• Back at it again, one more time. I’ve got the right amount of yarn (handspun Corriedale this time) and the only knowable change I’ll make to this verison (given that I don’t have enough yarn to mess too much with sizing), is to lower the front neckline still more than I did with Version 2. For the last version, I worked an extra 4 rows on each front shoulder to lower the neckline. This time, I’ll likely work and extra 6R on each side, which should give a lower crew neck. I think this may be easier to pair with tops that will need to be worn underneath.

• I got gauge with the recommended needle size.

• This yarn is closer in properties to the yarn I used for the first version, also hand-spun and sport-weight to light-DK: it blooms a lot on blocking and it’s less consistent than the commercial DK-weight that I used to make version 2. I also got gauge with this yarn.

Yarn Stats for This Version - Version 3:

• I have 260g in total. To use up all of the yarn:

• I’ll alot 73% of the total for Fr/Back (190g) - used 177g

• I’ll alot 13% of the total for plackets (34g)

• I’ll alot 2% of the total for the neckband (5g) - used 5g

• I’ll alot 12% of the total for the armscye ribbing (31g) - used 22g

• At the point that there is 70g of the yarn remaining, I must be finished with the Fr/Back segment. I finished front and back with 83g remaining to do the plackets, neckband and armscye.

For Future Reference:

Back Body: Work the back body shoulders as instructed, then work ~66R to get to 11.75” from centre back. Then work armscye increases as instructed. Then work 30R to get to 19” of depth from centre back. Change needle size. Work 28R of ribbing. Work 2 rows of set up for Italian bind off. Bind off.

Front Body (high scoop neck): Work as instructed but for 20R (incl CO) on each (i.e. left and right) shoulder segment (picked up from the back shoulders). Join the fronts and work 1 purl row. Work 56R to get to 11.75” from the CO edge at the neck. Work armscye increases as instructed. Then work 58R to get to 19” from the CO edge at the neck. Change needle size. Work 28R of ribbing. Work 2 rows of set up for Italian bind off. Bind off.

Finishing:

• Note to self: when you make this, use the pattern to confirm the pick up rates for armscyes, neckline and plackets. For this version, I picked up 92st for the neckband (but mine was a larger neckline that called for as I lowered it). I picked up 135st on the armscyes.

• Number of rows on the neck edging: 7-8. No set up rows on the neckband, just Italian bind off. For plackets and armscye edging I followed the instructions in terms of number of rows.

• Did the set up rows for the armscye edging before working Italian BO.

• When you work the plackets: Before starting the double knitting and after casting on the stitches, mark the number of stitches for the 3 segments of the placket - the upper segment (where it joins the armscye edge), the middle segment (stockinette between upper segment and rib) and rib segment. At size I’ve made, thus far I’ve picked up between 60st and 68st (total) over the 3 versions I’ve completed.

• Another thing when setting up the placket: don’t cast on right to the outer edges of the armscye and ribbing (the first and last stitches of the placket). The double knit CO and BO add a row of depth and you don’t want the placket to be longer than the edges it abuts. Leave longish ends so that you can add an extra stitch on the fly, as necessary. An confirm that the CO works or you may be very happy with the result at the end.

Final Thoughts:

• I’ve attached a schematic that I created for XXS. YMMV but I’d have appreciated this be included in the pattern.

• If you want to get seriously comfortable with Italian CO, Italian BO and modular knitting, make this garment 3x. But don’t try to learn those skills with this pattern. It’s not adequate for that purpose, IMO.

• I can’t see myself making this again any time soon, but when I find myself with ~625y of sport-weight to DK-weight yarn (that gives me gauge of approx 20st and 30R in 4”), this will def be a consideration.

Gauge Swatches:

Preblocked Gauge US6 Stockinette: 20st and 32R in 4”
Postblocked Gauge US6 Stockinette: 20st and 30R in 4”

Preblocked Gauge US7 Stockinette: 18st and 30R in 4”
Postblocked Gauge US7 Stockinette: 20st and 28R in 4”

Preblocked swatch with US8 Stockinette: 18st and 26R in 4”
Postblocked swatch with US8 Stockinette: 18st and 27R in 4”

Note that US8 produces a fabric too open for my preference…

Preblocked Gauge US7 Garter: 18st and 36R in 4”
Postblocked Gauge US7 Garter: 19st and 37-38R in 4”

Could make:

Meander Vest - Klara Pushin - 18st and 26R in 4” - Could make this one but I’m concerned that the yarn plus pattern combo may look a bit crunchy…

Overdrive Vest - Lily Kate France - 19st and 26R in 4” - I’m just not sure that a moss stitch collar is my vibe. Looks a bit like chain mail. Pass.

Void - Melanie Berg - 16st and 28R in 4” - While I’ve wanted to make this shawl for a long time, I’m worried about having enough yarn. So I think this will be a pass…