Tag Archives: classic elite

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Spring Shawlette

Dear Readers,

Let us welcome spring! I am loving the extra daylight in the evening. It makes me feel like summer (and the inevitable break from school that comes with it) are closer around the corner. I am in sore need of some time off after this semester. Thus far, it has been the most challenging time-wise during my PhD program, and the pregnancy was wearing me out during the first trimester. Now I’m at 16 weeks, and some of the enormous fatigue is fading. Knitting never goes away of course. It only becomes more like therapy when I’m stressed. Let me show you some of my recent therapeutic progress:

This is a little shawlette I whipped up out of a full and partial skein of Alpaca Sox. The main color is Aqua Sunshine and the contrast at the top is Cornsilk. Those color names seem to promise warm days to come. I should be posting about my Stripe Study Shawl, but I wasn’t totally satisfied with those pictures, so that one will have to wait.

This little shawlette came on the heels of the Stripe Study after I couldn’t get enough of the soothing, nearly mindless garter stitches. The pattern is my own, but so ridiculously easy. I basically just did increases on every other row until it was large enough for my liking.

I had coveted the Aqua Sunshine color in my LYS for awhile. I have decided that particular shade of aqua must be my favorite color, because I seem drawn to it over and over with yarn purchases, clothing, etc.

Spring break is next week! I am thrilled because the fella and I will head to St. Louis for some much needed chill time. I love many things about that town. The Forest Park area has several lovely and free attractions like the zoo, art museum, and science center. Cheap thrills, people. That’s where it’s at for a couple of students. Happy spring!

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Summer Slice

Summer is coming to an end. Many knitters rejoice in this since we get to pull out our delicious wools to knit with or wear. I am a fan of summer, and though it has been an intensely hot one, I’m still sad to part with it. As a Labor Day holiday/end of summer gift, I have a FREE sock pattern! I call this pattern Summer Slice. The lace reminds me of a slice of watermelon, but really it could be any luscious summer fruit.

I used Classic Elite Summer Sox in Seagrass (for the toes and cuff) and Coral for the rest. The fit is customized as you go, so you can use your preferred sock needle size and different yarns as well. I think the lace would look best with other solid or semi-solid yarns. The lace is a 12-row repeat that becomes somewhat intuitive after a few times. The socks are constructed two at a time, using the magic loop method, from the toe up. This is my favorite method of knitting socks. I love the satisfaction of finishing both at a time.

You can find the pattern on Ravelry here. Hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

Photos taken by my awesome bf, Matthew Petty.

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Beret.

cassy-in-a-beret1

Here is my first beret, the Robin Beret. I never saw myself as a beret-wearer but I think I’m now a convert. I bought the pattern for this beret today and I’m also thinking about this one and this one. I used about half a skein of Classic Elite Alpaca Sox on size 2 needles. I used magic loop rather than seaming and I can’t think of any reason why that wouldn’t be a good idea.