Where's the time?!

I have a baby shower for a friend to attend in about two weeks... I'm making her this newborn set for her baby girl-to-be:




...and, really, it should be a super quick project. I've gotten the yoke done, so far, but theres a part of me that's thinking that I'm going to have to buy a backup gift just in case I don't finish in time! Not because I'm a slow crocheter/knitter, but simply because I don't have nearly enough time to sit down and work on it. Or, at least, as much time as I'd like to spend on it. And look at me...instead of working on the stuff I should be working on so that I can relax later with my crochet project, I'm blogging! Now I know where the time is.... :)

Swatching is just as important for crochet

All my crochet experience to date has pretty much just been stuffed animals or puppets...things that didn't really need to match a specific gauge. Although I have made a cute little baby dress in the past, again, I never swatched and, now that I think of it, I've never seen proof that the babies these dresses have gone to have ever worn them. So I have no idea if they fit!
Recently, I made this kitty from Crochet Today!:




She also is supposed to have clothes...one outfit is published with the pattern for the cat, with additional outfits promised in future issues. I didn't swatch...and my first attempt as this cat turned out really squat. Additionally, I had a little difficulty getting the clothes to fit properly. But I persevered and managed to get her dressed.




Now I'm starting work on that darling baby set I posted about previously, and am swatching. My gauge is off, so it just goes to show that it does pay to swatch before starting a project....it'll save me a lot of headache later!