Freebie Friday - Mayfaire Cami

How pretty is this?!  I love it.  The pattern is by Corrina Ferguson for Classic Elite Yarns, and it came out late last summer, too late for me to make it before the weather turned here in Buffalo.  This year, though, I have plenty of time. 

In a cotton/silk/nylon blend, it gets the best of all three fibers.  The cotton keeps it cool, the silk keeps it soft and light, and the nylon adds durability. 

Over a skirt, or under a jacket, this is definitely one of my new summer wardrobe staples.  Give it a try!
Download here.

Freebie Friday Yosemite Pullover

Here in Buffalo it's been in the 50's for days.  The thaw even caused a flood in my basement!  (Don't worry - the stash is safe!)  The birds are busy nest building and singing up a storm.  It's time to throw a winter's worth of biodegradable yarn scraps on the yard and let the birds decorate with it.  I love seeing little flashes of color on the edges of a  nest!  And I like to think the chicks are just a little cozier with my alpaca scraps around them.

On these in between days with the funny almost-a-coat-but-not-quite weather, I'm always looking for the right sweater.  Cotton sweaters are great over a tee or a tank, or under a jacket or windbreaker.  This one from Knitty.com is a perfect fit for today. 

Yosemite Pullover

Take a look.  It's available in sizes XS to 2x.  Though the original yarn is discontinued, Cascade Pima Silk is an ideal substitute.  Enjoy!~

Freebie Friday Vest Pattern

My dog does not bring me the paper, or slippers. He doesn't rescue people from fires.  Max will eat the paper, and the slippers, and lie down by the fire, and that's about it.  He's not a TV hero dog, he's a good dog.  He's great company, and I love him for that.

Today's Freebie, Rowan Yarns' Glow Vest, is much like my dog - beautiful, uncomplicated, doing the basic job for which it was designed very well.   I love it for a dozen reasons: it's a little different, it's practical, it's a quick knit, it's in COTTON, it's blue, it's a versatile layer, it's pre-shrunk, it's ageless, it buttons, it washes, it's seasonless, and it's contemporary.

It's definitely in the lineup of things I will knit, and I'm even hoping to do it soon so I can wear it for spring. This means clearing a backlog of owed and promised projects, but it's great incentive!  I hope you enjoy it, too.

Thankful

As a knitter, there are many things I'm very thankful for:

Alpaca, mercerized cotton, and superwash wool!

All the knitters for hundreds of years who have figured out the details of this craft and have written them down for me to understand.  (I would never have thought of this on my own!)

My LYS community, who keep me sane (ish), inspired, and plied with baked goods and yarn.

Knitting bloggers and Ravelry, who help me feel less alone when I can't write a pattern I like, or when I have to frog hours of work.  It's nice to know the "big kids" have these problems, too.

MaryAnn, Colleen, and Cecile, for our close-knit friendships.  I'd love you even if you didn't knit, but the knitting is so cool!

My family, who have loyally worn my work, no matter how strange or ill-fitting it may be.  They have heard "I'm almost finished with my row - I'll be right there" a million times, and only rarely roll their eyes.

All of you who read this.  Thanks for your comments, contributions, and talks in virtual and real life.  It's been a real enhancement to my knitting experience to hear from you.  Thank you.