Alexa: Gourmet Crafter

Finito!

April 15, 2008 at 4:31 pm (Uncategorized) (gifts, Knitting)

Well, I have talked a good talk about the projects I have started and it is about time I talked about some finished ones! The first project I finished was my red alpaca skirt. I used the pattern in Susan Mischner’s ‘Greetings from the Knit Cafe’ but I substituted Blue Sky Alpaca’s Sport Weight 100% alpaca. I have now made 5 of these skirts: 3 for me, one for my mommy and one for my friend Robin. It has been a very flattering and successful pattern. Although I’m not really a girly-girl I do love a funky skirt!

It’s always so nice when you find a pattern that just really works for you. I am especially impressed that the yarn substitution worked because when I started my first of these skirts I didn’t really understand how to make yarn substitutions and I really just winged it! Now I know that you need to substitute based primarily on gauge (how many stitches per inch) and for some projects you need to be careful of the fiber (if it calls for mohair, it is unlikely you want to go with cotton, for example).

The second project I finished was a toque that was requested by my friend Kim. Kim has some sinus issues and needs to keep them covered and warm. This past Christmas I made her a toque out of a lovely yarn from Mirosol. It has silk and alpaca and it’s lovely to work with. Kim loved the toque and only 3 months later she is ready for another one! Although Kim always wears blue I figured I would help her to branch out (DANGER: do not attempt to help anyone branch out into new colors unless you are ABSOLUTELY sure they will like it, it will only lead to heartache). Her Christmas toque was green and this one will be a plummy purple. I decided to with the ever warm (and a personal favorite) alpaca. I went with Blue Sky’s Worsted weight which is a blend of alpaca and wool and oh-so-soft. I knit this one up quick because I really wanted her to be able to wear it while it’s still kinda cold out (it hailed today at my house, for real!)

The last project that I managed to complete was my beautiful cashmere toque. I am happy to say that all fights between my husband Gary and myself over who gets to wear the good toque are over! The pattern is the Devin’s Toque from Handmaiden. I could make this toque over and over again, it’s so soft and luxurious and easy to make. Big fan.