February 24, 2011
FINISHED!
The sweater is now complete. It was a straightforward pattern, with a few questions I will try to answer here:

1. I knitted the sweater on STRAIGHT needles, working to the halfway point in mid-back. I then seamed one sleeve. From there I was able to check size on my friend. I then completed the opposite sleeve portion, working as instructed from mid-back to the opposite cuff, testing size on my model again, before seaming the remaining sleeve and then moving on to the ribbing.
2. The only part that requires circulars is the ribbing collar/mid-back.
3. JUST A NOTE: don’t forget to bind off ONLY the top part of the ribbed collar. The lower part will be knit down to create the rest of the sweater from waist to hip.
4. To prevent curling on sleeves and bottom, I created a simple garter edge with decorative purl detailing which you can see in the picture. This was at the request of my friend who preferred not to have the traditional, curled edges of stockinette stitch.

January 15, 2011
WORKING THE YARNS
The beautiful look of both these yarns together is working as I had hoped for this project.

The Zephyr yarn is disappointing because in working less than half a skein of 630 yards, I have found 3 knots. Finding 1 knot in a skein of even more yardage is unusual. But 3 knots in such a superfine yarn is not acceptable.

The Tosh Lace is wonderful. Not a single knot. Beautifully crafted and dyed.

January 11, 2011
Have begun the sleeves on US5 needles. I have decided to skip the ribbing indicated in the pattern in favor of a decorative garter stitch edge (4 rows), then 7 stockinette, and 1 purl row before returning to stockinette for the rest of the sleeve. This will give the sleeve a loose, billowy effect rather than the puffy tightness of the ribbing.

January 6, 2011
My friend Jennifer’s milestone birthday. We spent a few hours at Knitty City in NY choosing yarn for the new project. Jennifer found a yarn we both adored but because it’s too fine to work alone in this pattern, we chose a 2nd yarn to bring it nearer the correct gauge. The Tosh Lace Oxblood is a beautiful, variegated purple/pink and I’m double-stranding it with the solid JaggerSpun Zephyr Mahogany. I’ll be working the yarns together throughout, but will have to work a smaller needle than required to achieve correct gauge.