07-03-2021

Back complete. Feels good to knit through this so quickly. 25%

07-14-2021

Left front complete
Right front section 1 (pocket) complete; section 2 complete. 47%

07-16-2021

Right front complete after much knitting and ripping and re-knitting and re-ripping. 60%

07-23-2021

Both sleeves complete. 92%

07-27-2021

Collar finished. Knitting complete. Just need to seam it up.

For the collar, rather than working a stepped BO by BO 3 sts every row 6x, then BO the remaining sts after completing the double decrease that form the collar corners, I stopped 5 sts early on the final dec row, then did SR shaping 6x, then worked across the sts to the end, to work the final double decrease, turned and BO 9 sts plus the back neck sts, knit to the end, then BO the last 9 sts.

08-07-2021

Seamed up the sides using mattress stitch, rather than the flat seam the pattern called for. Used the flat seam for the raglan seams. Realized I would need a flat seam for the garter stitch sleeve cuffs, so I transitioned to the sleeve seam by continuing the flat seam. The seam is visible, and yet looks quite neat, so I’ll keep it for the sleeves, but maintain the mattress stitch seams for the body side seams.

After trips to four different shops and the purchase of three different sets of buttons, I finally found some that I really like. They don’t really scream 1950s, but I love them. I particularly like the way the holes in the buttons are triangularly shaped, which echoes the triangular garter stitch along the pocket edges and raglan seams.

09-14-2021

measured the grosgrain ribbon while sweater hanging from dress form. Distributed band on ribbon while lying flat, because upper part of band stretched more than lower band while hanging. Might want to re-sew buttons on so they have a taller thread shank. I used a US 2 needle as a spacer, forgetting that I should have used the same size I used for the knitting, in order to accommodate the thickness of the fabric. Might try re-doing one and see what I think.