Coachella is off the needles!

Pattern: Coachella
Needles: Size 8, Size 10
Yarn: 3.25 balls of SWTC Amaizing in Khaki
Gauge: 5 sts/in stockinette using size 10 needles
Size: S
Modifications: My gauge was off from the 4.5 sts/in since I was not using the recommended yarn and needles, so I knit the S size, but ended up blocking using the XS measurements.

I love this pattern! However, working with the Amaizing yarn was not so, um, amazing. Although the resulting fabric is fluffy cloud soft, there were numerous knots and tears in the yarn that made it unacceptable. I'd be interested in trying this with another corn fiber yarn, or perhaps bamboo tape.

I know, I know.... I should really show the back of this garment since that is the coolest part. However, I deemed all of my backside pictures unacceptable for public viewing. ;) So, if you're looking for butt shots (which is all I could see), move along, move along...

Ravelry! Worth the wait

After a couple of months of (im)patiently waiting for my Ravelry invitation, it came quite unexpected yesterday night. Since then, I've set up a Flickr account and itemized my projects, yarns, and needles. Making databases makes my little engineering heart jump with glee!

I also finished my Coachella today and it is blocking as I type. Notice the weird striping at the bottom of this - the final increase row ended up making the tank top self striping. I was able to break it up when I added a new ball of yarn. As soon as the boy comes home at a decent hour where there is some sunlight, I can model it again for my FO shot!

Oh, yes, and there were also kittens to be played with today. This little guy is Bling, named for the bling (bright white patch) he flashes on the bottom of his neck. I miss fostering kittens, but boy oh boy I do not miss the smell. Gack! I'd rather foster puppies any ol' day. So, luckily I have nice friends who ask me to come over to socialize their kittens. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.

Just a little bit longer...

People were not kidding when they said that Coachella is a fast project! I tried it on again today to see how I liked the length - four more inches, and it will be perfect for traipsing around Vietnam, Thailand, and Taiwan.

So far, I've only used three balls of yarn, and I suppose I could stop, but I like to stretch and not have my belly button show. I guess you could say I'm growing up.

See this?

It's a knot! Yesterday was spent buying yarn and swatching for Coachella, the sexy tank top featured on Knitty. However, the yarn I chose for this project, SWTC Amaizing (corn fiber yarn) has knots! My yarn ball is not one continuous piece of yarn. And not only that, but while starting this project and knitting the first round, my yarn broke!!! This does not bode well for this project.


However, my swatch survived the washing machine and I am happy with the fabric. I had to go up a needle size to obtain gauge, though, but hey! Any excuse to buy new needles is fine by me.