Adapted to work in the round.
Kitchener rib cast on. CO 32.
21 rounds of 1/1.
Switch to US8. Kfb of each st. 64 sts.

Hahah! Okay, I misread the directions. Row 1-4 are knit. In my brain, I took it to be Rows 1-4 stockinette. So that’s what I’ve been doing. Oh well! I like how it looks so I guess I’ll keep going!

Worked 9 repeats plus two plain knit rounds for the first sleeve. It ended up 11” instead of the patterns requested 10”, but I have slightly long arms (or so complained my mom when her sweater barely hit the top of my wrist bone) and I can just make the back a little less broad.

Since the shrug isn’t in garter st, I thought the pattern’s finishing border might look awkward. So I changed it. I went around with US8 and picked up stitches, knit one round, sl st p1 around, then 1/1 rib for 4 rounds, 8 rounds of stockinette, knitted bind off.

All done! Now just need to soak it. Right now it looks like it would have been best to go down a needle size so the ribbing on the edging doesn’t flare. That aside, I think it looks lovely!

Okay, blocking did not go well. It’s so heavy that it really stretched out in an awkward way so I’m taking two, this time blocking it in a tube shape. Fingers crossed.

Second blocking worked much better but I do wish the section around the body could be closed up a little. I probably should have sewed up the sleeves another inch (even though it is already an inch above what the pattern calls for) because it can be a little drafty depending on how I move. And if I did this again, I definitely would remember to use a smaller needed to do the finishing edging since it flares a little bit.

I’m not in love with this project. I mean, the yarn was lovely to knit with, but it’s so heavy, I think it needs a pattern with a bit more structure to it. That being said, it does keep my arms nice and warm when I get chilly so thumbs up there. I could definitely see using this yarn again, but at a tighter gauge. As for the pattern, I like the big sleeves but do wish the body opening was a bit snugger.
…
You know what? I’m going to fix this thing. I’m going to take the border out and redo it on size US6 and make it 1/1 ribbing and make it longer to decrease drafts. I’m going to fix this thing so I like it!

Redone and I’m much happier. Yay! Sadly both my wedding/engagement ring and kitty claws catch on the elongated stitches. I think very quickly this may end up home-appropriate only.

2017 Mar
I rarely wear this because the color is just NOT ME. And when I washed it today, something came loose (I think a knot in the yarn that I had not fixed when I came across it) and so I have a big hole. I’m going to use that as an excuse to frog this. Not sure what I’m going to do with it since the color hasn’t changed though. But the yarn does feel so lovely and soft.