Hello!  I feel like I haven't been here in so long, but I just looked at my last post and it was written only 10 days ago, so not so long after all!  But it does show how much I love this little space and love that you pop over to give me a read.  Thank you so much.  Today I have the Barn Sweater by Carrie Bostick Hoge from her Madder Simple Pleasures 2 book. 

Here are the details:  The model: As busy as she is with school and crew and a dozen other activities, my lovely model and neighbor, Jessica, never hesitates to come over and play dress up with me!  Thank you dear girl.  She looks so darn gorgeous in everything.  I was waiting to post this until I could get a photo of me wearing it too, but that hasn't happened, so you'll just have to trust me, we look the same in it!  Hee hee.  (Don't ask me how my tall, thin, teen-aged neighbor wears the same size I do, but she does.  There's some kind of magic in knitted fabric.) The book--LOVE this book and think I will end up making every project. It's a great book to have in the "classic knitting patterns" section of your knitting library.  :)  The pattern--well-written instructions, simple to knit and easy to wear and just a great all-around jacket to have in the wardrobe.  The yarn--sigh, what can I say about a fantastic vintage Rowan tweed?  Rowan has always been tops with tweeds. This beautiful watery blue-green has been in my stash for at least a decade waiting for the most perfect project. For me, Rowan Yorkshire Tweed DK knits up as a worsted weight, not a DK, with a very soft but hearty hand with fabric that has the mellow, textured tweediness that we love in a tweed.  Also, it's next to the skin soft.  Now for the sad part, it was discontinued ages ago!  You can still find a wee bit; there's a small selection in the sell section on Rav.  If you want to make this jacket in a yarn that is easier to find, the recommend yarns are Terra from The Fibre Company or Owl from Quince & Co.   I haven't tried either but have another suggestion with a yarn I have used and loved:  Pioneer from A Verb for Keeping Warm.  It's fantastic yarn that I'm using for Liv, another pattern from the book.  See you soon and have a good week!

PS:  For those who have requested Gingersnap in toddler sizes--hold tight, it's in the works!  

My Ravelry project page for Barn

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