December 23, 2025

After much dithering around I finally figured out what I’m doing with this kit. I bought it specifically for this design, and then realized that it had 25 colors plus the MC, and the pattern calls for 24. I couldn’t decide which color to leave out, so I needed to figure out how to make it work with 25 colors. I think I’ve got it.

I want to work the fade in full from one side to the other - not mirrored, just end to end from sleeve cuff to sleeve cuff.

Cast on with CC13. Used JMCO and then weighed the cake after every set of rows. I got 2 sets of rows (Knit, Purl, Knit, Purl) on both the right and left sides of both the front and the back panels, so everything should be centered.

3g left of CC13.

Next plan is to figure out how many rows I get from each color - they are effectively split in half between the front and back panels, so I could probably get around 8 to 10 rows for each panel based on how the center panel worked. I think that will end up with it being too wide, or worse, not getting to the end of the fade by the time I get to the sleeve cuffs. Need to measure and do some math to determine the best ratio.

December 24, 2025

Trying to work this one out on the go - and it may end up a disaster, LOL. After casting on yesterday and doing the center panel for both front and back, I have a tin strip between two circular needles x2. So today I did the back right and front right with the next color in line, CC12 (working backwards to #1 on the right side) and then did the back and front left sides with CC14, working forward to CC25.

I did six rows of each color and will go with 6 rows per color for the rest of the project. It used less than half the mini skein of yarn, so there will have to be another project in the future, The only mini that will be lacking is the CC13 center mini, and I think we can work around that for the next project whatever it may be.

Remaining yarn amounts:
CC12 - 13g
CC13 - 3g
CC14 - 12g

For my reference, each quarter has a different needle and cable color.
Right Back - Chiaogoo
Right Front - Amazon Cheapo
Left Back - HiyaHiya
Left Front - HiyaHiya

December 25, 2025

Continuing to work the 4 sides of the panels in parallel - don’t make the mistake I did and forget to switch up the side you work your front increases on.

Finished the front increases, next we join the panels - I’ll tackle that tomorrow.

Remaining yarn amounts:
CC9 - 10g
CC10 - 10g
CC11 - 13g
CC12 - 13g
CC13 - 3g
CC14 - 12g
CC15 - 10g
CC16 - 11g
CC17 - 12g

December 26, 2025

Still working both sides together to ensure that we stay perfectly aligned. Joined the fronts with the backs and am about halfway through the shoulder decrease section.

Not sure yet, but I think I should have made the color sections fatter - instead of 6 rows per color, probably 12. I think I’m going to run through the colors too fast and reach the ends of the fade before the ends of the sleeves. If so, I’ll just work backwards across the fade again, which could be a happy accident and look super cool. Or I could be projecting usage incorrectly and we’ll have plenty to go … . Based on how much yarn I have left over I think I’m right about running out of colors. We shall see.

Impossible to photograph without pinning it out, everything is quite curled in on itself. I have no desire to drag out the blocking mats for a picture, I assume once we join under the arms I’ll be able to lay it flat.

This is why I wanted to test the design with my DK kit before trying to dive in with a fingering set held double. The DK is more forgiving to making color decisions on the fly.

Remaining yarn amounts:
CC6 - 10g
CC7 -12g
CC8 - 10g
CC9 - 10g
CC10 - 10g
CC11 - 13g
CC12 - 13g
CC13 - 3g
CC14 - 12g
CC15 - 10g
CC16 - 11g
CC17 - 12g
CC18 - 11g
CC19 - 13g
CC20 - 12g

December 27, 2025

Finished the body! For whatever magical reason, my accidental planning worked out immaculate - every single color has 6 row stripes with the underarms being joined using CC1 and CC25 respectively. I’m floored at the perfection.

This was, by far, the strangest process ever and I made it so much more complicated than it needed to be. Having 4 separate needles in the project at any given time, making sure I didn’t mix the panels up front to back or left to right was interesting, but honestly, now that I worked it up in such a way that made it 10x harder on myself, I know I can work up the next one as the instructions call for, one (or two) panels at a time.

Next up is sleeves - I divided off the sleeves with 2 rows complete of CC2 and CC24 respectively. Will start with those colors, do 4 more rounds and then move to CC1 / CC25. 6 rounds with those, and then back to CC2 / CC24 for 6 rounds. And I’ll work my way back through the fade towards the center CC13. That would be 70 rows of the sleeve. Assuming that will fall short of the length I want, I’ll switch to the MC for the rest and that should tie in the hem and collar nicely.

