Mid November: Finished. Really enjoyed knitting the lace panel, the rest was indeed a good holiday knit (got through most of it by the pool in Turkey, while reading, truly multi-tasking).

MODS: only one, but if I was to knit again…

1. The only mod I did was to stop decreasing for the sleeves after 8 sets of decrease, and missed the lace panel on the sleeve - wanted a vaguely kimono-style sleeve. Also added a couple of loops and buttons to hold it closed in a wrap style.
2. Next time I would extend the lace panel so that the st st extended to the moss stitch edging at top and bottom.
3. I’d change the collar. I don’t see the point of the reverse st st collar along the top, the collar doesn’t fold where the reverse st st starts and overall it doesn’t sit particularly well. I’d reduce the height of the collar by at least half. You can see the shape of this cardi in the photo of it being blocked, although it looks much better on. Thank goodness!
4. I enjoyed knitting the afterthought sleeves but don’t really like the way they wear. Maybe some short rows for shoulder shaping. It feels like they pull across my shoulders.
5. Some of these issues might be solved by choosing a different wool. I knitted this in merino, and thought I’d ordered more than enough (has 1260m). In the end it took another 3 balls so 1575m. It was only after I ordered the wool that I noticed the comment on the pattern page that although this is billed as DK, it’s actually knitted in something more like 4 ply. My merino has less drape, because it’s quite a bouncy DK weight. I had issues getting the extra balls in the correct dye lot and ended up having to work in a different dye lot - annoying but is I think invisible.

Having said all that, essentially I wanted a wrap with sleeves, which is exactly what I got. It’s a pretty pattern and the lace is good fun to knit.

Early October: About to go on holiday for a week and I don’t do poolside, so need a project to take with me and this is it. Planning to do the lace panel before I go because I don’t think I’ll get peace on the plane, and it is technical, sit up and concentrate knitting. My favourite kind!