I’ve finally completed something that isn’t just a rectangle! Check out the before-and-after:

This is my version of the “Wicked” sweater from Ravelry; the pattern can be found here.

I’m seriously so happy with how it turned out! It fits well and the directions were actually pretty fun to follow. (I think the color choice highlights the details nicely, too.) Getting the sweater soaking wet and blocking it when I was done helped to open the ribbed neckline up; so much so that it’s almost off-the-shoulder now. I think my cold shoulders can deal, though.

See my in-between progress over on Flickr!

Even though I swore I could finish it this winter, I’ve put aside the one sweater I’ve been knitting in favor of beginning another sweater called “Wicked” with my dusty yellow Cascade wool. Oh, yeah: I know many people knit like five or more things at once and that this is no big deal, but I have limited space and a super tidy husband who doesn’t understand why balls of yarn mysteriously roll under his desk all the time. Plus, more people have completed this sweater on Ravelry than they have my original sweater (called, more boringly, “Amy,” even though I’ve always liked that name), which is good for me because I’m not entirely sure I even knit all that well anymore so I need extra pictures to guide me. Also, I had to buy the pattern so now I really have to make sure I knit it.

Now that it’s winter, I’ve dragged back out the haphazard sweater I’ve been working on knitting for two years. I get excited every winter about teaching myself new techniques in both knitting and crocheting, but I’ve never finished anything besides tons of scarves, one hat, and the 7 animals I made for Christmas gifts last year—the ones that turned my hands into aching claws for a week. The most impressive animal was the dragon I crocheted for Chris’s younger brother, which required the attachment of many tiny scales to a long and narrow tail. Combine that with a college course in calligraphy and you’ve got yourself some cramped digits.

Anyway, the sweater I’m working on is called “Amy,” and it’s a free pattern from Berroco. I’m using inexpensive Simply Soft yarn so I’m not worried about what might happen if it turns out totally ugly. I’ll leave it alone and wear it with my pajamas, because I can only wear the dusty pink Reebok hoodie I stole from my mom so many days in a row. I chose the pattern because it’s Easy, and it has been so far because it’s just a giant one-piece shrug. I’ve been able to fix the mistakes, except for the one I discovered today but have decided I’m not going to rip out and worry about. I’m too excited because I’m almost ready to bind off. After that, I knit the edging that goes around the back, do the sleeve cuffing and sew the sleeve seams, and VOILA!, I could have this thing finished before winter ends.