Notes: worked size 2 for the yoke; 1 round to “seal” sts; dec. to 264 sts (in ea bear section - k2,k2togx3, k4, k2tog, k2x3); work 36 sts, pm, b/w c.o. 14 sts, set aside next 60 sts (for sleeve), work 72 sts, pm, b/w c.o. 14 sts, set aside next 60 sts (for sleeve), work 36 sts (144 sts total for body, 60 sts for ea. sleeve = EZ percentages); for body, work straight ~ 4”, work 2 st dec/side every 4th roundx5, work 2 st inc/side every 4th roundx5, work 2 st inc/side every 8th roundx2; work 2x2 rib for ~2-1/2”; bind off in rib; p/u neck sts; work 2x2 rib for ~1-1/4”; re-arrange to 1x1 rib; sewn b.o.; duplicate-stitch flower centres in; for sleeves, work 2 st dec/side every 6th-ish roundx7; k in st st to ~5”; work 2x2 rib for ~1-1/2”; re-arrange to 1x1 rib; sewn b.o.

May 11/21: purchased pattern and started gauge swatch last night. Might work the yoke in a couple of “premium” yarns I’ve got in my stash.

May 13/21: c.o. last night, but don’t care for the looseness of the fabric with US8s, so I’m going to re-start with US6s and size up to the 8s when working the colourwork. Update: have just completed the first round of 3-colour stranded and am considering ripping out that round because I think I could’ve better managed the floats. I’ll sleep on it. Love the way the Dapper is knitting up.

May 16/21: finished the yoke last night. Now to figure out how I want to shape the bodice and arms.

May 17/21: was able to knit several rows beneath the colourwork last night. I think I’ll base the shaping for this on the work I did for Ivywild.

May 19/21: probably have to work about 5-10 more rounds before I start the waist shaping.

May 20/21: started the waist shaping last night. Will probably work those decreases over 28 rounds.

May 22/21: I’ve got the hem, before ribbing, on a capped cable at the moment while I work the sleeves TAAT. If I don’t have enough gray yarn, I’ll work the ribbing for the sleeves and hem in the pink.

May 23/21: used up all of the gray yarn and think I’ll place an order with WEBS to get another ball. If that fails, I’ve got plenty of pink yarn left to be able to work ribbing. I duplicate stitched in the flower centres last night before capping off all the cables that the sts are on and setting the project aside for now.

May 25/21: placed my order @ WEBS for the final skein of gray, plus enough for Kara’s version, plus enough for a yellow sweater and a purple sweater.

Jun 5/21: my yarn order came in yesterday (still have to process those skeins!), so I’ve resumed this sweater. I resumed at the hem, which I’m working in 2x2 rib.

Jun 6/21: finished the hem. Picked up sts at neckline and worked 2x2 rib for ~1-1/4”, rearranged st order to 1x1, sewn b.o. 62g of new ball of gray yarn left to complete sleeves with.

Jun 7/21: finished! Just have to block (and maybe duplicate st in bear eyes, which are currently hard to see ‘cause they were non-dominant when I was knitting) when the weather’s less humid.

Jun 13/21: blocking now!

Jun 14/21: left the sweater to dry in the sun yesterday and it was mostly-dry by evening, when I brought it in. I’m calling this one done! It’s so cute!