the progress I've made on my Outta Sight by Doris Chan. I'm really loving the way it's turning out and I think it's going to fit great. I've got quite a while to continue in the pattern before I reach the right length and then I'll just need sleeves and the edging. And I've already got my next Doris Chan pattern picked out!