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

Knitting what you know is soothing. Especially after going rogue on tiny sweater sleeves and things not going according to plan. I started these socks February first and am hoping to finish in time for Valentine’s Day (yes, I do like a challenge, why do you ask?). I’ve not made PINK socks for myself before and I’m not Valentine’s Day’s biggest fan, but the February Violently Domestic Danima banksiae socks knit-a-long and this pretty pink yarn inspired me to embrace the cliché.


ok, I did go a little bit rogue, I’m knitting 66 sts around at a gauge of 8.5 sts/inch when the pattern calls for a gauge of 6 sts/inch. But, so far, things are coming up roses. Even the pooling is playing nice!

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

So. I may have read one too many blogs on how you don’t want to jack up a nice knitting project with crappy finishing. I ripped the collar off this pretty cream sweater. Then I re-picked up the stitches and started again. Second time’s the charm. I’m MUCH happier. I only paused before ripping because I was worried it would look worse when I picked them up a second time. My fears were in vain.


After I picked up the stitches for the front of the collar, I tried to match the ribbing to the cables by varying the number of stitches in the ribbing as the pattern instructed, but that was a hot mess. I went back to K2P2.



Soon, this puppy will have sleeves and then off it goes to Turtle’s house for Baby 2. He’s going to loan it to his big brother first. That’s right, it’s a hand-me-up.

To see what others are working on, check out:
Tami’s Amis
Small Things (I finished The Razorland Trilogy and I REALLY enjoyed it. If you like dystopian fiction, I expect you’d like it.)
Frontier Dreams