Purple Phildar Tunic

I've been making things for little ones for a while and kind of neglecting my oldest child. So one day I decided to make E something and my eye fell on the tunic with cables from the Phildar magazine. The reason I don't make stuff for her as often anymore is that she's getting big and it takes more time and more yarn to knit something for her. She doesn't really complain, but when I told her I'd make something for her she was very happy.

I showed the picture of the tunic I wanted to make for her and told her to pick any color she wanted it to be. She decided that she wanted a purple tunic. I was a little surprised as my girls usually pick pink for pretty much everything.

I decided that I did not want to deal with sewing the seams after it's finished and knitted it from the top down. I did make a couple mistakes and not quite satisfied with how it turned out but it doesn't look too bad. I think I made a size 8 but it's hard to tell as I did not really follow a pattern. But it looks like it will fit her for a while.

I used "local" yarn - Alize LanaGold. I bought it from some yarn store in Sofia. I think it's turkish though. It is surprisingly nice yarn. It knits well and holds cables even better. I had to go back to that store and buy more yarn so I can make more stuff while we're gone. Oh, and did I say it's also cheap? Win/win.
But let's get back to the tunic. Emma loves it and is asking me to wear it every day. It's too nice out though for her to wear a sweater (because it is a sweater, really). So we are waiting for the colder weather over here.

Marple Pattern Testing

In the beginning of September I got an itch to make something absolutely new and not very much seen. Ha. Well, that is how I felt. And so I was lucky enough to be given an opportunity to test a knitted pattern. I've never done it before and so it was all new for me.

The pattern is Marple Dress by Taiga Hilliard Designs. Made from the top down and without any seams. My preferred way of knitting as of lately. I also really like round yokes like this. The knit was easy and went without any glitches. My yarn stretched a little after blocking so it turned out longer than I expected it to be. But it only means one thing - K will enjoy it for longer.

K saw me making it and asked if it was for her. When she heard that it was indeed for her, she got so very excited. That is why I made sure I finished it as fast as I could. She'd come up to me and ask again and again if it was still hers. Isn't it the sweetest thing when your kids get excited about something you're making for them? I don't get that excitement anymore as much from E, but A and K are still in my fan club.

Loved doing this test knit and maybe will do some test knits again after the baby is born. I'll be sitting around quite a lot with all that nursing and holding the baby.
Stop by Ravelry if you need more details about this pattern and yarn.