04-09-2020

This will be my first time attempting a real garment. I’ve only ever made one other thing I can think of for which gauge was truly important. Using the 3.5mm hook, my gauge was smaller than what’s called for, so I attempted again using a 3.75mm. The larger hook resulted in a more holey fabric and I prefer the tight fabric of the 3.5, so I’m nervously considering making a larger size. I am normally between a 2x and 3x, so I’m going to try making a 4x using the 3.5mm the pattern calls for.

Turns out, I also don’t have a 3mm hook, which I’m supposed to use for the neckband. The closest I have is a 3.25mm, so we’ll see how much adjusting I have to do. Using stitch markers every 10 rows to help me count.

05-25-2020

Still plugging away at this whenever I can find the time. All is going well, and I haven’t yet had to make any adjustments. Finished the second increase section.

06-8-2020

Project put on hold because I’ve got to make a wedding gift for Amanda. And potentially a baby gift for a friend after that.

12-21-2020

Attempting to pick this up again, 6 months later. We’ll see if I can remember what I was doing (or where I left off ).

01-09-2021

Paused again to make a baby gift for the Grays.

01-31-2021

Starting again now that the baby gift is finished.

03-2021

Paused to work on more baby gifts…

01-21-2022

I picked this up briefly back in June, and haven’t touched it since. I’m so ready to finish this, but there’s such a long way to go. Let’s see how long I go this time.

01-21-2023

So this has become my in-between-projects project. Still plugging away when I’m able. It’s going to be awesome when it’s done!

07-12-2023

Finished the bottom hem today. I used a 3.25 mm for the hem. Now on to the sleeves. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel…

07-14-2023

Okay, I have confused myself something fierce.

As I started on the sleeves, it became quickly apparent that my stitches using a 3.5 hook were larger than the rest of my stitches on the sweater. One of the downsides of taking 3 years to make this thing is that I really don’t remember whether I ever used a 3.5 on the body, or if it’s been 3.25 this whole time. It’s possible I used 3.5 and the stitches have tightened over time from my trying it on repeatedly to make sure I was getting a proper fit.

Either way, I’m going back to 3.25 for the sleeves and praying it works out.

07-16-2023

I made it to the first sleeve decreases and decided to try it on first. The sleeves were too large, so I’m frogging back to the beginning of the sleeves and removing the increases from the first round. Hopefully that solves the problem.

Also while trying it on, I once again decided I’m not happy with the ruffling going on with the hem. So at some point, I need to go back and fix that too.

09-10-2023

I think I redid the sleeves at least 3 times before I figured out what would work for me. I counted the number of stitches I had at the point of beginning the sleeve decreases, and determined I had too many. So I figured out how many decreases I would need to make in order to get the correct number of stitches, (in my case I think it was like 14?) and I backed up that many rows in the sleeves. Then I began to do the decrease row (under Sleeve Decreases) followed by one row of hdc with no decreases, and alternated those until I got the correct number of stitches. I wasn’t quite at 3.75”, so I did more hdc rows until I got there. Then, I proceeded with the Sleeve Decreases section.

I decided that I wanted 3/4 sleeves for my sweater, so I figured out my desired length and stopped to begin a modified cuff.

09-24-2023

I can hardly believe it, but after 3 years, 5 months, and 15 days, it’s finished! ‍ The fitting has been tricky over the years, and I think I’ve lost 30lbs or so since starting. I was worried that losing weight would cause the sweater to be too big by the time I was done, but I think it actually is still just a little snug somehow. I’m on a steady pace of losing weight, so hopefully that will only mean I can wear it more!

Even though this is only my first fitted garment, I’m going to be brave and enter it in competition at the state fair this year. They don’t have a specific category for crochet sweaters, so I don’t have high hopes to win, but it’s always fun to enter.

10-15-2023

No ribbon this time.