As most of my beginning endeavors have turned out to be, however, it was a learning experience. My number-one lesson learned from this is that I need to trust my patterns. I was following it to a T, so there wasn't really any reason to doubt my center stitches' placements, other than the fact that I was eyeballing it and it just seemed off.
However, it looks like they were actually right all along.
See the center stitches there (also, our spare bed, which was the best empty flat thing I had)? Yeah, you can see pretty much every time I decided that it looked wrong. Ha! I don't care, I'll still be wearing the heck out of this. At least you can tell that I made it. :P
Another thing I learned? Yeah, pay attention to which way you're blocking. This was my first adventure in blocking, aaaaand I managed to do it upside-down. The middle of the top there was supposed to be the bottom. Which explains just a little bit of the shaky middle, as well.
Am I pleased with the end result, though? Oh yeah. My stitches, for the most part, are even and pretty. Heck, they look like something I'd buy. The Malabrigo yarn I used is very soft to the touch. But - things to keep in mind next time, of course.
Currently on the menu:
- Reviewing my circular needles!
- Mom's Christmas presents (I've already started part 1 of this and it shouldn't take me more than a couple days for that, I think - I won't be posting pictures until after Christmas lest I ruin the surprise, however)
- Very possibly another hat (that someone might actually pay me to do - what is this?)
- Baby blanket x 2 (my best friend is having a baby this June, and so is another dear friend! Something has to be in the water)
- Baby booties
- Baby hats
