Aug 22, 2012: swatched using US 10.5 needles and 24” cord. Ended up with 13st over 4 inches. (I forgot to check my row guage….) I will make the Medium (27.24” bust) size, knowing my loose guage probably result in a slightly bigger cardigan.

Knitted for an hour and got up to 66 st on the yoke. Know I know what people meant by “fast knit!”

Note: the pattern as written is a bit confusing to read. It might help to write it out line by line. For me, a few times I almost missed the last sentence “purl 1 row.”

Aug 24, 2012: yoke done.

Aug 25, 2012: Body section
(ok, I’m possessed. This cardigan is taking over my brain!).

After I put the sleeve stitches on holders, I turned the work around, cast on 2 st using the knitted cast-on method, then joined to the body by knitting through the back loop of the next st. The knitted co is a tighter co, and knitting through the back loop (hopefully) help pick up any slack that normally happens at this juncture. Then on the purl row, purl through the back loop on the join stitch (you’ll know which one because it’s kinda wonky and loose).

Now I’m thinking of adding waist shaping….

Decrease section:

A. Knit until 4” from the underarm section, pm at either side of the cardigan (19 st from beg and end for me). Next row: knit to 2st before 1st marker, ssk, sl m, k2tog, knit until 2 st before marker, ssk, sl m, k2tog, k until end of row. The decrease st should look like upside-down Vs (so that when the sweater is worn, the dec st become normal Vs that give a slimming outline to the waist shape.) - 4 st decreased

B. Knit 3 more rows

Repeat A and B one more time (for a total of 2 decrease rounds, or 8 st dec.)

note to self: k to 3 st before marker, dec, k1, sl m, k1, dec

NOTE: Because my waist starts a bit lower than midway down, I’m adding 2 more k rows

Aug 26, 2012: Waist shaping, con’t - Increase section

Increase Section:

C. knit to 1st before 1st marker, M1R, k1, sl m, k1, M1L, knit until 1 st before marker, M1R, k1, sl m, k1, M1L, k until end of row. The increase st should look like normal Vs (so that when the sweater is worn, the inc st become upside-dow Vs that give a flaring-out to the waist shape. Combined with the dec section, this will hopefully result in an hourglass look.) - 4 st increased

D. Knit 3 more rows

Repeat C and D one more time (for a total of 2 increase rounds, or 8 st inc.)

Continue with rest of pattern.

Made body 11” (before ribbing). Here’s how to do the 3x1 rib: http://www.knitting-and.com/wiki/3x1_Ribbing

I did 3” of ribbing before binding off.

Sept 1, 2012: Finished right sleeve
(it seems like no matter what I do, I can’t close those ugly gaps underarm where I begin the pickups.)

Sleeve Mods: Decreased 2 more stitches because I have skinny forearms.

Sept 8th:
Stayed up until 2:30AM and FINISHED the cardigan, ruffles and all. Oh man I love it! The last few rows of the ruffle were making my eyes go sideways, but boy now that it is done, I am SOOOOO happy I did it!

Note: the ruffle adds about 2-3 inches each side, so total my got about 5 inches more to the cardigan circumference. Good thing because I was having second thoughts about the cardigan B.R. (before ruffle).