Not So Fancy Nancy

The Bunny Sweater returns

My SIL jolted me into awareness that Easter is early this year and only weeks away. NOW is the time to finish this sweater for Emily. This is the photo from Zoe Mellor's Animal Knits, my version is below. I wanted to call this post Chasing Tail since that does describe the bunnies in this pattern, but then thought of the Google hits and decided I don't need that kind of audience! Knitters only are just fine with me. But, I must tell you a story to remind us all to write as if your mother, your mother's workmates at the library, or your favorite high school teacher are reading because they might just be. Of course I know my mom - the wonderful knitter who got me started - reads this. I also knew she shares it with with fellow knitters at work. What I never expected was an email from my high school history and psychology teacher. Not really sure why I used his full name in my 100 list - guess it was just the natural impulse to give a person you're honoring their due (the opposite of a "who shall remain unnamed" slam). Someone saw it and forwarded it to him (google hits again I suspect). We traded a couple of emails where I was able to clarify my appreciation. I cannot tell you the incredible satisfaction I've had in being able to say thank you 22 years later. Sometimes the net is just plain wonderful.

Yesterday, after six straight days of rain (we're now at the 3rd wettest year on record for San Diego County) I decided it was time to jump in the frog pond. We actually do have frogs in our backyard, which entertains cats and kids to no end. Ripped Rocktorp. Packed up Lara. And dealt with Rogue. Ah Rogue. So glad I put it aside. Knew something was wrong, but on the circs the extent of the issue was not clear. Off the needles it was downright funny. Had to take this Slim Fast photo to show just how far off I was. Excuse the 14-year-old pleated peg-leg pants - these babies were cheapies from the Limited in 1991 and they will not die! They've been my house sweats for 12 years and I've found nothing can hurt this space-age fabric. Took gauge (again), made notes and frogged it all. Very sad to frog cables and that beautiful knitted hem, but there was no saving this. Especially since I'm at my hippiest from not being able to exercise for 1 1/2 years! Good part is that I get to reduce it by 40 stitches so it will go that much faster next time. Still want Rogue and still want it in this yarn. Next year.

Regarding my back... only 10 days until my percutaneous discectomy! Yippee! Just trying not to hurt myself until then. I've had debilitating sciatica since Oct 03 and during the worst episode last year I was hospitalized because I was unable to move. That sucked. I'll mention it again right before, but I won't be posting for a week or two after March 7th because sitting will be restricted during the initial healing time.

Klaralund has not been forgotten. Got pretty lucky with the sleeve cast ons since these yarns matched right out of the balls. I am changing the sleeves a little with some bell shaping rather than the unshaped kimono sleeves of the pattern. Since I shaped the body I hope it works. Feeling brave and hope to not be feeling stupid. We'll see. Want to finish this soon while they're still predicting more rain. Btw, we're not in any way negatively affected by rain. Our back slope is heavily planted and the retaining wall deeply and solidly footed. That cost us big bucks, but now feels like money well spent.

Also ripped the Gloria swatch. Thought of making another larger swatch since I'm still uncertain about these yarns together, but since I'd gotten gauge that seemed silly. Started a sleeve instead since it uses the alternating garter pattern. I don't think I've ever been this uncertain about yarns. I love both yarns:  the colors, the textures, and the weights. But I keep questioning if they belong in the same sweater. Thought of switching out the Bliss to another color, but nothing else moved me like this periwinkle. It's just such a beautiful shade for spring. Held up next to my face the colors together look good on me, so that's a big positive. It will certainly be unique!

Finally, back to the bunnies:

Started this in spring of '03 before we adopted Emily. Last year it was way too big for her so I left it in stash. It's just her size now and all I have left are the two front panels and trim. Using Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece. Not bad, but it splits very easily and isn't really the best for intarsia, cables or fair isle as you can see. Too late now though! I was hoping two years of additional knitting experience would help, but after picking it up again this morning I can attest that the spliting and lack of stickiness is inherently frustrating. Regardless, Ems is pretty excited about it and woke up telling her Daddy all about her bunny sweater, which confused the heck out of the poor man since he's never seen it. There's a whole lot of estrogen under this roof so he'd better get used to clothes talk. Actually, he can handle that, but he's not looking forward to the boy talk!

