Baylee's Sweater Review

Hello, my reindeer friends!!

Baylee's Sweater is completed! I have not yet had a chance to actually put it on her, so I sadly do not yet know if it fits. I bet it does. I'll make it fit whether she likes it or not. 

Back

Underside..I swear it's not as lopsided as this looks.

Pattern: Dog Sweater

Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash in Lake Chelan Heather

Size: Large (for a 12 pound  dog...)

Techniques I learned: 

1. Mattress Stitch. This pattern was knit flat in two pieces, joined for the turtle neck (in the round) and then seamed together. I've never learned how to actually seam things, just kind of winged it. But, since I am all about learning properly now and blah blah blah, I actually looked up mattress stitch on knitty and learned how to do it! It creates an invisible seam between two sections of stockinette stitch. I won't say my seaming is the cleanest, but I am proud of it for it being my first time!

Challenges I bravely faced:

1. Ripping out a few inches of the back to correctly place a leash hole. All in all, not that big of a deal.
2. Those darn purl stitches. As you may recall, I was twisting the first stitch of every purl row...Turns out I was actually just doing the first purl stitch with the yarn behind the needle, not in front if it. It was a mess but you can't tell. Now I feel like a magician.
3. After knitting the last row of the underpiece, immediately joining it in the round with the back and making a turtleneck. Felt awkward, but I just did it and it worked.
4. Ribbed edging. Adding on the ribbed edging to the back felt really awkward, mostly because you just picked up stitches along the edges and around the corners, the whole time hoping it stayed the same shape. It did! I think it would have been easier on circular needles like the pattern suggested, but I just braved it on some long, straight needles and it looks decent.
5. Leg holes. If there was one thing that I did not like on this project, it was the leg holes. When seaming the underpiece to the back piece, you kind of skipped a couple of inches to leave room for the leg holes. Then picked up stitches around that hole. I had to redo them each a few times....I would set it down for ONE SECOND and the needles would leap out.
6. Weaving in ends. I just decided to add this too my list because i just found another end to weave in. There are lots. From edging, leg holes, seaming, back, front turtleneck.

Conclusion: This was a pretty painless dog sweater. I am excited to see how it looks on Baylee next week!

Is it bad that I'm a little disappointed how painless this was? Something that I screwed up more would make for better blog posts...

Up Next in Knitting:

• Going to see the Yarn Harlot on Tuesday the 11th in St. Louis! Am going to try to have my first sock completed by then..
• Gonna make myself a sweater or a dress! Currently looking for patterns.
• Making this cowl for my Maid of Honor, Casey! 
• Learn continental knitting so I can retackle this TARDIS afghan.

Up Next in Life:

• SPRING BREEEEEEEAK!!!!!!! My last one.
• Applying for post graduation jobs...
• Revising that thesis (at least there is a 68 page finished draft!)
• Drooling over all of my friends' pictures of the beach...

Happy Knitting!!

Ruth(ie)