29-08-2020

I’m using the Queen Bean pattern as a base, but I would actually love to replicate the dimensions of a favourite top:

• 28.5” wide body
• 12” sleeve length
• 6.5” sleeve depth at shoulder seam
• 5” sleeve depth at cuff (3/4 sleeve length)
• 29” deep body from neck edge to hem

Oh, and I’m using DK weight yarn. I’ve swatched with needles in US size 6, 7, 8, and 9, and I’m waiting for my swatch to dry before I determine which fabric I like best.

31-08-2020

With my gauge, it looks like I can knit size E (56”) of the Queen Bean to match the desired finished measurements, using the US 6 as my main needle. (The fabric felt too stiff when knitting the swatch, but it blocks up right and feels great.)

I like that the pattern makes it clear how to do a custom armhole size — in fact, the size B armhole/sleeve works out to be almost exactly what I wanted. I may shorten the sleeves to a 3/4 length, but I don’t need to decide that yet!

Planning to do the V-neck option, and make it longer (about 19” from the underarm instead of 15”) with the split hem option.

31-08-2020

Loving the usability features of this pattern! There are little circles to check off your progress with each row (or each pass of a short row section) and little boxes to check off each time you work a repeat. Simple, but so thoughtful to include these in the actual pattern!

06-09-2020

First two balls are ending about 3.25”-3.5” under the underarm. (I’m alternating skeins.)

There was something funky with placing marker Z — I’m pretty sure it should have been on the other shoulder — but I managed the pick-ups and everything’s been smooth sailing since.

24-09-2020

14” below the underarm, and I’m just now joining the 5th & 6th balls of yarn. I’m impressed at how far this yarn goes! Just need to work up to 18” from the underarm and then I’ll start the split hem. And then on to the sleeves!

27-09-2020

Whoo! Onto the split hem now. I want it longer, so I’m doing (I think) 24 rows of ribbing in back, and 12 in front.

02-10-2020

One sleeve down, one to go! I decided to do elbow-length sleeves, because I wanted to keep them quite fitted but feared this yarn would either not flex enough at the elbow or would bag out over time. Better to play to its strengths than fight its weaknesses! Besides, this is a summer top, so long sleeves are not needed.

This will leave me with ~3 skeins of this yarn left over… Time to think about what other patterns might work well with it. (Clapotis?)

04-10-2020

Bound off tonight! For the neckline I did 3 rounds of ribbing (with a centered double decrease at the V point, using an odd number of sts) rather than a rolled hem as called for in the pattern. I would have liked to do a couple more rounds but I was worried that it might be tight around my head -- it’s not a huge V.