Even Bigger news!

Guess what I wore to church today?  Yep that's right my brand new sweater.  We have reached the end of this journey.  Now I will have to start posting about our life and our kids, I will have to post pictures of our journey as a family. (which is what this whole blog was supposed to be about and what you tune in for anyway...)  We have so much going on in our little, but significant to us life.  I need to get the Halloween photos up before Christmas and tell you all about the great things the kids are doing in school and about how I have never-ever had such a stubborn potty trainer EVER!!!

So back to the sweater, thank you for taking this journey with me.  This project has been one of those things you never imagined yourself doing, but having set the goal  and meeting it, you can't help but feel a little bit, dare I say, proud of yourself.  I feel like this is something on my "list of things I have never tried but want to"  I can check off.  Like reading all the books you should have read in high school but didn't.  (1984, Wuthering Heights, anything by Dickens.) Check, check and check.  

I started it, burnt out, quit for a while and refocused.  I did it!  I estimate I have between 100 and 115 hours work in this thing.  I have had to learn 3 new techniques for seaming, and have spread that all out over almost 5 months. 

So a look back at where we started... A pile of yarn and a single sheet of paper for the pattern.

Then came the individual pieces that all together would become the sweater.

After the pieces were seamed together the sleeves and sides had to be seamed, and the stiches for the neckband picked up and knit.

Until finally here it comes, are you ready for it.... Ta-da a finished sweater.

A little bit of a goofy photo, but I was trying to give Noah directions on how to work the camera.  (Chris was away for morning meetings.)  I have a heavy camera for a 9 year old, and I was trying to make sure he got the sweater and not my feet.  Would I do this again?  No, I don't think so.  I will stick to smaller projects for now that fit into the life of a busy family better.  My house has suffered a little bit due to my knitting efforts.  Do I love it?  Complicated.  Yes, of course, I poured my very being into making this sweater.  But, (and I'm not seeking affirmation here, just giving you the full rundown of my feelings)  I am not sure I would have paid full price for this in a store.  Maybe clearance?  I am not sure what I was thinking it would be, considering I knew I was knitting a bunch of rectangles and sewing those rectangles into a larger rectangle-ish garment.  Let's just say it's not like your favorite pair of jeans that you put on and instantly feel slimmer and cuter.  No it does not flatter like the favorite pair of jeans.  That being said, yes I will be wearing this!!  I will be fornt and center on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve (and day) wearing this sweater.  Maybe I will change the pin :o)