April 26th, 2014:

Started gauge swatch on size 4 needles. Cast on 48 sts, so I could do 3 horizontal repeats of Chart A plus 6 sts of garter st on either side. Planning on 4 vertical repeats of Chart A for row gauge.

April 27th, 2014:

Unblocked swatch: 2 horizontal repeats of Chart A = 4.25” and 4 vertical repeats of Chart A = 3.25”

April 28th, 2014:

Blocked swatch: 2 horizontal repeats of Chart A = 4.25” and 4 vertical repeats of Chart A = 4”

My gauge:

24 sts = 4.25” or 5.65 sts = 1”
32 rows = 4” or 8 rows = 1”

Pattern gauge:

24 sts = 4.75” or 5.05 sts = 1”
16 rows = 2” or 8 rows = 1”

After checking the sizing, I have decided to knit the medium size instead of the small. With my gauge, it should end up being the correct size:

Pattern Size Small Me Size Small Me Size Medium
48 sts = 9.5” 48 sts = 8.5” 54 sts = 9.6”
192 sts = 38” 192 sts = 34” 216 sts = 38.2”
194 sts = 38.4” 194 sts = 34.3” 218 sts = 38.6”
216 sts = 42.8” 216 sts = 38.2” 240 sts = 42.5”

I will need to bind off using a needle at least 4 times bigger. I bound off the swatch with a needle only 2 times bigger, and it was still too tight.

June 8, 2014:

In-between baby projects…I finished up the arms and was starting on the body when I noticed my stitch count was off and my pattern above and below the ribbed section no longer matched up….tried to go tink back, figuring if I frog with this yarn, I’ll lose it all…tinking not so great either…what a mess. I’m beginning to hate hairy alpaca yarn. Actually broke my needle which was part of my interchangeable set. Am now re-thinking the ENTIRE project….but I love the pattern…maybe I just need different yarn with better stitch definition…

July 15, 2014:

In between baby projects again…So, finally came back to this…I think I’ve successfully tinked back to where I must have made the original mistake…just after binding off the sleeves but before starting the rib for the body and neck. Now I need to contemplate how to make sure my decreases are in the correct spots so the lace pattern is aligned above and below the rib. Oh, and my husband attempted to fix my broken needle…though I may still need to give in and buy a new one if the fix causes the yarn to catch on the join between the wood and the metal casing of the interchangeable needle…

October 6, 2014:

I cast off and decided I didn’t like the way it looked. I’ve decided to add an extra repeat and cast off even more loosely…I think it will look better then.

October 17, 2014:

Finally finished! Just in time for Rhinebeck!