For the last few weeks here the weather has been over 80 degrees, but for the last two days it’s been gray, cool and rainy with those sudden flash thunderstorms that characterize April and May in Denver.

I’m grateful that the weather changed just as I finished my latest projects, otherwise I felt sweaty just looking at them.

First of all, can I just say how gorgeous my daughter is? I try not to go on and on about it and make sure that I tell her that she’s smart and capable and all that, since so often all girls get are comments on their physical appearance, but I just can’t help myself here.

First up: Purply Cowl for my sister.

Pattern: Gaptastic Cowl by Jen Geigly

Yarn: Cascade Baby Alpaca Chunky, 3 skeins

This is a great, simple and fast pattern to knit up and I love it for its versatility.  You can wear it looped once, as above.  (Note: my sister is just a bit taller than my daughter, so the scarf should come up to her knees at least.)

Or twice:

Or for those really chilly times, even thrice. You could even wrap it over your head and still have plenty of scarf left over.

The yarn is supersoft and feels good on the neck but is a bit foofy and if it gets too close to your nose, it tickles. Be forewarned, Sapana. Not much else for details-I used slightly smaller needles than called for in the pattern as the yarn is a bit smaller, otherwise just kept knitting until yarn ran out.

Next up: Finished sweater!

Pattern: Iced by Carol Feller

Yarn Cascade 220 Chunky, 8 skeins

This was tough for a few reasons-first, I was making a fitted object for someone who was not here and was over the age of 3, when that stuff starts to matter.  I hope it fits! Second, the recipient asked for thumb holes and that took me a few tries to figure out, but I liked the challenge of it.  (tip: put sweater on and note where thumbs actually are before creating, unless knitting for an alien species.) Third, when I made this sweater before, I wanted a deeper collar so I changed that here, and that I just sort of figured it out as I went along.  Was still a fun knit and I like how it looks.

I particularly like the buttons I found:

I’m not sure what’s going to be next–people keep doing all sorts of things like getting married or having babies, so there seems to be an endless stream of people to knit for!