Notes: I’ve been adjusting my stitch counts between 112 sts/side to 120 sts/side to allow for the colourwork repeats in the body; I work the colourwork sections in US9, and the plain stockinette in US7. Due to colourwork on sleeves and client request that sleeves be slimmer than pattern, I’m increasing sts in the “dead spaces” after colourwork repeats are complete.

Oct 26/19: opened formal discussions with client today.

Nov 6/19: received yarn yesterday. Will contact client to confirm that I’ll be starting this project over the next few days.

Nov 7/19: charts sent over to client for approval.

Nov 8/19: c.o last night.

Nov 11/19: s/b starting the letterforms tonight! I’ve been going “like stink”, but am about to sort out how to incorporate the wording into the Nordic star motif, which’ll probably take some doing. I’m otherwise thrilled at the progress I’ve made so far.

Nov 12/19: two lines into “OH” now. I’m using a modified Intarsia technique for those letters on the otherwise red rounds. If all goes well, I’ll be done the bodice tonight, just in time to start a full-time contract role which will undoubtedly see my progress slow considerably. Having gone from a lacework project to this makes me appreciate how much skill I’ve developed at pulling up stitches in columns (which is next-to-impossible in lace).

Nov 13/19: managed to complete the bodice last night. My evenings will now, undoubtedly, be largely given over to working the sleeves for the next couple of weeks.

Nov 14/19: c.o. for the sleeves last night. Not quite done working the cuffs yet.

Nov 16/19: started the colourwork last night, then realized my charts aren’t identical to the ones on the bodice, so I’ll probably rip out my work there and start again.

Nov 17/19: just about to begin my first repeat of Nordic Star on the sleeves. Had to sort out how to centre the motif to the top of the sleeve yesterday.

Nov 19/19: about to begin the red sections of the sleeves.

Nov 21/19: began the “rick rack” motif in red on the sleeves last night.

Nov 22/19: began the Nordic stars in the red part of the arms last night! Cautiously optimistic about making progress this weekend.

Nov 23/19: finished the second-last Nordic star motif on the sleeves last night. Home stretch on those!

Nov 24/19: well, after finishing the star/cross motif on the sleeves, I’m thinking that another motif might make the sleeves too long, so I think I might put in a lifeline in the body to match where I am on the sleeves, then rip back to that point before joining everything. I just have to measure what I’ve got already to verify it against the pattern before doing so.

Nov 25/19: ended up doing as planned, placing an afterthought lifeline in two rounds above the “Oh Jeremy Corbin” chart, then ripping back to that point. Today, I’ll be joining the sleeves to the body and hope to start working the yoke! Update: also tinked back a round because my st counts weren’t where they were supposed to be. Currently have 240 sts on my needles, need to decrease to 218.

Nov 26/19: joined the sleeves to the bodice yesterday, now working the yoke in red stockinette. I think I’ll add the “pips” thrum-style, after the sweater is finished. Update: started the yoke decreases, then realized that I was making a “ditch” by having them butt up against one another. Going to have to rip back to before the decreases and keep a couple of sts of margin between them next time.

Nov 27/19: so I managed to rip out all of the work I undertook yesterday and am ready to resume where I was before I started yesterday. :( Update: caught back up and still have time to work on it tonight, yay!

Nov 28/19: the yoke decreases have actually begun!

Nov 29/19: I should be done all of the knitting this weekend and hope to have pip options to discuss with the client (whether to go pip-less, 1x1 or 2x2, with photos to illustrate). With the full-time contract role, I’ve honestly been a bit resentful for the past few nights at having to give up large chunks of my free time each evening to work on this. At least I’m nearing completion!

Nov 30/19: worked neck to 118sts, sewn b.o. Will need to “stiffen up” the neckline by working single crochet along edge (mental note: do not work sewn b.o. for this sweater). Blocking now. Will send photos to client of “pips” when dry.

Dec 3/19: the sweater was sufficiently dry for me to begin duplicate stitching in the pips last night. I managed to get 3 rows done on all sides and was going to do three more rows of smaller pips until I saw how heartlike they are. I think I’ll stick with the 2x2 pips for the yoke all the way to the collar. With any luck, those’ll be done tonight, then I’ll have to weave in ALL OF THE ENDS. Update: currently up, the 2x2 pips being duplicate stitched in.

Dec 4/19: so, after having Matt try on the sweater last night, I’m probably going to undo my b.o. and make it as small as the pattern suggests, b/c it’s a men’s sweater. Also, I might stop the pips at 6 rows high on the yoke and 4 on the sleeves because I think I like the look of it not running clear up to the collar. Will probably ask for client input on that issue this weekend, whether or not I’m “clean” up to that point. Update: got all planned pips done and am weaving in the ends for those now.

Dec 5/19: ends were woven in for about 3/4 of the existing pips last night. Then I plan to undo the b.o. and re-knit the collar tighter. Update: ends woven in!

Dec 6/19: after cutting out the b.o. and placing an afterthought lifeline below the short rows for the back, I ended up decreasing to 82 sts and began the first row of 1x1 rib for the collar last night. I’ll have to re-block for the client, but I’m on track to get pictures out to him this weekend. Also, my fixed US 7 circ popped its needle last night while I was working on this. Interchangeables to the rescue!

Dec 7/19: cast off (again) last night, then blocked. Photos of mid-yoke pips up. I’ll be emailing the client with that pic today!

Dec 10/19: so the client was thrilled with it as it was, so after drying (it was still slightly damp last night), I mailed it off today. Fare thee well, this year’s sweater commission.