7/20/2010: Cast on last night and finished the first lace repeat. So far, so good.

8/5/2010: Was nearly down to the waist shaping when I got bored and decided to finish the neckline and the arms. I put the body on a longer cable so I can try it on and have finished the neckline ribbing and one arm. I’m confused about the stitch counts in order to accomplish an even K2 P1 rib. I only picked up 105 stitches around the neck and picked up an extra stitch for a total of 72 around the arms in order to make it work. I also did not change to size 4 needles for 2 reasons: 1) I wasn’t paying attention to the directions and kind of missed it, and 2) I have chubby arms (and have accepted that fact) so I wanted a little extra give in the arms so I don’t end up looking like I squeezed into them. So far, so good. One arm left and then I’ll continue with the body.

8/6/2010: I finished the body decreases last night. It fits perfectly. I’m really excited as everything else I’ve made has been too big!

8/14/2010: I finished this project on Thursday (8/12). I decided, however, that I do not like the natural cotton color. It’s kind of a cream color which looks terrible on me. I bought two shades of RIT and have dyed it green shade 280 (on the RIT formula color chart. Basically it was the packet of Lemon Yellow plus a teaspoon of Dark Green). While dying it looked WAY too dark, and I was a little disappointed, however, after rinsing/washing, it is EXACTLY the right color. It’s in the dryer now. Very excited. I just hope it doesn’t shrink too much crosses fingers. The cotton felt SO soft when I switched it over to the dryer. I washed it with my blacks so as to not dye anything else and to not waste a load…pictures to come.