I've been ignoring the baby sweater because I think the sleeves are too long. I solicited suggestions for the Mutant Sweater from Facebook friends, and also showed it to another knitting friend and we decided not to rip out the sleeves, but to remove the ribbing from the body and make it longer working down. I wasn't too confident in how that would turn out, nor in the amount of yard I had left to work with, so I decided to visit my Local Yarn Shop and ask what they thought.
I only recently discovered my LYS, when I took the girls on an Excursion there a couple of weeks ago. I think we were killing time before picking up their brother, so I said they could each buy some yarn if they would come with me. Smallest picked some nice silk/cotton stuff and Middle picked some alpaca/something blend. I've been making blankets for stuffies for Smallest (and a little pillow) with her yarn while Middle decided she didn't like her yarn as it breaks easily. I'll find something to do with hers later. She's already working on a scarf with yarn she bought in Colorado, so one project is enough for now. Of course, I've been working on her scarf more than she has. We made an X pattern with knit/purl which turned out pretty cool. She had started the scarf with the new yarn, but switched when it kept breaking, so I experimented with the cutting and working backwards technique and put a seed stitch/moss stitch band on the bottom. It turned out well. I'll add a picture at some point.
So...I took the girls with me again today to go ask for advice about Mutant Sweater. Their advice was just to finish it and leave it as it is! Wow. I think I like their advice the best! :) I've finished the neck now and just have to bind off and then sew up the side seams. I could be done with it tomorrow! Hard to believe.
Of course, we picked up yarn for more projects while we were there - have to get them started on their yarn stash early - so there's plenty to do as soon as I finish, in addition to the many other things still sitting around.
I'm going to guestimate my time at 6 hours for two blankets, a pillow, sewing in the sleeves and finishing the neck. I didn't keep good track this time.
6 hours recently, 10.75 total. 14 days to go...
Margie
