Shrug-cess!

Well this has been a productive couple of days for knitting! I took the pins out of the centerpiece and coasters I blocked and I think I did it right since they stayed the size I wanted:

I'm glad they worked out well! Now all that's left is to block the other 3 coasters and then wrap them up for my mom. 

After working on a complicated lace pattern for the last two weeks, I decided I wanted to take a break with an easy pattern that would let me knit while taking a mental break. So I started on the shrug I mentioned in my last post. I dug out a skein of silver grey Vanna's Choice yarn and cast on.  I was pretty excited at how quickly this pattern knitted up :

By the evening I finished knitting the shrug and sewed the sleeves:

                                                 

I was glad this pattern was as easy as I expected. And I think it helped give me confidence to work on other more complicated shrug patterns and eventually work up to full sweaters. I'm so proud of how this came out I decided to wear it this morning:

I might also try to make this pattern again in other colors. It fits great, and it's really comfy/cute! I'll have to see how the acrylic washes before I try to make it again with this yarn. I might also attempt it with a cotton yarn so it will be nice for the spring weather we've been having. 

After a nice break from complicated stuff I think I'll start on the lace tea gloves I've been wanting to start for a few weeks now. Hopefully those will crochet up quickly, and now I know if they get too hard I can take a break and make a quick shrug :)