I like my sweaters to be roomy so I measured one of my favorite kick around sweaters that I got at the thrift store and decided to make the 44.
I made three swatches first with 10’s, then 9’s, the 8’s are the perfect match for the guage. I did find, however that the smaller the needle I used the denser the fabric got. I really liked the feel of the swatch done on the 10’s but we’ll see what the outcome is on the 8’s. (The 8’s are also the suggested size on the ball band.)
Back
1/28/12 Size 5 (29”circ) CO using knitted co, completed 7 rows in garter st and change to size 8. Completed 9 rows in stockinette st.
1/29/12 Purl = even #’d rows ws, Knit = odd #’d rows rs, inserted 1st lifeline (LL) in row 30. 35 rows in ss and 7 in garter complete.
1/30/12 Insert 2nd LL in row 51 (piece measures 10” from CO edge.) Have completed 55 rows and the 7 in garter st.
1/31/12 Join 2nd skein at beginning of row 74. Insert 3rd LL in row 75 (piece measures 13 1/2” from CO edge.
2/1/12 Knit until piece measures 16” from CO edge, row 88 and insert LL.
2/2/12 no knitting done today
2/3/12 Armhole decreases done ending with 66 stitches on row 105. Added LL. Finish evening on row 108.
2/4/12 Back completed with a purl row on row 142. Bind off all stitches using crochet hook method to BO. Back completed.
Pockets
2/5/12 CO 29, knit in ss for 6”, 35 rows (row 35 is a knit row) do decrease row, move stitches onto holder and cut yarn ---make 2 pockets
Back and 2 pockets used 2 skeins.
Left Front
2/6/12 Co with knitted CO. Lower band (7 garter stitch rows) and 16 ss rows completed.
2/7/2012 Insert LL in row 36, (this was a purl row) and then knit row 37
Pocket Placement
I bound off the 27 stitches using the crochet hook method. Add pocket. Note: I knit to row 45 and discovered I had made a mistake in the row just above the pocket.
2/8/2012 I ripped out 3 rows, picked up the stitches, replaced the markers and continued knitting. Place new LL in knit row 47.Add LL in row 68. End day with 75 rows completed. Continue knitting until piece measures 16” from CO edge (this will be row 88) add LL on row 88.
2/9/2012 Insert LL in row 88 (purl row-ws). Piece measures 16” from CO edge. End armhole shaping on row 103. Insert LL in row 104. (Armhole measures 3” from LL row 88 to LL row 104. End day on row 112.
2/10/2012 End day row 121.
2/11/2012 End 7” by working knit row. 129 rows, place LL in row 129. Begin neck shaping. Neck shaping ends on row 139 (knit row). Work to purl row 142. BO all stitches with crochet hook method.
Left side completed with 1 skein.
2/12/2012 CO 52 for RF with knit CO. Knit 7 rows in garter st. Measured LF for 8 buttons, neck edge & 4 more rows into neck band. (129 +4 = 133 rows, divide by 8 = place button every 19 or 20 rows beginning with 1st button in row 1. Place second button hole in row 19, end evening with 32 rows.
2/13/2012 Insert LL in row 33 (a knit row). INsert LL & button hole in row 37. Begin pocket placement on row 28. End pocket placement on row 41. Insert LL in row 43.
2/14/12 Insert LL & 4th button hole in knit row 57. Insert LL and 5th button hole in row 75. Continue till LF measures 16” (row 88, a purl row.)
2/15/2012 Knit row 89 and begin armhole shaping. I got to row 104 and realized I forgot to put in the button hole. AAAAARRRRRRRG! Ripped back to row 95. Knit button hole in row 95 and LL is inserted in row 96. Calling it a night here, tomorrow’s another day.
2.16.2012 Continue even to armhole shaping. Inserted LL in row 105. Work button hole in row 115. Work to row 128. Insert LL in WS row 128. Begin neck shaping on row 129. End neck shaping on row 138. Knit even to row 142 (purl row). Bind off all stitches using the crochet BO method.
2.18.2012 Sleeves
CO both sleeves together. (Use one skein for each sleeve. There was barely two feet of yarn left on each skein at end of sleeves.) 1st 7 rows in garter stitch & 4 rows in stockinette complete.
2/20 continue per pattern instructions. Insert LL in row 15 (inc row)
2.21.2012 Ripped out both sleeves and started from beginning. CO both sleeves on 1 circ using knit CO. Place marker between the 2 sleeves as a reminder to change skeins. Knit 7 rows of garter. Continue in st st. Insert LL in row 5 (1st inc row)
2/23/2012 End on inc row 15
2/25/2012 Insert LL in inc row 27 (now 52 st on each sleeve)
2.26.2012 Insert LL in row 34. Insert LL in row 45 - end of repeat 6 of 11.
2/29/2011 Have you ever been too sick to knit? I just spent 2 days so ill I could barely get out of bed. Folks, don’t try this one at home.
3.1.2012 Insert LL in row 57 (inc #8) End day on row 63 (inc #9)
3.3.2012 Saturday - Finish 11th inc. There are now 68 st on each sleeve. Insert LL in row 77. Sleeve measures 13 1/4 “ fro CO edge to LL. End day on row 80.
3/4/2012 Insert LL in row 97. Piece measures 16 1/2” from CO to LL. End night on row 98.
3/5/2012 Continue knitting per pattern to 18” form CO edge. End on purl row 104 with a LL.
3/6/2012 Knit decreases for sleeve cap. Insert LL in row 118 - 42 stitches on each sleeve.
3/8/2012 Continue with decreases per pattern. End sleeve cap on row 140. Crochet BO last 8 stitches. Sleeves completed.
3/17/2012 Sew shoulder seams, pick up stitches around neck edge as instructed in pattern. Knit neck edging. BO stitches with a crochet BO. Weave in all loose ends.
3/18/2012 Managed to get the cap of one sleeve in tonight. Such a busy weekend and back to work tomorrow.
3/20/2012 Sleeve cap on second sleeve sewn in tonight. I’m taking it slow because my hand is hurting again.
3/22/2012 Left side is sewn up.
3/24/2012 Right side sewn up. Pockets and buttons are all that are left.
3/25/2012 Sewed pockets. Buttons sewn on using a small piece of felt at the back and a tooth pick to space them and create the shank. Sewn on with DMC floss. FINISHED! I love it, it’s thick and warm and just a little too big. Perfect!
Note about the yarn-- I loved working with this yarn.It knits up beautifully and doesn’t stretch or split. It’s soft and warm. Now here’s the “but” I probably won’t use it again because I only wore the sweater one day and I’m very disappointed with the amount of pilliing. Any suggestions?