• Project: Hug Me Tight! (Hug Me Pullover, a free pattern by Coats & Clark)
• Yarn: Stitch Nation by Debbie Stoller Washable Ewe; (3) balls total, (1)in each color: Green Apple, Dragonfly, and Earth
• Needle: US 7
• Start to Finish: December 27, 2011 - January 20, 2012
• Mods: Many, beginning with the yarn. The pattern was written for a 10.5 needle and I used 7, so it was a much tighter gauge and math had to happen. I took good notes and wrote it up; if you're interested in what I did, shoot me an email {vknitorious (at) gmail (dot) com}.

I substituted Washable Ewe for Alpaca Love, the specified yarn, and I love how it turned out. I don't think Washable Ewe had been introduced when the pattern was released, but it makes much more sense to have a kid sweater knit in washable yarn.

You may recall that I washed all of the pieces of this sweater in the machine prior to blocking. This is the fourth item I've knit with Debbie Stoller's Stitch Nation yarn and, I have to say, I'm a fan. The only one I haven't knit with yet is Alpaca Love, and that's soon to change.

It's made by Red Heart, you know. (I know!!) I haven't knit with Red Heart since I was in high school! I love that they're making at least some yarn that is not only affordable but also real -- wool, alpaca, bamboo, cotton. I have carved out a corner at the coffee shop and have begun to carry -- and sell -- it and other selected commercial yarn, as well as some of my own -- along with a limited variety of needles, notions, books, and patterns! I've been thinking about doing it nonstop for months, have talked about it a little... and decided it was time to plug my nose and jump in. I can't be there all the time, so I'm not setting the world on fire, but I am having a lot of fun and I sure am keeping busy... carving out a niche, as well, I guess. At some point, I may sell some of my things online, but I'm not really set up for production dyeing and I still need the paycheck and benefits that comes with a full-time job, so we'll see. Meanwhile, find me on Facebook: Make.Do at kc&t.

Ideas will emerge.