Coffee Anyone?

Lately, I like my knits quick and easy these days! :op I guess the whole longevity concept went out the window with Lizzie! Haha!

And I am so tired of knitting in red *shock*. Yea, I said it! Haha!
Well...for now, since my last two projects have been in red, and I actually have one more project to complete in that color (the Fetchings) . Then I will take a 'lil breaky breaky' from that beautiful color shade just for a minute. :o)

So I desperately needed a color change! HAHA!

*Enters Coco*

~ Project Details ~

Pattern: Ballet T - Loop d Loop by Teva Durham

The only pattern I liked out of this book! And unfortunately it will be my only post submission to the KCAL :o(

However, her crochet book is on point!! And I dream that my crochet skills will be up to par one day in the far distant future.

Needles: Denise US 15, I am getting bigger and bigger with these needles! Haha!! I told you the name of the game is fast & easy lately! :o

Size: Women's Large

Yarn: Lion Brand Microspun *Yep!* you read it right!! HA!
Color: Coffee, 2.5 skeins, double stranded

Adrienne turned me onto using this yarn! When I first saw her top, which convinced me there was at least one item I liked out of the book, but when I realized what yarn she used I knew I had to do it!! :oD

This yarn is SO soft!! I love the stretch quality about it! Feels really good!!! Yes it does!!!

The only thing about this yarn is that it comes in these obnoxious neon colors, so it is hard to find the "sophisticated neutrals" as the Lion Brand website calls them! LOL :op

But I love the fact that I can wash and dry it without any worries and then just go!

Now I will say even though it is uber soft it snags very easily. Even while I was knitting on it my fingernails would snag at the stitches and I found myself constantly filing my nails! :o) But the yarn springs back like a pro and hides the snaps pretty well.

Also I got tangled up on my last ball and really need to get a winder (very soon) which could have alleviated that problem...so I ended up cutting my yarn at least 3 times to get the tangles out!! :op

Cost: $6 bucks. The yarn was on sale at A.C. Moore for $1.89!!! Haha!

I ran out to the store and purchased it back in July when I had "planned" to knit it! But you know how that goes! :op

One of the employees at the store mentioned that the yarn was to be discontinued which was why it was on sale, but when I went back not too long ago they had re-stocked (none in the Coffee or pretty Mocha colors) and it appears they are selling it online. *shrugs*

Time: Over a course of a few nights for a few hours after work. It really is a fast knit! Did I happen to mention that already??

What I learned: That this is the best $6 top ever! LOL It is a simple knit, and as I keep finding out along the way, reading is so fundamental! :op But it really is how I interpreted a few lines.

I did finally split actual sleeves (not armholes) in the round! Yep, my first time. Have y'all not noticed this is truly my "first" year of knitting. I like to call it my "year of experience" :oD I may have been "introduced" to knitting about 3 years ago, but this really is the first year I am making a true effort at it. So you will see a lot of "firsts" flashing up on this blog! :o) And I actually consider this my first wearable knit garment too.

As far as splitting the sleeves it asked you to cast on backward loop and when I continued to knit the stitches seemed a little loose...what am I doing wrong??

I tried to knit in the back of the loops to close them up when I came back around but that still didn't seem to help...oh well you really can't see it when I am wearing it.
I still have my 'iffy' moments of joining in the round smoothly. One minute I do it effortlessly and other times there is a little "ladder" effect going on.

I just recently learned how to end in the round smoothly. Don't say I never told you anything!! Haha!

Modifications:
I already mentioned that not over analyzing the pattern and how the fundamentals of reading this pattern really helps! LOL

I had a false start on the project because of missing one tiny instruction. And I increased one round too many on the yoke but it didn't hurt anything. I later fudged on the stitch count by getting back to the number I needed by decreasing on another round.

The pattern calls for you to do 6 knit rounds after your body center increases. I actually did about 16 additional even rounds for length. I would of had a belly shirt if I stopped to where they told me to do it!! Haha!

Verdict:
I would definitely do this piece again and would prefer to do it in this yarn or something very similar because of the stretch it gives you and how light it is on!

I think it is a great season transitional top and can be layered.

This top is easily transferable from work with a nice blazer (and of course some crimson slacks! ;op) to casual with some weekend jeans.

Ironically I really don't care to drink coffee,

but I love me some Coco and this one is ooh so good! :oD

By the way, it has finally cooled off here this week and seems more like fall. Thanks to my red swaparooni pal I have been able to pull these cuties out to stay warm!! :oD They are so comfy!