The blue baby jacket that I finally trimmed a couple of weeks ago is actually my one and only Elizabeth Zimmerman's project.  While I have a few of her books, I use them mostly for reference because the designs… well… they just don't quite do it for me. 

Don't get me wrong.  I LOVE how she gives formulas more than patterns, and said formulas are genius.  Nobody's happier than me about not having to follow a pattern which I am totally incapable of doing anyway.  And figuring out your own gauge?  Fabulous, it's my biggest woe with patterns, not even once my gauge comes out right.

But things like the Baby Surprise Jacket, or  the Baby Surplice… I don't know, they are just not my style, I guess.  They do look extremely interesting to knit, and I'm always amazed when I see pictures of the projects in progress, but I don't think I'll be attempting them anytime soon.

Now, that said, there are some designs that I love, and one of them is the bog jacket, especially the baby version.  So I decided to try it I think at least three years ago, because my oldest hadn't been born.  Thinking back it must have been one of those projects that were supposed to be for someone else's baby, but I was secretly hoping would be for mine.

Anyway, I wasn't exactly an experienced knitter, and you can tell from looking at it.  I made a weird mistake that I managed not to notice until the very end, and the two front pieces were joined just under the neck line by one strand.   I couldn't go back, so I just cut it, but I still don't know what to do with the two super short ends that I have wrapped in paper and tape, I've tried tying longer strands so I can weave them in, but they're not long enough for the tying.  Anyone has a suggestion?

My grafting is backwards and I ended with purl stitches instead of garter ones in the front and knitting in the back, but oh well, it was my first try at the technique, so not too bad, but definitely noticeable on the front.  Also, the sleeves are veeery long, which doesn't bother me at all, but I know they weren't supposed to come out that way; and  last but not least, the neck opening came out quite small, so the collar covers only the back of his neck and it is stretched out at the front.

But I must say that despite all of it, I love the fabric that the Blue Sky cotton made, and I like the combination with the red trim.  So, all things considered, it's a cute jacket for the moose.

Esta es la chaqueta que terminé el otro día después de  más de tres años, porque no había nacido Miguel todavía, y no recuerdo estar embarazada tampoco.  Me da que fue uno de esos proyectos que en teoría eran para el bebé de alguna amiga pero que en secreto esperaba que fuese para el mío.

Bueno, la cosa es que era más bien principiante y la verdad es que está tirando a mal hecho.  Pero aún así me gusta.  Es un diseño de esos originales de Elizabeth Zimmerman, basado en unas blusas encontradas en no sé qué enterramientos nórdicos, y tiene una construcción rara, se teje en una pieza, dejando ciertos puntos en espera y luego las costuras van hechas con grafting desde los puños hasta la abertura del centro.  El grafting me quedó de punto del revés en lugar de musgo (y del derecho por dentro, claro), pero bueno, no está mal para ser la primera vez que lo hacía.

Lo peor es el cuello, que quedó estrechísimo y le tapa lo que se dice el morrillo, y por delante le queda todo estirajado;  y luego que no sé que hice pero se me quedó unido por delante con un solo punto… y no me di cuenta hasta el final, así que lo corté, y ahí tengo las dos puntitas envueltas en celo.  Ni idea de cómo arreglarlo.  ¿Se os ocurre algo?

Pero la verdad es que con todos sus defectos, me gusta cómo quedó el algodón de Blue Sky que utilicé y el contraste con el rojo; y encuentro que le queda bien a mi morsa.