If Not, Why Not?

I saw a pattern for a sweater the other day that I would love to make. It called for a yarn I have recently discovered and love, and I spent an educational week consulting with a handful of friends with better color sense than I have. Educational because each and every one of them made a different recommendation.

Meanwhile, it slowly dawned on me that I haven’t knit a sweater for anyone but a baby in decades. I’ve started plenty of sweaters for myself. But I haven’t finished a single one. And I have no idea why. Sure, I hate to set in sleeves, but raglans exits. Sure, hot flashes, but sweaters are actually removable. Sure, major investment of time, but I work on afghans and blankets, for heaven’s sake. No idea.

So I’m starting small — but bigger than a baby — with a project that’s been hanging out in my favorites for a while, and which will use up some Berocco Sox I have on hand. I have enough for a six-year-old’s sweater. I’ll worry about finding a six-year-old when it’s finished. It needn’t be a boy despite the pattern name - how can a pullover be gender-specific?

I was absolutely gobsmacked by a Ravelry commenter who made this sweater in this yarn and complained that it was too rough to be worn without a shirt under it. I mean, aren’t sweaters usually worn over a shirt? See “removable” above!