A brief update on the sweater:
After TWO false starts on my dad's Christmas vest, I have finally made some headway.
First, I was right that 300 sts in tubular cast on would drive me nuts, so I tore that out after I got about 25 sts in. (This was after casting on 150 sts with a crochet hook and waste yarn, knitting 3 rows, and starting to work in 1x1 rib.)
I did a few swatches with different cast-on methods, and settled on the twisted German cast on. It's very like the long-tail cast on, except way stretchy. It has great potential to become my new favorite cast on.
So I cast on 300 sts in twisted German cast on, joined and began to knit. You know how knitting patterns always specify, "be careful not to twist cast-on edge"? Because I have always kind of been puzzled by that. It's not exactly rocket science, avoiding a twisted cast-on edge. I've never had a problem with it, how hard can it be?
Well, four rows in (that's 1200 sts on a US 4, for those of you keeping track at home), I realized I was knitting a moebius. I cried a little, threw the whole mess across the room, then tore it out 15 minutes later.
I have since cast on, knitted a few rows flat, and am planning to join in the round when I hit the stockinette portion of the sweater. There will be a tiny seam, but I can live with that. I have a whopping two inches knitted so far. I have this week and next weekend to work on it, then some time in California before Christmas day.
Think I can make it?
