New yarn disappointment

I ordered some new yarn Friday and waited for it to come. It did come in a timely manner, Yesterday (8/12/08) but I am so disappointed in my purchase. I tried to step out of the box just to work with somethingnew, this is the result.

I ordered a yarn called MODA DEA Curious and this is what the skein looks like and a small swatch looks like. I knew absolutely nothing about this yarn when I bought it but I see why it was clearance priced. Because it's clearance priced of course I can't return it so I have to make it work. Whoa!!! Hear that Tim Gunn, I'm gonna make it work.

But wait...there's more. I ordered another brand as well,

Lion brand INCREDIBLE. This is a beautiful yarn, excuse me TAPE, but what to do with it other than a scarf, coasters, placemats, hmmmm.

Both of these are what they call 'tape' in the bulky weight group. I looked them up on the Internet and pretty much the only items being made with either of these is scarves. I don't think I'll

be needing that many scarves!!

Anybody with a better idea let me know. I would definitely appreciate it.

Keep stitchin'

Me and George in Mexico

George is not my pet George is a tourist attraction in Mexico. I went to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in September '07 and among the fun adventures I had, I did the city tour. Along the tour there was a hotel called Barcelo La Jolla de Mismaloya, this hotel infamous for the movie Night of the Iguana starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Because of this the iguana has become part of the attraction there.

More sweater info

Thanks to everyone who has visited me and commented on my sweater. A few overlooked details have been brought to my attention.

1. Hook size - I used 'K' just as the package required for gauge.
2. Guage - I did not have a specific gauge, I just ripped alot until I got it right fit.
3. Finished size - I customed this to fit me and all my lumps and bumps so it is somewhere between an 18/20 in the bust area and 20/22 in the hip area.

This is easily customizable to your size simply by adding and subtracting rows from the center portion of the bodice and, of course, then you would have to decrease or increase stitches picked up along the bottom portion of the bodice.

Keep stitchin'

Sweater crude schematic

For some, following the schematic

may be easier than reading my

instructions.

The finished product. SUCCESS!!

Just stitchin'

My Fuschia Sweater

This is my first attempt at writing directions so they may not be perfect but they are simple enough to follow. The bodice of the sweater is worked vertically with the peplum stitches picked up along the bottom edge. The sleeves are worked in the same manner.
Note: This pattern was created specifically for my body/shape so some alterations made be required.

Stitches Used: Hdc and sc.
Pattern Used: Solid Shell Stitch
Yarn Used: Lion Brand Homespun but almost any yarn should work.

Front
Bodice
Rows 1: Ch20
Rows 2-4: Hdc in 2rd ch from hook and in each stitch across. 18st.
Row 5: Hdc in each st across DO NOT TURN at the end of the row. Ch29.
Row 6: Hdc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each st across. 45st.
Rows 7-25: Hdc in every st across.
Row 26: Hdc in the first 25st leaving remaining 20st unworked.
Rows 27-56: Hdc in each st across. 25st.
Row 57: Hdc in each st across and DO NOT TURN. Chain 22. Hdc in second chain from hook and each stitch across. 45st.
Rows 58-76: Hdc in each st across.
Row 77: Hdc in the first 18st leaving the remaining stitches unworked.
Rows 78-80: Hdc in each st across. Finish off.

Peplum
Pick up 78 stitches evenly spaced along bottom edge. Here you can pick up more stitches by Hdc twice in the same stitch if you prefer a more flared (A-line) peplum. The directions call for a multiple of 6st plus 1 for the foundation chain.
Row 1: 1sc into 2nd ch from hook *skip 2ch, 5dc into next ch, skip 2cdh, 1sc into next ch, rep from * to end, turn.
Row 2: 3ch (count as 1dc0, 2dc into first st, *skip 2dc, 1sc into next dc, skip 2dc, 5dc into next sc, rep from * ending last rep with 3dc into last sc, skip tch, turn.
Row 3: 1ch, 1sc into first st, *skip 2dc, 5dc into next sc, skip 2dc. 1 sc into next dc; rep from * ending last rep with 1sc into top of tch, turn.Rep row 2 and 3 for pattern until it reaches the length you desire. (I wanted mine to be a bit longer. I counted 15 shells/rows from the top of the peplum).

Back
Bodice
Row 1: Ch20
Rows 2-4: Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each stitch across. 18st.
Row 5: Hdc in each st across. DO NOT TURN at the end of the row. Ch 29.
Row 6: Hdc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each st across. 45st.
Rows 7-25: Hdc in every st across.
Row 26: Hdc in the first 40 st leaving the remaining 5st unworked.
Rows 27-56: Hdc in each st across. 40st.
Row 57: Hdc in each st across and DO NOT TURN. Chain 7. Hdc in 2nd chain from hook and each stitch across. 45st.
Rows 58-76: Hdc in each st across.
Row 77: Hdc in the first 18st leaving the remaining stitches unworked.
Rows 78-80: Hdc in each st across. Finish off.

Repeat peplum pattern as for front.

Sleeves
Make 2
Sleeve is worked similar to the sweater pattern, meaning the first part of the sleeve is worked from the elbow up and then the stitches are picked up along the bottom to create the shell stitch with scallop appearance at the bottom.

- Ch47
- Hdc each st across. 45st.
- Inc every other row 2 times. 51st.
- Inc every 4th row 3 times. 57st.
- Continue even for 11 more rows.
- Inc every row 2 times. 61st.
Finish off.

Pick up 48 stitches evenly spaced along bottom edge of sleeve and follow instructions for peplum.
Join pieces together.

Neck Shaping
Pick up stitches along neck edge and single crochet around. I did 5 rounds. To create the mitered corners, see below:

Stop 1 stitch short of corner and skip first stitch on the other side of corner and continue to single crochet. In essence you are decreasing by two stitches at each corner.

I hope these instructions are easy enough to follow, if not, drop me an email and I'll try to answer your questions.

Keep stitchin'