Sweater Update with Knitting (or crocheting) Trick

I finished it! The sweater (some assembly required) that my parents bought me for Christmas! It's not long sleeved, as I was thinking it would be, but I like it just the same.  I do have to weave in the ends, and block it, but the knitting part of it is finished!

The back

The front...the sleeves were still in progress.

Since I finished it, I naturally moved on to my next pattern. S two Christmases ago got me a lovely gift certificate to River City Yarn.  Why did I wait so long to use it?!  I was hoarding it, that's why. I didn't want to use it up on something I was never gong to use.  With the finishing of the 'easy' sweater, I found a bit more challenging, but ultimately more lovely (instead of practical), sweater pattern (Lovely Sweater patter (it's free!!). 

I found some gorgeous wool/silk blend and have cast it on.  I came up against a problem, though: the lace chart is pretty tiny, super hard to follow, and has TONS of repeats. S graciously got one of his friends at work to print it much larger, so that solved one issue for me.  I was able to figure out the next one on my own.

I've had a roll of contact paper just hanging out in my craft drawer for who knows how long. I saw it and was like "YES!"  I stretched it out and it was more than enough to cover my newly printed pattern. I am now using a wax pencil to mark each row after I finish it! AND! Two birds with one stone: it wipes off for the repeats!

My pattern with the wool and wax pencil

 (I do know the picture is the wrong way, but I tried a few times to right it, and it just didn't work.)

I'm probably way more excited about this than I should be, but I'll chalk that up to lack of sleep. I do think, however, that this will exclusively be how I work with lace patterns from here on out!


Hope it helps you too!
XO,

Soli Deo Gloria