I don’t mind tinking a few stitches, or even frogging a few rows, but to tear out seventeen inches of knitting in the round makes me queasy, sick to my stomach, generally feel ill. And I tend to avoid it for as long as possible.

Like with this not-going-to-be-a-sweater project.

I bought this wonderful green tweed Philosopher’s Wool yarn back in 2004 when they said they were going to discontinue it. Got it on sale. Bought enough to knit a comfy, cozy sweater with the general feel of Melanie’s Order and Chaos sweater, only in green, and with just a single cable going up the front, over the shoulder, and down the back on one side. And with pockets. The sweater had to have pockets. Down low. In the front. And I was going to be brave and use steeks.

I got pretty far.

Until I realized that the sweater wasn’t going to be big enough around.

I’m getting four and a half stitches to the inch, and have one hundred sixty two stitches on the needles, giving me a circumference of thirty six inches. I am thirty six inches around. The sweater needs to be bigger. Fourteen stitches bigger to get a cozy thirty nine inch sweater.

This simply won’t do.

Waaaaa.

The last day I knit on it was Superbowl Sunday, 2005. Almost two years ago.

I’m getting ready to rip it out. Re-wind the yarn into balls. Start over.

But I need a pattern first. Cuddly. Hip length or lower. That I can snuggle into when it’s cold. Maybe layer over another sweater. I would still like to employ my single cable idea. Or save it. The cable pops with this yarn, so more cables aren’t out of the question.

Fourteen stitches. Just fourteen measly little stitches.

I’ll frog it soon. I will. Don’t think it’ll be today, though. I’m not quite ready yet.

On another note, I’ve made a little progress on the secret project, which is ending up as a birthday present instead of a Christmas present. Naturally, it’s too big. A bit. Sigh. I might be able to make it work anyway. We’ll see.