Modeled pics to come when it is not overcast and snowing outside!

note - the increase numbers for L are not correct. Emailed the designer and she responded very quickly and will remedy for other people.

The original pattern in Norwegian is here. I keep looking at all those projects for ideas and inspiration as well as the English and German versions.

Started out with L but my gauge is off, so ended up with 230 stitches for sheep (between M and L) and then M by the time of sleeve split. Should have either gone down a needle size (to actual pattern needle!) or knit M from the start.

Mods:

• no short rows for the back. I would like to bring the back up a bit, but don’t like the idea of 4-row stripes, which would show up with my short hair.
• switched colour at stitch 6 (last knit) of steek.
• 220 for sheep (22 repeats) - between M and L.
• after sheep repeats, decreased fewer to end up with M.
• after sleeve split and underarm cast on had 63 for sleeves, 52 for fronts and 102 for back (4 fewer than M).
• first waist shaping at 6th CC stripe, then every 2nd CC stripe after.
• changed the striping - see note below.
• 132 stitches for buttonbands and 11 3-stitch buttonholes using this technique here.

I was getting itchy knitting the 2-row stripes for the body, as I wanted more pink. I asked two stripe-experts (revi-and-noa and knitcou2ure - thanks!!!) and they both suggested increasing the number of rows of pink while maintaining the 2-rows CC. I did 5 repeats of 3 pink rows, then 3 of 4 rows and 3 of 5 rows. By then, the body was 14.5 inches unblocked, so I added a 1.5 inch hem. Love this look - subtle but a bit different. Did the same increasing pink stripes for the sleeves, including 4 stripes of 6 rows of pink. First saw this idea here
- I contemplated a zipper, but with the longer length it wouldn’t work out as well as the buttons, even with the 2-way zipper, but for a shorter version, that would be a great mod.

Sleeve - started out with 77 stitches including 2 gap stitches on either side. Decreased down fast to 71 then every CC stripe to 67 then spread out the decreases, ending with 54 stitches. After the last CC stripe, switch to smaller needles and knit 1 row, decreasing to 52. 12 rows 2x2 rib, then bind off with larger needle.

Yarn:

• 59 grams Kunai left after body. 25 g left at end.
• started 2nd skein of pop rocks for the hem.
• 84 grams of pop rocks at start of sleeves. 30 g left at end.

Cast on Jan 1 and knit 1 row!
Pop Rocks, together with the gradient Black/white/gray.
For KAL with Gayle - Yarniacs Self-Indulgent KAL 2015.

Pattern Gauge: 22 stitches = 4 inches