Notes: I should add that there were 15g extra of CC in the skein before I started knitting, so the yoke for this size actually used ~40g of CC yarn.

Aug 20/24: worked on gauge swatch yesterday with US0 and wet-blocked. Will have to check gauge today. It looks likely that I achieved it, ‘though.

Aug 21/24: was off by a mile resumed the gauge swatch, this time with US2.5.

Aug 26/24: was able to achieve 29 sts/4”, instead of the 30 required in pattern, so I’m still gauge swatching, this time with US2s.

Aug 27/24:wound the Ristretto this morning and blocked the gauge swatch yesterday.

Aug 28/24: achieved gauge with the US2 so I’m off to the races!

Aug 29/24: was battling a migraine all day yesterday so decided to hold off on starting the sweater, knowing I’d likely end up making mistakes any way and having to rip everything out. Had a migraine shortly after waking this morning, but it seems to have dissipated, following a morning bike ride.

Aug 30/24: c.o. yesterday and just placed a lifeline before I begin the colourwork. I think I might make use of the ladderback jacquard technique to manage the floats between the moths.

Sep 2/24: made it into the 9th row of the chart before deciding that I didn’t like the way it was turning out with the dark brown as the non-dominant colour. Ripped back out to the lifeline this morning and am ready to re-start the colourwork.

Sep 3/24: made it to round 8 last night, so I’m almost caught back up. The colourwork looks a lot better with CC dominant, so I’m glad I decided to rip out and start it out over again.

Sep 4/24: meant to say, the second photo in this set is of the MC dominant colourwork (i.e., before I ripped back to the lifeline). Was able to get halfway through the colourwork chart by end of day yesterday.

Sep 5/24: made it to round 26 of the colourwork chart last night. It’s doubtful I’ll have time to be able to work on this project today (had to go into Toronto to get Kara’s health forms signed for high school), but I made really good progress yesterday so I should be done the chart either tomorrow or Saturday.

Sep 7/24: colourwork done last night and I placed a lifeline in the final row of it. Will want to verify that I got all instances of the motif right before I proceed.

Sep 8/24: photo of completed colourwork is up, but the lighting around here has been so shite that I can’t take a fast-frame photo to save my life. Forgive the blurriness.

Sep 9/24: I’ve got another few rounds to go (including one with dropped YOs) before I split for the sleeves.

Sep 10/24: was able to get to the sleeve-split last night, put the following bodice row on a lifeline. Am almost done my second ball of Drops Flora, too.

Sep 11/24: began knitting the straightaway of the bodice yesterday.

Sep 12/24: making good progress. I’m about 3” into the bodice now.

Sep 13/24: seem to be able to make it through a skein (about 3” in the bodice)/day.

Sep 16/24: a few rows away from starting the hem embellishment. I’ve messaged Beth about what length she’d like me to knit the sleeves to.

Sep 17/24: didn’t have the time yesterday to completely finish the hem, but I’m about 5 rounds away from done with the bodice.

Sep 18/24: finished the hem last night and bound off. Took out the neckline and post-colourwork lifelines. Still have to pick up for the sleeves. Likely to work those TAAT. Update: durn, did a measure of the bodice off the needles and discovered that I ought to have knit at least another 1/2” of stockinette before starting the hem. I’m likely to complete the sleeves first, then address the hem.

Sep 20/24: started working one sleeve yesterday. Think it’s probably safer for me to stay working one-at-a-time there; keeping track of which round I’m on and when the decreases happen is a pretty hefty mental load already.

Sep 24/24: I’ve been dealing with a week of poor sleep, so I’m going much slower on this sleeve than I was anticipating.

Sep 25/24: was able to complete all of the sleeve 1 decreases yesterday and have about 2” left of the charts to work before I begin the bind-off section.

Sep 26/24: realized that I was interpreting “PBO” as purl bind off when the technique is discussed early in the pattern as picot bind off, so the hemline as I’ve worked it is wrong any way. I was able to complete the first sleeve yesterday with picot edging and have picked up sts for the second sleeve already.

Sep 27/24: making good progress on the second sleeve and I effectively have a 3-day weekend because it’s ‘Tuna’s PA Day.

Sep 28/24: found an error in the “ping-pong” lace section of sleeve 2 yesterday and ended up having to ladder down to fix the problem.

Sep 30/24: was able to complete sleeve 2 yesterday, working the picot b.o. with a US0 needle and vastly preferring that to the US2.5 needle. Then undid the b.o. for sleeve 1 and reworked it with the US0 as well. Finally, picked up sts before the hem decreases for the bodice, ripped out the b.o. and am adding extra length there -- it measured as 14-1/2” as I was knitting it up (i.e., to pattern), but only actually came out to 13-1/2” when I was measured off-needles.

Oct 1/24: knitted up some extra length on the bodice and will measure again before starting the hem treatment, but I think I’m there now.

Oct 2/24: UGH! Almost finished the b.o. with my 9th skein of yarn -- I’ve got maybe 100 sts left. Rather than break into the last skein of dye lot 925 (which still has its band on it), I unravelled my swatch with dye lot 640, soaked it and am drying it now so that I can complete the b.o. with that.

Oct 3/24: the reskeined yarn should be dry today, so I’ll be able to complete the bind-off and get this sweater blocking. Update: ALL OF THE KNITTING IS DONE!

Oct 4/24: blocking has commenced. It’s been insanely humid around here for months now, ‘though, with today’s humidity listed at 99%, so this might take a while to dry. At least it’s been nice enough out that I ought to be able to leave it on the deck to get some direct sunlight and air.

Oct 5/24: it’s a beautiful, sunny, relatively dry (58% humidity) day. The sweater’s back out on the back deck -- I expect it’ll be done today. Update: all dry! Status update sent to Beth.

Oct 7/24: requested PayPal transfer of funds yesterday, expected to clear by Friday at the latest.

Oct 9/24: payment came through. Going to mail this off today! Update: mailed off!

Oct 23/24: received note today

“Hi Leah, Just to let you know the sweater just arrived. It’s absolutely beautiful and everything I was hoping for. Thank you so much! Beth”