March 12, ‘12

Oh the heartbreak & disappointment: the button band, as written was puckering, as noted on 11/4. Then the double separating zipper was too heavy-duty for this knit, though I sewed it in anyway and ended up stretching & distorting the front openings too much because the zipper was too long and, as I later discovered, I put a replacement needle in my sewing machine incorrectly. I abandoned the zipper idea in favor of a 1x1 ribbed button band picked up along the edges and of course picked up too many stitches the first time around. Frogged them and did it a little more sensibly, more of a 3st/4rows ratio, though the slipped stitch patten makes that a bit difficult.

Having finally knit a button band wide enough to not pucker and that has a bit more give than the original (ribbing can expand/shrink some without looking wonky), I tried to attach a button & realized that the bands needed reinforcement. Rifling through my fabric stash I came up with a few possibilities (and one offer to use a knitting machine to knit a backing - thank you Lisa!) and settle on what I used - soft cotton from a favorite pair of pajama bottoms.

After trying to machine sew the fabric to the button bands with bad results (I don’t have a walking foot, so the fabric + knit got out of sync & squished & it just looked bad, despite all the adjustments I could make), I ended up handsewing it and using the machine for button holes, carefully keeping the yarn/knitting out of the way so that only fabric was sliced (kind of ridiculous when you consider the steeks). 11 buttons later, I have a functional sweater, at long last.

November 4, 2011
She’s not done. Washing and blocking helped a bit, but the buttons aren’t going to work, it’s too tight. It won’t stay buttoned & when it is buttoned/stays, it’s gappy. Have double separating zip (2 pulls) to put in.

Oct 30, 2011
She’s done. Tight around the arms & armpits and very fitted overall; I’m hoping washing & blocking will ease things just enough to make it wearable. I made the buttons bands long enough to cover the raw edges of the steeks; wish I’d done that with the Blue Palm Cardi.

Sept 14, 2011

I’m well past the great divide, about 1/3 of the way down the body (2nd picture/2nd from last) and I think Cecelia’s going to give the illusion that I’m more boobalicious than I really am. It fits snugly but with a bit of ease, enough for a shirt underneath.

Prior to the divide, I did work 2 (or 3) extra pattern repeats without increases; my shoulders are wide/bulky & I needed some extra room. Also: need to remember to measure gauge again before starting the sleeves to make sure i’m on track for sleeve shaping.