Unfortunately there wasn’t much participation in my contest.  I think maybe when a contest requires you to drive around your neighborhood at night and then get out in the cold to take pictures…well, maybe that is asking just a little too much.  I think many would rather stay in and knit.  After reviewing all the pictures I decided on a winner.  The competition was stiff, but I think you’ll agree that this entry really embodies what I was after.  Decorations and lights in overabundance and perhaps bordering on the absence of good sense.  I think the sign really sealed the win.  So congratulations Marin!  Send me your snail mail address and I’ll be sending you Crazy Aunt Purl’s Drunk, Divorced, and Covered in Cat Hair: The True-Life Misadventures of a 30-Something Who Learned to Knit After He Split by Laurie Perry.

In knitting news, I can finally share the stealth project since it is in it’s new home.  I don’t think my dad reads the blog but now that he is retired1 I can’t be too careful!  Since we were out of town we didn’t celebrate Christmas with my dad and Jayne until yesterday.  He is now the new owner of a wool vest.  I got the idea in November after seeing him in a vest and thinking how nice he looked…plus when deciding to knit a man’s garment for Christmas in late November it is good to come up with a project that a) Does not have sleeves and b) Uses something in stash and c) Is not a hat (which he got last year).  Just in case you decide to go looking…there aren’t very many free patterns for men’s vests out there.  I had to design this one.  I originally asked Jayne to take some measurements for me from on of his old vests.  I don’t think she liked my diagram much since she ended up sneaking me one of his old vests so I could be sure about the sizing. 

Despite making an actual swatch, washing it and measuring throughout the project I was still nervous about the size.  It didn’t help that I had to rip out twice in the beginning due to shoddy math. 2  Before blocking the piece was inches off in several places.  After wet blocking the only thing off was the length was longer than the model by a couple of inches (not a bad error if you’re going to make one since it can easily be fixed).  In the end I thought the fit was great (not too long) and I’m looking forward to Jayne’s photo shoot.  She is quite a photographer so I’m sure the sweater will end up looking much better than it actually is. 

Stats:

Pattern:  “Berger” by me for 40″ chest size

Yarn:  Jo Sharp Classic DK Wool…shoot I forgot to weigh the sweater! :doh:  It took surprisingly little yarn…5-6 skeins?

Needles:  US 5

Notes:  I was pleasantly surprised by this yarn but it did bleed a bit when I soaked it.  After soaking in fabric softener and drying it was a nice, soft fabric.

1. Speaking of that…here is a picture of me, dad and Jayne at the coffee hour they had for his retirement.  Note the badges…I felt like I was going into the Pentagon.  Oh and of course, Autumn Rose.  With how long that one took me I’ve been wearing it every chance I get! [↩]
2. Note to self…do not work on designs while on a plane.  Apparently high altitude has a negative effect on the calculation process. [↩]