Surprise!

I must preface by saying...this was the longest week I have had in awhile. I am reveling in some Saturday sunshine - after a week of rain and flooding in my area of the midwest. The small town where I work is experiencing a lot of flood problems - most of the bridges have been closed, major traffic angst. It feels somehow apocoloyptic - the crazy tornnado skies, sirens blasting, emergency personnel and city employees working overtime. The jail even asked that I not order someone in for the weekend because they were getting close to septic backup so severe that they were looking to take all of the inmates to the fairgrounds - how Con-Air is that? The interstate is closed, rivers bulging. I feel blessed to live on higher ground but so many people are struggling right now.

To escape some grim reality, a girl has to knit. I actually have been knitting, though not as much as I would have liked during this busy week - but I did finish my Baby Surprise Jacket today - sheesh, finally. I had to try an applied and cast off i-cord edge after seeing Frickknits' version. The i-cord was great till I had to stop and seam, so I cast off the i-cord and tried to undo the wrong end to continue around the neckline. Doh! So I set it aside for the week - but was able to finish at last this morning. It is far from perfect but not bad for my first BSJ. I cannot recommend the DVD enough - a visual learner like me can way benefit from a little Meg Swenson in the living room.



Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman
Pigeonroof Studios Sportweight in Royale

I would like to make more, the knit really is a surprise, it just looks like nothing until you cast off and put together the puzzle. I would love to make a larger version for my 3 year old to sport this fall. Next I am thinking I should make the February Sweater as a warm up for my very own ladies version - the most queued pattern at Ravelry, gratis from the awesomest flintknits. Such big ideas, huh?

I've got more knitting to share later, for real.