2012 FO: Creature Comforts Cardi

Pattern: Creature comforts cardi by Amy Hendrix for madelinetosh

Yarn: madelinetosh tosh vintage in Antique Lace

Needles: US7 & US8

This cardi is very hard to photograph on the type of "dress form" I have (see shoulders). But I'm too impatient to find someone to take a picture of me wearing it, so it will have to do.

I finished this last year, using up just over 5 skeins of madelinetosh. The construction of the sweater is interesting, making more of a shrug than a cardigan. Which also makes it a little difficult to wear.

Nonetheless, it's a finished sweater, and the most yardage I have used yet. It's got a beautiful leaf pattern on the back that I really like and it got a lot of compliments at Vogue Knitting Live last year. Also, it has adorable little pockets.

Wheee, pockets!

Last Week on Pinterest

Big golden and little golden via Desire to Inspire

Mint Chocolate Chip Profiteroles from Joy the Baker

Seared Sea Scallops with Gingered Pea Purée and Cilantro Gremolata from Food52

Cherry and peach galette from Celebrate Creativity

Shabby and Chic via The Designer Pad

Oak Bike Hanger via Design Sponge

Fresh White Yarn Bowl Green Twisted Leaf by BlueRoomPottery

Puppies via mrs. french *

Merino yarn by CountessAblaze on Etsy

Nymph - Australian Merino Hand-painted Fiber by fiberstory on Etsy

Superwash Merino by inglenookfibers on Etsy

MW Brand by Second Street Creative

Lunch Box Font from MyFonts

Rhubarb Fizz from Martha Stewart

Ta Ta Indian Wood Stamps via Fellow Fellow

Dalek Gif via The Doctor Who Tumblr

FO: Malabrigo Mandelbrot

Pattern: Mandelbrot by Alexandra Tinsley

Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Aquarella in Soriano

Needles: US11

Try saying "Malabrigo Mandelbrot" 5 times fast. *tries it* Hm, maybe it's not as hard as I thought.

I started this hat a long time ago, well, January 2012. And I probably finished it in the same day. But not "finished" as in completed the hat, "finished" as in ran out of yarn.

Where I ran out of yarn

So I waited. I wasn't in any rush and I bought the yarn at The Stockinette Knitting Cafe (now closed *sad face*) two years earlier without a project in mind, so I just let it sit. It marinated in my room until one day I finally decided to buy another skein in the same colorway.

The new skein

The original skein

Clearly not the same dye lot. So I decided to rip back to where I picked up stitches along the brim and alternate skeins for each row.

I think it turned out pretty well. And I ended up using all of the original skein when I got to the pom pom, and a little more than half of the new skein.

Pom poms are fun :)

Portland Japanese Garden

The second day we were in Portland, we went to the Japanese Garden. Like the one in San Francisco, you have to pay to go in, but they give free tours which we skipped out on (they lasted an hour). Unlike the one in San Francisco, the tea house isn't a running tea house (in SF you can buy tea and mochi and sit and enjoy the scenery).

It was kind of funny to see the big evergreen trees that surround the garden in the background, but other than that it was so pretty and peaceful - and so green!

Portland: Rose City

Last week I went on vacation to Oregon. First Ashland for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, then Portland for fun. I have never been to Portland before but it seemed like the kind of place I would like.

Baby Boomer

There's no "Last Week on Pinterest" this week since I pretty much didn't pin anything, but I do have a bunch of photos from our trip to the International Rose Test Garden to share.

Lavender Lace

I've never seen so many different roses in one place! Each variety has a little placard with the name of the type of rose (captioned on the photos).

Si Micro Mini

I loved all the mini roses. And there were one or two types of micro mini roses that were just adorable.

Sweet Caroline

In addition to the Rose Garden, I also visited some food trucks, Powell's City of Books, a bunch of yarn stores, and the Japanese Garden (pictures to come later).

Black Jade

I loved how everything in Portland was so close and walk-able and the diverse neighborhoods both downtown and in greater Portland were really fun to explore. All in all, a pretty fun trip and I would definitely go back.

Distant Drums

P.S. I think these Distant Drum roses were my favorite of the regular roses. I love their colors!