Rainbows and Hearts

I've been doing a spot of knitting recently. This time I used yarn from yet another New Zealand Independent Dyer.

Hollyberry Designs is a new kid on the block and I'm pretty sure that her customer base is going to grow quickly. You'll think the same thing when you see the scrummy gradient yarn that she produces.

I decided that a Milo was a good pattern to knit up with this beautiful yarn. I originally wanted to make a dress but was worried that I wouldn't have enough yarn (I've still got a lot to learn about choosing the right quantity of yarn for the right project!). 

In the end, the Milo sort of turned into a dress (oops!) because Rascal wouldn't let me stop knitting until I reached the pink yarn of the gradient. Also because I forgot to use a smaller needle size for the shoulder straps, so the top part is a bit droopier than intended.

 Once she put it on, Rascal declared that it was the "Most Beautiful Dress Ever!!!"

(I think she likes it- don't you!?!)

This was my first time knitting with a gradient yarn and it's pretty addictive. It was amazing watching one colour seamlessly morph into another colour. The dress knitted up really quickly as it was one of those projects that you want to do just one more row... 

just until the colour changes... 

until I've finished this section etc...

Where do the hearts come into it you might ask... Well before I started knitting, I asked Rascal what decoration she would like. Without hesitating for a second (or knowing what patterns were on offer), she announced that she wanted hearts- its lucky that the pattern comes complete with a heart cable design (phew!).

I love the way it turned out and can think of no better combination than rainbows and hearts- can you!?

I promise that there is lots of quilting news to come soon. I just have to put the finishing touches on a few wee things.

I'm joining in with Show and Tell over at Sunshine x 3