17-01-2016

Cast on of the gauge sample on 40 (4 × 10) + 1 sts with size 3 mm needles as adviced. My gauge seems to 6 sts/inch ..i guess I’ll have to resort to some additional math!

13-03-2016

Arrived at the second set of increases. Up to now I used 1 ball and half. With bamboo needles my gauge is 8 sts inches.

15-03-2016

Phew! Finished the increases section. The shaping is now evident and I hope ot will fit me well. 5 fake ridges in deco pattern on both sides.

03-29-2016

I worked a lot during Easter holidays and today I joined the shoulders, finally!

I followed instruction to the letter, and since I got vertical gauge from start (4 sts/cm) I had no problem fitting the arrow motif in the given length
I did a stupid thing and I knit up to a 36.5 cm length, where pattern calls for 37.5, based on the distance between my armpit and my waistline.

I’ve noticed the salvedges on the right edges are a bit sloppy and saggy, so instead of purling the last stitch on the wrong side, i purled it in the back. The edge still rolls, but at least the stitches are firmer.

Finally able to wear it, i think it will have a negative ease on the breast area, and be loose on the stomach/waistline. Even with the lenghth mod, the waist is still an inch below mine but it doesn’t look bad. I was convinced I’d have to frog the hem and lenghten it some inches more, but it’s not so short as I thought. The armholes look incredibly wide and extended without sleeves, and the live stitches are sitting way below my armpit.

I still have to knit buttonbands to better judge fitting.

04-03-2016

Finally finished the button bands! It took a bit cause I had to frog the first attempt. I used a size 2.5 (which is larger of the size 2 adviced in the pattern) alas it was way too tight so when i finished casting off it looked curved and way shorter than expected. I got a much better result with size 3 needles. Picked up on 89 sts and worked the button band to be 5 cm wide, even if the pattern called for 7 cms.

I did a pretty aggressive steam blocking to see how measurements worked out and I must say I’m very satisfied. I’ve a slight negative ease on the breast (1 cm roughly), and positive ease elsewhere, as planned. Lots and lots of positive ease. I don’t really like how it drapes on my waist, i could consider maybe serging in order for it to better follow my waistline. We’ll see.

04-08-2016

Started working the sleeve caps! As before, no smaller needle. I should have a straight column of 40 sts in my armscye but instead I have 43! I don’t quite mind that, i’ve chubby upper arms so works for me!

Judging from what I saw in other projects, the sleeves look a bit puffy, so I decided to ignore the pattern directions in favor of another formula i found. You basically divide in two all the stitches you have (included the ones on hold in the underarm), then you divide every half in three. You start working the cap at the beginning of the third section, on the right side, and work short rows knitting (or purling) 1 sts after the w&t, until you arrive at the beginning of the first section. Then you work short rows adding 2 sts after every turn. Until every live stitch has been worked. This sleeve has a much wider shoulder than the one in the pattern and fits me a charm!

I love this way of working sleeves, the end result is nearly perfect. The shoulder fabric meets the sleeve without hassle and there are no ugly holes. I only have one small hole at the beginning of the underarm, but i think i can close it sewing together its two sides with the tail from the beginning of short rows.
I can’t stand w&t so I used cat bordhi thanks mom, which gave me a cool relief effect.