Bought this pattern on KnitPicks and I’m eager to start, but nervous about my yarn not being bulky, only aran weight. Think I should drop the needle size from the recommended #10.5 (6.5mm) down to #9 (5.5mm). Went hunting to see if anyone else had made these mods, but so far, nothing. I do have a really small head, and blocking always stretches things, but am nervous about proceeding when gauge swatch was a whole 1/2” smaller than it was supposed to be (4.5 not 5”). Hmm. Will start when I get back from Saranac Lake, I think.

Nov 9: A speedy article, finished inside of 10 days, could have completed faster but I have been having problems with focus lately.

Would have finished this earlier, but as several people have mentioned, knitting the plackets is dull work and I loathe sewing in. Nevertheless, it’s done. I like it, although I’m not getting the nice “bell” shape around the head that I was hoping for, despite steam blocking it pinned out and over a bowl, as instructed. I think this is my fault for using a less bulky yarn than the pattern called for, and therefore going down a needle size from 6.5 to 5.5 - I should likely have adjusted the pattern for these changes by adding more cable rows and picking up more stitches for the ribbing, instead of just trusting that it would fit my tiny head (which, to be fair, it does).

MODS: Very slight. Did a provisional cast on - don’t know that I’d recommend this, as it was just as awkward to put the 148 sts back on the cable as it would have been to pick them up.

HOWEVER! I did follow the advice of many and did NOT Bind Off when it says to BO 108 sts, instead leaving them on my cable needle with the holding knobs on the end, and moving my needles to a new cable. Hurrah for interchangeables! That saved a lot of time and fuss, since you pick them up again shortly afterwards to start your ribbing around the front of the hood.

Plackets I made 15sts wide, not 13, and used a 3.5mm needle (#4) as I didn’t have any #3 circulars to hand. Worked out fine.

AUDIOBOOKS: Listened to Lloyd Alexander’s “Book of Three” while knitting (nice Welsh accents), and also some of Mrs. Pollifax and the China Station (nice description of China and travel, but not my favourite of the series).