Started with the sleeves, not sure if I want long sleeves or 3/4. I was concerned about the cuff width, tried various ways to make them smaller & finally decided on a CO of 44 stitches on the size 8 needles.

Sleeves - this is the only lace pattern I’ve done where using markers causes more problems than it solves. I started my sleeve increases on the first pattern repeat, row 4, one stitch in, with a PFB. I placed a marker next to the increased stitch so I could maintain my original front side count of - 15 stitches, M, 11 stitches, M, 11 stitches, M & 7 stitches.

I did the increase of 16 stitches called for with the size small, but that only took me to 60 stitches. So I increased every 6th row next, up to 72 stitches. I put the sleeve on hold one 4 row repeat after that so I can work on the other parts & make sure I have enough yarn to actually do full length sleeves, if that’s what I decide on.

Body - I want a straight edge front & did back & fronts together up to the arm holes. So - 99 stitches for the back, 44 for each front panel = 187, but given my bust is 34”, I’d like a bit more positive ease. I CO 11 more stitches = 198. When I started the decreases (6” from start), I called it 100 stitches for the back & 49 for each side. I tried doing the decreases right at the markers, but that made maintaining the lace impossible. So, I did them on either side of the markers, within a SS section, as close to the lace element as possible. What a pain. If I hadn’t added the extra 11 stitches, I would have eliminated the decreases altogether.

I knit for 13”, although I would have liked more length, I am being cautious about the amount of yarn I have left. I stopped at a row 2 so my arm hole BOs could be done on a plain knit row, row 3. I knit the first front & back of row 3, doing the BOs before knitting the remainder of the row on a shorter cable needle. I left the back & first side live stitches on the longer needle while I work the second front section.

I want the neckline higher - I kept even on the 35 stitches until I had about 16” total length (26 total repeats when neckline decreases started). I need the armholes to be at least 8” long, so I ended up with 38 lace repeats.

Back to evaluate the half finished sleeve. At 72 stitches, it’s not wide enough for the armholes I made for the body. Resumed increases, but did every row 1 until I had 80 stitches, width - 15”. Kept knitting even until length =18” (31 pattern repeats). I BO 7 stitches each side at the beginning of the sleeve cap since I have more stitches than indicated for the size small.

I held the yarn double for the borders, which worked well to prevent flip. I picked up 83 stitches per side.

I didn’t like how the sleeves fit (not sure what the problem was, but it took me 3 tries to get them looking acceptable. And the neckline is still too low.

I took a piece of yarn & wove it through the neckline garter border & snugged it up a bit. That improved it slightly. I am so bummed that I spent so much time wanting to make this cardigan, then slogging through the tedious pattern repeat to have it turn out so mediocre.