This was an endeavor of epic proportions: the knitting, the cables, the mistakes, the math…. On top of that: the sweater was a birthday present, so I couldn’t have him try it on. But I think I pulled it of.

I would have loved to make this from Brooklynn Tweed, but mr. Moonstruck (although very cool & masculine :)) is a bit of a sensitive flower. He itches even thinking about woolly things, so merino it was. And the heart wants what the heart wants, and mine wanted to try out the much raved about Wollmeise DK. When I compared my gauge swatch with the gauge given in the pattern, I grid my teeth and pulled out the calculator.

Here is how

• No bobbles for my baby; I don’t think he’d like them, and I wanted to reduce bulk/weight as much a possible (knitting with heavy merino instead of lofty wool will do that to you). So instead of trinity st I did scattered seed st and I think it works well. It’s more lightweight then moss or double moss, but it has great texture.
• Gauge: scattered seed 21 x 34, Staghorn cable (20 st) 6.5 cm wide
• Knitted body in the round, sleeves flat.
• CO 236 st, tubular CO as per Ysolda’s method
• Used this method for provisional cast on. I think it’s briljant: really simple, no unzipping, no transferring st from scrap yarn to needle or other fiddly techniques
• Increased 5 times 4 st just outside the cable panel (kfb) to get a nice V-shape. Increased at the first row of staghorn cable 4, 7, 10, 13 and 16.
• Raglan shaping of front and back: BO 6 st for front and back, dec 1 st every 5 rows (11 times)
• Sleeves: CO 66 st, incs every 14 rows (10 times)
• For calculating sleeve cap decs I used this briljant formula
• Shape sleeve caps: BO 7 st in first 2 rows, dec 1 st every 3 rows (14 times), dec 1 st every 2 rows (10 times)
• Wider neckline, shorter saddle straps
• Neckband: PU 124 st
• One row of horizontal chain st (looks really nice with the stocking st raglan seams)

I’m very, very happy with how everything turned out. It’s a great fit and mr. Moonstruck loves it. And what more can a knitter ask for than a happy, handsome man in a beautiful sweater?

I especially want to thank Tanis, her elaborate blogpost about making this pattern work fot a man proved to be invaluable.