27-01-2019

I got off to a really slow start with this sweater but I found my groove after making a mistake that cost me 24 rows of ripping back and now it’s so pleasant to knit. That sounds strange, I realize. But the mistake clarified something for me and then everything became quite knowable.

Knitting cables isn’t my sweet spot but the geometric quality they take on in this sweater is so appealing. I also LOVE the yarn - I rarely knit with worsted yarn because I like really firm fabric and I find that’s easier to obtain with fingering and sport weight projects. Classic Elite Adelaide (now discontinued) is soft and strong with a slight, beautiful halo and it knits firmly. It’s not overly airy. The instructions are very clear and the project actually moves along at a good pace (esp if you generally knit with fingering) because the needle size isn’t small (US4 for me).

This is by no means a beginner project but it’s not as difficult as it looks, given its intricacy.

29-01-2019

This pattern continues to get a 10/10 for clarity and conciseness. After making the Divide (the 39-page pattern from hades!), I was afraid to try another complex-looking, geometric cable sweater. In 7 pages of text (the 8th page is a cover), this manages to clearly illustrate how to make an entire cable cardigan. It’s beautifully put together.

03-02-2019

Back body: 167g
Side body left: 84g
Side body right: 83g
Sleeves (1): 85g
Sleeves (2): 85g
Collar: 82g

334g (or 6.3 balls / 775 yards) before sleeves and collar…
504g (or 10 balls) before collar…

04-02-2019

So I’ve cast on the collar stitches and I get 306 vs the 382 that the pattern calls for. I’m going with my intuition or the band is going to be mega droopy…

This is 20% fewer pick up stitches than the pattern calls for. It will also have implications for the proportions of the collar - because I will do almost as many wraps and turns (short rows), just one short of the instructions - over a narrower span.

05-02-2019

This is undoubtedly the most beautiful thing I’ve knit to date. Between the design and the yarn, it’s spectacular - even the fit! This is the first time I’ve ever knit a sweater without making any sizing mods. This time, I knit the smallest size with no alterations (except I picked up fewer button band stitches) and I’m really glad I didn’t go up a size because it would be really heavy

06-02-2019

On balance, this garment was very efficient with the yarn. I used about 500 yards less yarn than the instructions indicated and I didn’t make any pattern alterations but I went down a needle size to get gauge (though I don’t see how this could have anywhere near 500 yards worth of impact).