June 10, 2013: I bought brand new ChiaoGoo circular needles for this project! I’ve been struggling with needles - which ones to buy, wood, steel, bamboo, circular, straight, etc. etc. - and decided I wasn’t going to get anywhere if I didn’t just pick a pattern and buy the needles I need for it. Eventually, I’ll build up a collection that I won’t need to buy needles every time I start something new!

This is the first project done for myself in a while. I’m excited!

June 11, 2013: It’s moving along swimmingly! I finished the increases last night. Got a little confused at first because the pattern is written in ‘rounds’ when it actually means ‘rows’. Now that I’m at simple stockinette stitch, I decided to take it on the subway with me for my morning commute! Got about 6 rows done, I think, and listened to 1.5 chapters of The Great Gatsby audiobook. As I suspected, circulars are perfect for subway knitting!

June 14, 2013: I have arrived at the point of splitting the stitches to create the armholes! Of course, there’s still a lot to go, what with the trim. I have determined it too large and unwieldy to take on the subway with me however. One day last week, I tried to knit while standing on the train, but realized it would be dangling on someone’s shoulder if I did that! I think I need to start a second smaller project to take with me on my commute.

June 20: It looks like a cardigan now! I learned the Kitchener stitch today and sewed together the front panels to the back panels, tried it on, and it’s pretty close to perfect for fit. So, now I need to do the trim and the little caplet sleeves. I feel like the end is in sight, but really, I think I actually have a long way to go…

June 24: Finished the edging, and then realized that I missed the instructions about decreasing 15% at the neck and increasing by a few stitches on each side of the bottom so it flares out. I’m not going back, because it took me forever to finish that edging and I reeaaally don’t want to do it again, so we’ll see how it comes out. I’m now working on the i-cord edging - another new technique under my belt!

June 28: Finished the i-cord bind off. I had to improvise to figure out how to join the bind off when I got to the end of the round. I kind of faked a Kitchener stitch and it doesn’t look too bad. The whole edging ended up a little ripply… perhaps it will come out during washing, but I’m not assuming that that will happen since I’m working with an acrylic yarn. I know blocking won’t work much… But, I think it will look pretty good! Contemplating adding a button, though I’ll more likely wear it with a belt most of the time.

On to the cap sleeves!

July 16: Have I lost my knitting mojo? Maybe. Took this project camping this past weekend. I managed to finish the sleeves, but decided to rip out the edging. While I was doing the sleeves, I realized the instructions said to pick up stitches along the edge at a ratio of 2 for every 3 stitches. I hadn’t down that which is why the edges turned out ripply. Since I knew how to fix it, I couldn’t just leave it! I’m now working on binding, about halfway to the end. Then, work in the ends and I’ll be… finished?

I tried it on before I ripped out the edging and the Husband said it looked good on me, so… here’s hoping!

July 23: Just ends to work in now. I can’t say I’m thrilled. a) The sleeves ended up too puffy. b) I didn’t increase enough along the bottom edge so the trim curls in and looks… odd. Of course, I tried it on over a really awkwardly large t-shirt, so perhaps if I put it on properly and styled it it will be ok. I’m hoping the stitches along the bottom edge will loosen up a bit with washing, but I’m not holding my breath.

It’s mostly cute though, and I think I’ll get at least a FEW wears out of it.

July 25: Finished working in the ends just before Tuesday’s knitting club meeting. Not overly thrilled, but I decided I couldn’t just keep ripping it out over and over. Pictures to come, hopefully!