So excited to start this I’ve literally been dreaming about it!
Holding the two yarns together to approximate the pattern yarn.

I wanted to have this done for Christmas, but considering its already the 19th, that’s probably a pipe dream.

Swatch is so cozy & soft!!

Dec 20
2 balls of City Tweed = 1 ball of aloft done! Ohmygosh - so soft, so snuggly - I wish I was already done so I could wrap myself up in this!

That being said, readers beware, this pattern is not for the faint of heart. More of a schematic than a pattern, I have already found one major error (or omission) that is not in the written or charted instructions, but can be clearly seen when studying the picture. After the 6 rows of pattern stitch there is a set up row before you begin the 6 DC rows. The instructions do not tell you this anywhere. After studying the picture, what I did was to mimic the V-stitch row of the pattern, with SC & DC’d in all the same places, but with only 1 chain between everything. Then when you DC the next row, you DC INTO each stitch AND chain, not over the chain as typical. This is clearly what the picture showed.

Note on the cable bands:
The pattern chart has DC for the three edge stitches on either side of the cable band. After doing a few repeats, I think this looks really sloppy. And how will I work along the edge neatly & evenly? Im ripping it out & starting over with HDC for the three edge stitches.

Dec 21
Another big error/omission: every place it says to dec at the beginning of a row, if you look at the stitch counts, you clearly need to dec at the beginning AND end of each row. But it never says end. Silly.

Third thing - it doesn’t tell you which way to sew the collar on. At the hem & cuffs the three rows of post ribs are between the cable & the body, with the cable right at the hem. But if you look at the photo they have the post ribs facing the outside on the collar. I bet this gives structure to the neck, & more stretch at the body join where you need it - makes sense. But they don’t tell you!

Fourth thing - the skirt length. The instructions say you do pattern band - DC band - pattern band before beginning the waist shaping. You use an E hook & decrease for the next DC band & pattern band, then back up to the H. BUT. If you look at the picture & count the bands, the bands where they are telling you to use the E hook are CLEARLY hitting right at the model’s HIPS, not waist. I don’t want the tightest part at my hips! & since the way she is standing totally obscures the bodice/neckline, you can’t see at all how many bands there are. Sheesh.

So I’m pretty much going to be winging it from here on out. I’m going to make the sleeves next, pretty much as written just a smaller size since I don’t like baggy sleeves. Then I’ll see how much yarn I have left & go from there.

Dec 27
One sleeve & back done. VERY happy so far! I made the sleeve as written, but I made the M instead of the L as I don’t like baggy sleeves. It helped me figure out the length for the body panel. That I started as written. Then on the 1st plain DC band I decreased 8 stitches - one repeat - over that band (1 at beginning & end of row, x4). The next DC band I kept H hook, and decreased the same as the last DC band. So I had decreased 16 total stitches, not 12 as the pattern had. Then, for the next (3rd) pattern band, I changed to the E hook. Kept E hook for next DC band. Then went back to H for final pattern & DC bands. This placement of the smaller hook bands looks MUCH better for me. The way it was written would have been too low. I’m really short-waisted & long-legged tho, maybe it would be ok for others?

For the front, I am going I start the same as I did for the back, until I get to the last row of the E hook DC band. Then on that row I will increase 4 stitches evenly over the row. This is for two reasons. One, I need to get back to the net decrease of 12 that the pattern had. This makes the top pattern band work at the neck - otherwise it is unbalanced by 1/2 repeat so the deceases would be awkward. Two, could use a few increases in that spot for my bust (hence doing it this way, instead of just decrasing less to start with.

Dec 29
2nd sleeve done, and bottom band of front. Can I finish this in 2014? I doubt it, but I bet I can before I have to go back to work on the 5th.

Jan 2
Non sequitur - today is my 17th wedding anniversary :)

Finished the front! Weaving ends & seaming tonight (it’s only midnight, I can finish, right?) If I can make the neck piece tomorrow, I can wear it to the theater Sunday!

Well I seamed the left side & sleeve. Fit is looking good! Sleeves a tad short, but liking skirt length, and bet weight will pull it down a bit more. Can block more length in sleeves if I want it after I get the collar on.

Jan 3
Finished seaming & began collar. Fit is great! Collar needed to keep it on shoulders. I’m already doing dc for the three edge stitches on the edge that gets attached, and hdc as normal for the edge stitches on the outside edge, to create some curve where it attaches, but I’m afraid it will not be enough. I will sew it on before doing the three rows of post stitches. Then I can try it on after each row & have the option to add decreases if I need them in the amount needed!

Jan 5
Collar sewn on & two rows of dc done. Did one dc in each row end of first row, to snug it up.

Jan 9
Done!!! Wearing to work!! So cozy! So awesome!!
On 2nd row of edging, decreased 1 every 5 stitches, then worked last row even. Wil try to get some pictures tonight if I can.