Modifications:

Use the long-tail cast-on for all horizontal cast-ons (square 1 and all first row squares), and knitted cast-on for all vertical cast-ons (squares 2-5), as no cast-on is specified in the pattern. Update: Long Tail worked out better than I had expected for picking up stitches, but the knitted cast on was weirdly tight. Next time I won’t be twisting g the stitches as I out them on the needle, which is what I normally do. Also, I recommend starting the long tail without a slip knot.

Switch Wine and Fairy Tale to make a smoother gradient. The Wine is so much darker and more purple than Fairy Tale I think it will look much better right next to the Eggplant color. Update: Definitely happy with that decision. I wish I had swapped in something else for the Marina turquoise color. It’s just so bold. Peacock or Tidepool would have been better. I also am not a fan of the dark Dublin green. Would have preferred a bright corner there to match the bright pink on the opposite side. Maybe Peapod.

Slip the first stitch of every row pwise WYIF to make it easier to pick up stitches. On return, knit last stitch in new color to maintain the edge.

Purl the CDD on the wrong side to create a stronger mitered effect.

Don’t cut the main color of the column when starting the next square even when that square begins with a different color. I cannot fathom weaving on that many ends! Just carry it up the side until you need it.

Work the final CDD of the square in the new color when the new square starts with picking up stitches in that color. This last stitch will count as the first picked up stitch.

When picking up stitches for inside squares pick up 24 then turn and pick up 25, with the first stitch TBL from the corner of the next square over, NOT the square below. This avoids a jog. Update: nope, still had a jog doing that. I think the best way is to pick up the 25th stitch directly in the corner, going through the last CDD and behind the first slipped stitch of the neighboring square.

To reduce weaving in pick up or knit the first 6-8 sts of the new square using the yarn tail held together with working yarn. Work the end tail together with the first return row of that color in the next column/row (so the tail end of B in square 1 gets worked into the first return row of square 6).

Mitered border created by picking up 240 along each side + 1 in each corner (964 total) in the round and working a double increase on each corner stitch.

Use Lacey Bind Off for the border: K2, transfer the 2 worked sts to the LH needle, and k2tog tbl, k1

Yarn Weight Watch

Starting Weight
Rouge: 98.1
Red: 101.3
Fairy Tale - 97.7
Wine - 96.6 (worried about this one!)
Eggplant - 98.7
Solstice - 101.7
Celestial - 95.6 (yikes!)
Marina - 99.8
Grass - 101.5
Dublin - 100.6
Black - 105.4 + 97.8

Nov 24 - started project, beginning with section 3 (the reds).

Dec 31 - finished section 3 tonight! Gotta say I’m not 100% happy with the jogs in this Q, but I think I’ve figured out a better way that I will implement in the next Q.

Yarn weight watch update:

Rouge: 51.8 left, 46.3 used
Red: 56.3 left, 45 used
Fairy Tale: 54.8 left, 42.9 used
Wine: 56.9 left, 39.7 used
Eggplant: 59.9 left, 38.8 used

Jan 1 - starting section 1 (blues and greens)

March 16 - finished section 1 tonight! The jogs in this Q are much less noticeable. Will add this method to the notes up top and take some pics as well.

Yarn weight watch update:

Solstice: 57.7 left, 44 used
Celestial: 55.7 left, 39.9 used
Tranquil: 59.9 left, 39.9 used
Grass: 61.2 left, 40.3 used
Dublin: 59.8 left, 40.8 used

March 17 - starting section 3 (red columns, blue rows)

July 1 - Finished the last square today! I had plenty of each color left over, which I was not expecting given how many projects contain notes about running out or having just barely enough.

Tonight I block the last quadrant and start seaming. I don’t really mind seaming, especially with a slip stitch edge as I’ve done, but I am not looking forward to how many stitches I’ll have to pick up for the border!

July 3 - A note about seaming: start the mattress stitch in the SECOND slip stitch of the left side and the FIRST slip stitch of the right side, in that order. Otherwise your stripes won’t line up. Don’t bother with the figure 8 start that you usually use for mattress stitch. Leave the tail loose, and after a couple inches, spin it around and mattress the bottom. Any weirdness at that edge will disappear when you pick up the border.

July 6 - Seaming finished and last ends woven in. SO GLAD I knit the tails in as much as possible while knitting this. I still had over 40 ends to weave in, but that sure as hell beats 140! Now to begin the border. I’ve decided that the black is too dark, so I’ll be using some Charcoal I had ordered for another project but wound up not using. I don’t know how they expect me to pick up 250 stitches per side when the sides are only 24 stitches across… So I’ll be doing 240 + 1 corner stitch per side, for a total of 964 in the first round.

103.1,100.2

Border :

Rnd 1: k1, p to next marker
Rnd 2: k1, m1l, k to next marker, m1r, sm

July 13 - IT’S DONE!!! I’ve got it all pinned out and will be blocking it tomorrow.