The knitting I've been working on... or not.

I found this great pattern for a cardigan, Gaia , that would be perfect to wear to work with a business skirt, as well as with jeans or other casual wear. I was very excited about starting this little cardigan and bought the exact yarn that the designer used, right down to the color, which I love. The yarn is a cotton blend made of all recycled fibers which makes it a perfect sweater to wear year round; even in the summer on a cool night or in the air conditioning at the office.

I started knitting it in May and found the pattern very easy follow and the yarn a dream to work with. I really looked forward to having this sweater done quickly so I could get on with some other deadline knitting I had.

Of course, things haven't gone along as planned. I was making great progress and had only one sleeve and the button band left when I decided I wasn't happy with a few things. It wasn't that I was unhappy with the pattern.... the pattern is great. I was unhappy with some of my workmanship mostly, but I also decided I hadn't measure accurately enough and needed  to make the armholes a bit longer. And while I was at it, I decided to do one less decrease on the front neck edges to make the shoulders a bit wider (my personal preference).

So, I frogged back a serious amount of finished product!

Since this sweater had worked up so quickly (the first time), I still had hopes to be able to complete it and move on to my other knitting in time for the deadlines, but I quickly realized that there was no way I could get it all done.

I had to abandon the Gaia and start making my bunny friend, Margaret. You remember her from a few posts ago?

Now it's been several weeks since I finished all the deadline knitting and the sweater is still not complete! Even if I was busy with other things in my life, there have been at least four Tuesday Night Knit Nights that I could have should have been working on it, and it could be should be almost finished by now! I was at Knit Night every Tuesday. I remember being there. I even have proof in some photos that were taken at Knit Nights. So what's the problem?


Distraction? Yes, I've been distracted. By conversation, magazines, books, birdhouses. Yes, birdhouses, but that I'll save that for another post.

Okay, let's be honest here. I really just didn't have it in me to pull the sweater out of my knitting bag and spend the time and concentration figuring out where I had left off.

Until this week. Tuesday night I stopped procrastinating, and in spite of having a couple new faces in our group to talk to (which could have been a great distraction to me), I pulled out my sweater and got to work.

It took me a few minutes of untangling, reviewing my notes, and looking at my work to get my placement, but I was soon knitting along happily again.

I now have renewed the excitement I once felt about this project and can't wait to wear it. Yeah, yeah. I know it's been beastly hot lately, but have you ever been in my office? Enough said. Stay tuned for "finished" photos.