Mods
longer sleeves
shallower neckline
narrower neckline
skipped last garter ridge row at center back on either side
fitted body (rather than flowing A-line)

1/5: first swatch (stockinette, size 5)
1/7: second swatch (feather & fan, size 5 -- should have been on size 6, but stockinette swatch turned out big)

1/8: cast on

1/12: about 14” of sleeve #1 done - will do bodice after both sleeves done

1/17: did about 15” of sleeve #2 done

Plan to add 2” to each sleeve length,
keep depth (across the shoulders) at size medium,
neck opening less wide (by how much?),
add extra width to have f&f pattern reach farther down from shoulders. (Want pattern to end just under the bust -- not above.)

(Lifeline) Increase for R bodice: increase from 99 stitches (med) to 147 (large) -- CO 24 stitches at start of next two rows. K2, 8 pattern repeats, K1.

1/23: did shoulder & back increases as per pattern. Basted seam and side & tried on. Believe I need to do three fingers’ width (~2”, ~4 F&F repeats) more in F&F pattern before setting up for neckline.

Sleeve length looks good - not down to wrist bone, more “bracelet length.”

1/29: did 3 more F&F repeats.
Then for neckline, did 47 stitches in pattern from edge and then next 34 stitches in pattern w/o YOs (this includes & ends with the plain stitches at shoulder top).

Early Feb: went back and changed neckline depth -- something like 36 stitches in pattern & then 43 stitches w/o YO for the neckline.

Fussed around with how much to knit after BO for neckline. Ended up with 4 more pattern repeats. Did just the last of these as “garter ridge” repeat. Same in back, tho’ there I also ended on row 4 of “garter ridge” without the garter ridge -- didn’t think I’d want that “garter spine” running up the middle back of the sweater. Blocked, seamed (not hard, but took a while), tried on. So far, so good.

2/11: Picked up stitches for lower bodice. Picking up at a size mid-way between small & medium on pattern (since that’s what the upper bodice is measuring out to: 9” as measured. Sizes as written are 8.5” for small, 9.5” for medium.)

Roughly 3 stitches picked up for every 4 row upper bodice repeat with just a few having 2 / 4. Using 3.5mm needles for lower bodice … not that I’ve swatched SS with this size, but the lower bodice is (as written) done on one size smaller than upper. Cross your fingers.

2/21: After what seemed like miles of stockinette (but wasn’t all that much since I’d made the upper bodice longer), I’m done with that. Made the lower bodice more fitted than pattern. Finished up bands today (used 1-row buttonholes). Still need to block, weave in ends, & sew on buttons.

4/6: So it took me some six weeks to do the block, sew on buttons, & weave in ends. I figure I was petrified it wasn’t going to fit & so kept putting it off. But then I needed something for Easter Day.

I’m loving it.

Camilla is right though; no spinning Woobu in the washer after a soak. My sweater itself is fine, but the unwoven ends DID felt some in their ONE time through the spin cycle.