Strike a Match

Well, here's the inaugural post for Prairie Needles On Fire, and my first post ever as a blogger! As Tia and I picked the blog name from a list of potentials, two graphics popped into my head: a picture of a prairie burning (yeah, it's a stretch), and an image of crossed knitting needles engulfed in flames. Maybe later we'll get a cool and funky logo image, but for now you'll just have to make due with a simple yet classy title block. Of course, depending upon how long it take us to attract any followers, we may have a funky logo by the time you find our humble site!

OK, enough introduction - let's get to the knitting! I don't know about you, but I can't seem to content myself with just one active knitting project at a time. Normally my husband tells me that I'm a master of focus to the point of eccentricity. But not with knitting projects. Currently I'm actively working on two projects and ignoring a third. The active projects are the Nasty Dog Dragon Scarf from Scarf Style (for my husband) and Cozy V-Neck Pullover from Fitted Knits. The dragon scarf is my first colorwork project, and I gulped a bit when my hubby picked it out of the book. "Gee honey...are you sure you wouldn't prefer that nice plaid scarf, or maybe the one with some interesting stitch pattern instead?" But once I got going and admitted I couldn't balance a dozen balls of yarn on my lap while watching TV, it wasn't too bad. I frogged the dragon head once because my yarn tension was too tight, but now I'm cranking on the seed stitch portion. The v-neck sweater pattern is easy, basically just lots of stockinette or k2 p2 ribbing. I just started the ribbing portion and have 17.95 inches more to go until I finish the body! As for the ignored project...several years ago I started an afghan pattern from Luxury Knits using Jaeger Extra Fine Merino Chunky in Bamboo. It's really nice yarn and the combination of garter stitch and stockinette/drop stitch pattern gives an interesting look. But it's an afghan for crying out loud, and I'm only a couple of feet into the thing. I can only work on it for so long before it becomes, well, work. Tia tells me that it should have been a great winter project because it would keep my lap warm while I knit, but I'm not buying it.

OK, all that writing about knitting makes me want to sit down and knit! I'll have some photos in my next blog - promise. Adios, muchachas!