First finish of 2015

The New Year has started with my computer getting ill.  Darn it I feel completely crazy without it.  I am posting this from my son's Macbook and I find it all so confusing.  I am a Microsoft girl, even though I have an iPhone and iPad, it is what I am familiar with but I am giving this a try.  The computer doctor is paying us a visit on Tuesday, so I will have to try and use this between now and then.

I have my first finish of 2015!  A lovely cowl made from the Cascade Yarns Eco Alpaca I traded in for my husband's Christmas gift.   Can I tell you that I just LOVE this yarn!!  It is so soft and so smooth in your hands.  When I take myself off yarn restrictions I just might buy some more.  There are no dyes in this yarn which makes it even nicer.

This cowl is based on a pattern called the Cozy Ribbed Cowl on the blog Lady By The Bay.  I saw her beautiful cowl on Pinterest and thought I would give it a go.   The designer used chunky yarn, size 15 needles and a 2x2 rib.

I combined two yarns, used size 11 circular needles, and a 3x3 rib.  Here is my pattern but remember I am giving credit to the original designer.

With size 11 circular needles (I could easily have used 10 1/2) and holding two thinner yarns together I cast on 108 stitches, carefully joined the round, placing a marker to show where the beginning of the row was and started with a 3x3 rib, 3 knit followed by 3 purl all around the round.  I continued on until I was almost out of yarn and cast off in the stitch pattern.  It made a long tube that opens beautifully into this cowl.  

I ended up using most of the two skeins of yarn which were 220 yards each.  I have my first finish of the year and have already used up 440 yards of yarn!  This was not stash yarn as it hardly had time to say hello to the other skeins of yarn in my yarn cabinet. 

I love how soft it is.  Since it is a rotten 80 degrees out right now with high humidity I am not sure if this will be mine or not.  It may end up being a gift.  Whoever wears it will be thrilled with the softness that surrounds them. There we have it my first finish of 2015.  My first post on a MacBook and oops I almost forgot.

My first crochet flower of 2015 (actually broach) made with my leftover yarn, with my brand new Bryspun crochet hook.  Thank you for the great idea Ingrid.  Ingrid made lots of broaches up recently using a beautiful flower pattern, check out her blog and see for yourself.

See you after Tuesday when my trusted old computer gets repaired.   I can't wait!