FO Short-row Sweater

I finished this sweater quite a while ago and forgot to block it FOREVER. I first blogged about the short-row sweater back in January. I finished it in late January, but forgot to completely block it. I blocked it once and didn't care for the fit. I took pictures anyway but the more I looked at the initial pictures, the more I knew I needed to block it a second time. I'm in the process of blocking this for the FOURTH time.

blocking the first time

the fit after the first blocking :(

back looked OK after first blocking

So after blocking it for what seemed like a hundred times, it finally fit relatively close to the way I wanted it to. This was amazingly fun to knit. I really got the hang of short-rows after this sweater, which was a good thing seeing as it seems like everything I have knit since includes short-rows. I was unhappy to knit with such a thin yarn and with super little needles, but I loved the outcome! This pattern was ultimately my inspiration for the pattern I want to write (details eventually will be told about this mystery pattern).

after 3rd blocking :( still not long enough!!

After 3rd blocking

The simple details of this sweater make is so gorgeous! And by simply pairing with with different looks, you have a very versatile top! I mean, who doesn't want a backless shirt in their closet? I love it and can't wait to wear it this summer.

Valrico is expecting....

Tammy Hicks down at Gumballs and Overalls Valrico should be expecting my shipment any day now. I just mailed out the products that I spent last week making. I sent a total of 9 items for her store front. I already showed off about the button up pods that I was sending her. I decided to quick whip up so more things as well. I sent 4 striped, corded elf hats. I had a lot of fun using such different colors. That made them very quick to knit.

Corded elf hats

I also sent her 2 pom pom pigtail hats. I used some of my scrap yarns and they turned out better than expected. The purple and green one that is pictured was very hard to part with. Seeing as it didn't fit little Ryenn, I was able to send it rather than keep it.

Pom pom hats

I also had a request from a friend to create her a bear hat for her son's 3 month pictures. I was very excited to be adding to my products and helping out a friend. She sent me a photo of what she was looking for exactly and I tried my best to duplicate it. I sent her a picture of it and she said she loved it! I was so glad!

Bear hat

As you can tell, last week was a very busy week for me. And things don't look like they will be slowing down anytime soon. I was contacted by Gumballs and Overalls Rockford to develop some products to be sold EXCLUSIVELY on their online store. I am very excited to be working on this along with some products for {k} Newborn Photography and CLTG Photography. Don't worry, I will be selfishly knitting as well. Staring with finishing the short-row sweater.

Aidez Sweater Knit-along

My sister hosted a knit-along this past fall/winter on her blog, The Sweatshop of Love, where we all voted on the sweater in which to knit. The Aidez Sweater was the winner.

The finished Aidez sweater (not mine)

The pattern was super challenging but proved to be such a fun knit. I learned so much and feel now that I can knit up anything I set my mind to. She was great enough to create a chart for us to follow rather than going back and forth between the pages and charts and getting confused. It was hard enough with the charts, I probably would have shot my self and scrapped the sweater (not necessarily in that order) if I was left with figuring it out as I went.

The back of my sweater!

I used a varigated yarn and LOVED the way it turned out. I fell behind due to Holiday knitting and finished like 2 or 3 weeks late. However, I finished and am super happy with the results. Its amazingly warm and have been using it more as a jacket than a sweater.

Seriously, pictures don't do this sweater justice.

I can't wait to start our next knit-along, which is scheduled to start on February 6th (the day before I turn 24). We are knitting the Delancey Cardigan by Alexis Winslow. This was the runner up from our vote this past fall.

Delancey Cardi

I have also been knitting some other things, such as Laura Loop's Short-row Sweater. This fun little sweater is short sleeved and somewhat backless! After recently losing 40lbs, I am excited to wear this. That means I have to hurry up and knit it!

Half-way done with the short-row sweater