Introductory Notes: This is a cabled pullover for men with a slim fit, shoulder shaping, and shawl collar.

Deadline: April 21, 2014

Test Thread

Actual Chest: 36 inch/Finished Chest: 38.5 inch
US7(6)/4.5mm for Rib
US8(7)/5.0mm & Cable Needle for Main Body/Sleeves
US6(5)/4.0mm for Shawl Collar
Gauge:
With US8/5.0mm needles using 2 strands of 14 wraps-per-inch yarn; or 1 strand of 7-8 wraps-per-inch yarn:
(In Stockinette St: 16 stitches and 22 rows = 4”/10 cm, blocked, but a small swatch cable pattern is provided and is used for gauge.)
In Cable Pattern Swatch: 13 sts and 16-row pattern = 3” wide, 3.25” tall, blocked; 7.6 cm wide, 8.25 cm tall, blocked

Dec. 30
Did the stockinette swatch. Had to use US7 , as with US8 the fabric was like a mesh. We’ll see if I can get gauge.

Jan. 7
As my yarn is 11wpi, I used 7US needle and with the gauge I’m getting I will need to knit the 48.5 or 50.5 to get the 38.5 I’m after. Not so great….
Also the 7US make a really loose fabric, and another swatch I did with US6 looks much better, but then the size issue is even worse.
With that in mind, going to Paris this weekend and there are several stores there I can hit. Hopefully I will find a sweater quantity of something similar, in the Aran range.
If not, we can see what I can do with this yarn, as having it double will prob be too much a well. :(

Jan. 15
So.. yarn shopping in Paris was a bust. :( Plenty of stores, but the nicer yarns are WAAAY expensive, and anything cheaper wasn’t worth the effort to knit (plus “too itchy” for the hubster). But…
I did buy some yarn yesterday (back in Lausanne), nice greenish blue. Gauge on the spot and I grabbed a couple of extra skeins, just in case.
Re-did the swatch tonight (3rd! time) and hoping to finally cast on this Sat. :)

Jan.20
Knitting with the new yarn held double, but gauge is spot on with right needle size, even though it’s labeled “sport”.
Knitting in the round, ribbing done.

Jan.21
Rows 1-8: Done.

Jan. 23
1st repeat: DONE! :)

Jan. 27
2nd repeat: DONE

Feb. 8
3rd repeat: DONE

Feb.14
4th repeat: DONE

Feb.19
5th repeat: DONE

Feb. 24
6th repeat done. Split front and back.

Mar. 8
Finished body. Starting the collar.

Mar. 14
Collar done, and joined at the shoulder, but the back feels a bit short. Unraveled to beginning of short rows, added 5 rows to length. Lets hope this works.

Mar. 20
Started sleeves. Knitting both at the same time to avoid length issues.

Mar. 27
4.5 repeats done.

Apr. 3
Finished the main part of the sleeves, thought I would be done a few days ago, but DH has super long arms, so had to add a whooping 3 inches to length!!!!

Apr. 4
Sleeve caps …

Apr. 6
ALL knitting is finished! :D

Apr.7
Sewing up…
11:30 pm: Sleeves are closed up and right collar attached. Will finish tomorrow.

April 8
Sick as a dog, but managed to finish up before crashing.
DH is asleep, will see what he thinks tomorrow.