04-14-2021

I got stuck on the very first step! The cast on is actually no problem. The video referenced in the pattern is excellent, and I will never do a provisional cast on to waste yarn again!

These instructions mostly make sense in retrospect, but where I got hung up was “cast on 460 sts over 2 circular needles.” I literally did that - cast on 460 over two needles, but then I had 460 stiches over 2 cables, not 230 stiches on each cable. what I wish the instructions had said is:

• Cast on 230 stiches over two cable needles.
• place stoppers on both ends of the provisional cable
• knit one row … NOW you have 230 stitches on each needle for a total of 460
• ignore the 230 stiches on the provisional needle until you come back for them in round 7.

I’ve attached a picture showing the live needle (230 stiches worked back and forth) and the provisional needle with panda stoppers and 230 ignored stitches.

As others have mentioned, turning the corners is tight for a while (until the short edges are about the length of your needle tips). I used two long cable needles (long sides) and two cabled circular needles (short sides) until the first color change. I also used M1 R/L increases instead of Kfb because another knitter said she wished she had. They really help keep things even around the corners. I’m grateful to those who knit this before me. I must have read 10 knitters’ project notes before I sorted how to start this properly.