Clapotis II - something a little different

Thanks for all the nice comments on my new look. When I was single I changed boyfriends, jobs and apartments (sometimes all three at once) when I felt I needed something new. Not so practical as a married housewife homeowner! Now knitting projects and my blog get all my pent up shiftiness.  And while I do like purple with all its royal passion, I actually don't have a favorite color. I work up from the photo (that's the scrapbooker in me) and let the colors decide themselves. Also referred to a fantastic book on color called Color Works to kickstart ideas when I was fiddling with this page. I highly recommend it.

Now, speaking of color, I really love the colors of my first Clapotis. I love the bounce of the supermerino. Love it love it love it. Wanted to make another one just like it.

But it just doesn't do to repeat oneself too thoroughly. In fact, I've never repeated a pattern before this, but can now say it has its advantages. Last week I missed having a carry-around pattern. Something I could pick up and put down endlessly as is required in my life. Something to knit in the car. What could be better than as pattern I already know? Certainly goes even faster the second time...

Meet Clapotis II in Elsebeth Lavold's Silky Wool. In this photo the second ball has just been added, so this is a great yield per ball. May even be able to use just four skeins, but might barely tap into #5. The yarn specs US 6's, but I'm using 7's and not minding the looseness. This is the opposite of the ArtYarns Supermerino:  neutral solid color, slightly rough but with a very soft hand, and much less bounce (though the wool does handle easily). I want a Clapotis for spring and summer that will go over patterned blouses or dresses. And I want it to look really different from the first one. This is working for me. Thanks goes to Michelle for asking me if I think the Lavold would work for this pattern. Decided she deserves a well researched answer.

And I get to groove on my glass markers again. And those birch needles with the neutral wool/silk ... ahhhh. We knitters get little quiet visual orgasms all the time the rest of the world just doesn't understand. Probably a good thing that guy on the subway or the next seat over in the coffeeshop doesn't know huh? OK, just deleted a few sentences taking this analogy further (maybe too far, gentle reader). There's just so much good Freudian material here - let your imagination run with it.

Some markers I like much better than others, but I have fun just reaching in and seeing what comes out of the bag. I don't use the longest ones to try and keep the needles light, but this blown glass is still heavy. Going to make some new ones with crystals soon.

Finally, here's how the dropped rows are shaping up. I like it. It's got lots more rippling going on than I expected considering the drape of the fabric. Will wait until I'm finished to decide whether or not to block. Not going to on the merino and may not on this one. And yes, "clapotis" on this rippled wood is no accident. Hey, I wrote a lot of art history and literature papers - it's deeply ingrained. (Stop her before she puns again!)

Catchin a few Zs - projects in hibernation

I've decided to get in front of my knitting queue. I seem to start projects half way through the season, and as Risa says, I'm always getting distracted by shiny pebbles. Well, I know that I will always pick up pretty stones at the beach, but I feel the need to organize the ones I've already brought home.

So, in the spirit of taking control, I'm deliberately putting some projects in the "Z" category. I am going to get each one out, figure exactly where it is and leave myself instructions for the future. I'm going to admit that I probably won't remember that I made that critical change to the pattern that I've not written down (yes, I knit, like so many things, by the seat of my pants). Then, with everything duly annotated, I'm going to put them in storage marked "get out in September". Then maybe I will have them ready for wearing next winter. Because it's not going to happen this year. What's going to happen this year (if I don't take action) is that I will be knitting wool in May, get bored and still not finish anything, then be behind on the spring and summer projects I've got in mind. Time to break this cycle. Time to take charge.

DH has worked three days out of the last four while the kids have been home on a four day holiday so I've not been able to sit for long. Did this blog overhaul in bits and pieces, so I apologize if you came through when it was in turmoil - at one point the banner filled the entire screen. Wanted to learn my new Photoshop and I didn't need no stinkin help files or tutorials - not me. Knew certain features were there somewhere, just had to find them.

This is the design I will keep for a while, though the banner image will probably be created again since it lost resolution with the obsessive number of adjustments I made. Please let me know if you have a problem with the way my blog uploads on your PC.

Look for photos and project updates tomorrow when the kids go back to school. I've got Clapotis II started. I've got new yarn and projects. I'm looking forward to Spring baby!

No new posts until this message gone

Doing all kinds of blog clean up, but no new entries.

Chapter II - In which our knitter learns the true meaning of Swatch

Last week was a very long week on the mommy front. Not worth taking precious post time to describe (and anyway, you don't really want to know since excrement was involved). Suffice it to say I was busy trying to raise two young humans to adulthood without committing myself to an asylum.

