A free pattern. Yay for free!

Today I've uploaded my first free pattern into Ravelry. It is a super simple ribbed cowl designed to showcase that perfect button in your stash. This pattern is perfect for beginners!
Trying to navigate my way through the designers section of Rav is proving to be a challenge especially with kids screaming at me so bear with me while I get it all sorted out.
(Did someone say school goes back next week? Yay!)

You can see some more pics on my Ravelry Pattern Page.

Sweet Penny Test

It's been a long and busy few weeks and I feel like knitting has taken a bit of a back seat to, well, life in general. Since I finished the Mini Water's Edge cardi my needles have been strangely still. I have a few languishing projects which for one reason or another have fallen by the wayside. With all the stress and commitment in the lead up to Christmas I decided to take on another test knit. Nothing like a little extra pressure!

Sweet Penny is a little lacy summer top knit in worsted weight yarn. It is designed to be loose and drapey and features little eyelets at the top to thread ribbon and cinch it in around the neck. Perfect to knit in cotton or cotton blends.

I chose to knit mine in a 50/50 wool bamboo blend. I really can't stand working with cotton (or even yarns with a higher bamboo content) at the moment. I find it really taxing on my hands since it lacks any elasticity. 

I had so many stops and starts with this one, it felt like I was knitting it for-ev-ah! As I said, it is designed to be loose and drapey but my initial attempts were turning out HUGE. Big enough to fit me, never mind a super skinny 10yo. Of course I wouldn't realise the sizing issue until I had knit a third of the entire garment :-/

This happened not once, but twice. I initially changed my needle size but it was still too large so I went with a reduced stitch count and the final result turned out great.

I have to admit that by the end I was just happy to be done with it. If you look at my project page you'll see that I spend a grueling 6 weeks on this little top. (I can't even tell you how jealous it makes me to see people knit an adult sweater in, like, two days!)

My final thoughts though; I really like how it turned out. It fits great, looks great and Miss 10 loves it. I love my fabric ribbon I made! This was sheer coincidence. I had a fat quarter sitting beside my knitting and realised they looked great together!

I would actually rather knit it in a lighter weight yarn though. Especially as it is a summer top. I think it would be lovely in 4 ply/ fingering or maybe even sport weight. For older kids I would recommend a boob tube underneath for modesty. Not that the top is sheer at all, but you know  how it is with young girls...