Rapunzel: Ta Da! (and a baby blanket)
Pattern specs:
Rapunzel, from Rowan 34.
Pattern difficulty:
Estimated by Rowan: 3 balls of yarn (out of 3), "for the more experienced knitter".
Actual pattern difficulty: 4 balls of yarn (out of 3). But that's just because I never got gauge and had to recalculate everything.
Yarn:
Recommended by pattern: 8 balls of Rowan Kid Classic and 3 balls of Rowan Lurex Shimmer.
Actual yarn requirements: 9 balls of Rowan Kid Classic (in color Feather). Can you believe that I bought 8 balls in Dec 2004 and that Purl had one ball left of the same dye lot? Miracles *do* happen. And 2 balls of GGH Velour Lame'.
Needles:
Recommended by Rowan: US 7s (4.5 mm).
Actual needles used: US 6s (4 mm). Started with Addis, then switched to Lantern Moon, courtesy of my Secret Pal.
Gauge:
Recommended by Rowan: 20 st/30 rows = 10cm
Actual gauge: 20 st/38 rows = 4".
That's right. 38.
Started on: President's Day (Feb 20) at the Point.
Finished on: April 5.
Was it worth all the headaches (see any post between feb 20th and april 5th)?
YES. OH YES IT WAS! The fit is perfect, the yarn is delightful. Although the pattern writing is *&^%$!, the pattern design is beautiful. All hail Jean Moss.
In other news, we Spiders finally got to give Sassy the baby blanket we've oh-so-secretly been working on. Amanda ordered Rowan All Seasons Cotton (one of my favorite yarns) from an eBay vendor (this one?) way back in December. Ms Gleek wrote up a mitered square pattern, and we were off! I can't believe how successfully secretive we all were... (By the way, I have to point out that the 4 denim/light blue staggered stripes squares you see in the picture are mine. Just FYI). 
Sassy saw the mitered square blanket at the Mason Dixon book signing at Coliseum Books last tuesday and was very intrigued: she grilled us about the construction of a mitered square. Oh, we couldn't *wait* until the baby shower... I'm sure I giggled with glee (and smugness).
