the latest knitting experiment

One of the reasons I decided it was finally time to learn to knit was because knitting has much broader possibilities for making clothing items than does crocheting. And since I started learning I've been happily knitting hats and gloves and baby sweaters ... each a little better than the one that preceded it.

So, a few weeks ago or so I decided it was time to attempt something larger and more complicated ... an adult-sized sweater. Still unsure of my skills, I settled for fairly cheap yarn (a decision I would later regret ... but I didn't want to buy expensive yarn and then have the whole thing come out a disaster!). The pattern wasn't a difficult one, but I still managed to mess it up enough to have to start over 3 times.

Eventually I got the pattern down, got into a rhythm, and what you see below is the fruits of my labor. The cheapness of the yarn resulted in a very stiff and overly heavy sweater, but I have to say, I am still quite impressed that it turned out looking like a sweater at all! One of these days I'll get a picture of myself wearing it. It'll have to be a really really cold day.

And the learning continues!

This is the back of the sweater, about 3/4 of the way done.

In order to knit on the collar, I had to sew all the pieces together to form one long row. This was the toughest part of the whole thing, as that sweater was HEAVY, and I had to knit on another 20 rows or so. During this part I actually had sore muscles in my hands.

And here it is! The finished sweater! I realize this is not a great picture. But you get the idea ... I made a sweater! And I just had to share my success with the masses. I was actually quite surprised that it came out at all. And, despite its heavy nature, its actually the perfect size for me. For now, I'm chalking that up to sheer accident.