18-12-2019

Rather fiddly. Working on the band in Camps Bay colourway.

20-12-2019

Step 1 of the band is finished. About 110 rows in all wool, not a blend, makes 49 cm, roughly 19 inches (vs pattern’s 124 rows). I did check gauge, for once, so hope this is ok.

21-12-2019

Did about 4 more rows just in case, before joining the ends. I initially thought the band was going to be folded horizontally but after reading the pattern carefully, I realised that wasn’t the case. I’m using the free pattern on the website and the paid one might be different.

22-12-2019

Row 3 of the body, I had 120 stitches instead of the 124 per the pattern, as must gauge seemed slightly different.
Re the crossed double (treble) crochet, it took me several goes before I realised that I didn’t crochet into both skipped stitches, but only one…

24-12-2019

Row 5 of body: 121 stitches

Row 7: 4 inches. Incl band.

29-12-2019

Row 14: 122 trebles, vs pattern 124. Supposed to go up to 20 rows, but seems a lot! 6.5 inches already and only need another inch.

31-12-2019

Ho hum. I decided the highly variegated yarn was not working in a great chunk, so I frogged everything except the band and four rows. I them did four rows of Camps Bay, same as the band, followed by another three of the variegated.
But I didn’t like that either. Sigh. I eventually frogged everything except the band and one row of the variegated, and tried alternating rows of solid Camps Bay (cross stitch) with variegated trebles - and at last I like it!
I have previously thought that strongly variegated yarns are not very suited to crochet as the stitches are so much bigger than average knitting, and I am now pretty convinced.
The variegated looks good in small amounts in crochet, but unattractive in great slabs.
Second discovery: in row 8 (cross stitch row) I finally realised I had done the cross stitch incorrectly, leaving an extra treble unworked, for a slightly uneven and more open look. By mistake. In row 10, I have corrected to what I should have done. I am not going to frog and correct the incorrect rows, as have redone a lot! already.

31-12-2019

158 trebles in row 11!?
Oh dear. I frogged because it didn’t work doing the stitch correctly, and because I didn’t like the expanse of Cape Carnival -- too highly variegated.
Eventually by trial and error worked out that alternating variegated with almost solid is pretty and should be acceptable. Now just to finish on time!

18-01-2020

It’s finished, and looks nice, but it’s too big for the giftee… hmm, may have to change giftee, and make a smaller size.

2021-05: Finally, finally! Gave it to someone else, who really loves it. And am hoping for a good photo in exchange. ;)