I’m glad I swatched last night. This tedious task, though often time consuming always results in good discoveries. I tried the recommended size 3 needles last night but ended up going with size 2. The pattern calls for celluloid needles which I don’t have. I thought the sizing was the same, and is relatively. Funny thing is that I just gifted my only pair of size 2 celluloid Bucilla needles to a friend that is interested in learning how to knit. I figured I had double of that size, so what do I need two for?!

The measurements were more correct on my wood size 2. The stitches looked much nicer. The lacey pattern is called a lily pattern. I guess I can see Calla Lily in here a bit. Here it looks much laceier and a lot less like diamonds than the vintage picture. I think this is going to result in a perfect vintage confection of femininity. I can’t wait to finish!

For anyone curious, I have about 10% of the last sleeve of my husband’s sweater done. Thankfully it is much to hot for him to want to wear it so I can take my time with that.

Thanks to all thee kind ladies on my blog who helped push me in the right direct. I decided to pick up and knit this 1930’s Frill Blouse in the Vol. 58 Bear Brand Bucilla book I got from Ivarose.com. (This book is filled with 15 great patterns and only $16.96) My yarn is 50% cashmere, 50% cotton in color Lilac Moon from colormartuk (eBay!) as always. I’m almost done with ribbing thanks to this long weekend. I’ve been working on so many projects though besides this. I got the most amazing apothecary cabinet that I’m painting black. All my craft items will fit in here so perfectly. As drawers dry I excitedly fill them up with things like lace, ribbon, rubber stamps, glitter, paper scraps, vintage millinery flowers, thread and so much more. I’ve got so many drawers left to paint still. I can’t complain though, I swear this unit is going to change my crafting life!

Last week I ordered all these great pattern books from Ivarose.com. For those of you who do not know about this great site you really should! Peggy at Ivarose.com has made it her dedicated passion to reprint antique & vintage needle arts pattern books. I find this work very admirable since she is preserving these old titles. Old paper tends to deteriorate with age. Also many people threw out these old knitting pattern magazines just as we throw out magazines we’ve already read and no longer use today. This makes some titles very rare. It is very possible we’d never get our hands on certain titles. Peggy digitally touches up the images with perfection then prints the copies into a spiral bound binding. This makes for very easy reading when your using the books. You don’t have to worry about bending the spine of an old title back, possibly breaking it.

Her selection of titles is vast. If you can’t find what you want in your own collection or on eBay, you’ll be sure to find endless patterns to lust over. Her collection has inspired me to learn not only knitting but crochet and possibly tatting and embroidery in the future.

Which leads me to tell you I still am completely fickle and undecided about what to knit next. These two IvaRose.com patterns are at the top of my list to do in this cotton/cashmere mixed yarn in color “Lilac Moon”. I guess I’m feeling very girly this spring. Ruffles and lilac seem to go well. I hope everyone doesn’t abandon me before I ever finally decide what to knit!

It’s been a good 80 degrees out lately which puts me in no mood to touch cashmere, none the less knit it up. I knit and my hands get clammy. For a change I picked up some J.P. Coats & Clark size 3. cotton along side a set of vintage steel hooks I finally scored on eBay. (Size 2 pictured) I started teaching myself crochet with more patience these last few days. I finally have the hang of holding the yarn and doing all the stitches. I think the practise needs to lie in getting those ends of rows accurate. Here is the third swatch I’ve ever done,going for accuracy in stitch count. I did swell with sc, dc & tr but when I went to do some half double crochet I think I scooted the work over somehow one stitch so it’s a little off kilter. I’m hopeful though. I’m anxious to hook up cloche hats, frilly purses lined with silk & ofcoarse those lacey blouses I’ve shown everyone here.

I’m still alive! Just a quick update to tell you where I’m at. I’m slowly ticking away at the end of the first sleeve on my husbands sweater. (between getting very distracted by flickr.com) It has increases it’s stiches once over and is quite squished on the needle at the moment. One more sleeve to go and a neckline, then voila! It should be done. This has to be sheer proof that I love my boy and want him as warm and snug as a bug in a rug. Strike me dead if it doesn’t fit!

I think I want to do a post on my yarn stash soon so I can meditate on using the yarn I already have for my next project. Stay tuned!