FO: Gretel

Hi there! So it's been over 3 weeks since I've posted. Work has been really busy lately, but I'm finally starting to come up for air, so hopefully I won't be so quiet anymore. First, thank you for all the wonderful comments on Starsky! I think that is a record number of comments for me - you all are so nice.

I have been knitting, I promise. Gretel is finally finished - after 3 months, nearly.

Pattern: Gretel, by Ysolda.
Yarn: I used an alpaca yarn that I purchased at a farm stand and had just the right amount for this hat. It's a sport weight yarn, so I cast on more stitches (120, I think) than the pattern called for. I thought that my row gauge would be off, too, so I planned to make the slouchy version. After finishing, it was WAY too big. I looked like the Pillsbury Dough Boy or something. I ripped back and re-did it for the regular version. Perfect!
Modifications: Besides the extra stitches I cast on, none.
Verdict: It's really cute and doesn't give me as much hat head as other hats I have do. So that's a good thing.

Right now, I only have 1 project on the needles. Remember all that red yarn I bought? 19 balls of Classic Al in Aged Wine (on sale at Webs), to be exact. When I received the winter issue of Vogue Knitting, I thought to myself, "You've never knit anything out of the VK magazines, so if you don't see anything in this issue, don't renew the subscription." I was flipping through and saw the photo of the Cape Collar Jacket. Wow. It had everything I loved all in one pattern: cardigan style, fitted waistband, cables, seed stitch and a dramatic collar! After checking out the yarn required, I realized the Classic Al was a perfect substitution for the King George the pattern used. Since I needed 19 balls, and Classic Al was on sale for $3.49, it was an obvious choice. I've knit through the back, most of the left front and have started a sleeve.

I'm going to save you the details of my frustrations with this pattern and the general editing of the Vogue knitting patterns for my next post, but I wanted to show you what all that darn yarn was for!!!

In the three weeks since I've posted, I was tagged again for the "Make My Day" Award by Elizabeth, Lisa, Heather, and Larkin. Thank you! I listed my choices in my last post, but really, I read of the blogs I do because they have all made my day and inspired me.