I busted arse on this sweater for a couple of weeks. And I had loads of time to finish it before DFW Fiber Fest. As I didn’t know how to start the collar and had worked on it for weeks and had so much time, I took a little break (i knit a sock, don’t judge me). Procrastination has never led to more clarity, so I gamely started picking up and knitting stitches. Ten stitches in, I realized this was going to be quite the effort so I probably needed to make sure I was on the right path. I texted Bonnie and she confirmed that I was doing it wrong. She sent a couple of helpful links and got me sorted. I started again (from the correct corner this time) and picked up eight million stitches. Then it was time to place markers for the short rows and I wasn’t 100% sure how to measure. Along the edge? Straight down from the shoulder? Is 3 inches enough? A couple of days pass. Things might still have been fine, or at least not as far off the rails, but i came down with a virus. Which means I didn’t feel up to knitting. for two solid days. I find myself with a vest that has 1 inch of a 3 inch button band knit and I’m forced to wonder…am I the kind of person that will wear a sleeveless Dark and Stormy sweater around DFW Fiber Fest with the needles still in it?

I’m knitting as fast as I can so we don’t have to find out, but I’m not going to lie, my palms are a little sweaty.