Mama's Bolero

For those of you who have been reading my blog for a while now, you know that (years ago!) I promised my mom that I would make her a vest.  I had grand plans to design and crochet this vest using this lovely varigated yarn that she had chosen on a trip to AC Moore because she wanted something thick and washable for the winter months.  Well, you can imagine the guilt I've been feeling in not working on that project, especially after she had the stroke.  But, I have redeemed myself!  She decided not too long ago (thankfully she is doing better and better, albeit slowly) that, instead of a vest (and we'll come back to that project because I still have the yarn...), she would like a bolero of sorts -- something short with short sleeves, in a neutral color, with a pink flower. 

So, first things first, I decided to knit the bolero because I came across this simple pattern that I figured I could adapt.  Then, I found this beautiful Rowan softknit cotton yarn that was so easy to work with.  I had gotten some during the 2013 Yarn Crawl and was able to find a 10-ball pack through Deramores, not realizing I was ordering from the U.K. (the site was in dollars and free shipping so I still did well and didn't have to wait too long)!  Plus, it was so cool to get a package from across the pond :-)

I can't remember where I found the flower pattern, but it's just a simple rose crochet pattern that's done in two rows then wrapped around from center outward.

And here's the finished results!!

I'll be posting better pix later, but just so glad that the project is done and Mom likes her bolero!  And a big shout out to my friend Holly for fixing one of the raglan increases when I somehow managed to either drop or add a stitch (I really couldn't figure out what the heck I had done, but I knew it didn't look right).

Happy Leap Year!

Ok, so I'm two days late! I can't believe how fast February has come and gone, and now we're already into the second day of March. The day job has been keeping me very busy as have a number of crochet projects. Remember? My vow to finish or abandon old projects before starting anything new? So far, so good. I finished the dog sweater but haven't yet gotten any pictures to post (my luck, it starts warming up around here in D.C. just about when the sweater is finished, but sometimes we have our craziest weather in March, so there's hope :-)

My other project has been to finish my friend Nancy's bolero jacket. The pattern is in Stitch 'n Bitch's The Happy Hooker, page 168. She started this project herself last spring, and we'd meet periodically for me to help her. Well, while reading the pattern to her and chatting between rows, I led her astray! Hence, I offered to correct and finish up the project for her. Her birthday's coming up, so I'm hoping to have it done by then (I ended up having to start over because I find it so hard to pick up something that I didn't start myself.)

After the bolero, it's on to the baby blankets! Turns out my friend who is having twins is having a boy and a girl! Very exciting (plus, for me, I know what colors to use!). The shower's in April, so you know you'll be hearing more about this project in coming posts.

Today's Thought: A nifty site I heard about on a commercial -- it's called CouponBug.com. You type in your zip code, and they show you all of the coupons available for your area. You can choose whick ones you want and then print them out!