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.