New Project - Toddler Size "Einstein Coat"

I must be crazy to be casting on for a new project!!! I have a crocheted afghan halfway done that needs to get finished, I have one 100% wool fingerless mitt halfway done and it will need a mate (this pattern is really easy and yields great results, by the way--this is my second pair), a legwarmer that needs another one knitted for its mate, a prayer shawl, and these are just projects that I'm actively working on--I have a few more that I've put aside because I lost interest (two shawls that I started, as well as some yarn for future-intended projects, mostly winter stuff, so I'd better get moving!)! Do they have a "knitter's retreat" somewhere where you can lock yourself in a room, have somebody bring your your meals, and you can knit like crazy, not worrying about anything else until some of your projects are done???
;-)


But anyway, I bought some yarn over the summer to make my daughter Sally Melville's "Einstein Coat" from her "The Knitting Experience, Book 1: The Knit Stitch" book. It's the only garment I've ever knitted, and it's so easy!!! (I highly recommend this project for beginning knitters that want to knit a garment but are a bit intimidated). I'd like to make one for myself some day, but I think I'd be too discouraged by all of the knitting for the adult sizes. However, I've already made four little ones--three newborn sizes and one infant size. This will be my fifth coat, but it's the first one I'm knitting in a toddler size, and it's the first one I've made using bulky weight yarn, so it's nice (and encouraging!) to see the fabric working up quickly. I'm using Bernat's "Softee Chunky", and it's a nice acrylic yarn...soft, and best of all, machine washable--YAY! My daughter picked out cute novelty yarn in her desired color all by herself which I think I will use somehow as trim for the coat, so I had to coordinate the color of the coat to match the contrast. That first piece that the instructions have you knit is pretty tedious, and thankfully, I'm halfway done knitting that piece. After that piece, the rest of the coat/sweater seems to go pretty quickly (again, I've only done little sizes, because I have "knitter's ADD"!). I can't wait to see how it looks when it's all done. I'm hoping if I work on it like crazy, I can finish it in a week. I'd like to make her a matching hat out of the Bernat yarn if I have any left...I think she'd get a kick out of that. The great thing about her is that she TOTALLY LOVES anything I've made for her, so it's a joy to knit, crochet, or sew for her, and things go quickly because she's little. Instant gratification!!!


Anyway, the "Einstein Coat"--only two very small seams sewed using the slipped stitch edging, which makes seaming VERY easy and neat and professional looking (even for somebody like me who is handsewing challenged!); all other parts of the coat are attached by picking up stitches. I can't believe how clever the construction is for this coat/sweater, and how easy it makes it on the knitter. So sewing the two small seams, and weaving in your yarn ends, sewing on some buttons, then instant wearability!


When I look at this coat done in this beautiful yarn, it really makes me rethink doing a coat for myself. Look at how dressy and classy that coat looks! Of course, this particular coat used 22 balls of the beautiful yarn (Muench's "Touch Me") yarn, and at $15.00 per ball, I'm not sure I want to spend $330.00--yikes! It sure is beautiful, though, and this yarn is truly luxurious. There's a reason this yarn is named "Touch Me"! :-)