Exhibit A

In support of why I shouldn't wear drop sleeve sweaters. I present, my second Under the Hoodie:



I think you all know the drill. The pattern is Under the Hoodie from Stitch n Bitch Nation, the yarn is a combination of the new Cotton-Ease (Violet and Taupe) and All Seasons Cotton (lost the ballband, so I'm not sure on the color). I made the 40" size, which for this pattern is the small. I used size 6 Addi Turbo needles.

I wouldn't necessarily call this pattern a success. I did learn something, though, so not all is lost. Basically, drop sleeve sweaters aren't the right style for me. After blocking, this sweater was about 5 inches larger than I normally make sweaters. However, I'm sure you can tell, it's too small for me. This is because the drop sleeve requries a lot of ease in the sweater in order to look right. Otherwise, the sleeves looks weird. It took me three times seaming the first sleeve to realize this. I wasn't doing it wrong - it just looks odd because the body of the sweater is too small.

However, it's not so tight that it's uncomfortable - it's just unflattering. I like wearing it, and I'll wear it to school tonight to see if it stretches out at all. I don't have high hopes, though, because I knit it fairly tightly.

Here's something funny, though - I got a good laugh out of it. Somehow, I got on an AARP mailing list, so I get some interesting mail. This one takes the cake, though:



This is something I can't even begin to think about at this point! Joe says I got put on the list because I was born an adult, a reference to my early-onset maturity. I was one of those kids who liked hanging out with adults instead of people her own age. STILL!

Light at the end of the tunnel

The days are winding down on this semester. I have finished all of the work for two of my classes, and I only one have one final project left to complete before I'm FREE!!! I can't wait. I'm so inspired that I've even been knitting.

I've done quite a bit of work on my hoodie, although I seem to have run out of steam on it for now. Maybe that has to do with the fact that it was almost 90 degrees today! Not exactly hoodie weather. I'm so close to finishing though. I'm sure once school is done, I'll get back to it.



I've only got that little bit of the front to finish and then the hood. I'm going to shape the hood, so its not a pointy wizard cap. I haven't exactly figured out how I'm going to do it.

I also started a new project. Its Mrs. Darcy, pattern here. I'm using the New Cotton-Ease in Berry. I'm making some modifications to it that I'll describe as I go along. I'm aiming for a wear-over-everything summer cardigan, so we'll see how it goes.



Our next installment of the Sweater Class is this Saturday, so I'm back working on my lace sweater. I'm about halfway through the front - I need to have it done for class on Saturday. If I'm loyal about working on it, that should be possible.

Actual knitting progress

Finally, some knitting. I'm still working on Under the Hoodie and making fairly slow progress. I've finished the back, one sleeve and this much of the front:



Its been chilly around these parts for the last couple of days, so I can actually imagine wearing it before the really hot weather comes.

I've also come down with a cold, which is really awful because I'm also working 12 hours a day. It hard to get the rest I need, but luckily, I'm sleeping well. Tomorrow is knit night, so I can relax there.

Speaking of relaxing, observe the Princess, doing just that:

Is That My Class Project?

Well, no. I have been working on it and I'm almost done with the back. Tonight, when I got together with the girls, though, I had a glass of wine and attempted to relax while taking a break from the multi-tasking hell of what is known as "putting myself through school while keeping an A average and working on my Master's thesis". Anyway, I felt I couldn't concentrate on it and drink wine and catch up with everyone. So, something had to be sacrificed. Hopefully, Dave the Knitting Guru won't be too disappointed in me. I have tomorrow off from one job, so although its an opportunity to do homework, its also possible that I may get several uninterrupted knitting hours.

Besides all of that, I couldn't work on my class project because I was busy getting input from everybody on what colors I should use for my Under the Hoodie. I have already done my typical changing my mind three times. I'm still not convinced its perfect. Sometimes, I think its dark and dreary. Other times, I think its masculine-looking, but I'm not sure why since it's purple and I don't know too many guys who will wear purple. Other times, I think it looks really cool. There isn't any other combination I've found that truly wows me, so I'm sticking with this, I think.

Here's a photo of what I've done so far:



Here's a closeup of the colors:



What do you think?