10-04-13 This project was in storage for a few months. Yesterday I picked it up again… and I ran into some issues as I began the sweater’s bottom ribbing. For the size 38, the sweater’s bottom ribbing does not line up with the leaf stems of the waist motif pattern. I had to rip out a very time consuming (ribbing set-up, from the wrong side!) row, check the pattern, crunch some numbers, shift the ribbing, and add 4 stitches. (I did later learn of the erratas that are on Ysolda’s website. They could only help you if you read them before the waist motif. I did not want to frog 3” of sweater, so I improvised.)

As I mentioned in a blog post, I am not really enjoying this yarn or this pattern. If it is possible for yarn to be TOO springy this yarn is it. The pattern has a tight gauge for DK (which Ysolda said was intentional for better stitch definition). In my own humble opinion, both of these facts make for an unplesant tense feeling to the knitting of this project. I expect to finish the sweater, but wonder how I will like it when it is completed.

04-01-14 As I reached the elbow of the first sleeve, I realized that the amount of yarn that I bought was going to be close. I learned from swatching that the yarn does soften (losing some of its intense spring) and also grows a bit from being washed. I took the unusual step of blocking/washing the sweater when I ended a ball of yarn on each sleeve and they were both close to the point of knitting the leaf motif. I needed to see approximately how long the sleeves would be after blocking. This yarn softens up amazingly when washed. I really like the feel of the blocked knitting.

04-07-14 Just finished the knitting today. I had to rip out one of the two swatches that I made with this yarn to have enough to finish the second button band. I am planning to use 15-16 snaps and buttons on the front (to fit either between or on the knitted ribs). That (and weaving in a huge number of yarn ends) will take some time, but I am thinking that I might like to have this finished for Easter.

04-15-14 Finish date. I sewed 15 snaps and buttons between the ribs on the front bands. I finished before Easter, but it was too warm of a day here (Easter was on the 20th and our warmest day yet in 2014.) to wear it. It is a great sweater and I am finally happy with it, but I am also happy to be done with it.

04-28-14 I am renaming this project “Bernadette” because (from day one) it has always reminded me of the cardigans worn by the character by that name on the television series “Big Bang Theory”. And I will admit, I do seem to have a hard time remembering “Lauriel”.