Overall this was a very easy & quite well written pattern, and it worked up quickly. Used much less yarn then called for - I made it longer in the sleeves & body & still had some leftover based on pattern requirements. Now that it is done, if I could change one thing, I would have done fewer underarm chains. It’s just a hair too big, and the sleeve decreases I added would not have been needed.

Stitch gauge was perfect with my Knit Picks Caspian wooden E hook. Row gauge slightly tight (12 instead of 11 = 4”) but I’m ok with a denser fabric.

I think there was one minor error already in the pattern - it said to work the first V-stitch into the 6th chain from the hook, but it should be the 5th chain. I figured this out because at the end of my row I was one chain short, you were supposed to skip one chain before the final DC, and I didn’t have one to skip. Plus working in the 5th chain leaves 4- 3 for the first DC, +1, which is what it should be to fit the pattern. I should check for errata before I go further…. I should try to remember to do that before I start any pattern!

Oct 29
Can’t get over how fast this works up! Finished my first ball last night & it got me quite far - back, right front, and all but three rows of the left front! Wow, this sweater is economical with yarn. I wonder if the ribbing is a yarn eater? Otherwise I bet I will have quite a bit leftover. If so I would like to make the sleeves full-length.

Nov 2
Almost done with 2nd ball of yarn. Fit is beautiful across the front but seems baggy in the back. Started adding decreases at the side back at row 10 but afraid that’s not soon enough….wish I could have tried it in sooner but was crocheting in the car while peanut napped / mike drove so no chance.

Nov 3
Decided I just wasn’t happy with the way the back was looking. Frogged back to start back decreases at row 8 instead of 10, and will do 4 instead of 2, at least for a few rows then see how it looks.

Looked at it in the mirror & decided to frog one more row, back to 7. I hate undoing all that work but I will be happier in the end if it fits well.

Nov 8
Up to row 18 now, and SO GLAD I frogged back when I did! The fit across the back is much better now. Between rows 7-16 I decreased a total of 8 V-stitches across the back, and between rows 13-17 three over each front for bust shaping. So that’s a total of 14 V’s decreased. Worked plain thru row 22. Then placed 4 markers - two at sides centered under armscye, and two at the side back where I did the decreases. I’ll increase one V every three rows, which will be a total of 12 V’s added back. Not quite as many as I took out, but that’s ok as my bust is larger than my hips.

Nov 9
Decided to do 36 body rows after comparing length to my favorite store-bought cardi.

Nov 11
Finished ball 4 last night, and almost 1/2 done with body ribbing. Love how the ribbing looks. At first I was having trouble reading the last stitch of the row, & my counts kept getting off, but I’ve got it now. Not very tight, almost even width with the bottom edge, but I like it that way. But it will need to be tighter for the sleeves tho…may need to experiment there with hook size, fewer rows, or sc instead of hdc, but that would look different so that would be a last resort.

Nov 12
Ribbing finished and it looks fabulous! Love the length, glad I made it a smidge longer. Looked thru my button stash but nothing was quite right. Off to the fabric store on my way home tomorrow :)

Nov 14
Neckline & edge trim done & buttons sewn! Love!!

Nov 16
Finished first sleeve. Such a well written pattern, love the sleeve cap. Did add some decreases to sleeve width down to 54 dc over rounds 4-15. Did 38 rounds before cuff. Wanted a tighter cuff so did 36 rows - every other row sl st into two row ends.

Nov 26
Done! Took a break after sleeve one to finish a shawl.