The second I saw Caitlin Hunter of Boyland Knitworks start posting about Sipila, I knew that I would have to make the sweater for myself.  

Originally I was going to do the classic black and white that the original sweater was done in, but upon arrival at Knotty Lamb in Forest Grove, Oregon I knew that this green with dashes of pink/red was the soul mate to this project.  

This sweater has been across most of the continental United States with me.  It has been with me on a train from Utah to Chicago, Illinois, then on a drive from Utah to Oregon.  It has been with me on a kayaking adventure when trekking a beautiful lake with my brothers.  

It has been with me on kayaking adventures, as my brothers and I, along with some dear other people, voyaged across a lake some lazy Sunday afternoons.  

This sweater has also been what's on the needles as I make all of these huge life changes.  

This sweater, in a way, has been my active metaphor for all of the progress I've been making with changing my life.  Yet when it got to the last sleeve's cuff, I stalled for days on end.  I kept reminding myself how close I was to finishing it, and somehow managed to keep pulling away from that last inch and a half of cuff because it was yet another end.  

Much like making difficult decisions in life, even if you know it's for the best or your own happiness, ending things is a challenge.  I've only been working on this sweater for 2 months and some change, yet it feels like a part of my soul.  Giving it a conclusion made me realize how many things I am closing the chapter on as I leave Oregon.

I couldn't let that hold me back though.  

Change is daunting, but also invigorating.   Change allows for new and better things to come into your life and can be the catalyst for happiness and fulfillment.  

It would be ridiculous to leave this sweater on the needles just because I was anxious about things ending.  Sipila deserves better than to be something that was never seen all the way through.  

So today I powered through the uncertainty, and cast off a sweater that makes me realize how far I've come in the last 2 years as a knitter.  This sweater can now not only be a symbol of progress, but also a symbol of all the good that can come of following through things even if it's difficult.  

Stay sweet, stay crafty, and stay tuned.