Details: Along with tubular cast-on (see below) tubular cast-off of the collar. I separated the knits and purls onto two needles and used my favorite kitchener reminder from Susan).

I knit the body as one piece. Because I had row gauge from the sleeves, I was able to calculate how to make the buttonholes evenly spaced. Another method would be to knit the button band on separately. (There’s one on ravelry and it looks really nice that way). Also, short rows and three needle bind off for the shoulders.

I also was more subtle with the waist shaping, only three decrease rows instead of five.

I followed the fancy rib instructions from MayMay. The other obvious way to do it is to knit the second stitch TBL. I swatched both ways. They look the same, but the gauge is different. I used the TBL method on button band on buttonhole rows to make the button holes neater.

WTF with the schematics math, IK? It’s actually pretty funny and sort of fits with the well known (and un-fixed) error in the pattern directions.

Anyone interested in the schematics and other errors? Follow along with my blog posts about it.

SLEEVES! Even with adding stitches the sleeves were way too narrow. I followed the advice of another ravelrer (ChristyNotHip) and knit a triangular wedge to act as a gusset. This was also necessary to make the sleeve fit the armscyce. So far, I have seamed up one sleeve and all is well.

-------------------Feb 13th-----------------
Knitting two sleeves at once, sleeves first.

Used both a US4 and a US5 needle for Judy’s Magic tubular cast-on. Purled one row (tbl to untwist), knit one row, then completed tubular cast on. Using US4’s did two rows k1p1, the garter stitch rows, then switched to US6 for the main needle. Using Addi Sharp pointy lace needle to expedite cabling sans cable needle and to guarantee I poke myself regularly.

--------------Sept 25 2009 ---------------

I wasn’t happy with the sleeves, so I put this aside for months. I realized that the sleeves were just too short and too narrow. Check the schematics. This pattern has very narrow sleeves with respect to bust. So I fiddled, added some length and width. With 77 stitches on the needle, I followed the directions for size 42.5 for sleeve cap and now the sleeves are done.

I may switch to size 42.5 for the body as well, just to make it a bit roomier.