But I did knit. I'll start with WIP updates:

Front and back of Klaralund are finished. Realized while doing the bottom border of side two that I'd knitted one ridge too few on side one, so I just adjusted down. Ripping the entire side one flitted through my mind only to be blasted away with a crazy laugh. Not even I would commit that knitting madness. Without these being blocked you can't really tell, but I did slight shaping on the waist.

Also picked up Rowan Birch again. It's just starting to feel like it's going faster thank goodness - these top rows are a long haul. LOVE the Bryspun needles for this and highly recommend them with Kidsilk Haze, which is basically a fuzzy thread. But what lovely thread it is (click this pic to see the shine close-up). This mohair can't be ripped, so it's imperative to get it right the first time and I'm finding that the cream color of the Bryspun helps me see the yarn and the points are perfect for picking stitches. I wrote before I thought they'd be good ... now I know it for sure.

Now, about those swatches...

Here was Rocktorp on Friday. Doesn't it look like a nice basket?

And like a nice basket, it is woven so tightly it could hold water! During all that swatching and deliberating over the stitch pattern I never took gauge. Let's not go there - I've already beaten myself enough. And I entered that knitter's delirium where you lie and delude yourself for far longer than any reasonable person should. I was using the specified needle. It did look like the photo. But, re-read that top paragraph and imagine what my knitting was like last week...

stitch Emily stitch STOP stitch hitting stitch your stitch sister stitch stitch stitch Rachel stitch I stitch don't stitch want stitch to stitch hear stitch that stitch out stitch of your mouth again (looking up from knitting) ...

And so on and so forth. Ad nauseum (my stomach at least - they seem to bounce right back don't they?) I kept telling myself to loosen up as my arms would start to hurt. Finally, some still sane part of my brain demanded I take gauge. Guess I was running just a little tight. Moved up a size and got gauge perfectly. Just a slight difference eh? Well at least I know this stitch pattern by heart now. Haven't ripped or cast back on, but will soon. Needed to take a little time apart.

With my new respect for gauge I took on Gloria. Thanks for all your very thoughtful comments and recommendations to do a swatch and thanks even more for not adding idiot after (I forgive anyone who even thought it - I did). Hey, it was midnight when I posted and I'd had a margarita. Between comments and emails some of you suggested following the pattern and alternating the yarns. OK, I hadn't actually read the pattern yet (what do you expect from me huh?) and didn't have the book with me at the LYS. Did get gauge on the recommended US 8's.

After taking this shot I got very disciplined (for me) and even knitted some rows with 8's for the Bliss and 7's for the Noro just to check the Noro's tension (being chenille and all). Even did a few rows with both on 7's. Now, my new-found discipline didn't actually extend to going upstairs to find free 7 needles when these were so handy.

See, I do know my WIP and where it's living in my stash, I just choose to ignore it. Going to stick with the 8's.

Please note:  Just spent some time updating my photo albums. Going to start putting yarn specs and pattern info in the finished work album and sometimes the WIP album. Once I define a new project it will be often be referred to by name only, so look in the photo albums and the category list for details. Old items won't have all the details, probably because i don't know them myself any longer. Was googling my heart out yesterday looking for something and I kept being teased by blogs with the yarn/sweater, but not the stats. Decided not to make that pattern, but would have loved to figured out the info sooner. So I will try to do my part to add useful content to the blog world.

Baby did a bad bad thing, aka support your LYS

I admit it, I'm a bargain hunting gal. I cruise the net looking for the best deals on yarn. My UPS and post men know me. Packages arrive from the UK, Canada and the four corners of the US.  Just today I received Shawls and Scarves : The Best of Knitter's Magazine on my doorstep to augment my Pi shawl endeavors.

But what about the LYS? Don't they need and deserve my support as well? Where else can I touch the yarn, see the combinations, ask questions and, maybe most importantly of all, wear my creations among those who truly appreciate them. Choosing yarn can be such a tactile and visual experience. My mind is overloaded with color and ideas when I exit the shops. That's plural:  I have two LYS about 3/4 mile apart so I usually hit both on any given trip - spirit of fair play and all.

The net is a masculine way to think about yarn for me. I get an idea, see a pattern, read a  review - whatever - and I look for that specific yarn. Maybe I branch out, follow a side link, but overall the process is linear, i.e., masculine. Going to a yarn store is a feminine experience. I walk in and I'm lost in the colors. Even if I came for a specific yarn, I forget what it is to the point of having to quiz myself as to why I'm there. Half the time I leave with something completely different than planned. Or I do buy the object of my desire, but in a colorway I didn't know existed. The experience is flexible,circular, i.e., feminine.

