Almost there....

Back front and arm one done, arm two in progress.

This will be my first ever human sized for me to wear knitting project. I've made baby clothes before, and eons ago knitted myself a monstrosity in itchy blue yarn I got from a thrift store. I didn't have a pattern my mum just told me what to do. I don't think I ever wore it, it really was foul.

My knitting has improved a lot since then, I'm pretty good at not dropping stitches (!!!!!) but I'm having problems with my gauge, I just can't seem to keep it even. Particularly in the arm (which has taken me months to knit a couple of rows at a time), you can see the ridges in the fabric where I picked up and put down the needles. With a bit of pulling around of the yarn I've managed to minimize most of the really obvious loose stitches, but if anyone can tell me how to stop it in the first place, I'd be grateful! I'm hoping it'll pull out when I block the pieces.

I'm happy though, for my birthday my parents have bought me a couple of books on techniques for finishing knitting and how-to crochet books. Hopefully I'll be ready to finish this sweater off when they get here. I feel like a complete doofus being so excited about learning to crochet, but hey, you gotta accept what you are!