05-21-2019

My dad has been bugging me for a sweater made from fisherman’s wool forever. Specifically, Irish fisherman’s wool, but Irish fisherman’s wool is like $300 for a project, plus however much it would be to have it mailed to me (probably a million dollars) so we’re going with Lion Brand!

I’m making this as a test-run for NaKniSweMo. I just want to see, if I devote the most amount of time I possibly can to making a sweater, if I can finish this particular one in 3 months. It’s kind of a challenge for myself. If I don’t finish it over the summer, I want to finish it by November. If I don’t finish it by November, I want to finish it by Christmas.

Here’s what’ll probably happen, given my track record for finishing knitting projects: I’ll go hard on this for about a month and a half, maybe complete the back, and drop it for about 5 years. Then, r/knitting (knitting Reddit) will laugh at me in 2025 when I finally complete it.

But here’s my project note for the halcyon days of loving this knitting project: The wool is scratchy, but easy to work with. The cable charts are pretty challenging, but not impossible. It takes me about 20 minutes to finish a row with cables, and about 8-10 minutes to go back across the wrong-side row. I’m listening to Naomi Novik’s “Uprooted” on Audible while I work on it! (Excellent book, btw.)

06-13-2019

I’m about 5 hours away from finishing Naomi Novik’s “Spinning Silver” while working on this project. That book is straight fire and I would recommend it to anyone who wants an adventure fantasy novel with strong female characters crushing the patriarchy!

06-17-2019

I’ve finished “Spinning Silver” and started “Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell” by Susanna Clarke. I’m at the neck decreases for the back.

06-21-2019

I finished the back piece and cast on for the front today. I listened to a few episodes of “Welcome to Night Vale” while I worked.

07-25-2019

I’m several inches up the front and listening to “American Gods” by Neil Gaiman. I just finished a pair of hiking boot socks knit out of lopi wool, and this fisherman’s wool is remarkably softer after knitting with lopi! Yikes!

08-07-2019

Almost to the arm shaping for the front. Started listening to “Circe” by Madeline Miller.

08-19-2019

About 2 inches past the arm shaping on the front. I’m about 5 inches before the neck shaping. Just finished “When Dimple Met Rishi” by Sandhya Menon and started “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” by Ben Fountain.

Also I’m on Episode 3 of the Critical Role podcast.

10-14-2019

I’ve picked this up after putting it down for a bit to work on a sample for Nomadic Knits Magazine. I’m listening to “Exhalation” by Ted Chiang!

Might I also recommend “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens? That book surprised me!

10-18-2019

I’m at the neck shaping for the front piece. Finished “Exhalation” and now I’m listening to “The Nickel Boys” by Coulson Whitehead.

10-20-2019

I finished “The Nickel Boys” and got “Last Tango in Cyberspace” from the library. The front piece of the sweater also is done!

11-06-2019

Briefly dropped this project for Nakniswemo!

December 10, 2019

I’m about 2/3 of the way through one sleeve with two weeks to go. WILL I MAKE IT??? I don’t know, Handsome Chris is awfully distracting.

I finished “Legendary” by Stephanie Garber and now I’m listening to “A Darker Shade of Magic” by V.E. Schwab.

December 13, 2019

I finished “A Darker Shade of Magic” and the first sleeve and began “Finale” by Stephanie Garber. This book series has basically been “Dress descriptions, almost-kissing and terrible similes: The trilogy.” I don’t LIKE it, but it’s been a funny listen.

December 20, 2019

I’m almost halfway up the second sleeve and I’m listening to “A City of Brass” by S.A. Chakraborty.

December 23, 2019

I’m almost done with the second sleeve and I’m listening to “The Diviners” by Libba Bray. Good for if you want some supernatural stuff in a setting where people say “swell” and call each other “old sport.”

December 25, 2019

I finished the sweater this morning! Last night I had to rip out the collar because I accidentally picked up stitches along the shoulder. I don’t want to make a habit of completing Christmas gifts on Christmas day. This project was kinda worth it, though.

January 22, 2020

My dad says he has worn the sweater about three times so far and he says it’s very warm and he likes the color. He says he wishes there were more elasticity in the waist and in the neck opening, but that “otherwise it is a work of art!”