3/18/2020 – Swatch started on US 10.
3/19/2020 – Swatch finished, soaked, and hung to dry with clothespins to account for superwash growth.
3/20/2020 – Swatch dry. Row gauge is spot on at 24 rows, but stitch gauge is off at 19 stitches. Have to wait to buy new, larger needles.
3/21/2020 – Swatch knitted on US 10.5, washed, and hung to dry with clothespins.
3/22/2020 – Swatch dry. Gauge is 16 stitches and 23 rows. Ugh.
3/27/2020 – Swatch knitted on US 9, because why not? If I have to rewrite the whole thing, might as well get a fabric I really love.
3/28/2020 – Third swatch washed and dried. Gauge is 19 stitches and 27 rows. 19 sts—LOL wut?
3/29/2020 – After thinking about that first swatch, I realized that pulling down the rows so much with clothespins might have drawn in the stitches. I’m willing to gamble that I can block the stitch gauge to the right amount, and if I end up with a little less ease, that should be fine by me. Cast on with US 10.
4/3/2020 – Divides for sleeves.
4/24/2020 – After doing the math to shorten the body, recalculating the rate of decreases for the waist, and knitting through about half of the ribbing, I tried it on and HATED it. It was slimmer in the bust and waist than I expected but not actually fitted, making me look thicker and straighter through the trunk than I am. It also managed to cling to my lower belly and give the appearance of a paunch? Ugh. Meanwhile, the back was baggy and shapeless.
Maybe blocking would of have helped, but I didn’t want to chance it. Into the frog pond it goes, while I go back back to my original idea of an oversized drop-shoulder tunic instead of a hoodie-sweater.