I am definitely exhibiting avoidance behavior! I started two small projects in the past couple of days. I’m not sure if I am avoiding the Aran Wrap Cardigan or the immediate comparison of my slow progress to Sally’s. 
I wanted to make a sweater for a co-worker who is expecting in November. I was thinking of making the Baby Peapod from Interweave but I had it confused with “Presto Chango.” I like the idea of this sweater because you can make the front panel however you want so it will work for either a boy or a girl. We know my work peep is expecting a boy, but I made the standard lacey panel to be ready for Baby #2 if it’s a girl AND to gauge the panel’s size. I’ll make a more boyish, cabled panel also. But what was I thinking with white ??
I adapted this pattern to avoid seams. I have nothing against seams per se, but they are bulky in worsted weight yarn on a baby’s small sweater.
Presto Chango in Berroco Comfort (2 skeins), Size 7 needles
My adaptations:
Cast on the stitch count for the full back and both sleeves using a provisional cast on. Work to the neck opening and add a ball of yarn to work the top of both fronts at once. Once the sleeves are done, place sleeve sts on four separate lengths of waste yarn: right sleeve front, right sleeve back, left sleeve front, left sleeve back. Now join the fronts and the back: knit across left front, back, right front. Knit back and forth across these three sections until proper length; decrease per directions before switching to seed stitch at bottom border. Graft sleeves together or use a 3-needle bind off — I grafted mine.
One More State Fair Story
I got a phone call from a man stating he was a Minnesota state fair official. He said he needed to verify that “Lyra” was crocheted. I told him it was knitted, not crocheted. He said my ribbons would be confiscated because it was not crocheting. I told him that the lot specifically included knitting, tatting, and crocheting, to which he responded, “Oh, then that’s okay. That means you will also win a bottle of wine!” Huh??!! WTF? A bottle of wine?? Then he said, “You can pick it up at _______’s [my neighbor’s] house.” Man, he got me on that one! Whew! Anyway, he delivered a lovely bottle of wine and homemade bread to my house — I think to make up for the heart attack he gave me! So, I made the Winecozy from Knitty.com for my crazy neighbor!
I used some yarn I had on hand. I think it looks better in the picture than it does in person!
Another excuse to use my pom pon maker!!!
I’ll make the cabled baby panel tonight and then I’ll work on the Aran Wrap in earnest — and, have a better excuse for being so far behind Surly ! 😉
I am SO cracking up!
Also – in re: Presto Chango. There was an old pattern from a Family Circle or something circa 1980 that had a similar button on panel. They suggested you knit two so that when the first got spit up on, you just replaced it with the fresh one in the diaper bag. Could be a way to deal with the whiteness of that cute sweater! I think the lacy panel looks just fine for a boy, too, so if you do the cabled panel, you’re set.
Comment by twinsetellen — September 2, 2008 @ 7:28 pm
Those are both cute projects!
Comment by surly — September 2, 2008 @ 9:14 pm
As always, your knitting is lovely! An aside, I love the cobalt blue glass! I collect the stuff me self! 🙂
Comment by Susan — September 2, 2008 @ 11:00 pm
I LOVE your wine bottle cozy. It’s so cute!!! Don’t think I’ve ever seen one w/o all the foofoo stuff added to it. I really like that.
And the baby sweater is really sweet 🙂 I too have been avoiding Aran Wrap Cardi–with housework that I have avoided for *___________* (insert a length of time I’m too embarrassed to admit!)
At least you’re avoiding it for other knitting, LOL!
Comment by Aim — September 2, 2008 @ 11:11 pm
Susan- Totally off-topic here, but am I the only one who has noticed what lovely and stylish homes you Rainey’s live in?
Comment by Lorraine — September 3, 2008 @ 9:49 am
How – sweet? of your neighbor! Creative, certainly. But nice wine cosy you made him in spite of it. . That baby sweater is cute… I really like the square neckline.
Comment by Carrie K — September 3, 2008 @ 9:07 pm