03-08-2024 first sweater

Attempting my first sweater.

I’m swatching and seeing if I like holding 2 strands of fingering linen quill together for the DK called for in the pattern.

03-10-2024 swatch gauge

US 6 needles

• colorwork Unblocked: 29 sts 26 rows
• colorwork Blocked: 24 sts 28 rows
• stockingette blocked looks like 20 sts

US 7 needles

• colorwork Unblocked: 26 sts 28 rows
• colorwork Blocked: 21.5 sts 27 rows

I think I’ll use US 7 for the colorwork, US 5 for the ribbing, and US 6 for the rest.

The swatches helped me plan out the color transitions. Since I’m holding 2 strands I can blend the transitions which I think looks nicer.

03-11-2024 cast on!

I’m a little worried the neck will be a bit wider than I’d like. I’m sticking to the pattern, though. Cast on 100 sts using long tail technique. I’m also trying out combination knitting for the ribbing to see if that makes it tidy. It’s a bit slow and tight since it’s new to me. But that may be just the thing I want at the neck line so it’s not too stretched out.

03-12-2024 knitting backwards

For the short rows I taught myself backwards knitting and it’s a delight!

03-20-2024 armholes!

We have armholes!

Finished colorwork last night. Put in extra time today to get to the armholes.

03-21-2024 test fit

Unblocked test fit looks good.

I think blocking will add about 4” of ease on the body and 1.25” on the sleeves. Not too snug, not too poofy. Slightly smaller than modeled on the pattern.

03-22-2024 starting an arm

I finished 4” of the body. I’m going to pause continuing so I can start on an arm to see how that goes. I’ll try magic loop for the first time.

I’m slightly concerned I picked a size one too small. I planned for it to be more fitted (4” of ease vs 6”) based on tighter gauge but I’m wondering if I would like it more roomy. We’ll see when blocked!

04-14-2024 one arm down

Back at it after a 3 week hiatus. Finished the right arm! Knit sleeve to 16.5” from armhole. Combination knit the cuff using magic loop (13 rounds) and bound off in pattern.

I’m going to do the left arm before going back to finishing the body.

04-22-2024 arms done!

Second arm is done.

Back to the body. It feels weird

04-26-2024 test fit

Did another test fit. Still looking good. Shoulders and colorwork somewhat bunched but that’ll block out nicely, I think.

05-05-2024 final ribbing!

Took the body to about 12” from sleeve. On to final ribbing!

05-09-2024 done knitting!

I finished! My first adult sweater.

Tails woven in and blocking now. Can’t wait to try it on after blocking. Unblocked, it’s a little more snug and stiff than I’d like.

I only did 17 rows of ribbing. It was a good length. I think next time I may only knit 11.5” from the armhole and do 20 rounds of rib. I have a short torso.

Update: I tried it on when not quite fully dry to make sure I wasn’t blocking funny and it fits perfectly.