Me in my first sweater!!

Done!!

I finished it today! No photo yet because I just washed it. Letting it air dry but may put it in the dryer for a bit when I wake up (stayed up late to finish it).

I made a few mistakes in my seams, and of course I did stockinette instead of reverse stockinette, but it actually looks pretty good. I was worried that the heavy yarn would be uncomfortable and look weird, but it feels fine and looks rather chic.

Wait 'til you see the photos! Stay tuned ...

Heading down the back stretch

I turned the corner, so to speak, and am now knitting down the back of the sweater. I'm about 2/3 finished with the sleeve. Then a few rows of garter, then my inside-out stockinette (duh!), then a few rows of garter and the knitting will be done!

I'm getting ready to knit 3 swatches to test blocking tonight: washing in the washing machine (or maybe by hand), using a spritzer, pinning and letting dry, and using the steamer while I press out wrinkles with my hands. Which one will work best? Hmmm ... I'm really not sure. I have read conflicting information about how to block a blend of wool and acrylic. I wish Lion Brand offered some suggestions.

Inside out

Just like me to do something in reverse, in reverse. My reverse stockinette stitch is reversed! I didn't look at the photo carefully enough to notice (and someone else on ravelry's looks the same as mine). But you know what? It's such a nice design, it looks good this way.

I think I will get some more yarn and try making another sweater the right way -- no really, the RIGHT way -- when I'm finished with this one.

I love it ... what a funny beginner's mistake!

Something funny

I'm halfway done with the knitting. Had a tiny problem at the neckline but was able to disguise it, I think. Good enough, at least.

Here's the funny thing: I just realized that the "wrong side" is actually the "right side" -- it's REVERSE stockinette, duh. I'm not sure I actually like what's technically the right side. I'll have to take another look and see how it looks on me, and also look carefully at my stitching. The wrong side, the regular stockinette, sort of has a slimming effect. And who couldn't use that?

Skein 2 done, on to skein 3

How about that? I'm nearly halfway done with the knitting -- just need about another 1-1/2 inches and I'll be up to the neckline. Then there are some directions I hope will make sense as I'm doing them (you know how that is, right?).

Have a few questions in my mind about blocking ... like, should I wash this first before I block and sew it? Or should I just steam block it -- seems to be the best way with a wool/acrylic blend -- and then sew it, and not worry about washing it first?

I think I'll take two swatches and wash one first, and not the other. We'll see what looks better.

Hope to have some time to finish the sweater this week, as I'd love to wear it on the weekend. And of course, I'll post a photo of myself wearing it, no matter how bad or good it looks. :-)

Sweater: skein 1 just about done

Wow ... can't believe how much progress I have made on the sweater, especially considering I haven't really put that much time into it (work, life, commitments, you know how it is).

I learned how to cast on stitches at the end of a row using the cable cast on, which was actually quite easy. I'm now beginning to knit the sleeves and will add my second skein of yarn momentarily.