Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Does life really imitate art? Or is it the other way around?

Do you ever have those days when it feels like banging your head against the wall would actually be more productive than the way things are going at that moment? I think everyone does sometimes, but boy...this month is like that!
In the past 30 days we've had stomach bugs, respiratory viruses, an ear infection, a whooping cough scare, etcetera etcetera. It finally seems like it might be ending (knock on wood), and I'm trying to ease my way back into my dreamy world of yarn love. I even had a wonderful blog post all typed up in Notebook sitting open on my screen before I was called away to do something Mom-ish and responsible. By the time I was able to get back to the computer several hours later it was gone! My oldest child had something school related to do and in his zeal for closing programs he closed my (unsaved) blog post. I know it's my own fault for not saving it (bang head on wall), but it certainly makes me feel less guilty for tormenting my unsuspecting son with chicken-butt jokes. All. The. Time. OK, maybe he closed it on purpose.

But now, you'll never know about my secret project, or how I gave buying yarn up for Lent (the horror!), or the gorgeous soaker I knit for Bennie, or the free pattern that I'll be posting soon.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Don't Sweat It!

Recently when I was cleaning out my closet (that's a whole 'nother post in itself) I came across the very first sweater I ever crocheted. I'm not entirely sure why it was in there, unless it was to keep the other clothes that I never wear company. I made the sweater originally for my oldest child when he was 7 years old. I was really excited about this project - I picked out yarn in C's favorite color and set to work making what was sure to be the most beautiful hand made sweater ever. I'll admit that I was a little overconfident, kind of like the people featured in American Idol's season opening show.
So, I made the front and the back, the sleeves, and the ribbing for the waist, cuffs, and neck. I put it all together....and this is what I got:


Wow, it really turned out to be a disaster. As you can probably tell, I failed to do a gauge swatch. I think I may have changed hook sizes in inappropriate places as well. When I discovered this little treasure hiding away in my closet, I thought it was inside out. But no, my seaming was really that bad.
And note how the neck is barely bigger than the wrists. It never would have fit my son. Well, unless he looked like this guy



I learned several lessons from this unfortunate bit of stitchery, and luckily my crocheting has come a loooong way since I made this disaster. I think I may finally send it to the sweater cemetery and make room in my closet for something else.