08-06-2016

Because there are 199 stitches to cast-on I finally got around to trying this technique for a long tail cast-on:

http://cocoknits.com/tips-and-tutorials/techniques/no-mor...

I highly recommend!!!

08-07-2016

Seriously off gauge using size 6 needles for the body pattern. Ripped out one repeat of 14 rows and knit again with size 5 needles. Much better but still not pattern gauge. Can’t really go down another needle size or I’ll loose the hand of the fabric, so I’ll adjust with additional decreases as I knit. Luckily this pattern will be very easy to adapt that way. Originally started the border with size 6 needles and the intention was to NOT follow the pattern and go down a needle size. However, now I’m back to the border being one needle size larger than the body. Need to remember that when I do the front!

08-12-2016

My gauge was such that following the instructions for a small size gave me spot-on medium size measurements.

08-16-2016

Working in the lace pattern was a challenge during the decreases for the neck and armholes. There was a lot of tinking while trying to figure out where (or if) in the lace pattern the decrease needed to be made. Got so wrapped up working these decreases that I forgot to begin and end with a k1 (wouldn’t have been easy even if I had remembered).

08-18-2016

Steam blocking on an 85 degree day in the Boston area. At least the humidity is at a decent level!

08-19-2016 & 08-20-2016

Armhole finish went smoothly and looks great. Went up a crochet hook size to an F for the neck edge (which is one size smaller than the yarn’s recommended size). Picked up 55 stitches along both right and left neck edges and decreased an additional two stitches along the neck back for rows 2 and 3.

I didn’t cut the yarn for the final row of the neck edging. I just turned the work and started working from the wrong side down the right front. Changed the picots to one every 4th stitch. This took a little figuring where to start the first one in order to get a picot in the center V.

08-21-2016

I did it! Started and finished between the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Not only that but the fit and drape is perfect -- I LOVE IT!!