Some Knitting

but knot my knitting.

This is for Nancy (Hi, Nancy!) but hey, everyone else can read it too.

Two Saturdays ago, when my guys were off bushwacking in the Cascades with the Boy Scouts, Jamie came over and we spent the afternoon knitting --- mostly swatches for Jamie's first sweater, the Tweedy Aran Cardigan from IK Winter 2001/2002. It took both of our ginormous brains to figure out that Fancy Rib pattern; but we did, and Jamie's swatches were looking good. She swatched it on at least three different needle sizes, too. An entire day spent swatching is a good thing when you want your sweater to be perfect. And ooh la la, is it turning out perfect! The pattern comes in only a few sizes, jumping from 38 to 42.5 in a single leap. 38 would be a little snug, 42.5 she would swim in. But turns out the swatch gauge she liked the best was a little bit smaller than stated gauge, so she's making the 42.5 and it will end up a little smaller, just right. (Cascade 220, US6 and US7 addis, I think)

Have to admit when Jamie first showed me the photo in the magazine and said she wanted to knit it, I was well, OK, that's an interesting sweater. But then I searched some blogs for finished ones. Wow. Looking again at the magazine, I realised it is probably a size 42.5 sweater on a size 34 model. It even looks like a clothespin might be pinching in some of the back and it still just hangs on her. Now I am jealous and I want to knit one too.

Jamie's been knitting for a few years, some scarves and socks mostly. Did I tell you this is her First Sweater! Then I showed Jamie Loop-D-Loop and now she is all obsessed enthusiatic about sweater number two, the Cabled Riding Jacket. Here's a finished one done in Lamb's Pride worsted. Jamie contacted Green Mountain Spinnery, the source of the yarn for the sweater in the book. They are sending her some samples and will custom dye the wool when she chooses the color.

Wow, her first two sweaters are destined to be classics that she will wear forever. My first sweater?