January 25, 2023

Group on Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/the-testing-pool/4241446/...

First knowledge on KP: https://www.knittingparadise.com/threads/test-knitters.75...

Beginning with Patons Canadiana 50g colour3575 dye lot 203 (Neon Orange)
It’s NOT listed in Ravelry’s database! Only 100g putup is listed!
Anyway, I have five of this brand and dye lot. I’m hoping it will be enough to do the bottom border.

HiyaHiya #7 / 4.5mm set to swatch. I’m pretty sure I should use a bigger size.

2345 hrs.
Partial swatch. One and a half stitches over the 4”. I don’t think it’s telling me the truth! I’m certain my tension will tighten as I go along. So, will begin with these needles. Precision sizing isn’t necessary to test the pattern; at least, I hope it isn’t.

January 26, 2023

OK. Still fumbling. When I have made my own chart, I wrote K or P. On this (and all ‘real’ charts) there are squares with or without dots, and I have to pay closer attention. Not wanting to write out line-by-line, make my own chart, or printing out the chart so I can mark it up - I must exercise my lazy brain!!

Ripped back to the end of row 1, because my brain is too easily messed up.

If/when I repeat this pattern for myself, the first row after the provisional cast on will be an all knit (or all purl) row. I’ll also work a slip-stitch selvedge on the bottom edge, maybe on both edges of the bottom band.

January 27, 2023

From the designer about the meaning of the coloured cables on the chart: The colored ones are the 2/1 cables and the others are the 2/2 cables.

January 28, 2023

Definitely not for knitting in the car, or not yet anyway. Knitting while listening to the TV works though.

1440 hrs.
Stitch markers placed:
1: To remind me to keep the two selvedge stitches in garter stitch.
2: To separate the five stitch bit of lace from the rest.
3: To delineate the Irish Moss stitch section. https://www.studioknitsf.com/the-irish-moss-stitch-st-pat...
This allows me to zip through those stitches on autopilot, not looking at the chart. Actually, it lets me enlarge the chart more, by putting those three sections right off the righthand edge of the screen. Even with the relatively large screen on my iPhone 12 Pro Max, there’s not really enough screen area to keep the whole width - in landscape mode - legible.

1825 hrs.
Second repeat of 15 done!

It’s not mentioned, but I am assuming that the portions of the chart below the bottom blue line and above the top blue line are NOT worked more than once each.

January 29, 2023

First skein finished halfway through Row 28 of the third repeat.

January 30, 2023

22” at four repeats.
I need fifteen repeats to be 78”

22”/4= 5.5”/repeat.

5.5 x 15 = 82.5” !!!

If this works out, it’ll more than fit me!!!

January 31, 2023

For the next time, I really like the provisional cast-on my friend Olithia has linked on her project page: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5tQdzhKaUNM&feature=you...

February 1, 2023

0110 hrs.
Fifth repeat done!!!
One-third of border done. 28” long, including the not-repeated first four rows. On track for 84”!!! Oy!

Width: ~ 8 or 9”

23:30 hrs.
Next repeat done, and another ball of yarn was joined.

February 3, 2023

0110 hrs.
7th repeat done!!

February 4, 2023

Next repeat done.

2245 hrs.
Ninth repeat done, and fourth ball of yarn joined.

February 6, 2023

0410 hrs.
Eleventh pattern repeat DONE!!!

I have decided that, for the purposes of this test-knit, I won’t weave in any ends now. Time is limited; ends can be dealt with after the knitting is completed.

February 7, 2023

2130 hrs.
5th ball added midway through row 35 of twelfth repeat.

February 8, 2023

0430 hrs.
13 repeats and 10 rows of 14th done!

The end is near!!!

0700 hrs.
I stopped knitting hours ago, because I was beginning to make stupid mistakes. I’ve been flip-flopping in bed, unable to sleep since!!!

February 9, 2023

0300 hrs.
14th repeat done!!!

February 10, 2023

Row 35, nearing end of 15th repeat - the fifth/final ball of Patons Canadiana is down to 11”. Enough for a few stitches and to join the first of the Eaton Lady Fair Sayelle.

February 10, 2023

2230 hrs.
Whoopee!! After much counting and recounting, I have 323 stitches picked up!!! I did have to skip a few skipped stitches near the end. Last count was 324, so I dropped the next to last one.

Now, to see if I can do the setup row in less than a day.

