Making Progress

My tunic project is sloooooowly coming along. I always end up putting projects for me aside as I work on something else for someone else.

I did start a brand-new, very colorful project that for now, must remain secret. Stay tuned. I hope to share it within the next couple of months. But in the meantime, just know that it involves this box of yarn:

One thing I can share is a pattern for a shawl that I'm crocheting for a dear friend who is ill. I ripped it out three times before I was finally satisfied with it. Here's the beginning of the shawl (Red Heart Soft yarn in Watercolors):

My big news is that I finished the second blanket for my great-niece! She will make her appearance in July, so I am way ahead of schedule on my projects for her. Yay!

A Project Just For Me

Every once in awhile (about once a year), I have an itching to crochet something just for me. When I saw the cover of the Spring 2014 issue of Interweave Crochet, I knew the top shown was going to be this year's project. I literally could not stop thinking about it!

The Convergence Top pattern calls for Noro Taiyo Sock yarn, a yarn I have never worked with before. It is a blend of cotton, wool, polyamide, and silk. Because it is pricey (around $20 per skein) and the pattern calls for 3 skeins, I shopped around until I found a shop that offered about 25% off and free shipping. Yay!

The yarn arrived, and I almost panicked that they had sent the wrong colors! The skeins all look so different! But I checked the labels, and all 3 skeins are the same color mix (color #39) and the same lot number.

I'm trying to adjust to the weight of the yarn. I usually work with worsted weight, and this sock yarn is rather fine. I have had to adjust the hook size from the pattern (which concerns me greatly) because the piece I'm working seems big. BUT it does match the gauge I'm supposed to use, so cross your fingers! The colors are gorgeous, and the more I crochet, the more shades of beige and green appear.

I can't wait to finish this and wear it! Stay tuned! :)

WIPs - Blankets

I wanted to share some progress I'm making on some lovely blankets for my son and my great-niece who will arrive in July.

For my great-niece, I made this blanket (Happy throw pattern from Mamachee):

The yarn in Red Heart Soft yarn in Off White, Pink, Guacamole, Lilac, and Honey.

I am working now on a Chevron blanket (pattern by Mamachee) in White, Light Grey Heather, and a surprise color (to be revealed later)!

For my son, who is about to turn 13, a variation of the Chevron blanket in three shades of his favorite color:

I really like the ombre effect. The yarn is Red Heart Soft yarn in Seafoam, Deep Sea, and Teal.

 Truth be told, two of these blankets are "completed", except for the dreaded weaving of the ends. Of course, you can't tell that from the pictures (creative editing, haha).