I lie down in the soft green grass to take a photo of my owls sweater. As I’m about to take the first picture, I feel a tickle at my waist that can only be one thing.
a fire ant.

I snap upright and am already mentally stripping off clothes when I realize it was only a stray blade of grass. Suddenly, I look super happy in my owl pictures even though it’s not finished and I won’t be wearing it tomorrow.

a. I need to weave in the ends, graft the underarms, redo the collar ribbing and block it.

b. It’s going to be 90 degrees tomorrow.

Maybe we’ll get a cool front next week?

Ps. Check out other folks’ crafty business at:

Wisdom begins in Wonder

Natural Suburbia

The owls is the first sweater I’ve knit. and some people have had trouble with the fit. So, I’m trying my sweater on every 4 rows. Literally.

I put it on 47″ circular needles, pull it over my head, and try not to let the stitches slide off the needles while the attached ball of yarn bounces around on the bathroom counter. I look in the mirror, twisting this way and that to see what I think of the fit.

I recently turned to admire the decreases on the back of the sweater and the yarn bounce bounce bounced off the countertop right into the toilet. It was like some kind of bad slow motion film with me reaching for it, yelling, “Nooooooooo……” It was in the clean toilet water for less than a second, but that was too long for me. I dried it off on a clean towel and thought about what to do. I washed my hands. How to sterilize wool yarn? I took off the sweater and happily ripped back the four rows I needed to, which brought me back to the first ball of yarn. Then, I washed my hands. I put the possibly dirty ball of yarn in a bowl for time out, washed my hands and got a fresh ball for knitting. and then washed my hands one more time, just because.

My knitting and germ consultants seem to agree that soaking the yarn in Euclan for a couple of days should be enough. I don’t know if I can get on that train yet, but one thing is for sure, you can bet your sweet arse that I’m putting the toilet lid down every time I try on my sweater.

To see what others are working on, check out:
Tami’s Amis
Small Things (I’m listening to the second book in the Legend series, Prodigy. The series is good if you like dystopian fiction.)
Frontier Dreams

The Iditarod ceremonial start was Saturday at 1pm (Texas time) and I was on a wine tour of the Texas Hill Country.

We hit Becker – nice selection of local products.

had lunch at Inwood Estates Winery & Bistro (We were going to sit outside, but it was too windy. A huge umbrella blew up and almost killed me. True story.)

checked out Torre Di Pietra Vineyards – which I didn’t love (There was a shop cat and I’m ALLERGIC.)

swung by Grape Creek – classy joint

and finished up at Fiesta Winery – yummy sweet wines.

rocking in a chair on a porch at Fiesta Winery reminds me of my Grammy’s porch growing up. Love!

So, I didn’t get very far in the Iknitarod Saturday. (my goal is to knit the owls sweater – my first adult sweater – by the time the last musher reaches the finish line in Nome) I did attempt a German twisted cast on after my gauge swatch and when the tail wasn’t long enough, I decided to try again Sunday.

Sunday –
cast on 2. German twisted – wasn’t crazy about how it looked.
cast on 3. German twisted – started knitting the rib and didn’t love how that looked
cast on 4. tubular – have 102 sts. need 108. merciful heavens!
cast on 5. tubular – finally have 108 stitches. time to hit the hay.

Monday –
I worked on the ribbing. The darker edge looks amazing! I tried it on. FRACK! It’s too small. I can get it on, but even having never knit a sweater before, I know the stitches are not supposed to be all stretched out like that. This is the part where I learn what is meant by an inch or 2 of ease.

On the upside, I do not love the waterfall look of the Tubular cast on. German Twisted it is.

Tuesday –
I tried it on again in case I was just fatter Monday or something. No such luck. It’s too small. I took a picture and ripped it out.

Then, I took a break because well, I needed a break. My first sweater is kicking my arse. (calling it my 24 hour break)…probably a little early to take my 24, but there you have it.

Wednesday –
cast on 6. German Twisted – tail too short
cast on 7. German Twisted – (going up 2 sweater sizes and down one needle size) BINGO! (I hope)

The trail has been ROUGH for those running the Iditarod so far. I am consoling myself with the fact that at least I don’t have any actual bruises to show for my rough Iknitarod start.

To see what others are working on, check out:
Tami’s Amis
Small Things (I just started reading Wheat Belly – it is actually about modern/hybridized wheat and gluten vs. ancient wheat and has been interesting so far.)
Frontier Dreams