My First Sweater
This was actually my very first attempt at knitting anything more complicated than a scarf. I can't explain it -- after years of being completely gonzo confused by knitting patterns, I suddenly had an epiphany while in England and could understand what they were describing.
Being, well, insane, I decided that my first garment was going to be a cable-knit sweater, and promptly bought a pattern for such, along with a bunch of acrylic electric blue yarn, because the sweater was going to be for Lyndon and he liked the color blue. Little did I know how the damn thing would turn out.
You see, I didn't buy enough yarn and ran out right about the time I started the top of the second sleeve. Since the store where I'd bought the yarn was completely out of it, as well, I unravelled the top of the first sleeve and made do with a contrasting blue ochre yarn for the tops of the sleeves and the collar. As you may notice in the detail picture at right, this was a big mistake. There's a reason why I let Lyndon pick the colors when we decorate.
Oh, well. It was a learning experience, and Lyndon did appreciate it (although he never wore it. Can't say I really blame him). And if nothing else, this sweater is probably one of the best-traveled in our entire closet -- I used to work on it while commuting into London, and it came with us to Chicago for Lyndon's first Thanksgiving (back when you could still bring knitting needles on board a plane).
I still like the pattern, though, and would like to make a sweater for myself one of these days. And this time, I'm buying enough yarn.