Spring is almost over – can you believe it? Only about a month to go until summer, and I don’t know if I’m ready quite yet. The weather in the Northwest has been everything from 50 to 90 degrees already, giving us a sample of what looks to be the hot summer ahead. So to keep spring around for just a bit longer (at least in my mind, and on my needles) I made some sweater for my daughters. Want to see?

For my younger daughter, Lulu, I made a pattern called Sweet William (Ravelry link) in size 3-4 years. I used Preciosa Tonal Fingering Yarn in Pokeberry, with an bunny yoke in Bare. The pattern was really solid, and though I’ve done a good amount of colorwork, I hadn’t seen the use of symbols the designer uses in the chart, to tell you where to “catch” the yarn floats. I thought that was a nice addition. I also haven’t done much top-down colorwork, as I’m used to knitting the body and sleeves separately, and then joining them for a fair isle yoke. This was a nice change, even though I’m going through a terrible period of hating to knit sleeves. You know “Second Sock Syndrome”? I’m having “Sleeve Syndrome” and not just for the second one. Still, I press onward.

For Penny, my older daughter, I made a Pompom Rabbit Sweater (Ravelry link) in size 4-5 years. I used Preciosa Tonal Worsted Yarn in colorway Duchess, with Bare for the rabbit. Getting back to my issue with completing sleeves, can you see what saved me on this one? Bobbles down the tops of the sleeves! Isn’t that the cutest? I also substituted a traditional pompom for the knitted kind the designer suggested. I used the smallest clover pompom maker and love that it came out a bit oversized.

Being that we only have a month left of spring, these sweaters aren’t really for this year. I purposely made them in bigger sizes so the girls could wear them next year. Though I know sometimes it’s hard to predict sizes, I haven’t had much of an issue (thank you, positive ease!),  and I like having things stored up.  It makes me get excited for the future. Perhaps the girls could even wear them next Easter!

Hopefully, at least for Lulu, meeting the bunny while wearing her handknits, might be a more positive experience in 2017.