Tank Tops...

The trip to Newport, Rhode Island was way too short but it was very sweet. It was nice to catch up with old friends and hubby's shipmates.  It was nice to meet new ones. It was just nice.

While there, I got to wear several of my new tops.  I wore the yellow tank and took 2 orders on it and then I took an order on the moss green one.  I've completed both tanks, one in teal and one in navy blue (what else?).  

Navy Tank in 100% Acrylic Yarn

 

Teal Tank - Linen Blend

I'm starting work on the moss green one, which will also be in navy blue.

More Finished Items

Since my last post, I've finished another two items.  The previously mentioned top by DROPS design and also a top that was published in the most recent issue of Crochet Today!

The first item is the completed DROPS design, pattern #99-4.

Drops Design Short Tunic - "Mussel Trim"

This is a modified version of the original pattern in that it is shorter.  I also modified the bottom rows a bit, leaving the picots out of the first row and using them to finish the bottom hem. This is a fairly easy pattern, if someone has some experience in crochet.  Cannot wait to wear this over some shorts!

The 2nd one that I finished is this yellow tank.

100% Pima Cotton Tank 

This too is a modified pattern in that the original pattern found in the September/October issue of Crochet Today calls for a ruffled trim. This is the red shell on the cover.  The pattern calls for a worsted weight yarn and I made this with a Pima cotton thread for summer.  This is Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima.

This has been worn already and I really, really love it!  Light...  cool... airy...  It washes well also.

Busy... busy... busy... Stuff for Me!

It's been a busy time and right now, summer, I'm finally getting a chance to crochet some outfits for me.  I need some outfits as we're going on a short trip later this summer and I want something new to wear...  something I made....

In the past 2 weeks, I've completed two, crochet tops and I've at least three others in some state of construction.

At left is a picture of one top that is completed.  It's a cute  DROPS design from the Garn Studio.  The design was slightly altered to fit my fancy and I made it a bit shorter thn pictured with it falling just below the hips rather than, as shown, mid-thigh.

Also, rather than using the suggested yarns, DROPS Alpaca & DROPS Cotton Vicose, the top was constructed using Cascade Yarns, Sunseeker, which is a cotton acrylic with a metallic thread running through it.  The top used just over 3 skeins...  about 730 yds.  I made it in white.

I'm thinking if I make another one, I'm going to lengthen the mesh torso portion, having it stop just above the hips rather than above the waist and then the pattern portion stop just above mid-thigh.  I find myself ALWAYS messing with patterns...  altering them to suit myself.

By the way, I really like this top!  It is so light & airy!  Perfect to wear over a bathing suit or a camisole.  I'm looking forward to wearing it.

Another one that I recently completed was found on someone's blog, Flamingo Bay.  The pattern is called Banana Bay.  Many thanks to the blog owner for posting this lovely pattern.

Banana Bay Top by Mary Lacy Stratton

The pattern calls for a cotton yarn.  However, I made it using a lovely bamboo blend, Prima by Debbie Bliss.  The Prima yarn is a bamboo vicose / merino wool blend.  This yarn was ordered for a project that wound up being made with a different bamboo yarn, since the company I ordered this from was tardy in shipping it.  Rather than send it back (got it for a very good price), it was stashed.  Very happy that I stashed it!

Since bamboo yarn stretches, I made this using the "I" hook in the "small" size.  It fits.  I'm not a small, but an XL.  This top is lovely and very comfortable.  Again, it's another one that I'm really looking forward to wearing.

Oh...  if anyone decides to make this, something I'd change is I'd add a couple of extra chains under the arm, especially if, like me, you make the size small to allow for yarn stretch.  Rather than 30 chains under the arm, I'd use the number recommended for the large size - 36.

For all my loyal fans out there...  Don't fret...  I'll be back to crocheting your favorite items soon.

Happy hooking!