August 29, 2021

Today is the day I started thinking about this project, and went stash diving. It turns out I have a lot of single 25g skeins of Rowan yarns, and also a lot of leftover sock yarn. Don is helping with the colours.

Kaffe Fassett used a neutral beige/oatmeal to separate the 6 wedge circles. Each circle uses a combination of darker and brighter coloured yarns. At first I thought black would be right but then realized that it would be better if they were a combination of darks - grey, navy and dark green.

I have to figure out how to knit intarsia on my standard gauge. Then I have to figure out the pattern so I can actually follow it. The chart in the book is eye-crossing confusing.

I should probably input it into AYAB to simplify the needle selection process.

September 3, 2021

It took me three tries to get this 64 stitch gauge swatch going. I kept dropping stitches, I think because I didn’t have enough tension on the yarn in the hooks.

This requires a lot of concentration!

September 4, 2021

Gauge swatch is 64 rows x 64 stitches, 4 courses of triangles.

All the colours are good except the yellow at the top which is too bright/light.

September 5, 2021

I’m planning the colour distribution with coloured pencils, using an outline of the front piece. The outline was in turn based on the knitting instructions provided by Garment Designer.

Phew!

I figured this would make it easier to choose colours as I went without creating pattern repeats unintentionally. Random is harder than it seems. I’m choosing based on 2 darks, 2 hot, 2 cool colours in each group of 6 coloured triangles.

I also reminded myself how to make yarn butterflies. Hopefully this will make colour management easier as I go. See this video.

September 6, 2021

It is possible to weave in ends as I go. They have to be behind the latches.

First 4 courses of triangles are done, mostly smoothly.

I inserted ravel cord stitches after 3 courses for the pocket opening. I sure hope it works, otherwise the entire front is jeopardized!

December 3, 2021

Whee, back is done!

Pockets are on same tension (7) on 44 stitches (2 either side of the stitches on waste yarn). I hung the stitches from the TOP edge of the pocket, and knitted 90 rows then waste yarn.

Then I hung the pocket piece on MB with right side facing, hung the other side of the waste yarn stitches on top. Cast off 2 on the carriage side, knit one row at MT, cast off 2 on the other side. Transfer every second stitch to ribber.

9 rows of ribbing at SS4.2, transfer stitches back to MB and cast off loosely.

Phew.

No. Oops. That did not work. Ribbing on inside? This is weird topology.

December 5, 2021

I picked up the front stitches with a circular needle and hung them on the machine the right way around. Then I hung the pocket bag also the right way around, frogged the ribbing and reknit the ribbing for the pocket.

One row stockinette at SS 8, then 10 rows ribbing at SS 4.2, transfer stitches to MB, sewn bind off which is stretchy enough.

If I knit the plain row R to L then it would be easier to sew…

December 10, 2021

Swatching for the front band. FNR set up on 11 stitches MB and 10 on ribber on SS 4.0. Transfer 2 right hand ribber stitches to 2nd and 3rd MB needles, leaving 8 on ribber and 11 on MB for a small roll.

At 40 rows I made a trial buttonhole by transferring the 5th MB stitch (counting from L) to the left, and the 4th and 5th stitches on the ribber to the adjacent needles on either side. The next row I left one of the ribber needles out of work and brought it back the following row.

At 60 rows I made a smaller buttonhole by transferring the 5th needle on each bed to the left, leaving both needles in work to knit the next row.

First segment is 80 rows.

Second segment 80 rows at SS 5.0. Same buttonholes.

While waiting for my band swatch to dry, I am knitting the ribbing at the bottom of the body pieces.

After hanging, one row stockinette at SS7. Then 21 rows of 1x1 rib at SS 4.2, ending with carriage on left.

December 11, 2021

Neckband on SS 5.0 and 3 stitch buttonhole works great. Row gauge is 47.6 rows = 10cm.

Neckband length = 30 x 2 (front neck)+ 38.5 x 2 (front) = 69 + 24 (back neck) = 161 cm

Therefore I should knit 760 rows. I am rounding down slightly.

For arm openings, I need 60 cm so 284 rows.

December 18, 2021

I used all of the 100g skein of navy I bought to do the pockets and bands before I got to the arm bands! Wow, had to go stash diving for more navy sock yarn. Luckily I had some.

The bands are now knitted, washed and drying. Tomorrow I put this together!

December 25, 2021

Finally it is done! It’s roomy on, wider through the shoulder than he was expecting. However, he has to wear it EVERY.SINGLE.DAY because this took forever.