The Department of Unintended Consequences

About one year ago yesterday, my husband found out that he was borderline diabetic. I remember the day (though not the date) because I heard the news after attending the first fall meeting of my knitting group (Knitters, Etc- meets the 2nd Friday of each month from Sept-May at the Red Rooster Cafe in Aberdeen, SD, 1:00-3:00- everyone welcome). On that drive home, before I talked to The Husband, I ate 2 Reeses Peanut Butter Pumpkins. Those were the last things I ate without thinking (at least it was something I love).

Since that day (and to be more accurate, from the moment I learned of his diagnosis), everything about our lives changed. We changed what we eat, and how we eat it, and how much we eat, and when, and what we do in between meals (exercise, for one thing). As a result, my husband (who was never heavy) lost 45 lbs, has been able to drop one blood pressure medication, lowered his already low cholesterol (who knew anyone could have a count of 133?), and most importantly, he's maintaining his blood sugar levels without medication.

Though I am not diabetic (and my bp has always been very good), and I had no objection whatsoever to being fat, I changed my life right along with him. In the last year, I've lost 77 lbs, and the most recent jeans I bought were size 8 (down from 24) (in the interest of full disclosure, the Size 8's are relaxed, and they're not loose, except in the legs). And I've gone from 3X tops, to just plain L (and sometimes M, if it's a big M). I more than exceeded my goal, and I've maintained this weight (within a 3lb range) since the end of June while slowly increasing the amount I've been eating (it's as hard to stop losing weight as it is to start- go figure).

This drastic change involved several complete wardrobe changes (not as much fun as it sounds- and pretty expensive to boot). Though I didn't realize it for a long time, the size and body change also meant that I could not wear the Dakota Dreams sweater- for which this blog is named- that I designed and took 6 months to knit (and wore once before this whole adventure started).

It's fall now, and I want to wear my sweater. So I'm going to have to do something drastic- I'm going to have to cut it down.

The sweater is 30" long (I like tunic sweaters), and 58" around (it wasn't tight, but it wasn't all that loose either). I am going to cut it down to 44" around (it still won't be tight), I'll shorten the sleeve opening from 11" to 10" (well 22" to 20"), but that won't affect the length because I'm going to have to cut the excess out of the sides, and sew side seams. The change in armhole openings means I have to tinker with the sleeve width as well. And I'm going to have to redo the neckline- either tear it out and reknit it, or just pick up ribbing and knit some more. The neckline was loose before, and it's ridiculously loose now.

And maybe I can do something about the wonkiness with the front bands- I have no idea why they don't line up properly.

It's going to be an adventure, and I'll take pictures.

p.s. I cropped my head out of the pic because it's early morning and I definitely look like it is early morning.