Here’s the thing.  Time is sacred.  Yarn is expensive.  I need to get the biggest bang for my buck.  There is an ever increasing list of criteria my pattern choice has to have.  I have talked about them before.  High on the list is its uniqueness, followed by excitement and originality, followed by wearability on my body shape, followed by eye catching, and the list goes on.  Lately, I am noticing an ever increased thought process on the pattern’s versatility.  So, I now adding that to the list.  In being  versatile I am suggesting in ways that the sweaters can be worn with multiple tops and bottoms that already exist in my wardrobe (I do not want a new knitting project to send me off shopping) AND versatile in that they transcend into the different seasons.   Never have I thought about the seasonal criteria more than now as weather patterns are changing and seem to be getting more intense.  I live in a region that experiences (and enjoys) four seasons with a history of those seasons in a fairly predictable cycle.  Lately, however one needs to be prepared for the change of seasons…. and on an ever increasing level…within ONE day!  Now, I hate to go on about the weather, but I am noticing that this single criteria is almost topping my list of pattern choice!

I have a few examples here of recently made projects that are allowing me to pull out for such weather conditions as described, above.  It is actually difficult to tell what time of year these pictures were taken!

This was taken today.  April, 2014  Beautiful sun, but check out the ice chunks still remaining in the Niagara River.  And, it is so cold my nose is red.  The wind is always up along the River but we are well into Spring here in Western New York.  Designer, Tom Scott and I say, Bravo!

Textured Cardi as seen in Ravelry

These were taken a few months, back.  The wind was not near as cold, temperatures may have been the same, snow is clearly on the ground.  Hmm… no ice in the River…

 I am able to capitalize on the versatility of the sweater by mixing and matching seasonal clothing making it look either wintery or spring-like.  A home run in my book!

The same can be said for the next project, below.  I love this as much as the above and you will easily be able to see my point of versatility and weather compatibility.  Designer, the amazing Deborah Newton!

Asymmetric Zip as seen in Ravelry

and…

Versatility of a different kind comes when a project can be dressed up or dressed down AND be weather-friendly, as seen below.  Designer, Vladimir Teriokhin and I am a huge fan of all of his designs!

Tourist Cape as seen on Ravelry

I continue to explore the whys and wherefores of my choosing a pattern.  Likely, your criteria is different than mine but we might all agree that time and expense are precious commodities and influence all of us in our quest for the perfect next project.