January 30, 2022

Ordered yarn. Researching others project notes. I think I’ll start making charts as others have done. This will be first time using LBJ technique so need to practice that.

February 3, 2022

Needles:
Didn’t get gauge with #7 or #6 - too loose - so going down to #5 for body and color work and #4 for ribbing. Knitting size 49 so there’s room if gauge is a little tight.

February 4, 2022

UGH…I switched to 16” for sleeve. It changed my gauge to 19sts/4”. Rip back and back to magic loop. Once I do some increases I may try the 16” needles again.

February 6, 2022

To start Chart 1, I have 66 stitches (started with 56 have increased 5 times x 2sts). But the chart is 10 stitches, how do I make that work. I must be totally reading size 49 the wrong way.

February 13, 2022

I don’t know why I’m having so many problems with this pattern ie. sleeve increases/color pattern. I did make spreadsheet and still am not consistent. This is not my first sweater…it may be my last.

February 14, 2022

My first time using 16” needles for sleeves. Sure makes life easier.
Chart 3 of first sleeve is done. LadderBackJacquard went better than expected. I created extra stitch using KFB and wrapped each subsequent purl/LBJ backwards because my trial sample had loose stitch before LBJ. I think since my technique improved, that may not be necessary. The only tight stitches seem to be carrying behind 2 stitches. Don’t understand that since all other parts of the motif are loose and lay flat. I’m not re-doing it. Just have to hope blocking smooths things down.

February 22, 2022

Completed second sleeve.

I’m pre-washing MC yarn to soften it up a bit so that’s what I’ll do tomorrow. Next up, the body.

March 19, 2022

Completed 30-row pattern on body. Even though I did not go up a needle size, I’m worried my color work gauge is too loose. We’ll see if stockinette gives at blocking.

This was my first time using LBJ method. After watching lots of YT videos, I decided to do setup row on last row of main color. Then about halfway through, KnitFreedom posted a LBJ video where she creates the extra stitch using contrast color with just a backward/thumb cast one. Because I was not using any yarn that was already knit, there was not puckering. It’s genius.