So, blah blah you say, where are the photos. Show us the goods.

Well, first, I did actually get when I went for. I finally bought Koigu. I just can't take the pressure anymore. I just couldn't take Anne-Caroline showing her too cute Ruffle scarf and talking about how she's seen the light. Then there's Julia making the Caruso Socks from Knitty that use - be still my heart - stranding (and with her perfect heels no less). Hey, I can do stranding like a pro now, I must make those socks! And these two are just the latest in the long line of you inspiring Koigu knitters with your socks and your Charlottes.

I did  look specifically for a lace book. This one looks very theoretical. Just what I wanted. Not a stitch library but rather a design primer. I am considering being very, very brave with my Pi Shawl. Going for the "Make EZ proud" approach. Still not committing fully to designing my own lace yet, buti it's been tickling my brain all day.

So, that should have been the end of it yes? But I had to wait to check out. I'll admit, I'm not a strong woman. Not with yet another color of Collage popping off the shelf at me while I just stood there with nothing to do but catch it. This yarn is nowhere to be found anymore except, it seems, at one of my LYSs. Buy it now or hold your peace. I bought it peacefully (or peaceably? would I have left without it?)

So I signed on the line and gathered my bag, but then saw this beauty. Hey, I'm good, I can sign my name twice! I was wearing my Clapotis (it shows like a pedigree dog - full of confidence, grace and style) and it just seemed right to buy it a little bauble to keep it happy.

Needed Wanted a coffee and Starbucks was right there, but I didn't do it - I was strong and saved the $ for yarn. Went to get my haircut instead (very unsightly this morning). Now, it was 12:45 and a reasonable person would go home for lunch. Maybe even out to lunch. But I'm frugal remember, so I skipped lunch out and directed that money elsewhere.

This might just be one or two lunches out...

I had the book already and have coveted the cover sweater Gloria. The top half and sleeves are Noro Silk Garden, Kuryon or Cash Iroha in a garter stitch and the bottom is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. I looked and looked at the SG and Kureyon choices, but didn't quite make that leap between looking and "ring me up". Didn't seem rational to knit yet another SK sweater and the Kureyon's too rough for what I want (a  jacket to be worn over a tank top or tank dress). Cruised the store looking for other multicolored yarn, but nothing worked. Until... this Noro rayon, cotton, silk chenille caught the light as I walked by. I had to have it. But now I'm in a quandary. The two yarns in the sample are very close in tone, so I have to decide if this much contrast will work. There were no better shades. It's this or nothing. Imagine the top and sleeves in one yarn and the bottom half in the other.

Took these pics to help you visualize:

   

What do you think? Periwinkle on the top or bottom? Or take it back?

Project update:  Spent all my free time yesterday getting a recall fix and new brakes on the van. Not fun, but I did get almost 1/2 of the second side of Klaralund done. Photos next time it's progressed enough to be interesting.

Silk Garden update:  Only one store had it. It was softer than mine and didn't seem as over-spun, but still didn't match the quality of my SG from three years ago.

OK, just fell asleep typing. That sway/fall motion reminiscent of my college years whipped me upright. Went out for mom's night tonight and a pitcher of margaritas came for the second round. We all stayed late and hopefully laughed enough to get us through until next month! I needed that.

That song in my title came into my head as I drove away from the LYS and made me laugh. Guess if I'm going to have an affair, yarn's a pretty good choice.

The rain just started. I love that sound and need to go to bed to listen.

Panel 1 of Klaralund done & Pi yarn.

Klaralund is definitely a quick knit. This is a f/b panel, which took two skeins plus just a couple of yards of a third. It's not a flat layout because this was the best light, but it's a basic rectangle with a little shaping I added to the pattern to pull in at the waist. I wanted to get a good close up to show this:

Those are the white bits I mentioned in my last post. This is what I think the spinners among us call over-spun. The twist is so tight that the yarn snakes and curls between my hand and the ball. But... I'm still loving the colors. And it's fast.

