Update 11/23/22:
On hold indefinitely, apparently.
Every time I pull this pullover out to frog, I’m reminded of how much I actually like it despite all of the questionable decisions I made: way dense gauge, weird (for me) color, odd construction choices (worked cables right to the edge, picked a pretty conspicuous inc, etc).
It’s super cute--I love the collar!--and the sweater is almost half finished: back is done (though if I were keep it, I’d rip back to the start of the armscye and reknit without the cables at the edge), along with half of both sleeves…and the collar wouldn’t take long. And I could easily overdye the whole thing with my go-to black walnut…? Though this may be a case of sunk cost…
I dunno, something has kept me from scrapping the whole thing several times (and I generally have no qualms about ripping out tons of work…one of the benefits of being a process-over-product knitter).

For the Under-Loved Vintage KAL in ATV.

1/31/19:
Charted the 12 rows of the pattern repeat and swatched. I prefer a denser fabric so using a worsted weight yarn and US 2 needles (US 1.5 for ribbing) to achieve gauge (is that ridiculous?). To be fair, the Shepherd’s Wool is squishy and easily compacted…

Really dislike the “cable” crossing as written--it’s just one stitch that’s put on hold for two rows and then needs to span those two rows and six stitches to complete the cross (red swatch). That stitch ends up being super tight and distorts the neighboring stitches (even with a yo added next to it!) and just looks sloppy and out of place to me. Changed that part to be 1/1L and RC--much happier now.

Also changed the edge stitch repeat to be an extension of the main pattern--couldn’t figure out how the original edge stitches should repeat (there are only two to go off--mostly k sts with a couple of p sts every so often) so the main pattern seemed to make more sense.

2/4:
Cast on back.

2/11:
Halfway through the back. Wish I’d thought out the increases…I’ve been using kfb in the second-to-last stitch, but of course this throws the pattern off. I knew it would but hoped it would blend in more with the textured k/p pattern than m1L/R…should have swatched increases.

Better way to increase in pattern??

2/13:
1 skein = up to first two bo rows of armscye (spit splicing ends).
Of course decreases for the armscye end right at the point where the cables are to cross (no sts left to complete the cross), so instead I just knit the stitch in that row. Thinking I’ll just catch the middle of that stitch in the seam to give the illusion that the cross is in the seam, but:

- Better approach? (Other than adding or omitting decreases to move the seam/cable crossing)
Actually, I just noticed (almost 6mo after starting the project) that according to the photo, the cables stop at the armscye bo while the background pattern continues…the edge sts as written wouldn’t have worked with this option either, but it’s a better idea. Oh well, too late now.

2/17:
Back finished with ~1/2 of second skein left. Will need to buy more yarn. Cast on sleeves.

2/19:
Completed ribbing for both sleeves (2AAT) and was about to start the pattern when I realized that I’d used the wrong size needle--absent-mindedly knit it with the same one used for the body instead of going down a 1/2 size as for the back. Briefly considered leaving it as is, but it’s one of those things that will bug me every time I look at it (noticeably--to me--different from the body ribbing)…so ripped out and started over. Not the end of the world but exasperating.

2/23:
2nd skein = from armscye bo of back to neck bo + 6 1/2” of both sleeves (30 rows of ribbing and 30 rows of pattern).

2/28:
Have been sick all week and made some progress on the sleeves--through row 80 of pattern…seems like such slow going.
But…I do like the fabric--I was a lil afraid that worsted on US 2 needles would give me a pretty brick, but while the fabric is not soft, fluffy or drapey, it should result in a totally wearable, warm, sturdy and durable pullover resistant to pilling.

6/4:
Picking back up after a long break…determined to finish by the end of the month.
Whyyyyy did I choose to knit this at such a tight gauge?! I remember wanting a denser, sturdy sweater, but damn…after years of tight knitting I’ve been working hard to break the habit recently, and apparently I’ve made some progress over the last three months because when I started the sweater it definitely felt tight--tighter than my then-normal tension--but not unbelievably so like it does now.
3rd skein = from row 31 through 124 of both sleeves.

6/8:
Crisis!
(kinda)
After noticing that the cables stop at the armscye bo in the photo, I’ve decided I hate the way I knit them…that seam is going to look really awkward. The thought of frogging 1/3 of the back makes me want to cry but I can’t drop down and reknit that section on each side (edge sts always trip me up, and at such a tight gauge? not happening)…no other option.
Will finish the sleeves and then fix the back.