2 major mods here - the knitted-on buttonbands and an extended folded-over collar.

This project was stalled, as I dislike knitting the buttonbands separately and sewing them up. So - after a year in time-out, I picked this up and finished the body. Picked up stitches on the fronts, then knit the buttonbands and attach to the picked-up stitches as I go (k2tog tbl).

Buttonbands:
Started at bottom of buttonband. Picked up 9 stitches (every 2nd row) for ribbing and 72 for body, up to top ribbing on a separate, smaller needle. Cast on 15 on the same size I used for the body (used that for the hem ribbing also) and knit 3, p2, k2 etc to the last stitch, where I knit it along with the bottom picked-up stitch through the back loop. Turn to the WS and slip the first stitch, then continue in the pattern. RS, slip the first stitch, then pattern until the end when I knit the last stitch and the next stitch on the spare needle together through the back loop.

Collar:
Many people commented that the collar is too short to fold over and too stiff, and too long for most necks, giving the “dracula” look. I undid the cast on row and then knit the neck ribbing along with the buttonbands with the larger needle for slightly longer than the original ribbing.

If I knit this again, I would cast on the number of stitches for the ribbing plus 13 for each buttonband. Knit 2.5 inches for the outer half of the collar with the larger needle, then switch to the smaller needle for the next half, then proceed with the pattern, adding the front bands, minus 2 stitches to continue with the original front pattern.

Comments on the pattern:
- I find it odd that the sizes run: 35, 36.5, 41. Where is the size 38-ish? I’m starting the smaller 36.5 size, as my shoulders are narrow, but I’ll increase the fronts to arrive at some combination of 36.5 and 41.

Notes/Mods:

• added waist shaping (see below)
• first sewn-on buttonband. <del>Resisting the urge to modify this, just because I haven’t done it and am not a fan of seaming. Will follow the pattern.<del>
• scratch the sewn-on buttonband. Attaching it while I knit it.
• the collar, as others have pointed out, is odd. Too short to fold over properly, and too tight to be buttoned up. Undo cast-on edge and start knitting with larger needles so folds over.
• followed someone’s advice and started the ribbed hem after row 1, on the WS. I had 50 stitches of stockinette, so at the edge of each pattern I had a purl from the pattern, and a purl from my stockinette. Starting the rib when I did made the edges line up and the 2-stitch cables.

Waist shaping - started with the back, about 3 inches from underarm, as it was looking a bit big. Knit to 2 stitches before back pattern, ssk, after pattern, k2tog. Every 6th row 6 times for the back. After the first decrease, added front shaping as well - 4 times, then12 rows, then start increases again.

Sleeves - started again after the first attempt seemed baggy. 56 stitches on waste yarn, plus 12 for underarm. Row 1 and 2 - decrease 2 at gap between sleeve and underarm - 64 stitches. Decrease at underarm every 10 rows, then every 7, then again rows 90 and 95, down to 40 stitches (instead of 44, as the pattern stated). Row 100 start ribbed cuff with smaller needle. 20 rows of ribbing. I don’t think the additional 4 stitches of the original pattern would have looked bad.

Comments on the yarn:
- one strand of yarn just came apart when I was casting on. Spit-spliced together, but what the heck? Hopefully this was an aberration. Using other yarn for seaming, as this pulls apart too easily.

We had a tour of the Harrisville Designs factory lead by the lovely Nick - the 6th generation owner of the business. The WATERshed yarn was his baby - he picked the colours and designed the yarn.

I have a new expression after our tour - “neck-soft”. I suspect WATERshed is not neck-soft. I suspect it will knit up beautifully with the cables popping, and last for decades. This is real wool.

Many thanks to Paulawalla for the gift of the pattern.

Gave this away. Too itchy, so I never wore it.