The text panels were designed just after the election, but the sweater wasn't completed until February. I used a traditional design to surround the text which reads "Things can only get better" on the front and "Things can only get worse" on the back. The sleeves are signed with my initials and the year, "L.A.A. 2005." It's a raglan sweater, which means lots of shaping on the front, back and both sleeves. It's been suggested to me to use the "cut and sew" method, but I like the idea that the panels are shaped on the machine, even though it's harder and more time-consuming. So much for shortcuts!