I ended up having to space my tassels a little more resulting in fewer tassels, but I'm okay with it.   This was the first time I ever did the Indian Cross Stitch.  (That stitch up there with the crossovers and holes.)  I found a helpful YouTube video here.

Pattern: Hipster Shawl
Yarn:  Baby Yak Medium by Myak, Desert.  5 skeins.  (100% Yak)
Needle Size:  US 8

It's been really fun/busy around here lately. My kids are home for Thanksgiving Break!  Nothing better than having all of your babies under one roof!  Speaking of babies, I made a Barbie Lou for the sweetest little new gift to the world!  She is a friends baby and is only 4 months old.  Holy Cow.  I wish my babies were 4 months old again!
The pattern calls for Classic Elite's Liberty.   Did I ever mention that Classic Elite went out of business?  Yes. I fell in love with Classic Elite years ago.  A true love affair.  Whenever I found a new pattern, I always hunted for a Classic Elite yarn.  And many times I used a Classic Elite Pattern.   I am just heartbroken that soon I will no longer be able to get their yummy yarn.  It was always that yarn company that was rock solid in my mind producing quality yarn that would always result in a beautiful finished piece.  I did manage to find Liberty on a closeout sale here.  I really need to order some for my stash as this really makes a great Barbie Lou.  

Pattern:  Barbie Lou
Yarn:  Classic Elite Liberty.  3 balls MC, 1 ball CC, 1 ball CC
Size:  Large (1+ year)

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

My newest obsession. And I mean obsession.  The Hipster Shawl.
I'm in one of those phases where one of the first things I think about when I wake is my knitting.  They Hipster might be to blame. I truly can't wait to get to it.  Simple, interesting and on size 8 needles, it shows progress!  Love a project like this.  This wasn't my first color choice for this project, however, upon looking EVERYWHERE for this MYAK yarn, I pretty much took what I could get.  And to be honest, it is totally growing on me.  I think it is a nice neutral that will blend with most things in my wardrobe.
I made a mistake yesterday, and had to rip out a couple of inches.  It didn't really bother me though... more time to knit!

Happy weekend, friends!

I must admit, however, I do have a few things I would do differently if I would ever make this again.  Things that I would tailor to my body type.
The first is the length.  I guess I must be a little longer waisted then the model.  So... if I made this again I would add a couple of inches to the body.  Don't know why I didn't check that as I went... I usually do.
The second thing I would do would be to add more length from the underarm to the shoulder.  I would prefer it to be a bit roomier through the arm since this is a dropped shoulder.
The only modification I did make was to add a couple of inches to the length of the arms.

Pattern:  Oak
Yarn:  Owl by Quince & Co color Elf, 8 skeins
Needle size:  US 8
Size: S

Well,  my travel schedule kept me from getting to this space much in October.  Now that I have some time to hunker in, I plan on spending more time here.  Although it is November, I still want to share with you October's knitcrate.  It's one of those things I feel that I can't move on until I do!
This months theme is Verdigris.  The patina of time, faded, peeling and rubbed-down boards; pastel-soft matte finished, ceramic smoothness, and the play of shadow and light on everyday surfaces.

The sock artisan crate has me equally excited.  A superfine fingering weight yarn double stranded for this months sock pattern.
Yarn:  Artistic Ewe Yarns in Celery Stalk  75% Superwash Merino, 25% nylon
Pattern:  Doubledown  a quick ankle sock that uses the yarn double-stranded for a quick effect!  (Super excited as I love ankle socks!)
Extra:  Chiaogoo 40"  US size 2 needles to make the socks extra quick using the magic loop method.

If you haven't tried a Knitcrate and are interested in making mail days exciting, you can get 20% off your first crate by entering code FKW20 at checkout!

I'll share it down below.  I don't know how to do a printable, but will work on changing that.  If interested, you can just copy and paste and then print.
Opal yarn is some of my favorite.  This was colorway was Rainforest Monarch.  I have had this in my stash for a while so not exactly where I picked it up.  However, I did find a website that has a nice selection of Opal sock yarn.

(NOTE, I by all means do not have skinny ankles or calves.  In fact, I have been  told in the past that I have Cankles.  It's ok.  I'm over that.  No, really.  I'm over it.  😉 And, I wear a size 8 shoe.)

My favorite sock pattern ::

Using size US 2 needles, CO 56 st onto double point needle.
Divide onto 3 dpn as follows:  28st on N1, 14st on N2 and 14st on N3.  Join being careful not to twist stitches.
Work in rib 2x2 (or 3x1 or 1x1, whatever your heart's desire!) for 2".  Change to knit stitch and continue until piece measures 6".  (Or again, length desired.)

Heel Flap
With N1, kfb, K28.  With N2 and N3, Knit.  57 st.
Work back and forth on the 29 st on N1 as follows:
Row 1 (RS) *k1, sl1, repeat from *, k1.
Row 2 (WS) purl
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until heel flap measures 2 1/2".

Heel Turn
Row 1:  Sl1, K15, SSK, K1, turn.
Row 2:  Sl1, P4, P2tog, P1, turn.
Row 3:  Sl1, K5, SSK, K1, turn.
Row 4:  Sl1, P6, P2tog, P1, turn.
Row 5:  Sl1, K7, SSK, Ka, turn.
Row 6:  Sl1, P8, P2tog, P1, turn.
Row 7:  Sl1, K9, SSK, K1, turn.
Row 8:  Sl1, P10, P2tog, P1, turn.
Row 9:  Sl1, K11, SSK, K1, turn.
Row 10:  Sl1, P12, P2tog, P1, turn.
Row 11:  Sl1, K13, SSK, K1, turn.
Row 12:  Sl1, P14, P2tog, P1, turn.

Gusset:
Knit across 17 heel stitches, Pick up and knit 16 st along edge of heel flap.  With new needle, knit across 28 stitches of instep.  With new needle pick up and knit 16 st along heel flap.  Knit across 8 stitches of heel.  This is the new beginning of round.
Next round N1, Knit to last 3 st, K2tog, K1.
With N2, knit.
With N3, K2, SSK, K to end.
Round 2, Knit.
Repeat last 2 rounds until 56 stitches remain.  You will have 14st on N1 and N3 and 28st on N2.

Foot
Continue knitting until foot measures 5 1/2 inches or 2" less than desired length.

Toe shaping
Next round.  With N1, knit to last 3 stitches, K2 tog, K1.  With N2, K1, SSK, K to last 2 sts, K2tog, K1. With N3, K1, SSK.  4 sts dec'd.
Knit 1 round.
Repeat last 2 rounds for 8 times more, then rep dec end once more- 16 sts.
Divide sts evenly on 2 dpns.  Graft toe closed using Kitchener st.