That EZ as Pi Along button hasn't been sitting there for nothing. See that giant shawl on the cover of the book? That's Elizabeth Z's famous Pi Shawl. This project won't be so fast, but I know I will love it. Mind you, saying that doesn't mean I don't get to curse it in process. Risa's making one of these and I thought I'd tap into her lace experience (i.e. ride her coat tails). The yarn is Zephyr in Mushroom from FurrYarns, a lace weight of 50% Tussah Silk, 50% Merino Wool. I've got the Knitters lace book which has a version on order, but this is the Zimmerman original. Trying to decide how brave I'll be in the "free" areas between increases.

Need to get the kids to bed, so I'll close with an early Valentine.

Here are some photos from my front yard this afternoon to cheer those of you deep in winter. If they may make you a little green, I'll say it goes both ways - your lovely snow photos do the same to me. Click to enlarge if you'd like.

If you don't swoon at flowers ... how about this:

I usually make muffins or quick bread with the brown bananas, but I've been wanting to learn to frost a cake after my last disaster. We called that one Hagrid's cake, and if you've seen the first Harry Potter film you have an idea just how bad it was. Finally got a proper spatula for the job. Yes, the frosting is homemade buttercream and it's as good as it looks. The spatula helped a lot, but the kids think I need more practice! Say ... every week.

Klaralund? And other thoughts on Noro.

Had a wicked case of post-partem knitting blues after finishing Clapotis. Spent my creative time Thursday just puttering with stash and doing a needle inventory. Now I'll admit, I'm a person who rearranges deck chairs. My house may be in chaos, but my needles are well-ordered thank you very much. Since I spent way too much time on this chart that organizes by size, material and company. I'll be glad to share. If you want a copy just comment and I'll email you the MS Word doc. If you're scratching your head and thinking I'm crazy, well that's true, but I used to do this for a living so for me it's mindlessly engaging. I keep a copy tucked in my wallet for use at the LYS.

After a day off, I awoke refreshed and ready for a new knitting challenge. But I didn't expect this much of a challenge.... CO for the Noro Rocktorp in a medium and got to knitting just happy as could be. I tend to knit over gauge and I wanted a M+, so I figured it would work out. What I didn't figure is that the stitch instructions would proved to be so frickin unclear.

The instructions for "tweed stitch" (as she calls it) in this pattern do not specify where to carry the  secondary yarn - front or back. Makes a huge difference.

To back up, first I started by slipping knitwise, and by the fourth row my arms were hurting so much I couldn't imagine knitting this sweater. Looked in the books and found the obvious issue there - always slip purlwise to keep the stitch untwisted. OK, maybe common knowledge, but I argue that it's not a big deal to add the clarifying notation "purlwise". Anyway, I accept that as my problem.

I ripped and consulted books and the net for tweed and linen stitch instructions. Seemed that maybe I should be carrying the yarn in front. CO again and the sample below is what came from that. (Let's not talk too much about why I didn't swatch.) Not good huh?

Ripped again, did a swatch (yeah, at least not a three-time idiot), and determined the yarn should be carried in the back at all times, which looked like the back side of the attempt above. CO again and here's where I am. Still not sure... The book photo is not perfectly clear and there's no close-up, but I think this looks right.

If you have a strong feeling this is NOT right, please say it now or forever hold your peace.

So, what did a really really need after that? A mindless project! Straightforward knitting. Not lace, no tricky patterning, nothing new to learn. Just knitting.

My mailman delivered a solution. Ten skeins of Noro Silk Garden arrived from an ebay buy. Love this subtle colorway. I typically go for reds and strong colors and I want to break out of my comfort zone.

Silk Garden #88 for Klaralund

Not on the agenda, not in the stash, but yet here it is. Klaralund is on the needles. Got smart and pulled up the centers to evaluate the color order of each ball before CO. Don't care about the body matching, but I like the sleeve striping to be somewhat aligned so I paired the balls with the best matches and saved those for the sleeves. Here's the first ball knitted up.

Now, one final issue. Silk Garden has changed. My guess is that Noro's success has meant they've sought out other yarn providers who aren't as good as their primary mill(s). Or they've decided to cut costs. Something happened. I remember last summer/fall no one had any Noro and everyone was back-ordered. I'm sure they were busting ass to meet the demand. Sad result is inferior product.

Three years ago I bought SG for the Debbie Bliss Enrelac sweater I've been wearing ever since. In that yarn the silk part of the blend is gorgeous - better than this photo can show. It's got that lovely silk shine that makes it stand out from the more subtle wool and mohair. The noticeable silk slubs only add to the rough beauty. The mohair gives a light, attractive halo. Overall the yarn is soft and there was virtually no rough matter - sticks, unspun fibers, etc.

