1. Knit body and sleeves in the round.
2. Used tubular cast on as in this video.
3. Will knit fake side seams by purling 1 stitch on each side until I get to the Hopsack pattern. Then I will knit the pattern in the round.
4. Using this method by Brooklyn Tweed to alternate yarns as the Rios has very different shadings in the skeins ( even from the same pack: Helix knitting.
5. Working between two sizes, CO 204 sts total, decrease 4 sts ( one before and one after each of the side-seam Purl stitch) three times before starting the Hopsack pattern to have it more fitted around the upper body and shoulders. Also 192 sts is a number the 4 sts Hopsack pattern repeat fits in quite nicely when knitting in the round. The first and last sts of both front and back are purls. Also as I am knitting to gauge, this will be a good size and fit.
6. Using Suzanne Bryan’s method of keeping stitches uniform in the Hopsack pattern: enlarged knit before Purl
7. working the body and sleeves 1” longer before starting Hopsack pattern ( my son is 6‘4“).
8. Instead of binding off the shoulder sts I keep them life , doing German short rows and joining the live shoulder stitches with Kitchener stitch.

4.27. The body is done, now on to the sleeves.

4.28. Working the neckband next, picked up the 84 sts on a 16” circular #7 needle. I reconsidered my ribbing and do the ribbing on the neckband in a 2x2 because it looks better next to the Hopsack pattern, more centered and as if flowing from the pattern stitch. Since I did a 1x1 ribbing for the body I will do the same for the sleeves. I think that will look ok.

4.29. Normally I would knit the two sleeves two at a time on two circular needles, but decided that it’s not worth it to try and juggle four balls of yarn ( remember, since this is hand-dyed yarn I alternate between two balls of yarn). I will just have to count rows and keep good track of what I am doing to get two identical sleeves. This is not a problem since I am knitting to gauge and usually “translate” any measurements from inches to a row count anyway ( for example 2 1/2 inches of ribbing equals 15 rows etc.).

5.8. With both sleeves done as of today, I am taking a little break before I set in the sleeves, block and finish next week.

5.28. After an almost three week break, I finally seamed in one sleeve today. It came out really nice. Now here is hoping that seaming the second one will come out as well.

5.31. Both sleeves are seamed in. They both came out perfectly
The neckband seems too long and I used the basic catch stitch to hem in the neckband. This is a nice stretchy seam and the neckband doubled, rolled may make it extra warm. I decided on this rather than unraveling some rows and shorten the neckband that way. My only worry was that it will still indeed fit over the head and I had my husband try it on ( he and our son are of similar build).
Fits great. I am glad it’s finished with almost three months to spare ( to his birthday).