Regular readers will remember that at the end of last month, I set myself the challenge of knitting Lovely Husband a sweater in time for his birthday. By my calculations, I needed to complete about 11 rows a day. That might not sound too steep until I add that it’s an Aran sweater and, as it’s going to be a birthday present, I need to knit it in secret. i.e. not evenings, the time I usually knit, when LH is usually around.
Depending on how much attention Mr Hicks demanded and how may other interruptions there were, it was taking me about 2 hours to complete around 12/16 rows. I didn’t have that time to spare everyday, so my one hope was to make significant extra progress while I was away last week.
As I’d already started the back, it seemed silly to take a large chunk of knitting travelling. So I cast on the sleeves the week before and even knitted the rib and a couple of rows in LH’s presence, knowing he was unlikely to ask what I was knitting. If he had, I would have told him I was experimenting – he’s used to that.
By the time I left home last Tuesday, I’d completed four pattern repeats of the back.
After LH left me at the station, I pulled out the sleeves and began knitting in the café as I waited for the train. Two train journeys, a lot of knitting while chatting to friends, and some early morning knitting before I headed out to various places, saw me complete three pattern repeats of both sleeves by Saturday when I was reunited with Lovely Husband.
Bless his cotton socks, he didn’t suspect a thing – assuming the bag full of blue wooliness was something I’d bought at the Knitting and Stitching Show. He even commented, that he was surprised I hadn’t taken any knitting with me and hadn’t I missed it?
Knowing if he thought too hard about this, he’d know I was up to something, I quickly told him I had taken some and changed the subject.
I’m really please how far I’ve got. Recalculating, I now need to knit about 7 rows a day, which feels much more doable, but still a fair amount. Wish me luck!
Dartmoor Creative 
It’s looking fab and that’s ace that you’ve gotten front with it, I bet it’ll be even more enjoyable knitting it knowing that you’re well on track to get it finished. He’s gonna laugh when he realises that you’ve pulled the wool over him eyes – literally!! 🙂
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Ha ha! – Wool over his eyes. Love a sheepy pun. Thank you. I’m pleased it’s coming on well – although I’m still a little concerned about keeping up.
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I knit my own LH a cable beanie hat for Valentine’s Day in full view of him in the certain knowledge that he wouldn’t have dreamed of asking me what I was knitting. SInce then he has stuck to his polar fleece version and I have been wearing it to walk the dogs and very soft, warm and comfy it is too.
I love the look of that cable pattern you’re doing, it’s going to be a gorgeous birthday gift.
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Thank you. It has been suggested to me that he wouldn’t notice, but I’m not 100% sure. Ah well, your LH’s loss over your hat. Mine had better like this jumper though or I’ll have to find a new LH 😉 – it’s going to be too big for me.
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You are such a great example to us – how to set goals and make them achievable. The jumper looks wonderful
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Thank you! Although at times I’m also a good example of how to set goals and break them 🙂
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Oh wow, that’s looking great! I love how you are managing to knit it in secret. Good luck with getting it done, at the rate you are going you will have it finished in no time! 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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I have no doubt that you will pull this off. The cable pattern is beautiful. It looks like lots of fun and knitting it in secret is adding more to the fun. Don’t stress. You got this!
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Thank you for such great faith in me. And you’re right, the secrecy is adding to the fun.
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wow, that looks wonderful and such ‘guy-pattern” reminds me of those fishermen sweaters! Hubby will be over the moon! Bless his socks indeed ;o) xo Johanna
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Thank you. They’ll be trouble if he isn’t pleased. x
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lol – good for you – it is a beautiful sweater. I once knit a sweater in secret – no where near as complicated a pattern! I did not get it done in time, so I boxed up the pieces and the yarn and wrapped it up. It got some funny looks when it was opened, but once it was open I was able to grab it back, knit in front of the recipient and I finished it up in far fewer days than it would have taken to knit in secret. 🙂
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Lol I had to give my aunt one glove at Christmas as the other one wasn’t finished yet. I had it finished by the end of the day though…
The jumper is looking lovely Bekki I’m sure you will have it finished in no time. 🙂
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Thank you. Although you’re also making me feel much better about the possibilities if I don’t finish in time 🙂
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I did something very similar with his Christmas stocking I made him last year. It’s a good plan and, if I don’t get it finished in time, I may well follow your lead 🙂
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I’m sure your LH will love it and that you have gone to all the extra trouble of ‘secret knitting’ just for him 😉
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Thank you. I hope so.
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Wow you have made great progress! I bet LH is gonna love it – een more so that you managed to keep it secret ☺ you can do it!
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Thank you. Mind, as I’ve already said, I’m still concerned about making it. Doesn’t take may missed days of missed rows for the count needed to stack up.
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All you need is another long train journey 😊
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🙂
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Great job on that jumper–and on the stealth maneuvers! The things we go through to preserve a surprise. 😉
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Thank you. You’re we do go through a lot, but I’m very much enjoying being a stealth knitter 🙂
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Not only does it look fabulous, but when the time comes to give it, you can tell him it was something you knocked out in just the week when you were away! I set myself targets with the cable cardigan I am making, child size, 4 repeat cables in an hour, then I found my concentration left me. I am positive your husband will love it.
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Ha ha! That’s a great idea. Although being a non-knitter, he may not appreciate how funny it is to think I could knock one up in a week. Hope your concentration returns – my advice is do it in secret, it definitely adds to the excitement 🙂 Thank you also for the lovely compliments 🙂 Have a great weekend.
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It’s looking Bekki! You’ll get there, especially if you can do a bit more under Hubby’s nose 😉 It will be interesting if he twigs when you give it to him! x
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Thanks Sharon. I don’t think I can do much more under his nose than the front rib – I started that in the car when we were home last Sunday. I figure if he’s driving, he’ll have even less chance of spotting – or caring about – what I’m knitting.
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Its really looking great, and you are super at working on it without him suspecting a thing. 🙂
Happy weekend.
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Thank you! 🙂 I guess that makes my superpower secret knitting 😉
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Ooooh, good one. 🙂 One should always have hidden super power.
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It looks delicious! Some lovely perfect execution…..under a cloak of darkness.
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Thank you 🙂
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Ha! Exciting! I have to say it is shaping up to be a beautiful sweater already!
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Thank you 🙂
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Looking fantastic and I loved your story! 🙂
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Thank you! 🙂
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Good luck. It’s looking great so far. I used to do secret birthday/Christmas knitting for hubby when he was at work but since he took early retirement it’s impossible!
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