09-19-2020

Swatched a few days ago and got gauge on US2 needles.

Cast on yesterday. Starting with the sleeve, doing the colorwork sleeve option. My colorwork is a tiny bit too tight using DPNs (first time doing that) and it’s puckering just a bit. It should relax some with blocking, but if it doesn’t I think it’ll make a nice design element for the sleeve - giving it some unintentional shaping. A few short rows to shape the shoulder and the sleeve jumped off the needles.

Moving to the body was the most unusual process I’ve tried to date, but I really like the concept! I read the pattern through in advance, but it really didn’t make sense to me. After cutting the tail of the sleeve you set it aside, cast on for the body at the side seam, attach the sleeve and then knit continuously working flat. I tried to wrap my head around it, but even with the pictures included in the pattern it wasn’t clicking for me.

So I threw caution to the wind and just did it. And it wasn’t until the first 3 rows were finished did it finally start to make sense in my brain. The good news is that despite making multiple attempts to screw this up by trying to twist the cast on edge and knitting from the wrong side - the process is pretty bullet proof. You simply can’t execute the process wrong because the needles won’t reach, the stitches won’t flow, and the knitting screeches to a halt until you get back on track.

Once you get going, then it’s just working back and forth using two circular needles - again, I tried to screw it up by using one needle, and it was impossible, I had to tink back to the beginning of the row. I’m a little over a 1/4 of the way through the side panels with their increases.

09-20-2020

3 rows short of finishing the body. Then short row shaping for the back, and then colorwork! Woo hoo - this is a super fast project so far.

09-22-2020

Finished the MC body and ready to start the first colorwork panel. Exactly 1g of MC yarn left from the first skein. Couldn’t have planned it better if I tried!

11-05-2020

Got back to this one after clearing the decks of all other projects. Took a bit to get back in the groove, but I’m now about halfway through the colorwork panel for the first half. Have to remember there are special instructions at row 32 which is fast approaching.

11-12-2020

Center colorwork panel complete, started the second half of the sweater. Following the directions is quite straightforward, but I’m still not sure I see a sweater yet. Finished the short row shaping for this second side, this is now my only project on the needles (except for MKAL socks that are halfway done) and I’m hoping to keep plowing through - I really want to see it come together and be a sweater.

May 18, 2025

For whatever reason, I couldn’t bring myself to frog this long hibernating project, yet at the same time, I couldn’t get started back up. This tee was started before I began a journey of breast cancer - completely overhauling my body shape. I used that as an excuse for a while to keep it tucked away and neglected, despite being so close to the finish line.

Pulled it out sometime last year with full intent to cut my losses and move on. Tried it on, and it fit. Tucked it back away and promised myself I’d get back to it.

Today was finally the day. I’m back in gear with this project, at least for now. Waistband picked up and I’m halfway through the ribbing. Once I finish the ribbing and waistband bind off, the last step is the neckband. Here’s hoping I can keep my momentum up and accomplish the mission!

May 22, 2025

Off the needles!

May 28, 2025

On the blocking mats!