2 steps forward and 6 steps back

I've got a lot of really basic meditative projects on the needles. Repetitive simple stitch patterns that I can do while focussing on other things, movies, breathing, keeping my heart beating. You know the ones, projects that I can knit because I'm tired all the time.

A guernsey vest for Jason from the Veronik Avery book, Knitting Classic Style, is one such treat. I've been working on it for going on 6 months here and there. At the same time I'm knitting Bonnie for myself, a shawl, a couple of toys and now that June is here I'm starting the Christmas gifts (I know I know...)

I have a series of randomly generated rules that I follow when I'm knitting on multiple projects - for the guernsey whenever I finish a skein of Heathers 220 I can work on my Bonnie cable sweater. As I finish pieces of the Bonnie I can return to the guernsey. Delays have occurred because of the never ending shawl which I will return to every once in awhile with the intent to finish it and some random birthday gifts made in between.

All this to say it's been awhile. After I reached the requisite 14.5 inches of alternating (impeccable if I may say) moss stitch and welt pattern at the SnB at the Purple Purl - Audra looked up and asked if Jason had gained weight....which of course flipped the light switch that maybe I should take another measure. Luckily Lisa had her camera so the moment could be documented....This is a 49" swatch. I had been aiming for 40" on the outside so he could wear a fleece or thermal long sleeve shirt underneath hit, a look I find incredibly sexy. Jason is a big man but since becoming a parent has dropped close to 30 lbs (I wonder if Fenner's a runner?).

Keri was nice enough to give me a new knitters lesson in swatching in which we learn that my swatch at the beginning of the project, was in fact a big fat lying liar.
There was great discussion about repurposing the swatch to make a stole (note that the fabric is folded in have on Joyce in this picture. We debated steeking which made me sweat.

In the end I made the executive decision.
3 skeins (I had spit spliced them) in one ginormous ball of swatch lies.