The next thing on my list was a triangle shawl for my grandmother’s birthday. It turned out well I thought with the Homespun again and a free pattern from Lion.

My husband was the unlucky recipient of my next project which taught me my second hard learned lesson in knitting. It was the Woodsy Ribs Vest fro the 2004 Winter Issue of Knitter’s Magazine and let me tell you. I just flew along on this thing never taking into consideration the fact that the pattern called for medium weight wool. I substituted TLC Amore since it worked up at the same gauge so of course I had no idea what had happened when my vest looked way too big for my hubby. He tried it on and smiled his best “Honey you did good…really, smile,” while I sat looking at the huge stretchy thing with disgust. In the short 10 minute span he had it on, I swear to you it grew two more sizes. Sigh…and what is our lesson for the day? That’s right. Always consider fiber content when substituting yarns.

I felt I should make it up to my hubby so I got busy right away on the Manly Sweater from SNB. I had tons of problems with this. When it came time to finish it I couldn’t get the sleeves to line up right, and I really need to redo the neck (for about the fourth time because I never was pleased with it (way too small), but I think it turned out pretty despite what I’m certain was knitter error.