I like to knit my granddaughter a few sweaters each year, especially one for Easter.  This is that great top down pattern, Ravello from Isabel Kraemer.  The pattern is easily customizable as it's top down and knit in the round.  This time I made no waist shaping, shortened the sleeves and added an i-cord bind off for the neckline.  I LOVE this pattern and have a third one on my needles.  I like that you can fiddle with the yarn and gauge and still get a sweater that will fit.  Isabel is a genius.

The yarn is Rowan Wool Cotton DK in Geranium.  Annie just loves it and choose the yarn from my stash about a year ago.  I knew it would be her spring sweater so I set it aside and didn't pull it out until last month.  When I was almost finished, I thought, gulp, does Annie still like bright pink?  Things seem to change pretty quickly with 13 year olds.  I texted, "Do you still like to wear bright pink?"  Phew, her answer was YES!   She is itchy sensitive but Wool Cotton is so extremely soft I knew it would be no problem and she wore it the rest of the day.  It's also machine washable which I prefer to knit for her.  It's an easy going yarn and not needle fussy at all.  Super soft, easy to knit and get an even tension, machine washable, not pilly, doesn't stretch out...it's a work horse of a yarn and over the years has continued to be one of my favorites.

That beautiful climber behind Annie is Climbing Eden, aka Pierre de Ronsard.  For us it's a prolific repeat bloomer and a stunning entry into our vegetable garden.  It's also lightly fragrant.

My long time readers remember Annie as a little girl.  It's hard to believe she is a teen now!  Isn't she beautiful? She texted me today to tell me she got a solo in the spring concert for her school choir!