3/21 - Had this kit for a while, finally getting it started. The largest size will not be quite large enough for me, so I’m having to do some calculations to upsize it..

3/27 - Calculations went wrong, and trying it on confirmed that this is far too big. Have to rip and restart.

3/31 - New stitch count seems to be working much better, and fewer rows combined with getting the hang of the technique help me feel faster.

7/7 - This is coming along slowly among other projects. I’m still very pleased with how it’s looking!

8/7 - I am afraid of how big this will turn out to be, but I’m not ripping it out for sure. I am very happy with how the color work is going. For my first stranded project, I think it’s going to look nice.

8/28 - Finally done! Last weekend I finished the body up to where the arm and neck shaping began, then I just flew through it. I didn’t work on anything else, and knit any chance I got. I am thrilled with how it has turned out. My first fair isle, my first steeks, and upsizing the pattern on the fly… you wouldn’t think those would all combine to something successful! The steeks did unravel a bit in places as I picked up stitches and worked the ribbing, but I think as it is worn a bit the ends will felt together enough to prevent major disaster.

Size mods: I followed the chart diagrams and row counts for the tall size, but didn’t do all the waist shaping. I added a few inches to the stitch counts, and adapted where necessary. In hindsight, I prefer the look of chart 3 on the average size, but used alternate chart 3 as called for in the pattern. The pattern states the alternate chart is to ensure you have enough yarn, but I had plenty left over even with my upsizing. The only yarn I worried over on quantity was the one used for the ribbing. I only had a few yards of that one left, but have quite a bit of all the others.