Sigh.

Okay, remember that sweater Corey kept asking me to knit?

http://haveyarnwilltravel.blogspot.com/2006/05/possibility.html

I've decided this endeavor may be worthy of a tenth anniversary gift this year.

I've spent the last few hours looking up patterns and yarn on the 'net again. I'm tempted to whip out a plain stockinette stitch sweater, but if I am going to actually DO this and knit him a sweater, it should be a sort of special sweater, cuz right now I don't plan to make this a regular thing. he might get another for our 25th anniversary. ;-) So I am thinking maybe I should do something with more of a pattern. But it has to be a pattern he'll wear.

I kinda like this sweater, and it is a pretty easy one:

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter05/PATTcheesypuffs.html
but I don't know if Corey wants something that bulky. And it is definitely a casual, boxy, heavier sweater than I've ever seen him wear. We don't plan on moving up north anytime soon, either.

I also like this sweater and I think it is much more of a "Corey" sweater:
http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTleo.html
It is a "piquant" pattern, as opposed to a "mellow" pattern like the cheesypuffs one. Probably because it would require more shaping. It's a completely different sweater....more elegant than the cheesypuffs one. I think this one would suit Corey more.

Except that it is knit on #3 needles. For those of you who have followed along this far and aren't knitters (are there any of you following this saga who aren't knitters?), #3 needles are small needles. I knit my socks on #2 needles. I was hoping for a #7 or #9 or even a (gasp!) #11 needle sweater. I knit tightly, so I may be able to match the gauge with #4's or so, but those are still small needles. We are talking about casting on 145 stitches just for the front...another 145 stitches for the back. The chances of me finishing this by our 10th anniversary in early September would be pretty darn slim. In fact, the chances of me finishing it this year may be pretty slim. The only redeeming part of that whole needle size thing is that I do enjoy working with small needles. And I generally have a lot of time on my hands, not having a job or kids and generally living the life of leisure that I do.

Sigh.
It's hard to commit.

And then there is the matter of what fiber content to use. A nice merino wool or merino/cashmere/silk blend would be a safe bet....but would produce a very warm sweater. And if I'm going to expect Corey to wear this, it isn't going to help if I make it toasty warm. On the other hand, with this being a relatively form-fitting sweater, I'm guessing he won't be wearing a t-shirt under it like he does his other, bulkier sweaters. And that also means the yarn has to be very soft and not itchy at all, which the pattern maker says describes the yarn she used... wool/silk blend. 50/50. Can't find anywhere on-line that carries that particular yarn she used, but I can find plenty of comparable ones. And to get away from the warmth of merino wool, I've actually been looking at bamboo yarns tonight, but there are two issues...one is that I am afraid the drape will be too...drapey... with bamboo...the other is that the only grey bamboo I have found that would work is $12 a skein and I would need 33 skeins.

Yeah. Do the math on that.

Sigh.

I'll have to wait and ask Corey what type of sweater he wants. Boxy or more tailored. I think I can guess what he'll say, though, on that one. I am sort of itching to get this sweater of his started and done with. But he leaves tomorrow for a week in London and his opinion will have to wait until he gets back. My word. It's 3:30am. I've gotten sidetracked a dozen times on various sites while writing this. Guess I need to go to bed! Today is the first day I've had any sort of energy. Got all kinds of stuff accomplished today, and it feels great. But Corey was onto me tonight about not doing too much for another week or so. He's right. I need to keep taking it easy.