So remember that tunic I finished a few weeks ago? I'm sure you've been on the edge of your seat waiting for me to post some proof, so I'll take an edge off the suspense and indulge you. This is the Loope Tunic, designed by the Berroco Design Team, and published in Berroco #289 Lustra. It's a great pattern book with a couple of others I'd like to try... at some point.

I started this tunic about a year and a half ago, and as it usually goes with large projects, I got through all the knitted sections and then got lazy about seaming so it sat in a tote bag on a shelf for months and months. As a byproduct of my rejuvenation-by-sock, I decided it was time to finish up this wool/tencel fiber beauty.

Initially I fell in love with the color in Loops, and then was drawn to the book and then left the store after impulse buying everything to finish this project. Lustra is a gorgeous yarn that is part animal fiber and part plant fiber. The tunic is slightly itchy, but the sheen is luxurious. Since knitting this pattern, Lustra has become a favorite of mine for knitting loose cowls too.

When my grandfather passed away a few years back, I inherited his ties that he used to wear when he and my grandma went square dancing. They've been sitting in my closet since then, waiting for the perfect new purpose. For the neck ribbon of the tunic I saw the perfect opportunity to use one and threaded it through to secure the neckline. I love how it turned out!

If only the weather were conducive to wearing sweaters at this point in the year. In case you can't tell, I'm seriously burning up during this photo shoot. It. is. way. too. hot. in Oklahoma. Soon enough.....