March 10, 2016

This is going to be very warm and cuddly - lofty fisherman’s rib paired with squoooshy soft alpaca mix. The yarn is a wonderful subtle colour - the bright pink/purple is mixed with emerald green to excellent effect. Wondering about the practicality of pockets, still undecided.

March 14, 2016

No, I did not enjoy tubularly binding off the bottom hem. Not one bit. But it is done now. Onwards! to the sleeves.

March 15, 2016

I do wish I’d found out about this nifty way to correct uneven purl stitches in ribbing earlier in my life. At least before starting this project.

Combating my loose/wonky purl stitches in flat stocking stitch has been achieved by learning to knit backwards, which has the added advantage of obviating the need to turn the work over. But that doesn’t work for rib because you then also have to purl backwards and that’s very tricky, too tricky for me to put the effort into mastering.

The only reason I found the “combination” method of ribbing was the distress caused by the difference between my sleeve heads (knitted back and forth) and the rest of the sleeve (knitted in the round). The former is like ridges in a field ploughed by a drunken team of senile oxen, the latter the proud neat and straight furrows of a champion ploughmaster. And of course the line between the two is glaringly obvious.

Sigh.

April 17, 2016

What is it with sleeves? Particularly second sleeves? Anyway, all done now after a mini hibernation with covered a pair and a half of socks and a scarf.

Did not block, just sewed the pocket linings and darned in ends. It is absolutely lovely but so incredibly warm it probably won’t get a great deal of use until next winter.