The New Project

I was knitting my husband a cotton vest from the "simply Sublime organic cotton book". It was getting a little tedious. Okay, if we're going to be honest here, it was BORING!!!! I mean stockinette stitch, while the basis of all knitting, can get really boring. I have to knit something like 18 inches until I get to the beginning of any interesting pattern. But because of the fact that all of my kids got something that I knitted them at Christmas, my poor husband (with a dejected pout on his face, I might add) said, "What about me? How come you haven't knitted anything for me?" So, I scoured the pattern closet and found this great beachy looking pattern for him.

While we were in California (at the beach, even) I scoped out a yarn store and ran across this new Rowan magazine no. 45. (See cover photo). Now, do you see why I attempted this? What a challenge!! Now, truth be told, I am really too stupid to realize that I'm not capable of a certain level of expertise when it comes to knitting, so I jump in with both feet (and my eyes metaphorically closed) and hope for the best. So far so good! Take a look for yourself! The best part is that even though I have crocheted, I am really NOT a crocheter. But it really wasn't that hard. Once I downloaded the difference in terms from the UK to the US, it was relatively easy. What do you think? One of the gals at my knitting group said that when I finish it, I need to wear a battery-operated neon sign stating "I MADE THIS".

So part way up the first sleeve, I started feeling guilty as the partially finished front of my husband's vest began to call out to me from deep within the recesses of the bag I had banished it to. Soon that vest began to be annoying. In fact it turned into a complete nag! Well, just to shut it up, I reached into the banishment pile and picked it up again. I am on row 85. Mindless work, but if I can at least finish it, maybe it'll finally shut up!

Perplexing Question

Well, thanks to you all who gave me feedback on my first entry. I really enjoyed hearing from you. Today I have mostly been contemplating the baby sweater that I am knitting. It's a darling pattern from Debby Ware called "Gumdrop Sweater." It's probably about the cutest thing I've ever seen! I'm sure you will agree. Now, here comes the dilemma. My foster daughter (she's 27 and married) has a 2 year old who could wear this (let's call my grandbaby Lisa). We also have a next door neighbor (who we dearly love) with a darling little girl of the same age who would also fit in it.

I know the neighbor would really appreciate and understand the love and effort that goes into an item such as this and my 13 year old says our foster daughter won't appreciate it. My husband says you don't do things for other people because they will appreciate it, you do it because you love them. That I understand. But after Lisa has outgrown it, will it end up at -- heaven forbid -- Goodwill? Is it wrong of me to give the sweater with the caveat that when she's finished with it, return it to me so my other granddaughters can enjoy it? I know. I know. I'm being petty. Why, I could just solve the problem by knitting two sweaters! Allright! Allright! All you knitters out there, pick yourselves up off the floor. I know you're rolling around laughing. You, there! Wipe that grin off your face! Okay, where was I? Oh yeah. Please help me, because I'm in a serious conundrum here. This has me truly perplexed. I look forward to your comments.