Attempting to modify pattern to fit my hips better.

Planning to cast on size M, shift to S near waist for rest of sweater.

Final (planned) ease: 0” @ bust, 0.5” @ waist, -0.5” @ hips

Gauge swatch spot on for width; a little short for length.

Final (actual) ease: 0.5” @ bust, 1” @ waist, 0” @ hips

Knitted cast-on. First row: purl through back loop.

For final (neck edging) cast off, used lace cast off: k2tog through back loop, slip new stitch purlwise back onto left needle, rinse and repeat until all stitches are bound off. (“Cast On, Bind Off” by Leslie Ann Bestor, pg. 168)

Note to self: For future sweaters, use sloped bind off on armhole edges for easier seaming. (“Cast On, Bind Off” by Leslie Ann Bestor, pg. 158) Also, Try a slipped stitch selvage, and keep using it through the sleeve cap to help seaming.

Other resources: “Knitter’s Book of Finishing Techniques” by Nancie M. Wiseman, Knitty: Techniques with Theresa - Shoulder Seams, Amy Herzog Designs: Sleeve Cap Seaming

(4/14): Ripping back ~2”, forgot to compensate for extra decreases in waist shaping spacing.

(5/6): Just split for the armholes.

(5/12): Bodice finished. Sweater will be hibernating a bit … finishing up work projects and preparing for moving at the end of the month!

(7/3): Out of mini-hibernation. Bodice blocked and sewn, sleeves started (two at a time).

(7/20): Started sleeve cap shaping.

(7/23): Blocking sleeves; finished neck edging.

(7/24): One sleeve seamed. This is taking longer than I expected, but then again I’m a bit of a perfectionist and keep ripping the seam out because it’s puckering.

(7/26): All seaming finished.

(7/27): All ends woven in, seams and collar band steamed.

The pattern is very well written, and the “lace template” charts are fantastic for figuring out shaping. (I think I printed off 3 or 4 copies so I could write all over them.)

Plus, Deb is really great at promptly answering any questions. (I emailed her asking about the ease the model had so I could choose a size that fit me similarly.)