Kerstin was so right when she wrote the following:

While the cyber world can be a creepy place and full of miserable people, I have personally found that for every nut case out there, there are at least 100 fine people who are a pleasure to know.

I’ve experienced the kinder, gentler side of the web for several years now, and could go on and on about some of the great experiences I’ve had, but I’m going to focus on more recent events. I would like to express my thanks to some of the knitbloggers who have taken time to answer some of my bumbling questions about the art of knitting. Becky was kind when I asked the somewhat embarrassing question about how to pick out a pattern that was the right size for me. Elisabeth gave me some valuable advice for getting started on my Elfin cardie and Kerstin has been a delightful correspondent on the subject of cast-on edges. I’ve also been touched by Lisa’s offer to knit something for baby Claire. Wow. All I can say is some people are simply special. :giving: Of course, a discussion about how encounters on the internet can be wonderful wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t mention that I met my husband online. :lovestruck:

As for the conundrum I had about the curling ribbing, I’ve decided to just rip the whole back out and start over. :boggled: It’s not really that big of a deal since the knitting goes quickly and I didn’t feel like I invested too much of myself in the project thus far. I really want my second sweater to be as nice as possible, since the first one was a decided failure, lol! Besides, I’m in good company when it comes to frogging projects!

Sunday morning, 6 a.m.

I?m wide awake. Tired, but wide awake. Relentlessly, thoughts about cleaning the baby swing and stroller run through my head. I also feel like too much time has passed, which I?ve squandered by not sorting through baby clothes.

Eventually, I realize that there?s no hope of me falling back asleep, so I wander barefoot out to our garage and start rummaging around for baby things. I find the swing, and to my disgust, see that it?s covered with sawdust from one of Robert?s many building projects. Why didn?t he think to cover it up before doing such messy work??? Men! I haul the thing inside and begin disassembling it. First, the seat cover comes off. I toss that in the laundry machine and then get the cleaning supplies out and start working away at the hardware. I go through the same thing with the stroller, but discover the upholstery has acquired a nasty, mildewy smell which I know from experience will never disappear.

I crawl up into the attic space, locate the old baby product brochures from which I?m able to find out how to order new parts for the stroller. I log onto the manufacturer?s website, order the parts and then return to the attic where I place whatever baby paraphernalia I can find into one box near the door.

Afterwards, I go into Sam?s room, unpack all the boxes of the clothes he?s outgrown and start sorting through them. I?m up to my neck in cute little blue outfits (poor Claire is going to be wearing a lot of blue—I hope it doesn?t give her a complex.) when Robert wanders in and wants to know if I?m going to deliver the baby in the next few hours. :laugh:

Luckily, we don?t have to do that much more before the baby is born. I?d like to get a new boppy. Sam and I wore his out. When Robert?s not looking, I may also sneak a few girly outfits into the shopping cart too. Claire shouldn?t have to wear only Sam?s hand-me-downs, as nice as they are. She should have a few special things that are all her own. I’m also thinking about getting a bassinet for her, something I can place right next to my side of the bed. We did the family bed thing with Sam, but I often worried about him becoming overheated under our comforter and one of us rolling over on him. I’d rather cut out as many sources of worry as possible beforehand.

Anyway, I started a baby registry for Claire, but haven’t added very many items yet. If I can think of any more items we need or would enjoy having, I’ll add them soon. (This is not a solicitation for gifts; rather, it’s a reminder for my absent-minded self.)

When I was measuring the back of my cardigan last night, I had a little trouble getting the ribbing to lay flat. It seems inclined to curl upwards. I wonder if it’s occurring because I either (a) cast on too tightly; or (b) knit the ribbing too tightly?

Is this something I can correct with proper blocking or should I just send it to the frog pond? (and start over, of course…I’m not giving up!)