I’ve really enjoyed this pattern: interesting construction, starting at the shoulders, knitting down to the v-neck, then returning to the shoulder sts and knitting the top of the back; and then down to join in the round. There are some nice details, like the slight gathering at the top of the back and the faux seam on the front.

I knitted exactly as the pattern, and I used every scrap of the yarn; my only mod was to knit the sleeves slightly longer, as yardage allowed. I knitted a flat tie as per the pattern and also the neck trim. Where I cast off at the neckline, and also with the tie, I did so with a 4mm needle. This gave a nice firm cast off without being too loose and loopy (as I find with the recommended lace cast off - fine for shawls but not with this pullover!).

Note about the ‘tunnel’: it’s best (I realised in retrospect) to thread the lifeline along the WS of the row as this helps with the cast off grafting. Also, I was slightly worried that the tunnel itself wouldn’t be deep enough for the tie. Well, it actually is, and I kind of ‘get’ the look of this - almost like the tunnel/tie gives a weight to the hem, rather than necessarily needing to be tied or tightened (if that makes any sense). It works anyway!

Yarn: amazing to work with and the most beautiful iridescent greeny/brown. I was super-chuffed to have grabbed these skeins in a recent ECY update: buffs nails and flicks hair

Sweater #31 2016