Knitting angst

In mid-October, at an Alpha Delta Kappa state luncheon, I happened to wear a cardigan I'd knit for myself about six years ago.

It's the Neck-down V-neck Shaped cardigan by Knitting Pure and Simple.

One of my A∆K sisters admired the cardigan, asked if I'd knit it, and asked if I might be able to knit one for her daughter, Sarah, for Christmas.

I said I could, since I was already familiar with the pattern and I needed a bigger project than knitting winter hats. (I've been knitting winter hats all fall.)

A few weeks went by and I heard no more about my knitting a sweater for Sarah.

Then, about 1 1/2 weeks ago, Anne contacted me to see if I still had time to knit the cardigan. (She'd shown Sarah a photo taken at the state luncheon, a photo of us "girls," and, of course, I'm wearing my sweater. Sarah told her mother she'd like to have a sweater like that one.)

I said yes.

I saw Anne at an A∆K meeting last Tuesday evening, and she gave me the yarn she'd selected for the project.

I cast on the next morning. This was an exciting project, I told myself, because Sarah is one of my former students, a really lovely girl, and I'd love to create for her a cardigan she is proud to wear.

Then the fears set in. Oh, boy, the fears.

First I feared that although I'd checked my gauge carefully (and I almost never check the gauge when I'm knitting for myself), this cardigan would be way, way too large.

Once I got beyond that fear, I started worrying about its opposite: The sweater would be way, way too small.

By yesterday I'd made enough progress to compare the new sweater with my original one. Sarah's is to be a size small; mine is a size medium.

When I placed Sarah's partial sweater on top of my completed one, I calmed down a little. Sarah's is a bit smaller than mine, but it's not ideal for a six-year-old. Phew.

So now I'm forging ahead. Although it's a simple pattern, as the design suggests, it's time-consuming. I'd like to have it done by December 6, so I can take it to our A∆K Christmas party and give it to Anne in time for her to give it to Sarah at Christmas.

Fingers crossed!