Dean Edwin Wood, born 8 August 2014.

I haven’t decided whether I’ll knit this by the original pattern or by my modified version. I think I’ll probably do the modified version since I’m making skinny stripes. I’m also planning to make a two-color Barley hat to match the sweater.

I’m knitting this as part of the KAL by the Wee Sandy Pattern group on Ravelry. The KAL starts 17 May. The relevant thread is here.

Modifications: I do a matched pair of single decreases/increases on every row rather than doing pairs of double decreases/increases on every other row. I’ve done this before, and I like the look, especially on skinny stripes. In one way it’s easier: there’s no wondering if the row I’m doing is a ‘crease row or not--it always is. Working the pattern this way requires faith: if you try comparing the number of stitches you have in each section to a spreadsheet, you’ll be wrong every other row; if you have enough faith to knit the return row, your numbers will fix themselves.

On the increases, the trick is: (knit to the marker, slip the marker, m1,) twice, then knit to the end on every row. Thus you’re increasing one side section and one center section stitch on each row. Result? A neat, lovely row of increases.

For the decreases: (knit to the marker, remove the marker, work a single decrease, replace the marker after the resulting stitch) twice, then knit to the end on every row. On every row, the first of the two stitches you’ll knit together will be the stitch you created on the previous row’s decrease. I often use SSK decreases, but choose the decrease of your choice.

28 May: Still need i-cord on cuffs and neck. Not entirely sure I like the buttons, but they were the closest I could find to the Seaspray, and buttons that match the Fisherman wouldn’t show on the button band. But I might take the sweater to JoAnn’s and see if I can find something I like better. ETA: I found much better buttons. And the matching hat is Barley.

There’s a lovely stripe arrangement in this BSJ. The stripe pattern was inspired by Franklin Habit.