This throw is supposed to be a sweater. I mean, look at it around that model’s body. It does not want to be a throw, no matter how lovely a throw it is.

I am attempting to frankenstein this lace / cable pattern into the beautiful Little Wave cardigan pattern. I anticipate lots of salty language and gnashing of teeth. I’ll be trying to make it a bit more oversized than the cardigan pattern I’m following, so I’ll add some length along the way.

Math is my friend, but an 18 sts cable pattern repeat is my enemy. Especially since I really would love to preserve the small cable along the button edge, adding even more sts.

Another challenge is the gauge of the HG panel is 18 sts = 4”, while the gauge for LW is 20 sts = 4”. I think I’ve planned it to result in only a 1.6” increase in bust size, which should yield the perfect size, as the LW pattern calls for 1-4” of positive ease so the 36.5” size might have been a smidge tight. I’m thinking a wide button band might help if it’s close.

Current plan of attack
Front: Modified cable edge (10 sts) + 1.5 HG repeats (27 sts) = 37 sts
Side: Stockinette, not garter
Back: PKP(HG x 4)PKP = 78 sts

I’m closing my eyes and sticking my fingers in my ears while singing LA LA LA LA LAAAAA whenever I consider how I’ll navigate the shaping on the front as I move up the neck.

10/10/14. Gauge swatch / collar experiment.
Rewrote HG chart to start with row 17 so my pockets will be one pretty diamond shape each. Swatch is my modified 10 stitch cable edge on each side with one HG repeat in the middle. I’ll pick up sts to knit a mini “collar” on each side to compare garter stitch to the 1x2 ribbing that I used along the bottom edge. I suspect the garter st is too rustic for this cable pattern. If so, I’ll do stockinette on the sides, too.

10/14/14 Measured washed swatch.
Blocked swatch so 18 sts HG pattern = 4” as per pattern. Swatch felt like there was some leeway and it could have gone bigger if necessary. I’ll knit again with smaller needles to see if that’d be doable. I liked the trial with 2x1 ribbing best for the collar. Experimenting with different bind-offs, I like an elastic one best for the collar. I-cord bind-off is great, but not along ribbing.

10/15/14 Swatched with US6 and US7, stockinette.
US6 = 20 sts / 4 inches; US7 = 19 sts / 4 inches.
US7 it is. I am hoping the HG section is flexible enough to block to size. It was too small with US6 and I am not doing it with US7. Time to start!

10/16/14 CO 180 sts. Used CO indicated in pattern.
Ribbing is very nearly K1P2 with a few omissions of a P when necessary to make everything line up nicely with the HG pattern. Knit 14 rows ribbing total. I’d knit the ribbing with a US6 next time.

10/23/14 8”, 2 skeins used, waist shaping complete. Down to 168 sts. Put on waste yarn to try on. So far so good. Might possibly have to go with a wide-ish button band, but we’ll see. The bottom ribbing is a generous 2.5”, so I think that’d look fine.

10/24/14 Decided to add additional 3.75” in length between waist decrease and bust increase. (Measured a favorite sweater and compared to schematic.) I have enough yarn for this, right? A whole extra skein? Hope so! I’ll add a lifeline at row 24. If I decide the body is too long when I get to the sleeves, starting the bust increases at row 25 (the 2nd) will be only 1.75” in additional length. (In addition to the extra ribbing length. Math. Love it.)

10/30/14 4th skein started.
Bust increases at rows 5, 19, 1.

11/4/14 5th skein started at row 29. Will knit through row 24 before putting body on waste yarn.

11/5/14 Changed mind as it seemed to be getting very long. Knit through row 4 and put on waste yarn. Tried on and seems perfect. Assume it will stretch also, so it should be plenty long. (Left 4th skein attached.) Started 5th skein on arm. Knit an extra 5 rows for cuff and 4 fewer stockinette rows before first increase.

11/7/14
Started skein #6. Changed to increasing every 12th row (after 1 at 14) because my row gauge is off. Finished sleeve measures 19” from start of cuff. No elbow patches - the garter stitch doesn’t work with my other mods.

11/9/14
Started second sleeve and skein #7.

11/11/14
Started skein #8.

11/12/14
Started yoke. Very exciting to put the sleeves and body together, and also terrifying, as I haven’t knit this style yoke before, and I had to go and monkey with the number of stitches to get the HG cable pattern to fit. Not exactly sure how I’m going to reconcile my 3 extra front (each) and 3 extra back stitches. Crossing fingers and plunging in…

11/18/14
Started skein #10. 5 more rows until upper sleeve decreases are finished. Things got a little scary when I discovered a cable crossed the wrong way, 9 rows down, but I isolated the 4 stitches and dropped down 9 rows and reknit each 4-stitch section correctly for a relatively quick (if stressful) fix. That’s what happens when you pay more attention to Doctor Who than the chart.

11/19/14
Finished the right side shoulder and back yoke. I’ve never done this type of yoke before and had no idea what I was doing, but the instructions were clear after reading them 12 times and diving in with much trust. Woot!
Wait, you mean I’m going to have to graft?! %!$

11/23/14
Grafting success!
Started skein 11. Button band / collar in K2/P1 to patch other ribbing. Completed button band to button holes. Knit 2 extra rows before button holes for extra width. Because of extra body length, I’m using 16 sts between button holes. Will knit 2 extra rows after button holes also. I didn’t move from the couch for 7 hours today. I’ve worn a hole so deep in the cushion I think I’m stuck. Send help.

11/25/14
Started skein 12. Knit knit knit until ready to bind off the button band / collar (on a downsized US6) and went to bed. Man, that’s a lot of stitches. Hopefully I don’t regret the extra rows / width. It looks like a lot. I’ll know soon.

11/28/14
Finished weaving in ends, grafting, knitting and sewing pockets. Blocked and drying. I just need to find buttons. The saddle yoke seems a bit too big on me and is fitting strangely. I hope I managed to block it smaller. Otherwise I love it.

12/1/14
It’s dry. The sleeves are SEVEN INCHES TOO LONG. Commence sleeve surgery.

12/3/14
Sleeve surgery complete. On final assessment, the saddle yoke lays much nicer after blocking. My only complaint is the armhole is much too deep, so the arms just don’t fit right. My row gauge must be off. Oh well. I still love it, since it’s my first sweater for myself and I spent so much time fiddling with it. It’s not so bad I can’t wear it, and it’s barely noticeable if I leave it unbuttoned…which I might have to do because no one in this damned town stocks more than 3 buttons of the same type. I guess I’ll stand here tapping my foot now until my Etsy buttons arrive.

Final weight - 549 g.
Most pics of finished sweater taken January 2017 after 2 years of heavy wear, hence the minor pilling. Still a favorite sweater and still not inclined to tackle anything like this again soon!