A piece should lay realitively flat--if it's supposed to be flat-- when you finish knitting. The purpose of blocking is to get the right dimensions and is done with natural yarns. Yes such a sweater--or whatever--would have to be blocked after it is washed. Most acrylics dont need much blocking and will retain their shape through the drying process. If the yarn says machine dryable then it should be dryed on low or gentle. If its not machine dryable then it should be lain flat or shaped and stuffed--as some hats would require. Your best bet for washing is to follow the yarns instructions. That is why I always include a yarn label when I give a sweater as a gift. I started on another version of this sweater. This one is a bit bigger. Besides the errors I found the others too small and would only fit for a month or so. So far it is working out as written. For anyone that wants this lovely pattern, I'll let you know if it works out as written when I'm done

Paisley702@sbcglobal.net Hi, mctot99@gmail.com, I too am looking for the pattern for the Take Me Home sweater pattern. My granddaughter and niece are both having little girls, one in June and the other in July and I would love to make them one for their shower in April. If you received the pattern, would you be willing to send me a copy? I am very happy to learn that the pattern is still around and am very grateful to you to consider sharing with me... Many thanks and Best wishes

Socks, The sleeve is shaped by making it wider by increasing the number of stitches with the increase and doing an increase every so many rows according to the instructions. If you know how to knit, purl, cast on and cast off, believe me, you can make a baby sweater. We can help you understand any questions about your pattern. And there are internet sites with instructional clips about how to do each stitch or procedure. I increase usually by knitting twice into the stitch. But you can make one [M1] by making a tight 180 degree twist of yarn on your needle too. Some people prefer to pick up the yarn between the stitches, put it on the needle and increase that way. So go ahead and try the pattern.

Wow -- thanks, everyone, for responding! It's fun reading about what you're working on. Mscsippy -- I don't have photos of any of the stuff I've made; and none of the stuff that's currently in progress is at a point where a photo would make much sense, because my camera just doesn't seem to take decent closeups (they always manage to end up out of focus or blurred in some way - I guess I need a tripod!). But, I'll try to get photos of all of these things as I finish them. Taigen -- my paternal grandmother tatted. I have many beautiful things that she tatted. I tried, but failed, to learn to crochet, so I don't think I'd be able to master tatting, either. Cherbo -- you're much more sane than I am! Moni -- your secrets are safe with me. ;-) Donna37 -- I haven't done any embroidery in sooo long! I'd like to start up again with embroidery and also counted cross stitch. I've got a counted cross stitch Christmas sampler that I started soooooo many years ago! The horrid thing, too, is that there's not that much more to do to finish it. I have completed many, many counted cross stitch projects, I just don't know why I've never gotten around to finishing this one. One of these days... Dances -- my sister wants some fingerless gloves/mitts, so that's a project that is on my "to do" list. I'm sure this Winter will be long gone by the time she gets them. LOL! But I, too, have vastly different yarns on each of my projects-in-progress, and I'm certain that must be why I have so many going at once. Eliza Ann -- knitting is supposed to be very good for relaxation and stress relief. Maybe you should spend 15 or 20 minutes knitting each evening to help relieve the stress of getting your house ready for sale. :-) Linda -- that is a really cute poncho, and I love the color! I also think it would make a cute skirt (not without a slip/petticoat of some sort, though!). But, as I've said, I can't crochet at all, not even one stitch or chain or whatever it's called... :-( Donna Loomis -- you're my hero! Keep adding to your list of projects so I won't feel so bad, ok? :-) Zipper -- I'll be sure to pay attention to what I'm doing when I finally get around to the Baby Surprise Jacket. My niece isn't due until mid-July, and since it's her first, it could easily be late July or early August by the time she delivers, so I'm counting on having enough time to finish the two baby blankets that I'm working on (I've already given her one, and all three are totally different from each other); and I also want to get some booties and caps done, too. Janie -- I haven't experienced the "knot on the wrist," but I HAVE suffered from cramps in my left thumb from gripping the left needle too tightly when it's a small size needle and lace weight yarn. Another reason why I like to have a bunch of projects going with different yarns -- so I can relieve that stress on my thumb. Socks -- I keep each project in a separate bag, and I always have paper and a pencil (mechanical pencil, so I can retract the lead) with each project so that I can make notes as to where I am when I stop. And I try to always stop after I've finished an odd-numbered row, which somehow helps (like a placebo, I'm sure!). Susanjf -- yarn outlet??? WHERE??? Ivamae -- what color poncho are you going to make? Jannie -- your project will turn up when you least expect it! What size bamboo needles were you using? I use bamboo needles for everything that I knit that is knitted on straight needles. I also have the Bamboo Sister interchangeable circular needles set from Plymouth Yarn Company, and some fixed circular bamboo needles. One of the baby blankets is being done with the Plymouth interchangeable bamboo circulars, but for the other I'm using the Options Harmony Wood Interchangeable Needles from Knit Picks. I love those needles because the points are much "pointier" than on the bamboos, so it makes it easier to knit lace weight and fingering weight yarns. I've also got an afghan going on another size of the Harmony needles and the varigated-color yarn is nearly the exact same colors as the needles, so it's a challenge! Sheila Joyce -- what a great thing you're doing! I'm a tight knitter, so I certainly hope that no one ever has to attempt to finish anything I've started... Would using a smaller hook (than the one called for in the pattern) help at all? Have you tried taking the partial cloth into a yarn store to see what they can recommend to match the thread?