Knotty Nancys

It all began in 2003.. years after a knitting class.. when my sister went into premature labor with the twins. What to do with 8-16 weeks of bed rest IN THE HOSPITAL. My mom (nana-to-be) had the foresight to have me teach my sister a new skill. After visiting a local yarn shop, we learned that baby hats could be a good project. And two would take some new knitters a little while :) So it all began with one little knit. One little knot.. something like this:

I've been working on this project for a while.. on and off in between other projects. I think the standard stockinette stitch of the ankle length and foot length got to be monotonous, but I pulled it off finally today!  Coincidentally, I took a nasty fall after catching my foot on something on my floor this evening and fell on my knees really crushing the toes on my left foot.I got knocked off my feet though I wasn't wearing my fine new sock. Mainly because I only have one.. but at the time I wasn't even sure that one would fit. I estimated the size of this sock pattern for someone with a 8-9 size foot, but I'm thankful the yarn was pretty stretchy and fits a size 9 after knitting 8 1/2" of the foot. And they're extremely warm. Not idyllic for summer socks, but they're going to be GREAT for winter. And I love the yarn which made the color and pattern really exciting, and the picot hem was nice and unique. now I just have to make a second one.. and I...

I am nothing if not determined and my work on this Garter Stitch baby sweater was no exception. I worked with one pattern, pulling out rows after rows more then four times before finally realizing that I might have met my match. But I had those great buttons - what was I going to do? How was I going to get over the fact that this wasn't going to come out the way I had envisioned?  Well, thanks to the recommendation of Diane at the Yarn Basket in Portsmouth, NH (www.yarnbasket.com), I started the project over again from scratch and with a new pattern. This was the sad beginning of the sweater that I just had to give up on once and for all. I was disappointed not to get to use it, since I had done well with the sleeves. But, the body was awful. So, a week later.. I finished this sweater once and for all and I love it. This frog.... became a prince after all! Oh, and I have to just point out the buttons.. I am considering calling this my "barnyard door" sweater. I ju...