the blue blog archives: got bugs?

That is the question. A few days ago I would have said yes, but now, not so much!

Made anxious by the onset of warmer weather, I started knitting B's ladybug sweater over the weekend. Everytime it seems like good sweater-but-no-jacket weather and I want to put S's vw bug sweater on him, I think about how poor B is still waiting on his bug sweater. So I ignored my fear that I have probably forgotten how to do fair-isle and sat down to start the color work on Dale sweater number two. The two-handed stranding went great and I had just reached the ladybugs as I finally had to admit that my gauge was way too tight and the sweater would be too small. I ripped back to the light blue hem and switched to a larger needle. 'Knit loosely', I chanted, until I was distracted by the cute little ladybugs taking shape under my needles. Ladybugs complete. Check. Nooooo, it's still too small! I'm making the two-year size and the boys will be 2 1/2 by the time they'll start wearing these sweaters this winter, so I can't afford to be two inches off in final width. I pulled out the next sized needle and knit a bit further. I finally got gauge (crazy how different my gauge is on these two projects!) but it wasn't a bamboo needle and the stitches slipped all over the place, making the end result so crappy looking that I went ahead and frogged back to the hem again and immediately put in an order for the bamboo circs I need.

Luckily, B is still too young to realize that his brother's sweater is all done and his is barely begun. Besides, he had plenty of fun just playing with the yarn.

posted by alison at 7:04 am | in bugs!

Comments

Hang in there Alison--your drive to get it just right is inspiring. And ripping out that Dale yarn at a bizillion stitches to the inch--ouch!Go Alison! Benny's going to love it for sure.

Posted by: Leigh at March 26, 2003 8:43 AM

Oooh, it's sad to see those bugs disappear! Oh well, a job done well is better than one done quickly, right? You'll be glad when it still fits months from now :)

Posted by: Sarah at March 26, 2003 2:30 PM

Your boys are going to be looking so cool in those fashionable duds. And those colors are gorgeous! I want a bug sweater, too. Yep. In those same colors.

Posted by: Becky at March 26, 2003 3:11 PM

I apologise for appearing provocative, but maybe it's a good thing. Twins, when they get older usually hate their lost individuality: so one boy having a bug jumper, maybe with your skills, a truck jumper might be the go for Ben. Just a thought anyway. Either way, enjoy the process.

Posted by: peter at March 26, 2003 6:21 PM

Alison: I think you told me once, but how old are the boys? Benny looks really cool playing with that yarn! :)

Gary says that you're in for a shock in a few years re: getting along..but maybe they'll keep getting along? (We can HOPE?) Our twins are 8 & most of the time they get along, but when they don't, they can get fierce... but it's probably like ANY siblings & not necessarily a twin thing...
Peter: I second your comment about individuality & twins: when my guys were younger, we dressed them similarly but not always in the same colors. About a year ago, in 1st grade, Evan asked that we not dress them alike anymore, he was tired of people getting him confused for his brother & they're not identical twins.. I can see how people could get them mixed up, though!

Posted by: Jessica at March 27, 2003 2:19 PM

Thanks for the comments and sympathy, everyone. And thanks for sharing your experience, Jessica. I also dress mine similarly, but not identical. That's why I thought these "bug" sweaters would be fun. One gets ladybugs and the other vw bugs. And the main colors are different. Not really identical at all, actually.

Peter's right though, I should have picked trucks. My boys LOVE trucks! Somehow I'll have to work trucks into the next thing I knit for them.

Posted by: alison at March 28, 2003 5:33 PM