All right, I was so smug during my last entrry....I had my "new" design on all basted together. That night the world of blocking entered my dreams. I realized that Ihad not blocked any of my pieces before I basted them together. There are many schools of thought on when it should be done.... and my opinion varies with the type of garment you are finishing. The one in question here though, is definitely a blocker. Lots of stockinette and a beautiful bulky yarn worked on large needles. Of course the next morning I had to rip open the basting and block all the pieces flat. A nice steam iron, a damp cloth and a spray bottle filled with water. There is something beautiful about how a piece can change in character by applying a little heat and iron wieght....nothing too dramatic...just a slow easing of the stitches. That was yesterday....today I am slowly and patiently sewing the seams together because Maggie Jackson of Maggiknits once advised me "that the finishing can totally make or break the garment". I want mine to be outstanding!