• Swatch turned out at US3 for gauge
• I want to knit the 2year version so he can grow into it (also because he’s already gigantic!)
• plan to do colorwork on hem and sleeves so I can save as much of the main color as possible - I’m short about 120 yards I think for that size
• Planning to do a two color repeat in the yoke (the mustard and the reddish brown) - you can hardly tell, but a lot of the speckles in this blue-ish skein are yellow bits
• Stash diving in sock yarn for this as it seems like a good way to use beautiful things and not have a super delicate fiber for mom to take care of
• Would like to finish by fair so it can be entered ….

Knitting Notes

• I used the German stretchy cast on

• I bound off with my larger needle, in pattern

• I used the smaller needles for all ribbing sections

• I used Inv-L and Inv-R lifted increases for the sleeves

• I knit the selvedge edge as written

• I used ChiaGoo circulars, one fixed and one interchangeable

• I used US 3 DPNs by Knitters Pride for the sleeves

• I used US 3 for all body, colorwork, and sleeves. US2 for ribbing.

• I did all the weaving in of ends as I went. I like to do that because it keeps my working piece clean and not full of strands that I have more than once picked up and knit with ….which is annoying! Also makes finishing the thing really satisfying and finished - fast!

• I wet blocked (when I usually steam) so I could fix a sloppy tension in the back and to try to block it to its largest scale. 20 minutes in Euclan wash, rolled with a towel, then lay flat to dry. Mostly made some ugly things better…

Final Thoughts

• Pattern Satisfaction - 9/10

• the two year old size seems a lot smaller than other projects; I had correct gauge. I wished there were bigger sizes because I’m actually knitting for a 7 month old who is already in 2yo sizing! I am sad bec he will fit this for a minute. :-/ I expected it to be a lot bigger.

• I didn’t like doing colorwork on the wrong side - it was good practice for honing speed and deftness with throwing/English as well as traditional purling (I prefer the Eastern purl)

• I would like to steek the next one perhaps. And knit in the buttonholes (the crochet loops are fussy)

• I also had wished there was a schematic to block the sweater to with correct measurements. That would have either proven my scale/sizing issue out (or not!)

• Yarn satisfaction - 11/10

• The Thistle & Hart skeins were final short list picks from my first fiber show in October of 2017 in The Dalles, OR. Knitting this beautiful fall-inspired little Cardi out of my special stash made it that much more special! And her sock fingering base is REALLY lovely to knit with.

• Manos - I never have a bad word for either. :)

• I have just enough of everything (even after playing yarn chicken w the main color) that I will make him a little hat. At least that can fit for awhile.

• Maker satisfaction - 9/10

• I’m fairly pleased w the results - I had a slight tension issue in the body as I was fussing around learning Norwegian purls, I wished I had torn back that sloppy row, it didn’t block out much.