As you may know, I've been knitting for a while. In fact, I've been knitting on and off for 80% of my life, as I first learned at age four, and I'm twenty now. And I've been knitting fairly seriously/consistently for several years now.

But I have never knit a sweater.

There. I said it. I admitted to you all that I am little better than a fake. Or at least that's how I feel. I've made shawls, scarves, and blankets, socks, mittens, and hats. But never a sweater. Or, at least, I've never completed a sweater. I have started several, but for various reasons, they never seemed to get very far.

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to remedy this lapse. And within the past few weeks, I have come to a realization. I think the reason I have never managed to finish a sweater is simple. I am afraid of them. They seem big, and complicated, and just, well, scary.

But I can do it! I am determined. So I have decided to make a very little sweater to start with. A baby sweater. Using a beautiful pattern and stash yarn that was on sale for no more than $5 in the first place. I will make this sweater, and I have nothing to lose.

Here is what I have so far:

Isn't it pretty? I love it. I have learned that cables are magic. I started it on Monday, and it was all I could do not to just knit all day. I am constantly amazed at the way my actions, my stitches are making such a gorgeous pattern. I love love love it. I want to make more things with cables. I want to cable everything.

I have an exciting new project! I will write about it (and give pictures) tomorrow.

In the meantime, I'm looking for two patterns... a string bag (the kind you get to bring to the grocery store, you know?) and a bandanna/head scarf thing. Anyone have any tips?

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Monday, May 05, 2003
    9:21 AM  
Thanks Becky for this link! I've been looking for tank top patterns... anyone else know of some good ones?
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    8:30 AM  
It did! (The yarn lasted, I mean. See below.)

Isn't it pretty? And yes, you can see some of my messy dining room in the background. Sorry. But yeah, I finished the shawl at about midnight. I really really like it. And I decided that I'm not going to keep it for "good." I'm going to wear it. Because I made it and it is beautiful.

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Sunday, May 04, 2003
    10:10 PM  
Well, I'm at that point in a project when I'm hoping hoping hoping that the yarn will last for five and a half more rows...
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    3:55 PM  
Look! I finished something!




That's my puppy Rhys so kindly modeling the purple scarf for you all. It was a "carry around" project... worked on it mostly at various local music events. It was pretty yucky yarn (trying to pare down the stash), but it will keep some little kid warm next winter, and that's what counts. And I actually finished it!
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