September 1, 2024

MAGPIE VERSION

Made 3.5” and then measured the width. I was expecting in the region of 23” but it was 28”. I don’t want to go down in hook size because fabric is already quite stiff, so…
9823/28=80.5

The smallest size on the pattern uses 82 stitches, so use smallest instructions for width and for increases/decreases. Use largest size for lengths.

This time I’m not unravelling and reusing the yarn again.

September 1, 2024

Finished back of sweater. Fourth attempt. Nearly used up a ball of yarn because I didn’t unravel last two bits. The first one had already been unravelled twice for my attempts at the pine crew, and then the other had a bunch of joins where I cut out dodgy sections of yarn, so…

September 1, 2024

Sleeve way wider (16.5” ). Made it length of largest size before I started to decrease. Single decreases to 52 stitches. Double decreases to 42. Then I tried it against the armhole and think it fits. Left last bit of second ball attached in case I need to continue with it. Started second sleeve with ball 3.

November 9, 2024

Finished front and back and sewed shoulder seams - probably a bad plan if I’m going to run out of yarn, but it’s done.

Sleeves - seem to remember them getting wide quick so increasing every 5 rows instead of every 3 to help with yarn

November 10, 2024

First sleeve 16” and 60 stitches. One more increase to go and then straight until 20.5”, then follow notes from Magpie version.

November 15, 2024

Rib + 80 rows = last increase + 10 rows = 20.5”

November 15, 2024

Reduce one stitch at the end of the row to 42 stitches, then reduce one stitch at either end of row to 12 stitches, and first sleeve done.