Well, now I'm jealous of your sweater having friends. I've been knitting off and on for years, and I also crochet, but I've never tried a sweater. I've always done simpler items, I think because I'm impatient and kind of intimidated by more complex projects. I'm almost completely self taught, so maybe not having someone to go to for help early on made me a bit too cautious.

Knit Picks is fantastic! Their prices are good and I've been very happy with the quality of their yarn. They're a great resource for those of us that don't have many local sources for knitting and crochet supplies. I try not to gush about them, but it's hard. Even their branding is great. I found them through Ravelry, another amazing resource for crafters.

I hope you get back into knitting! I can't imagine having too many sweaters. ;)