May 4, 2017 - May the forth be with me

I enjoy looking at each new star-flower row that pops up. I have decided to make my sleeves 10 rows of star-flowers. This should give me 140 pattern rounds, plus one increase round at the start plus the 30 rounds of ribbing = 171 rounds. Sleeve of 51.5-52 cm. Should be good.

In the pattern you are told to make the first stitch of the round (after the ribbing) a purl stitch. I chose to make my last stitch a purl stitch instead to make the purl stitch from the ribbing flow into the faux seam. This makes me happier.

I intend to make the waist shaping in the same manner, with an extra added purl stitch at the side.
If all of this looks as nice as I hope, I think I might do the centre stitch of the raglan purled as well.

I have done my increases at a 12 row interval (4cm instead of 3cm unintentionally), 10 or 11 rounds would have been better, my 2 last increases will have to be adjusted: 10 sets of increases at 12 row interval, the two last at half of that - 6 row interval.

May 5, 2017

First sleeve done

Of the white I used half of the ball, perhaps one ball will be enough for two sleeves. A bit close for my nerves, but I will make a note.
Of the mustard approx. 5-7 grams were used. So circa 1/10 of the amount listed for the whole sweater.
Of the MC 80% was used up: ~10 grams remain.

May 10, 2017

My thoughts on the white rang true: it was close, but not the good kind of close. The ball ran out with exactly half of the star-flower rows left.
Attaching ball 2 of white.

May 11, 2017

Second sleeve done

My mustard ball now weighs 40 grams (including ballband).

May 12, 2017 - International ME-day

That feeling when you cast on all your (317) stitches, with the perfect length tail left, on the first try!
I have markers every 50 stitches. 6 markers lined up as I begun, every second bigger than the other, making 50 small marker 100 big marker. I love this system, so simple to double check the correct stitchcount.

317 total:
11 + 11 buttonbands
73 first front
1 purled faux seam stitch
146 back stitches
1 purled faux seam stitch
74 second front

This means I have chosen not to decrease ~30 sts after the ribbing.

12 May marks the international awareness day for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), which is commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome; ME is often labelled as a “silent” illness but can bring great mental and physical exhaustion to those living with it; ME effects include cognitive impairment, poor short-term memory, muscle and joint pain, gastrointestinal problems and food intolerance amongst other things.

May 13, 2017

The left over MC from both sleeves was only enough for the rib until the first (lowest) buttonhole.
Note to self: the buttonwhole before turning the work over has four stitches on each side. This means four stitches are cast on, and the last of the four is p2tog from the front.

May 28, 2017

Moving house and calculating waist shaping was apparently beyond me, the above calculation does not yield the result I wanted.

I had finished the ribbing, the first row of flowers when I realised I didn’t like that the flowers in the shaping weren’t the same. Ripped back to zero - killed my mojo. It has taken me crazy long to knit ribbing.

New try:

315:
11+11 buttonbands
70+3 first front
1 purled faux seam stitch
3+139+3 back
1 purled faux seam
70+3 second front

June 10, 2017 - WWKiP-Day

I have started my third white ball and my fifth ball of MC and finished all my waist decreases.

A most productive World Wide Knit in Public Day in fantastic company!
I wish I had a picture to add to remember this beautiful day, it appears I was more into knitting than taking pictures.
Six flower rows are completed.

June 17, 2017

The 6th ball of MC was added at one starflower into the yoke. Now I have one more ball of MC unbroken.
In the pattern for “Dame, brun L/XL” 300g MC is noted, as I made my ribbing longer and added waist shaping (bigger in the hips, smaller in the waist) I did buy one extra ball of MC (=350g). I am happy with that decision for a longer rib makes a longer cardigan, meaning the button band will also need to be longer!
Let’s se how much I will need of that last skein of MC.

June 22, 2017

Neckline according to the largest size (next size up from what I am knitting).

I tried it on as I went - stopped reading the pattern.

June 26, 2017

I added a salvage stitch to my buttonband!
Note to self: Best idea ever!
Also don’t forget to k2tog once the buttonband is connected and the neckline to be knit.

The buttonholes are knit at a 22 row interval.

June 27, 2017

I have just picked up my cardigan from the laundry house, washed and ready I am waiting for it to dry.

This time I sewed the steek on the sewing machine before I attached the buttonbands - good order of things, I will do it like that again.

Now what is left is cutting the steek, cover the cut with ribbon (must buy) and sew on buttons (must buy).

Two months worth of work, moving during this project has really made it take for ever.

I am happy to see it near completion.

July 9, 2017

10 weeks!!!
This was massive!
I am very happy with it - quite possibly the best made thing I have made to date.

August 9, 2017

Re-checking of the gauge seems it was 28…