Ariane and a year........

I finished my latest crochet sweater Ariane this afternoon.  I just needed to steam block it and add the buttons so it was a quick finish after work.  

This project was much harder for me than it should have been,  I simply could not get the stitch count right on every single row of the yoke of the sweater.  I was driving myself mad because I like things to be perfect and work out the right way and this did not.

I used the English version of this French pattern.  I am grateful for the translation but I have a feeling something was off in the pattern.   It just did not make sense.  There was to much left to chance, do you hdc in the beginning stitch, why was there two row 18's for size medium?  I swear I dc'ed a few too many stitches together and added stitches to get the right stitch count in every row until I got to the lace pattern.

This yarn is stash yarn from that gorgeous yarn store I visit in Franklin, NC, Silver Thread and Golden Needles.  Do you remember my visit there last June to celebrate the life of my dear friend who passed away from lung cancer?  This is their store brand yarn and I adore it.  I bought the same color, "Silver Mine" a few years ago in a thicker weight yarn.  I knit a short sleeve shrug with it and put on a crochet border, I love it and do wear it which is a rarity with me and things I make myself.   The yarn is called Cherish, hand dyed specifically for the store, and this sport weight yarn had 300 yards per skein.  I used almost two full skeins on this project, approximately 570 yards for size medium, so it cost me about $32 dollars to make.  I also used a size G hook for the bodice part of the sweater and switched to a H, for the lace portion so it would have more stretch and drape.

The buttons were straight from my button box.  I have a small cardboard box filled with a few extra buttons from different projects.  I was lucky these beauties were right there ready to be used.

The pattern is free on Ravelry, the English version is right there, too.  I am not saying don't make this, maybe your counting will be spot on.  But if you can fudge the stitch count a little here and there and not get all crazy and OCD about it then this is your pattern.  I am a little on the perfectionist side so this was a tough one for me.  I would also suggest working in a bigger size hook than the suggested G hook.  It would add more drape and stretch to the fabric you are creating.  I did several more rows of the bodice but I did them in HDC, and DC, alternating rows.  I was getting off count even more after the rows with a space in them so I had had enough of those.  I also didn't want the lace portion to start so high up on my chest,  so I adapted as needed.  I had a lot of yarn to use so I also did one more pattern repeat of the lace, remember I am tall so I need to accommodate for my length.  I hope you like it.  

Next I am going to tackle Vicki Chan's Jamie.  I know it looks surprisingly similar to this Ariane sweater vest.  I have to say in a total moment of frustration I bought and downloaded this pattern because I just did not think I could figure out what I was doing wrong with Ariane.  But then after reading the pattern it requires sock weight yarn and I really wanted to use this gray so I persevered and thought I would make Jamie when I was finished.  I already have the yarn in my stash so I am going to get started tonight. 

Seems like I am making a lot for myself lately.  It is easy to make scarves, hats and shawls for others, sweaters not so much.  They are really time consuming and they are hard to fit.  I think I deserve a few new things even if I rarely go anywhere but work, therapy for Little Buddy and a walk around the grocery store.  Now I will be ready when I do go somewhere!  I am loving using up stash yarn.  It is giving me a great sense of satisfaction to try and find the right weight yarn with the correct yardage in my stash.  So far so good and I have not purchased yarn for months.

Tomorrows is the one year anniversary of my Mother passing away.  I know it should be a day like any other day but it really isn't.  I miss her, but I have been missing her a very long time.  This marks a year without my BIL, my dear MIL and my Mother.  Next month marks the anniversary of my friend Bruce passing away from lung cancer.  They have missed so much, and they are missed so much.  

Have a great weekend.