11/29/2009
Ok, now it’s really done! All the ends are woven in and it’s pinned down for a final blocking. Pictures with me actually wearing it coming soon…

11/23/2009
I can’t believe it, it’s done!! Still need to weave in all the ends and block parts of it a bit more. I’m really proud of it, being my first sweater, even though it’s not perfect. Picking up stitches for the button band was challenging and took a couple of tries. I ended up doing it as one piece and I like how that looks. I originally knit a 2.5” band but it was too big and looked wrong. Ripped down to 1.5” and it’s now perfect.

The whole thing is a bit shorter than I’d like it, but I’ll lightly block it again and see if I can lengthen it a bit.

Will have to model it for pictures soon- and in the daylight (the colors in the pictures are very off).

11/18/2009:
First sleeve is done and second one is 2/3 done… I love the sleeves and my knitting has finally evened out and become consistent- no more tight knitting yay!! The sleeves came out a little bigger than the schematics, not sure why… I’m pretty sure I was on gauge. (eta: now that they’re attached, they fit just fine)
Note to self: in the future, do not use kfb inc for sleeves knit flat in St st. They do not look smooth when seamed… lesson learned.

11/15/2009:
Both fronts are done. I had to redo the last few inches of the left front because I mistakenly did neck shaping on the wrong side. Luckily I figured it out before I did the shaping for the right side. Looking at pictures of other people’s blocked pieces helped me confirm my suspicion that I’d done it wrong.
The fronts were both kinda small (darn you tight knitting!) and I had to stretch them an inch or so in blocking, which doesn’t thrill me. But this is my first sweater and it’s all a learning experience. I might just knit a wider ribbing for the button band to compensate. Casting on now for the first sleeve.

11/14/2009:
Left front is done and right front is mostly done.

11/12/2009:
The back is all done! It’s blocking now and all the measurements came out accurate, so I’m thrilled. Just casting on for the left front.

11/7/2009:
I’ve knitted up my gauge swatch which is now drying. I might’ve actually gotten gauge using the recommended needles, for the first time ever! I’m retraining myself to stop knitting so ridiculously tight, and I think it’s working! Can’t wait to CO for real. I’ve decided to knit the 44” in order to get the 40” size, since I’ve heard that it runs small.