FO Alert!

Cindy only started knitting this time last year. She was immediately a good knitter--her first garter stitch scarf is immaculate, every stitch pulled snug to guarantee good gauge--but she suffers from a disease that cripples most knitters: perfectionism. Except for socks (and yes, she's already knitting socks like a crazy lady after one calendar year of knitting) every project finished was utterly disappointing. Sweaters don't fit exactly right, patterns are convoluted, things just don't work out. And as much as we all have tried to explain that this is what knitting is like-- the highs are dizzying, the lows gut-wrenching, the yarn soft and irresistible, and the patterns incomprehensible--Cindy can't help but beat herself up. She stared at her fourth sock, limp on the dpn, a second sock in all its dreariness and sighed, "I just can't knit anything that turns out right."

She needed a confidence booster. Big time.

I gave her this book and said, "I know that you can do it."



And she did.

This is Cindy's first color work project and it's perfect.

(If you would like to make your own, the Slip Stitch class starts Wednesday, May 30.)

In other news, Irene has finished her Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton tank top, adapted from the Knitty pattern Asana . (I'm wearing the Clementine Shawlette, from Interweave Knits and made from Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk. If you would like to learn to make this, the class starts Sunday, April 22.)

Irene chose a beautiful shade of blue, labored over the pattern, changed the pattern, doesn't like how it fits, and is going to change it again.

It must run in the family.