Marianne Short Cardigan

Here are the size 4 & 5 swatches I made for the Marianne short cardigan from Rowan 37. (Again with Photobooth, because I can't get the camera to hook up to the computer).

I keep referring to it as the Melissa cardigan, because it reminds me of Melissa (a quirky ex-coworker). She caught the knitting bug the same time I did, 2 Springs ago.

I'm normally a loose knitter, so I was sure the swatch I made at the suggested needle size (6) would not match the pattern's. So I made one with a size 3 needle next. Why? Because I didn't have a size 4 or 5 needle and the swatch with the 6 needle was 5 cm off! The size 3 swatch was very very tiny, I was at least 3 cm under. I tried it with a 5 and it was 1 cm off. And I almost decided this would be okay... but I remembered a cardigan takes a lot of work and I didn't want it to be misshapened because I was 1 cm off. So I made a swatch with the size 4 needle and it was PERFECT!

Woo! I felt like Goldilocks... I had finally found the needle size that was just right.

Teddy Bear

This was taken with Photobooth, my hubby hasn't shown me how to connect the camera to the computer yet.

I am knitting a teddy bear for my friend's toddler. The pattern is from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I had trouble with the ears. I put markers where the pattern told me to place markers, but it just didn't look right, when it came time to sew up. So I moved the markers lower, it still doesn't look right. Has anyone made this pattern before? Also, I have trouble finding the right stuffing for these stuffed animals. That's why his arms aren't sewn on yet, I ran out of stuffing. Some cottonballs I purchase feel lumpy when I put it in. I like the cotton coil, but they're hard to find in the local CVS and Duane Reades.

Everyone I know seems to be having children. Does anyone know any great hat and booty patterns to knit?

I wanted to create something memorable and personal for my ringbearer and flowergirl. I was inspired by Jenna's adorable knitted bunny that she showed at the office one day. So, I ordered the dpn (double pointed needles) and yarn and followed the pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I made an elephant for the ringbearer and a rabbit for the flowergirl. It was the first time I knitted in the round, and it was a lot of fun. If you look closely at the elephant's legs and arms, you will notice I am purling crookedly again. This time, I knew I had corrected my purling, but had switched from the English way of knitting to the Continental way. The switch made knitting faster. But somehow, I had not corrected my purling in the switch. I kind of like the different texture for the elephant's limbs. I wish the book had patterns for clothes for the toys. I made up the elephant's sweater, but stole the star pattern from a Stitch 'N Bitch pattern. The bunny's dress is made from an old pillowcase. I finished this in May 2006. It took me a few days to finish this project. Finding stuffing for the animals became the real challenge.

This was my first knitting project that was not a scarf or purse. I started this yellow cardigan on Spring 2005. The pattern is "Buzz" by Sarah Hatton from Rowan 37. I was hoping for something pretty to wear by summer. It took me a year to finish it. I frogged it at least 5 times. Half way through the project, my friend Jenna pointed out that the pattern didn't look like the book's. She discovered that I was purling incorrectly. But since I had made the back and part of the front, I decided to continue purling crookedly. Even though it's not true to pattern, I still love the way it turned out.