So I know you’ve all been waiting to hear about my soaked-but-not-blocked swatch results, right?
Work life has been crazy. So crazy that I have to confess something. You see my blogroll over there? Well, it sorts the unread entries to the top of the list, which means that the blog at the top is the one I am most behind on reading. I think I have about a dozen Yarn Harlots unread by now. I’m too busy to do my daily blog cruise, never mind post anything myself. When I get home at the end of the day, I don’t even want to look at my computer. Until today, I hadn’t even updated my iPod for two weeks, in fact I was also behind on podcasts.
Well, the good news is that the gauge is fine.

I think you can see the red line falling right where it needs to, perfectly framing the lace stitches and making me feel confident that the gauge is right on.
I am hopeful that I didn’t misunderstand the directions, or this will be one giant sweater when I’m done!

With that lingering doubt, I started on the sleeve. It does seem a little wide, but I know it’s supposed to bell out and be all flouncy, so it should be fine. If it’s not, I’ll do the second sleeve differently and see which I like better before moving on to the body.
Can you see the difference between the unwashed and washed wool? It’s pretty wild how it goes from string to a really nice fabric.
I got stuck on the sleeve though, because I’ve been distracted by these:

These are some tiny socks (2 on 2 circ method, for those counting at home) for my nephew Wyatt, who’s mom mentioned that she couldn’t find any non-girly warm socks. I offered to make some, and this is the first pair. The next will be made from the leftovers from his Christmas present.

Pattern: My own, modelled after photos of Ernie
Yarn: KnitPicks Swish Superwash wool
Needles: KnitPicks 4.0mm
Here are the final shots of those Christmas presents, above is the Ernie sweater, for Wyatt, who’s mom said “Did you remember that Ernie was my favorite?” Did I remember?? So I’ll make him some socks he can wear with his new winter boots he got from his Yia Yia (I think) so he can play in the snow and rain of his home state of Washington.

Pattern: Adapted from Debbie Bliss’s Baby Bolero
Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece (wool/cotton blend)
Needles: KnitPicks 4.0mm
And this is the Baby Bolero, for my niece Ava. Her eyes are an amazing shade of blue, so this should look lovely on her. I think my next distraction will be something nice for her, because she is such a cutie, who could resist?
I hope to get some pictures of the kids wearing their new duds in the new year. Both patterns were made a little large so they could grow into them.