Huzzah!

Looks familiar, but this time, speedier!

Went to a baby shower. More a friendly acquaintance than a friend, I decided to knit a sweater at the last minute. Pulled out my friend the 5 hour baby sweater pattern with zeal and determination: can it take anywhere close to 5 hours to complete? I found baby blue Red Heart in a box downstairs. Soft acrylic yarn, soft and smooth, with a little sheen and not at all squeaky. I must say, there were sections that were fuzzy and irregular, but the yarn held together without splitting much. I think I like Caron's Simply Soft better. That was the pink sweater. Decided to avoid having to think about buttonholes (to say nothing of the sewing on of buttons) to save time - got to follow the pattern as written. I wasn't sure if it was too girly, in spite of the baby blue, lighter than it photographed. I took two rows of trim off the bottom. Knitting the sleeves flat and seaming them is neater and easier - the underarm seams look better, too.

I sat with my friend Sharon for two hours and completed the yoke. I then stayed up till 2 AM and finished both sleeves and most of the bottom. We're up to 6 hours here. Sleepy and my fingers unwilling to continue, I went to sleep. This morning, I completed the garter stitch hem and sewed up the sleeves and wove in the ends. Okay! Only 7 hours, not so shabby.

I wrapped it in tissue paper, added a card and left for the baby shower, much pleased with myself. It was duly received with much more acclaim than its quick and dirty origins deserved. The only handmade item at the shower, oohs and aahs aplenty. A handy thing to have, this 5 hour baby sweater.