September 24, 2019

Completed an initial gauge swatch using a palette of green background colours, with shades of yellow and red dominant.

The swatch size was 27sts & 30rows with 3.5mm needles. I’m aiming for a 40” jumper so I should achieve close to that by knitting 43.75” size.

I think I’m happy enough with this colour scheme to go with it but I’m going to try the second swatch with different shades of yellow to see if a greater contrast works.

September 26, 2019

I ended up changing the yellow shades for a 2nd swatch so they are darker, and the motifs are less contrasting. I wasn’t sure about it at first but it has grown on me, I think the subtler colours will work better for an all over patterned jumper.

I’ve started with the provisional crochet cast on for the back. I’ve done some practicing to get used to flat stranded knitting since it’s new to me.

September 30, 2019

Reached the union round, no more flat stranded knitting! I made it here quicker than I thought.

October 5, 2019

Nearing the divide round now. All good I think apart from a few holes gaping where 2 stitches have been increased together. Luckily I have plenty of wrong side ends to use for sewing.

It hard to see the shape of progress without the steek cut, it’s all going to come together right at the end.

October 28, 2019

Run out of C4 (shade 034) on the first arm. That’s 375 yards used although pattern states 280. I can’t rely on the suggestions too much because I’m working at a different gauge, but my ratios by colour are different too. C5 is also going to run out before the end, but I didn’t buy enough of that one to start for some reason.

November 10, 2019

Forcing myself to weave in all the many ends before I cut my steek. Then it’s just the steek cutting & collar left to knit.

Somehow I won yarn chicken with the yellow, I have under a gram leftover.

November 14, 2019

Steeked and knitted v-neck.

January 7, 2023

Was never really happy with the finished neckline on this jumper as it was loose and gaped at the front. It was too loose to provide any structure to the rest of the jumper too and never really sat right when I wore it. I’ve finally frogged the rib section and re-knit it.

Changes made:
Sized down to a 2.75mm needle. Decreased one stitch at each should on the decrease rounds, so 8 less stitches than before by the final round.
Bound off in pattern, rather than super stretchy bind off. First attempt went too far the other way and the nick opening was too tight, but I liked the look of the bind off in pattern. Instead, I switched back to 3.5mm needles and bound off in pattern loosely.

The whole jumper sits far better on me now, and layers nicely over shirts/blouses. Very happy I can give this jumper the wear it deserves now.