February 11, 2023

630 hrs.
It seems I still cannot count. Twice, I thought I had about finished knitting the damnable setup row. Both times, it was way off.

Now, placing markers at the ends of each allotment of stitches , beginning at the end of the miles-long row, I’m tinking back to the beginning. Stopped to get some sleep. Will have at it again later.

February 12, 2023

0500 hrs.
Yay!!! FINALLY!!!
Bleeping Setup Row DONE!!!

Now, to sleep. No Sunday Morning Knitting for me. Too beat!

February 15, 2023

Just two repeats into the 13th row (row 5 on the chart), the first ball of yarn ran out. Second begun.

Looking at the columns of ribbing, I wish the base of the columns began with a couple of purl rows. They seem too long as is.

I may work another band of this diamonds and arrows section. I have the yarn, and I don’t want it to be too short on me. I’m aiming for below rump.

February 19, 2023

So far, seven 50g balls of yarn used up.
Aiming for a tad longer, I did the Texture Design for Body chart three times instead of two. I’ll leave the ten feet of yarn hanging there for when I get to the right-front. I had thought about doing the three parts at once, but I don’t think I’m ready for that much punishment!

February 20, 2023

If I read aright, this has no decreases until the yoke. I’m beginning to fear not being able to complete the knitting before the end of March.

February 23, 2023

So far:
Four balls attached.
Nine balls left.

February 23, 2023

Proof - yet again - that I still cannot count. Missing a few rows on the left-front!

February 28, 2023

Halfway through the sixth repeat (of seven) before the joining of all bits above the arm slots.

March 2, 2023

NEXT time, I’ll do the joining of the parts from the backside on a row 4. I don’t like the look of the all knit (K2tog six times) on the front side.

March 3, 2023

0325 hrs.
Row 7 begun.
Only three more rows before starting the yoke!!

March 10, 2023

0100 Twelfth row of yoke done!!!
0315 Fifteen balls of yarn knitted up.
One ball attached to the waiting stitches of the bottom border.
One ball about to be started.
Four balls still waiting in the wool room.
Will there be enough?

March 12, 2023

0130 hrs.
Row 19 begun.
I did almosts no knitting Saturday. Instead, I actively watched two Indiana Jones movies!

March 13, 2023

0307 hrs.
Row 27 of yoke done!!

2245 hrs.
Row 30 of yoke done.
It’s all decreases from now on!!!

March 14, 2023

0123 hrs.
First decrease row done!!

March 15, 2023

03:30
Row 33 of yoke done.

05:45
Row 35 of yoke done.
Only 22 rows to finish the yoke!!
And every two rows is 16 fewer stitches!!!

March 17, 2023

Row 43 of yoke done.

March 18, 2023

2305 hrs.
162 stitches picked up along left front using HiyaHiya 4.5mm interchangeable.
I need to add one in the first row, to get to an odd number.
Done. Need 163 for the right front.

On hem edge, no selvedge; on neck edge, slip stitch selvedge to match the cast-off.

March 19, 2023

0123 hrs.
I have picked up 164 on right front.
After showing to knitting buddies at Sunday morning knitting, I’ll reduce by one while working the first row of seed stitch onto same needle as the left side.

2310 hrs.
Using smaller size needles for cast-off.

March 21, 2023

It’s marked as finished, but …
Given the quantity of yarn remaining and my liking for a crab stitch border … I want to add that border. I’m also hopeful that the added weight of a row of single crochet plus a row of reverse sc to the hem will do the job of opening up the band of lace just above the bottom. However, getting my 5mm hook into those end-of-row bumps neatly is trying my patience! I’ll try later, beginning by putting a bunch of stitches on a very small knitting needle.

March 21, 2023

2255 hrs.
Single crochet added to hem - one per end-of-row-bump - essentially one per two rows.
Crab stitch added to that. Whew!!
Doing crab stitch on left front, I skipped every third stitch. It flared if I used every stitch.
On the collar edge, I’m also skipping every third stitch, in hopes that it does draw in a tad.

June 5, 2023

Well, I finally tried sewing on the magnetic closures I’d waited so long for. Nix! The knitted fabric won’t stand up to that!
I could search for orange grosgrain ribbon, sew the closures to it, and then sew the two strips of ribbon onto the cape, but that’s a whole lot more hours of unpleasant sewing than I’m willing to commit to.
So, this will remain an open-front cape.

January 15, 2025

Idea for closure: https://www.knittingparadise.com/threads/cardi-not-making...