Spent a couple days a few weeks ago prepping the yarn for this so that it wouldn’t bleed. I knew the Venetian would be a problem and I was pretty sure the Norway Spruce would be too, so I just did it all to be safe.

Color 1: Smokestack
Color 2: Venetian
Color 3: Isadora
Color 4: Norway Spruce

06/10/12 Decided to cast on for this, as if I need anything else on the needles ;). I worked through one pattern repeat of the stripes, I couldn’t wait to see how the colors work together. I sort of wish that this was written so you could pick either reverse stockinette or stockinette. I really prefer how the stockinette side looks more, but perhaps it will grow on me…

06/15/12 Only one more raglan increase then I can divide for the sleeves, woo hoo!

06/16/12 Divided sleeves and worked a few rows of the body.

06/17/12 Completed through the decreases and 2” straight knitting, ready to start hip increases. I’m actually surprised how quickly this is working up.

06/18/12 Through three of the increases almost to the fourth.

06/20/12 Finished increases. I think I’m going to knit the body a little longer than called for so that I can have the pockets line up with the venetian stripe. I think it should be fine in the long run yardagewise because the sleeves will be shorter because of my arm length. I’m looking forward to having a long cozy sweater :). I love that the yarn ends can be enclosed in the button band.

07/04/12 Been on a lovely vacation, so finally picking this up again. Completed through the row when you place the pocket liner stitches on a holder.

07/07/12 Completed knitting body and pocket liners. Picked up stitches for hood.

07/08/12 Knit most of hood, could have finished it today, except I miscalculated on the decreases so I had to rip out a little and decided I was done for the day.

07/10/12 Finished the hood, woo hoo! I began the first sleeve. I’m using a 12” needle so I decided to go up a size to a US 7 since I seem to knit tighter on this length of circular needle.

07/13/12 I haven’t had much time to knit this week, but I finally did start the decreases today.

07/15/12 Finished first sleeve, and wove all ends in.

10/07/12 Finally picking this up again, cool fall is setting in and I want something to snuggle in. Started second sleeve and got to where the decrease rows start.

02/03/13 Finished second sleeve and picked up stitches for the button band.

02/09/13 Completed first half of button band, switched colors and through first decrease row.

02/10/13 Completed knitting button band. I was able to complete binding off of bottom edge and just past the pocket. I’m loving the result, thank heavens because this was definitely not my favorite part of knitting on this project.

02/12/13 Button band all complete. I just need to sew down the pockets and add the pocket edge, and add the buttons and snaps. I’m so excited to finally see this off the needles and get a really good idea about how it’s going to look when finished.

Forgive me if now I wear the face of worry
This time alone could never cause any doubt
But I’ve been cold too long
Such a strange time to find myself coming down as the rain
With all these holes my love,
To fill up from the middle
This storm could stay all night

So can you stay until we close our eyes
Til your dreams hold mine
Just stay until we know we tried one more time

Cause laughing lovers can overcome their closest demons
And they’ll go on and they won’t let go
They saw something that they know
Has never come so close
Can it stay here for us, for now?

Can it stay until we know ourselves?
I’m torn as I tell
You’re the story that I know and fell from
I’m so far into your story I don’t know why
We think we’re in control
When we lie between the lines

We’ll find a line to follow
It’s got to show real soon
Or we’ll never reach this high

We climb a little further
Cause there’s nothing we can’t get around together
Further gets colder until nothing was all that I saw around

So we stay until the ground
That we can’t come down from splits us away
Maybe stars know why we fall
I just wish they were thinking out loud
Oh, I could wish all night ~Finger 11