Rushing this for Christmas!

It seems I can work around 10cm of the pattern per day, so that’s about another 5 days or so to finish the pattern bit, and then there will be just the ribbing left. So I might just finish it before I have to leave for Christmas!

Technical notes:

The main pattern calls for:

yfwd, K3, lift 3rd st on right needle over first and 2nd sts and off the needle

It is more than a bit awkward to lift the 3rd st over the other two stitches on the right needle. I have found the fastest and easiest way for me to work the pattern is this:

yfwd/yarnover (it is the same here), K3, move the 3 sts over to left needle purlwise (ie. untwisted), lift 3rd st on right needle over first and 2nd sts and off the needle, move the 2 sts back to right needle.

BO

For the other end of the main piece, in order to get the bo to match the co (using cable co), I’m doing it in 2 pieces and grafting the garter stitch ends.

Pattern says:

• RS: Purl
• Rep this row 5 times more, ending with RS facing for next row.
• Cast off purlwise (on RS).

My improvisation:

• RS: Purl (leave on needle, this is the main piece that you have been working on so far).
• On another set of needles, CO stitches (57 for medium size) for the end piece.
• RS: Purl
• WS Purl
• RS: Purl
• WS: Purl
• Use kitchener stitch to graft two pieces together in purl:
• : Place the end piece in front, RS facing you.
• : Place the main piece behind, WS facing you. The two pieces should have their last knit rows facing you.
• : Graft together in purl, ie. “prepare as if to knit, take off as if to purl”, starting with the front first stitch (a knit stitch), then the back first stitch (also a knit stitch) and so on.