Mar 18: May as well work my version right after my sister’s project fresh in my mind. Mine is a size up and no pink. Adding some blue into Marie’s colours.

Because I truly cannot get her tension I will work rib on 3m, main knitting on 3.5m with a section of 3.25m through the waist area. For the sleeve overpanel I will work the XXL chart C to get enough stitches to match my row gauge.

Will make mine long like Susie’s and also add pockets.

This will be my first project using Knit Companion throughout.
Mar 20: Past halfway on border.
Mar 22: The bottom border is complete, the pockets are inserted, I changed to 3.25m needle on row 51 and have finally reached the magnolia portion of pattern. Yay.
Mar 25: Finished to end of first vertical repeat, round 87.
Mar 27: Complete from row 52 - 80. Will set up underarm steeks tomorrow. Piece is 16” long.
Mar 30: Received my beautiful big ceramic button from Rosemary Maine Island Buttons.
Mar 31: Working my way up the armhole steeks while reducing for front neckline slopes.
April 1: Main body complete including back and front cast off shaping. Ends are darned in. Front and arm steeks are needle felted ready to be cut. Tomorrow I shall commence sleeve undersleeve panels.
Apr 3: Working my way down 1st undersleeve. Moving well now as stitches decrease. (Row 85 of 135 is next.)
Apr 4: 1st undersleeve complete
Apr 5: 1st oversleeve panel just more than half done. (29 rows of 39)

Knowing my row tension is large I picked up 205 stitches for oversleeve so stitches will match the length in the undersleeve rows.
CALCULATION:
undersleeve of 135 rows is 19.25”
stitch tension is 7.78 sts = 1”
19.25 X 7.78 = 150 sts
plus st PU from body 54
150 + 54 = 204, make it 205
Work 3 sts, then 5 motifs X 40 sts= 200, plus last 2 sts = 205 stitches
Seems to be working as length seems the same.

April 6: 1st oversleeve complete. Blocking required before I stitch. Think I will carry on with 2nd (left) sleeve then block everything and stitch both sleeves. I really like my oversleeve panel. INCIDENTALLY, I FINALLY REALIZED THIS OVERSLEEVE COULD HAVE BEEN WORKED IN THE ROUND. TOO LATE NOW AND I WILL WORK 2ND OVERSLEEVE FLAT AS WELL. TENSION MIGHT VARY.

April 8: 2nd undersleeve complete
Apr 10: 2nd oversleeve complete. So just the front border and a whole lot if blocking and stitching. Still should be complete in a few days.

April 14: Needs blocking and final finishing. Getting very close.
April 15: Making a change in button choice.
April 16: All done including button. Will add exact measurements and better pics soon.

Final measurements: Blocked and buttoned
Bust and hips 49”
Waist 46”
Length 25” (measured from middle of shoulder to bottom of rib)
Overall it is a little larger than necessary. Medium would have been too small. I know because the size medium I knit for Susan is too small. Projects with large motifs are always difficult to size exactly. Magnolia is also complicated with sections comprised of stitches and rows. All in all I am happy with my generously proportioned Magnolia. I am pleased with the bluish tone, as I believe Susan will be happy with her pinky tone.