That was then. Still love the dying, but this is low-quality yarn. Not sure I would have bought this in a store and I'm so glad I got an ebay deal on it, but it's still not cheap - it just feels like it. No shine or smoothness to the silk, no mohair fuzz - in fact you'd be hard pressed to say either fiber was used by just casually looking at it. Sticks and hay throughout. Little white kinky fibers falling out of every skein. I've had two knots already I'm just starting the second ball. Total crap. Just did a little googling and it seems from the WiseNeedle reviews that I'm not the only one who's gotten a bad batch. Thankfully the colors still say Noro.

So, my suggestion would be to touch your Silk Garden before buying if you think this would bother you. Next time I'm in my LYSs I'm going to see if any SG in stock looks good. I'll let you know.

Clapotis a fini

Bet I'm not the first to type that title with great enthusiasm for both the meaning and the rhyme.

Stayed up way too late. The kind of late where my eyes were no longer focusing and I was literally nodding off. I was knitting on faith that at that point my hands knew what to do. Luckily, as those who've finished have said, it sails along at the end. That's what kept me going - all those markers landing in my lap and all those ladders going zip (more of a gentle pop really).

No one's here to take photos, so I've taken these with a tripod. Will get better shots with Brian's help this weekend, but until then these will have to do. Clapotis certainly inspires one to toss it about and pose. I've seen this on other blogs and now I really understand. You feel dramatic, classy, pretty, sexy, chic -- basically oh-so-French. If you're thinking of making one go for it. And I can promise it will fit!

This is Artyarns Supermerino, which specifies US #7, 18/4" on the label. I used US #8 without taking gauge. This is the same yarn Froggy used for her Clapotis in a different colorway, so I made it on faith (click that link to see hers in several chic poses). I send a big thanks to you Froggy because Clapotis was just another random project on the maybe list until I saw yours and then I just had to make one immediately.

I want to make another after I've had time to forget how it dragged in the end, though I suspect the fun of wearing it will far outweigh that inconvenience. Plan to use a light colored merino/silk or merino/cotton blend. The bounce of the merino seems very suitable, but I want a warm weather fiber blended for spring and summer. The openness of the pattern will look perfect with a summer dress.

Our relationships with knitting

The theme that pops out at me as I cruise knigblogs is how so often our feelings about our knitting projects are so easily compared to human relationships. If my intellect was sharper I'd have a good paper here. Let's not go there - no need to examine my mental dullness too closely. Anyway, Anne-Caroline was comparing her yarn lust to her wanton teen years - I loved that correlation. Today, I'm in the fading relationship. You know, ya like him, he's a good guy and you had fun, but that cute guy over there is looking so much more interesting. Luckily, this is a memory for me at this point (DH and all that), but oh I know the feeling. Clapotis is just going on and on. At least I finally got my brain wrapped around the fact that "repeat 12 more times" means there are 13 repeats total - duh. Thankfully I came to that golden understanding just stitches before starting the decreases one repeat too soon. No wonder I kept asking if it was going to be too short. Anyway, I'm including this pic so you can see that yes, I'm almost done. Sorry the photo is a bit off, trying to hold the shade shut and keep Emily off the sofa while holding the camera steady and shooting with one hand - something had to give.

To take a break Emily and I wound yarn, which she finds endlessly entertaining. Helps that the sweater is for her. Sooo bright, but she's in love with the colors. And yes, that's the Berroco Plush throw in the background. Will sew some today too. Making this pattern from Paintbox Knits again and this time I think I'll do sleeve shaping - whadda ya think? Isn't that hilarious. Really don't know what I did. How I gained 4" in diameter is a mystery too. And just why did I CO the biggest size but only knit the length and sleeves to the shortest measurments? This was the first pattern I ever followed (badly it seems) - my first two sweaters were made without patterns. Think about that - the hubris is beyond words. But it was worn then, and is now being worn by the little one. But since she swims in it I thought I'd make one that fits. With shaping even!

btw, the opposite of hubris is arête, "which implies a constant striving for perfection and self-improvement combined with a humble awareness that such perfection cannot be reached." My experience with fiber has definitely led me to a state of humble awareness. Very humble. Hum, guess the second paper could be on the religion of knitting? Yeah, I know, others have been there. It's wicked hard to find fresh topics.