tips, mods and then random notes below:

UPDATE: I wore my sweater all day yesterday for my daddy’s birdday party. My daddy was so funny, he said, “SHAWN. The lines go that way…..But the bottom goes THIS way! That shirt is WEIRD. Just like YOU.” OMG I love my daddy! haha! Even though I modified the sleeves a LOT they still are a teensy “drop’ and I’m not used to how it feels and do have to tug it down a little when I raise my hands, but I wore it all day, so that means I loved it. I don’t wear stuff that isn’t comfy and enjoyable. What I loved, perhaps the most, is the mirror test. Now, everyone that knows me, knows that I cannot go past a mirror (or anything reflective) and NOT stick out my tongue. It is just something I must do. Always. Yes, even if I am alone. But….for some reason…this shirt did NOT make me stick out my tongue. Instead, I made this really bazaar face and put my fingers in my ears. I am not sure why this is, but it is a fact.

To beat the system of figuring out when to turn, I am just putting a stitch marker in anticipation of when the next turn will be-so if I’m on the turn 4 before then I’ll have already put a stitch marker four stitches from the turn.

Modifications:

During the 3rd short row section after the 6th repeat: count 60 stitches after Main stitch marker, place marker for arm,-count 32, mark with another for other side of arm there are 60 additional stitches

So, for our 7th repeat of 3rd short row (ws) K6 (should bring you to the SM, place next 32 on waste yarn, CO 12, K 6 (should bring you to 6 before the turn. finish working one more repeat of 3-4.

I then did the YO part without making an increase (I put in K2tog after each YO).
Then, I continued knitting until my left sleeve was as tall as my right…but in hindsight, I should have made it a little bigger because the garter stitch lays differently-so next time I might make it a little longer…or do the garter parts in stockinette…for me taht was 8”. then I put the 1st 16 and last 16 onto waste yarn for that arm.

Working the body, I did quite a few rows of straight up knit, as I didn’t want to start the short rows until later….and so I did.

Between my stripes I continued using the black between each color-I liked that fun definition-I did two rounds of the black-one knit one purl for extra definition. Not 100% sure I like that but hay, I can always make another! ha!

for the sleeves-instead of the extra cast on at the sleeve portion and then having to seam them, I just picked up the 12 stitches that I had casted on for the underarm. I also picked up an additional two stitches on either side because I felt like it.

1-14-15 Finally bought this pattern I’ve stalked for ages.
Perfect because I stalked this yarn.

did my cast on-I’m opting out of the cowl neck…My one complaint thusfar is that I have to pay attention to where my turns were-I much prefer counts-BUT that would make the pattern a heck of a lot longer and I fancy saving ink. So I’m calling it a wash. ;)

1-15-15: I think I am ready to split for one sleeve. EEK!…about an hour later. First sleeve split-Looks like the math worked out SO FAR. But due to the weirdness of the construction I am not going to have any whoohoo parties yet. I’m keeping careful notes in my spiral-if it works out I’ll be sure to post here what I’ve done. :)

Ok, and a little later still I was able to get the second arm done. I’m thinking I like where they ended up. phew. Now it should be easy peasy!

1-16-15: I worked quite a bit last night at dd’s kobudo (karate but with weapons) and stressed over how it was working up as I didn’t want to keep running to the bathroom to try it on (did that there before and I swear people thought I had rivers of poo flowing through me). This morning I gave it a try on and I’m over the moon thrilled. I’ll keep plugging away and see how the end comes up.

Ok, so I’ve gotten my short rows for the body down-I changed them up a little to go with what my vision was for the coloring…

1-17-15: Finished the body portion…I LOVED his loose bind technique, never did it that way before. BUT it is still a little too tight in the bind off, so I’ll redo that, and use the other way I know how.

1-18-15: I did the elastic bind off and am much happier with it. JOY! I started the sleeves and am just so so excited to see that this is all coming together so nicely! EEK! Can’t wait to wear this little sucker out on the town. Wait. I live in the country. I hate going into town. Hmm…I can’t wait to wear this sucker on my next mole hunt! EEK!

1-20-15: All done-I added a few rounds of garter to neckline skipping a few stitches along the thicker part (where the wide stripes are at the neckline) to even out the fact that one was a little longer than the other-did just the trick. Steam blocked the sucker and I am in love. LOVE.
December 27, 2014:

I own it. I have no idea what to do with it. :) Thanks to my darling hubby who got me my gift certificate. I’ve been eyeing this yarn forever. :)

UPDATE: I wore my sweater all day yesterday for my daddy’s birdday party. My daddy was so funny, he said, “SHAWN. The lines go that way…..But the bottom goes THIS way! That shirt is WEIRD. Just like YOU.” OMG I love my daddy! haha! Even though I modified the sleeves a LOT they still are a teensy “drop’ and I’m not used to how it feels and do have to tug it down a little when I raise my hands, but I wore it all day, so that means I loved it. I don’t wear stuff that isn’t comfy and enjoyable. What I loved, perhaps the most, is the mirror test. Now, everyone that knows me, knows that I cannot go past a mirror (or anything reflective) and NOT stick out my tongue. It is just something I must do. Always. Yes, even if I am alone. But….for some reason…this shirt did NOT make me stick out my tongue. Instead, I made this really bazaar face and put my fingers in my ears. I am not sure why this is, but it is a fact.