Wordless Wednesday: Unedited Flower Photo

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Pink Butterfly Sweater: A Crochet Project With Pattern Notes

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Catherine has been begging me to crochet and knit her a few different sweaters.  (She wants a whole slew of different colors and styles!)  I finished crocheting this Pink Butterfly Sweater just in time for our first cold snap.

After browsing various pattern sites, and even borrowing books from the library, I decided to make it as I went.  (Not always a good idea, but it seemed to work this time!)  I had fully intended on taking careful notes while I constructed this sweater, but somehow that didn't happen.  Below you will find the notes that I did take.  Also, I do highly recommend the book Custom Crocheted Sweaters: Making Garments that Really Fit.  It helped me better understand sweater construction.

The button that Catherine picked from my stash is a bright pink butterfly.  I found it in the clearance bins at JoAnn's a while ago.  Always check the clearance section, you never know the goodies you will find!

Here are my pattern notes.  The sweater I made is roughly a size 5.  If you have any questions, please ask and I will do my best to answer them!

Hook size: F
Yarn: Pound of Love by Lion Brand

Yoke:
The yoke is a basic round yoke style.  Here's what I did (I think):
Chain 69
Row 1: sc
R 2: sc
R 3: sc
R 4: sc *1, 2 sc in one stitch.*  Repeat around.
R 5: sc
R 6: sc
R 7: sc
R 8: sc
R 9: *5 sc, 2 in one, 2 sc.*  Repeat around.
R 10: sc
R 11: sc
R 12: sc
R 13: sc
R 14: *10 dc, 2 dc in same stitch.*  Repeat around.
R 15: sc
R 16: dc
Split for the sleeves and body.   I think I had: 19 for each side on the front, 28 for sleeves, 48 for the back.
R 17: dc around, chain 16 for the underarms of the sleeves.
R 18: dc around

Body: 
You really could do just about anything here.  I experimented a bit and ended up with the following:

I'm not sure if my above drawing will make much sense to anyone but myself, but it's basically three repeating rows.  The first row is the scallop, then some double crochet, then some chains, and repeat.  (By the way, that's my Knit & Crochet Notebook from "Mama's Notebooks" (note: not currently availble).  It's awesome and you should get one too!)  I made sure to double crochet the first and last three stitches on each row.

Sleeves: 
Much like the body, you could do just about anything from simple double crochet to a fancy lace pattern.  I used the same pattern that I used for the body.

Finishing: 
I single crocheted around all edges of the sweater once, but added a few extra rows along the button placket in order to add a buttonhole.  Then I added one butterfly button.

I love sharing my projects around the blogosphere.  

Check out where I party.  Hookin On Hump Day and Fine Craft Guild too!

Rachel: The Philosopher's Wife

Crocheted Lace . . . Sorta . . .

I'm not really into a lot of lace.  Sure, it has a time and place, and little touches of it can be quite elegant, but generally speaking it just isn't me.  That means that I tend to shy away from crochet patterns with the word "lace" in the title.  Plus, I don't really have any yarn or thread that would be appropriate for lace.  (When it hits a rock bottom price at Michael's, or shows up at my Dollar Tree, or I stumble on some in some other way then I might pick some up!)  However, while flipping through a library book I came across a lace pattern with violets in between lots of trellis work.  Those violets looked awesome--and I thought that they were "me" so I decided to adapt the pattern to something that I would like.

My original idea was to take a couple of rows of the lace pattern and make a year round open and airy scarf/belt.  I planned on using a cheerful color of yarn that should work for any season.  I wanted it to be fairly skinny and long to allow for various wrapping, draping, and tying combinations.


Not having the finer crochet thread, I opted to use some of my Peaches and Creme pink and purple yarn.  It is easy to work with and 100% cotton.  First I worked some trellises (pretty much just chains and single crochet--dramatic and yet simple).  They looked pretty cool, but it was a little too big open for me using the larger hook and yarn combination; plus, I really wanted this project to be skinny and if I had two rows of trellis, a row of violets, and two more rows of trellis it would be pretty wide.  So I scratched the trellis work and opted for a row of single crochet to work the violets into.  (That is one nice thing about crocheting--if something doesn't turn out how you'd like all you have to do is unravel it.  No biggie.)

Then I began working on the violets.  They are mostly constructed of treble puffs.  I had to make a couple of changes to the pattern here and there to account for all of the differences (yarn, hook, trellis vs. single crochet, etc).  Two of the petals are worked in the first row with the other three being worked into the next row.


Once the two rows that create the violets were finished I mirrored the beginning rows and finished with slip stitches all around.


Overall, I like the finished product!  I think it is cute (and if you don't agree with me, that's okay!).  I do think that I would like to try this project again with a finer yarn and smaller hook.  I also think that these violets could be pretty worked into an afghan.  But that is a project for another day!


Check out my Facebook page for a few more pictures and the original crocheted lace pattern.  I'd be tickled pink if you "like" me!




I will be linking up at the following link parties:


http://sewcando.blogspot.com
http://www.skiptomylou.org/2012/02/20/made-by-you-monday-88/
http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/
http://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com/
http://becolorful.typepad.com/becolorful/
http://www.northerncottage.net/
http://gigglesglitzandglam.blogspot.com/
http://nightowlcrafting.blogspot.com
http://www.mybackyardeden.com/
http://imtopsyturvy.com/
http://my3boybarians.com/
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/
http://atozebracelebrations.blogspot.com/
http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/
http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/
http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/

http://goteamduncan.com/2012/02/whatcha-got-wednesdays-link-up/ 

Also check out my crafty link page!

What constitutes a "girlie" beer?

I guess this stuff fits the bill.  Chick Premium Light Beer, according to its creators is "the only American beer created just for women."  The label certainly is feminine, with its pink and black color scheme.  Which, of course, does happen to be a favorite color combination of mine!  The box is a "purse" and each bottle is adorned with a LBD.  (Little Black Dress--just to be clear.)  The packaging is adorable and eye catching!  I know I would be drawn to this beer if I saw it in the store.  As it is currently it is only available in Maryland, maybe I will see it somewhere on a shelf!

However . . . 

It does seem a little "patronizing" as one Reporter put it, to think that women will want it just because its cute.  That might work once, or maybe even twice, but this product will only make money if the taste can compete with the big guns.  

Also, competing in the light beer market with Chick's 97 calories will be difficult.  Michelob Ultra only has 73 calories.  Miller Genuine Draft has 64.  Budweiser Select has 99.  Budweiser Select 55 has the fewest that I've seen at a mere 55. 

I do love success stories--regular people seeing a need for something and doing something about it.  Maybe a beer for women isn't the most noble thing ever, but they are donating some of the proceeds and that's pretty cool!  Will this beer make it?  It is hard to say.  

By the way, I barely drink beer.  The most I've ever had was when I visited Ireland--I had about half a Guinness in a local pub.  But if I ever cross paths with this beer I will try it. 

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UPDATE ONE: Peter claims that saying I had "about half" of the Guinness was being extremely generous.

UPDATE TWO: Here's an article that MSN just put out about the decline of certain beer sales--notably light beers.