I Have Completed...

... the back of my first sweater:


I am so excited! It seems a little big to me for a not-quite 2 year old, but I would rather it be big than too small.

It is the Perfectly Plain Sweater from Alison Dupernex's Beginner's Guide to Knitting, it is an easy to follow pattern and it is really just stockinette with 1X1 rib on the collar, cuffs and bottom.

I am using Sirdar Snuggly baby bamboo yarn and it is so nice and soft and a gorgeous cherry red color, sadly despite being awesome yarn, it has no cool colorway name, what a waste.

I am going to see the Christmas recipient of this sweater next weekend and will surreptitiously measure her. Oh, in case I haven't mentioned her before, here's Madison:


Doesn't she look cute in red?

A Revalation

So just now as I started working on my first sweater (a tiny little one for my niece), I realized why handmade gifts are so special... When you are working on a project for someone they are constantly on your mind. As I knit this adorable little red sweater I keep smiling as I picture my little niece Madison wearing it.

I had the same pleasant thoughts about my brother as I worked on his socks.

So, yes I could buy 2 sweaters for Maddie with the $$ I spent on fabulous bamboo/wool yarn, but I would be done with the transaction in 5 minutes. This project will keep me smiling over her sweet little face for hours and days.