1/2: i am making this for my daughter, to go with a purple dress with silver and black trim. She is petite so I will probably downsize to 5 panels rather than 7 (I have to knit a gauge and see.) she asked for the Silken Straw yarn, knowing it will create a softer, looser fabric than a wool 4 ply. I have beautiful shimmery ribbon and grey beads to use.

Next I get to use my Xmas gift yarn winder and then knit a gauge.

1/4: Using US 3’s and knitting 5 panels instead of 7. Approximately true to gauge. Knitting in one piece. Was a pain to thread about 1100 beads but not impossible. Used a long tail cast on. Trying a slip stitch selvage since my usual method (slip 1st stitch every row and knit the last) isn’t very pretty.

Key note: the chart leaves out the selvage stitches. Have to remember this.

1/11: I had extra beads so I am using them, just continuing to space out the rows. Some comments about the techniques I used that may be helpful:

I am not completely happy with how the beads sit in the long tail cast on, but I am not going back now. (If I had to do it again, I would cast on the same way but then use the wrong side as the right side, so there would not be that prominent line of stitches holding the beads in place.)

Also the bottom edge is curling despite the weight of the beads. I will see what happens when it’s washed. May have to sew ribbon or something to help it lie flat.

Lastly, the slip stitch selvedge is curling. The silk straw yarn is just too lightweight for it. If I were using a regular 4 ply it would probably be fine.

For all that, I think this will be pretty when done. Since she would like to wear it In five or six days I need to keep going!

1/17: Didn’t make my deadline (which was yesterday), but nearly done. Down to the last 8-10 rows. The bottom is curling up despite the weight of the beads, so I will sew a piece of ribbon on the inside edge to help it keep its proper shape.

1/22: Blocking. Good activity for a day with a foot of snow on the ground.

1/24: done enough to wear. Just need to sew down the bottom edge of the ribbon and get my daughter to pose!