Remaining yarn amounts before the sleeves:
CC1 - 16g
CC2 - 15g
CC3 - 13g
CC4 - 10g
CC5 - 11g
CC6 - 10g
CC7 -12g
CC8 - 10g
CC9 - 10g
CC10 - 10g
CC11 - 13g
CC12 - 13g
CC13 - 3g
CC14 - 12g
CC15 - 10g
CC16 - 11g
CC17 - 12g
CC18 - 11g
CC19 - 13g
CC20 - 12g
CC21 - 11g
CC22 - 12g
CC23 - 10g
CC24 - 14g
CC25 - 17g

December 28, 2025

Finished rolling through the first sleeve with all 12 colors. I have 32 rows to go to get to the cuff according to the pattern, and I for sure need more length on the sleeve.

One option just move to the full skein color and do the last 1/3 of the sleeve plus the cuff in that color. I think that might look weird.

So, I think what I’m going to do is roll back through the colors, CC11 through CC1 (not doubling up on CC12) and only do 3 stripes each. That would have me with one extra row than called for in the pattern, and I can live with that. I have plenty of yarn, and it may actually tie the whole thing together even more than it already is. Out of time today to knit more, but hope to get this idea done tomorrow AM.

Remaining yarn amounts after the first 2/3 of the right sleeve, color pass one (6 rows per color):
CC1 - 14g (only one sleeve stripe for this pass)
CC2 - 8g
CC3 - 8g
CC4 - 7g
CC5 - 8g
CC6 - 7g
CC7 - 8g
CC8 - 7g
CC9 - 10g
CC10 - 8g
CC11 - 10g
CC12 - 8g
CC13 - 3g (not used for the sleeves, center panel only)

December 29, 2025

Sleeve one (right side) finished. Soooo many ends. But I think it works. Ended up doing about 10 rows in the full skein color before starting the cuffs. And with the leftover yarn amounts even after the extra rows I added there’s still plenty for another project or a bunch of hats!

Remaining yarn amounts after the last 1/3 of the right sleeve, color pass two (3 rows per color):
CC1 - 12g
CC2 - 6g
CC3 - 7g
CC4 - 5g
CC5 - 7g
CC6 - 5g
CC7 - 7g
CC8 - 5g
CC9 - 6g
CC10 - 6g
CC11 - 8g
CC12 - 8g (only one sleeve stripe - 6 rows total)
CC13 - 3g (not used for the sleeves, center panel only)

Next up the left sleeve.

December 31, 2025

Sleeve two finished. The knitting when a bit faster because I didn’t have to stop and weigh the yarn with each color change.

Picked up and finished the neckline. After the cuffs and neckline I have 63g of the full skein left for the hem. If needed, I have a second skein.

Completing the reconciliation of yarn - this is remaining weights after all knitting is complete except for the hem and neckline which will be the grey, full skein from the kit.

CC1 - 12g
CC2 - 6g
CC3 - 7g
CC4 - 5g
CC5 - 7g
CC6 - 5g
CC7 - 7g
CC8 - 5g
CC9 - 6g
CC10 - 6g
CC11 - 8g
CC12 - 8g (only one sleeve stripe - 6 rows total)
CC13 - 3g (not used for the sleeves, center panel only)
CC14 - 8g
CC15 - 5g
CC16 - 7g
CC17 - 7g
CC18 - 5g
CC19 - 6g
CC20 - 5g
CC21 - 6g
CC22 - 7g
CC23 - 5g
CC24 - 10g
CC25 - 11g

January 1, 2026

Well, we have a hem and it’s almost done! I’m a few rows short of the called for rows in the pattern and have about 17g of yarn left from the 63g I started with. I may not make it to the full number of rows.

I do have a second skein, so after a try on, if I decide I need more length to the hem, I’ll tap into skein 2. Maybe off the needles tomorrow???

January 2, 2026

Off the needles!

I knit the hem exactly as called for in the pattern and had just about 10’ of yarn left - not quite yarn chicken, but close. Important to note for those who want to work a larger size or a longer hem. I did use a bit extra in my cuffs, but not enough to change the fact that I used every inch of a skein of yarn.

Immediately put her in the soak for blocking - there was some color bleed into the water, but thanks to a Color Catcher sheet, nothing changed on the yarns.

It’ll be days before she’s dry, but after pulling it all together, I love the way it turned out!