Well, it's not really a monster.  Not quite. 

It looks innocent enough, doesn't it?  And look at this sleeve – perfectly ordinary, unassuming!

But something – I don't want to call it a "curse" – but definitely something, is lurking behind those innocent loops of Cascade 220.  Every single "birthday sweater" I make for my husband – this will be the fourth – has something go wrong.  The first one – well, what didn't go wrong?  I leave you with this little gem (the second picture has a normal-sized sweater over it for comparison):

The second one turned out pretty well, although I had quite a time with the zipper.  And I guess I used slightly thinner yarn than the pattern called for, because the whole thing is much, um, drapier than a man's sweater/jacket thing should be.  And it's a bit too long.  Plus the bottom edge rolls up, which drives me crazy.

Last year's was the best so far, although the neckline is a little too big* and I think Matt thinks the yarn I used (Peace Fleece) is a bit too scratchy for his tastes.  (*He's wearing the same color shirt underneath so you can't really tell)

Anyway – this year's difficulty (knock on wood it's the only one) has been running short of yarn.  I was not even being cheap and trying to scrape by with less than the pattern called for.  I bought exactly what I was supposed to – even the same brand of yarn! – and I have already run short on the sleeves.  I am waiting for a package from a helpful Raveler, and anxiously knitting the front, hoping it doesn't have the same problem!!

Oh well…. this is how we grow as knitters, right?