Saw the sample knit up at Stitches and couldn’t resist this beautiful cardigan. I have an almost obsessive need to change something about a pattern (I almost never knit the pattern as the sample), but this one is perfect as is: the color is gorgeous, the lace pattern beautiful and my style of cardigan. So apart from different buttons, mine is going to look exactly like the pattern sample! (edit: have to do some adjustments to make this more flattering to my body).

Starting with a sleeve (my version of swatching) and I am loving it so far. Of course I’m also learning the lace pattern while doing increases… brilliant! Okay, the lace pattern is fairly straight forward, but it is a little more sluggish figuring out the increases than if I had started with the back. However, the sleeves will be done and it’s worth it not to have to do them at the end.

Update: just took the first photos and learned two things: 1)this color is going to be hard to photograph and 2) dog hair is instantaneously attached to my projects.

Update 10/23/2014: totally sucked into this project. I should be working on finishing up a handful of projects, but can’t put this down. The first sleeve is past the increases and I need to skein up more of the hanks. I can’t say enough about this yarn. I have a passion for subtle tweed yarns and this one is just beautiful. A true knitter’s yarn.

Update 10/24/2014: after a lot of internal (and not so internal) debate, I’m going to have to do some adjustments to get the right fit for me. I’m actually going to A-line it a bit so I have enough ease for my hips. So the body will be cast on for the 50” and I’ll decrease down to the 45” before I hit the bust. This will give me negative ease over the bust, but will fit me better thru the shoulders and back (my full bust measure is 46”, but my back measures 17”. I am a little full busted). I debated about doing some changes to the sleeves, but I think I’ll be fine with them. The schematic says the sleeves will be snug on me, but I know that this lace pattern has a little wiggle room with blocking (I’ll do a block and fit then decide if I need to rip back and reknit after I have one done).

Update 10/25/2014: I rely heavily on schematics for patterns, and I’m having some confusion with this one. The sleeves specifically. The bicep circumference doesn’t match the armhole opening. The armhole depth lists 8”, yet the schematic shows the sleeves to be 14.5” circumference. The other difference is the sleeve length. The pattern has you do your sleeve length, then you work an additional 2” before you start shaping the cap, which is not shown on the schematic (or I am supposed to take that 2”+ off my overall sleeve length? The written directions are very specific about working to the number on the schematic then adding the 2” before cap shaping) I also noticed that the body sleeve opening is shaped, yet the sleeve cap is barely shaped. I’ve never worked a pattern where the body sleeve opening has this much curve and the sleeve not correspond.

I think this project might have to go on the back burner for a bit.

Update 09/18/2015: okay it’s back into the frying pan! I have the first sleeve set aside and just cast on the back. As mentioned earlier, I cast on the size 50” and I’ll decrease down to the size 45” before I hit the arm scythe. Going to try to finish this to wear to Rhinebeck. (forgot how much I love knitting with this yarn!)

Update 09/25/2015: eeks, this is taking a while! Maybe trying to get this done for Rhinebeck was a mistake (the size 6 needles should’ve been a good indication, eh?). Anyway, I’m just a few inches before the arm scythe. The good news is that I do have the first sleeve almost done. Once the back is done, I’ll get a better feel for how the sleeves fit into the body (as mentioned, the schematic and directions do not match at all). I just hope I’m not wasting time trying to get this done when I have other projects I could’ve finished. I do love this yarn. The color is very me and the slight tweed and wool-i-ness is yummy. I’m guessing an other color will come home with me from Rhinebeck…

Update 09/26/2105: on the upper back (all arm scythe shaping completed!) The back is on the third skein of yarn… and I might be getting a wee bit nervous that I have enough. Of course if I knit faster, I should be fine. As everyone knows, the faster you knit, the less yarn you use. Right?

Update 10/1/2015: so I have the back done-(ish) and the first sleeve is finished with the second well underway. There is still a mild panic that I have enough yarn. I bought the yarn based on the 45”, but as I said, I made the lower back wider to account for my butt. I’m hoping that the shorter sleeves help. I also see the discrepancy with the sleeves is the schematic, not the directions. Basically the schematic should have the length under the arm, not the top (as you work a further 2” after your sleeve length for the cap). The schematic shows it as the complete sleeve length. So the only change to the pattern I’ve made so far is the extra width on the lower half of the back and shortened sleeves. Awesome! Looking forward to blocking this baby (ya know, as it’s lace)

Update 10/05/2015: left front is a few repeats away from arm scythe. I go thru phases that I think this is going to be awesome, then I worry that it’s not going to fit me right. Fairly normal for me. My biggest concern (might be a pun there…) is that it’s cropped. My last cropped sweater made me realize that my frumpy middle aged body might not do cropped as well as my younger, more shapely self. I just hope that I didn’t focus on a project to finish for Rhinebeck that doesn’t work out. Too late to change focus now… and I do want this baby done one way or the other. (I know it can always go to a good home if it doesn’t fit me)

Update 10/06/2015: just cast on the right front which is the last piece to knit! I am feeling a lot better about yarn consumption. I’ll be fine. So looks like I’ll be able to block by the end of the week giving me a nice amount of time to let it dry and do the finishing.

Update 10/09/2015: The right front is past the neck shaping. Just a heads up: there is an error in the pattern for the neck shaping. It has you work it as the back, not the left front. A fairly obvious mistake, but if you knit “blind” you would not have a neck opening.

I’ll also add the pattern shows a longer sweater on the pattern picture. The new photo put up here on Ravelry is a more accurate body length (tho’ the color is way wrong. It should be the same color as my sweater). If I had known when I bought the pattern that it was so cropped, I would’ve bought more yarn to lengthen it. I’m hoping I can block the krap out of it. If not, my MIL will have a lovely lacey cardigan for Christmas.

Update 10/09/2015: soooo… all the knitting is done. Yay? well, to say that this is not working for me at all is an understatement. It is definitely more cropped than I want. I am not happy with some of the things I did at the top (I don’t think I’ll do the short row shoulder shaping as my wraps don’t look neat enough for me. I would rather just bind off and sew up my shoulders).

All in all I think I went into this project with the wrong mind set. The whole idea of “I’ll knit it as written” doesn’t take into consideration my body. I went by the photos on the pattern not noticing how short the pattern actually is. While I do think the pattern is really cute, it’s not suitable for me at all. I will say that I looooove the yarn. So my debate at this point is: do I finish it and give it away. Frog it and start over (maybe get an extra skein or two of yarn to lengthen to my taste). Frog it and use the yarn for a different pattern. I’m sorta leaning towards that one.

Notes to self:
cast on using a long tail tubular cast on (which looks awesome with the slip stitch rib). Trying to peek at the designer’s version, looks like she used a tubular cast on too. Love.

shorten sleeves 2”

cast back on for a size 50” then decrease down to the 45” before armhole shaping.