See summarized mods at bottom (otherwise experience is detailed by date, extensively).

30 Dec - chest is 45”, so I’m undecided on whether I should do a Large or an XL, since neither will give the suggested ease.
Gauge swatch complete and it’s just about perfectly on for width. Length, however, is almost an extra inch too long. I’ll probably try for the size L then and watch my length in the pattern carefully. I love this yarn!

4 Jan - Was almost done with sleeve #1 before I realized that I would hit over 18” increasing at the suggested rate. I had forgotten about my swatch length issues already! I tore it out and started over, increasing every 6 rows for the size large. That seemed to turn out just right. Now I’m starting on sleeve #2. I love knitting with this yarn, even though it is so variable! In some parts it’s large and fluffy and in others it’s small and tightly twisted. It provides a lot of variation to the finished stockinette. It is so soft though and the color is really growing on me.

5-Jan - Both sleeves finished! They are slightly over gauge on width, so I am relieved. They will work perfect then to bridge the L to XL gap and mean the body should too.

18-Jan - Despite gauge being correct for stitch count in my swatch, the sweater has grown too much. The width of the body is a good 3-4” over gauge. I had wanted an extra inch, not that much! And the recommended length for the body is too short. Having knit this all the way up into the yoke and ready for decreasing, I am going to have to tear it all out and start again. I had him try it on and it is just too big, with too much extra fabric hanging around the middle and off the arms. Good thing I didn’t try for the XL! I will now start over with a size M, but knitting the lengths of the L, and extending the body length a couple of inches at least. So disappointed to have to start over again, I was so close to finishing.

Feb - Back to the beginning. Cast on my fourth sleeve and could only achieve gauge by knitting very very tightly. After finishing the sleeve and thinking about it over the weekend, I tore it out and decided to begin again, as that was just too tight and the fabric wouldn’t wear nicely.

Sleeve #5 seems to finally be just right. I cast on and followed instructions, increasing only every 8th row and then stopped increasing once the arm reached the right circumference. This left me with the number of stitches recommended for the size Small, so I am knitting a size small sweater. I will from now on be doing my swatch by knitting a sleeve, since swatches apparently don’t work well for me. Finished up both sleeves, knitting to 18” long.

For the body: Cast on the number of stitches recommended for Size Small, plus 4 stitches to increase the width by 1” for a total of 45.5”. This should give the right ease and fit well as he is 44” chest now. I had him try it on after I’d knit about four inches and it seemed to be perfect this time.

11 Feb - ALL DONE. This sweater has caused me to learn a LOT. First of all, knit a sleeve as gauge for yarn that’s weird! Second of all, prepare to undo as much as I knit. Over all though, very, very pleased with the finished results and happy to be done with this first big sweater project for someone else!

I don’t think I’ll buy this yarn again for a large sweater project. It is soft and fluffy, but because of the single ply nature is already starting to pill. It handled being frogged multiple times just fine and being reknit, but was starting to grow a bit of a halo. It does make a nice stitch definition in spite of the halo. It is a nice weight and warm and I do love the color.

Final Summarized Notes on Sweater Mods:

Because this yarn knits quite a bit over gauge, I knit Size Small for stitch count (plus 4 stitches for body), but Size Large for target lengths, plus about an inch or two on arms and body. I also added an inch to the collar length to meet the extra width in the opening and to lay better once worn. This achieved something close to the measurements for the Size Large, and gave my husband the necessary positive ease. Otherwise I followed the instructions. The sweater used the Size Small yarn amount, while achieving Large size in this particular yarn.

Final measurements, blocked:
Chest: 24.5” wide
Length from body ribbing edge to bottom of split for neck: 15.5”