No, I haven't changed my name to Penelope. Not that it isn't a perfectly lovely name, and shortened to Penny is just oh, so adorable. Even cuter still is this adorable cardigan I finished knitting a month or so ago aptly named the Penelope Cardigan from the talented designer Andi Satterlund. I am such a sucker for her designs! If you've been around for a little while you know that I've shared many, many, MANY other sweaters I've made from her designs and I have no plan on stopping.
At the beginning of the year, I told myself that this was the year that I FINALLY learn how to do color work. Honestly, I think this has been part of my knitting resolutions for 8 or more years now. But beyond simple stripes, I have yet to do so. When I saw this pattern with a simple little bit of color work, I thought it would be a perfect way to get my needles wet and take some of my fears away. There are only 2 rows of stranded knitting that create the lovely scallop pattern along the color change. Guess what? I did it, and it wasn't scary at all. I think my next color work project will be a fair isle hat. Unfortunately, that will have to wait a bit. My brain just can't handle that right now.
I used Patons Classic Wool Superwash DK weight. This was a great, inexpensive, high quality wool that has been treated with a superwash solution so you don't have to be afraid to wash it. Although, I still wouldn't recommend washing it in extremely hot water and tumbling it on high. You just wouldn't want to temp fate like that. I had no problems with the pattern and the only little alterations I made was putting the contrasting color on the sleeve cuffs.
I've been on a pretty tight shopping ban over the last few months. As I am planning on moving across the country next fall I (a) don't want to have to move too much stuff and (b) need to save up money for the move. I had absolutely no intention of buying a new dress for a Valentines Day night out. But when a deal falls into your hands (by way of cell phone in hands) sometimes you just have to go for it. I don't buy many dresses on-line, as you know, I make most of my skirts. I just happen to be scrolling through Instagram and one of the lovely ladies that I follow was selling this dress. Only one other time have I come across a cute dress, IN MY SIZE, at a great price (and I jumped on that one too). It's probably a good thing that it doesn't happen too often or I might never be able to afford to move.
I hesitate to talk too much about store bought clothing on my blog here. Although I want to support the companies that I like and love to share when I get a good deal, I see too many blogs out there that only talk about this new dress or that new skirt. Most of which I could never afford (seriously, how do these girls afford to wear new clothes every week!?!?) If I want to see all the clothes I can't afford, I'll go to that companies website. Also, I want more from a blog. I want to get to know the person wearing the clothes, not just what brand they are wearing and that said clothes are so great and comfortable or versatile. Sometimes I feel like I'm just looking at a page in a catalog, which isn't why I read blogs. I'm not trying to bad mouth anyone, I still usually find myself clicking through them for style inspiration but it's not the kind of blog I want to write. So for the most part, I'll stick to sharing my hand made garments, how I style them and the occasional purchased garment that I've usually gotten for a real great deal.
P.S. Is anybody else obsessed with cute picture frames on photo editors? As you can see, I went a little crazy with them this week.
XOXO,
Cherry
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