Things I learned this Thanksgiving:

• How to work the timer on my oven
• That real cran "berries" taste like #$%@!
• That forgetting to put 6 eggs into my "To-Die-For" Sweet Potato Casserole makes it very sloshy but tastes just as good
• That I have the coolest family in the world
• That my jellied cranberry sauce (cut in the shape of turkeys) garnish look more like raw liver (cut in the shape of turkeys) when photographed

• That completely forgetting to steam (and take) fresh Brussels Sprouts to Thanksgiving dinner doesn't seem to upset anybody
• That ignorance is bliss
• That "us girls" make some KILLER home-made noodles
• That the boys want to help make noodles next year (how cool is that???)
• That I wish my mother didn't live so far away
• That I'm glad my MIA father is no longer MIA

AND LAST

• That I strongly dislike (hate is such a strong word) duplicate stitch

So I hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving.  I sure did, due in large part to all 3 of my kids making a surprise appearance at my sisters.  They didn't get to stay long, but it was wonderful.  Kudos to my ex for letting them come!

MIA Dad (aka PawPaw) is not standing with his hands on his shoulders as it appears in the pic -- he's holding up his T-shirt for the camera.  And yes, he's really 77!  Good genes, eh?  Of course, it doesn't hurt that he's at the gym three times a week (for heavy lifting) and eats no red meat, no processed anything (sugar, flour, etc.) and high fiber everything.  Between my father and my beautiful mother (Glamaw) I should have it made!

Unlike my sister who adores Black Friday (I kid you not, she and her daughter were at Wal-Mart at 2 am and stood in line for 3 1/2 hours to nab two HP Laptops {one for PawPaw and one for yours truly} for $387), I stayed away from the crowds and finished my Weasley.

Notice how nicely it goes with my jammies ;-)   As I've already mentioned, I do not care for the way the duplicate stitch looks nor the process itself.  I thought duplicate stitch would be easier than intarsia (it's not) and I thought it would look just as good (it doesn't).  I haven't re-blocked the sweater since I've done the duplicate stitch however which might improve matters somewhat.  We'll see.  I do however like the way the sweater shortening and the sleeve lengthening worked out.  Probably my favorite thing about this project is that I tried many new techniques thereby learning lots of new "stuff".  I did not follow any one pattern for this sweater, but combined several techniques from several different patterns.  Things I learned making this sweater are (what's with all the lists tonight?):

• Making a sweater in the round from the bottom up separating it at the arm holes
• Picking up stitches using Grumperina's "pretty way" at the arm holes (see notes below)
• Using the "two circulars" method of making the sleeves completely in the round
• Switching to one super short circular (12" I think) to complete the last 6" or so of the sleeve (see notes below)
• How to shorten a sweater using scissors (eek!)
• How to make a rolled edge using a new method (completely by accident)

Notes:  I've used Grumperina's "pretty way" of picking up stitches on a sock once and really liked it so decided to use the same technique to pick up stitches at the arm holes.  Since I've never used the technique on anything other than a sock, I'm considering it a new "sweater technique" hence it qualifies for my "stuff I learned" list ;-)    Regarding the super short circular needles, these were awkward at first but got easier to use with a bit of practice.  I liked using them for stockinette stitch because I did not have to worry about ladders, but I did not like using them for ribbing, purl stitch or binding off.  For anybody interested in using the super short circs for sleeves, I simply recommend switching back to the longer circs for ribbing, purling and/or binding off.  All in all, I'm happy with the results but am more happy that I have another FO that I can scratch off my list.

And now it's time to turn my attention toward serious Christmas knitting.  Fortunately, there's not too much to do in that area -- there's HWWL's Boring But Practical Brown Socks to finish, Little Brother Football Star's School Spirit Shortie Socks, (possibly) shortie socks for Cheerleader Daughter and FSS, and a few things I can not mention until after Christmas is over.  Since the Christmas knitting can only be done in private, there will undoubtedly be some other UFO's being worked on intermittently (primarily Brilliantina and the World Series Sweater).  With exactly one month left, I'd better get busy!

Comments

[Amy]

Your dad is a cutie!

Your sweater looks great. Wear it with pride.

Take solice in the fact that you are not alone in your Christmas knitting panic.

Amy

[Jennifer]

I'm panic-stricken right along with you.

[April]

The "H" looks very good - whatever imperfections it has are not visible to anyone but you, I'm sure.

I always pickup stitches the pretty way, or as I like to call it, the LAZY way, the cheater way, my FAVORITE WAY! LOL - It's pretty easy to use magic loop on the sweater sleeves, too =)

[alison]

The weasley looks terrific! I think the duplicate stitch came out great, but do generally agree that it's not really worth it to try to avoid the intarsia. (But then again, I'm much better at intarsia than I am at duplicate stitch. It's hard!) Well done getting the length right. You did a super job finishing up!

[patti]

Your weasley looks great! I just finished another and posted it on my blog. I am working on a sweater right now for my son, I have to put a design on in duplicate stitch because he couldn't decide what he wanted....I am not too excited about having to do it!

[Lolly]

Your Weasley is fantastic! ;)

[lynda]

Hee Hee - loved your lists! So glad you got to see your kiddos on Thanksgiving! Wow - that's a lot of work put into that Weasley - but it paid off!

[Anmiryam]

I'm with everyone else, you did a great job with the duplicate stitch. I can't imagine tackling that much of it -- I would have given in and done the intarsia! However, it was done, it's a fabulous sweater.