12/31/13: Finé! This makes 24 projects in 2013

2/12/13: Using E Zimmerman sewn bind of, and just tightening it a bit more than usual based on comments that loose binds-offs will flare in this pattern. It was a bit of research to jog my memory how to do a sewn bind off for both P and K stitches, so I’m making notes this time!
The knitty gritty (for a basic sewn bindoff in st st see below for link):
The second stitch on the left knitting needle decides the stitch of the tapestry needle
If stitch is a knit: pass tapestry needle purlwise through second stitch (front to back), then knitwise through first stitch (front to back) slipping the first stitch of the knitting needle
If stitch is purl: pass t. needle knitwise through second stitch (front to back), then purlwise through first stitch (front to back) slipping the first stitch of the knitting needle

Knitty Sewn Bind-Off Tutorial for K & P
Jeny’s Stretchy 2 needle Bind-Off
Knitty’s Basic Bind Offs

11/30/12: SR Bust Increase: 18 st over 12 rows. Started 3 stitches in from under-arm marker on row #6 after separating sleeves. Knit 20 more rows and tried on and it fits perfectly! Can only see the SRs if you look closely under arm, almost invisible. So Awesome. I’ll never knit a sweater without SRs again.

11/25/12: Checked gauge again off needles after many rows of st st, and getting. 5 - 5.25 sti. Not worried. Trying to figure out short-rows for bust shaping. Hmm. Confused and a little nervous - but here goes nothing.

11/22/12: Yoke done! Checked my gauge and it’s 5.5. Hmm. That’s good for the yarn, not good for the pattern. At 5 I was going to knit 1 size up, at 5.5 even if I knit 2 sizes up it will have 2 inches of negative ease. Also, the yoke chart is different for the two smallest and two largest. Torso is 34”, Bust 37”. Hmm. Thinking I may do short rows rather than move a size up?

11/11/12: Switched to chiaogoo red lace needles and much happier, huge difference. Zooming.

11/9/12: Loving the pattern, so easy to read, loving the yarn! The color make me think the cloaks Galadriel gave to the Fellowship in Lothlorien - grey but shifting to green or blue, light or dark, depending on the surroundings. And so warm and soft!

Not loving the needles I got gauge with are bamboo. Cabling w/o a cable needle, using bamboo with no point, magic loop, and dark yarn that likes to split and has a halo. Let’s just say I have nearly 10 hours in and I’m not even to the yoke! But I friggin love it!

11/4/12: Driving myself nuts with gauge! Kinda worried about knitting this yarn to pattern gauge (4.5sti) as it will likely bloom with only a 30% wool content. Went through every project made with this yarn and most sweaters were knit on #6 (some on #7). Most who used #8 said finished project turned out large or bloomed. The yarn band says 4-5 sti on #8, but they also list this yarn as an Aran - it has WPI of 12-13, which makes it closer to a DK, so I don’t feel like I can trust those gauge recommendations. Amy Herzog’s pattern sample for her Greenaway design uses #6 to yield a gauge of 5.5sti (as I said, DK not Aran). I figure Amy Herzog knows what she is doing, so thinking I’m better to try for tighter gauge and going up one size in the pattern.

Swatch Tests:
#8 square: 4.5sti
#7 square: 5.25 sti
#7 bamboo: 5 sti

size 37 w/ #8: 166st/4.5sti = 36.9”
size 40.5 w/ #7 bamboo: 182/5 = 36.4”
size 44 w/ #6: 194/5.5 = 35.2”
size 47.5 w/ #6: 210/5.5 = 38.2”

Hmm, not feeling going up 3 sizes to get gauge of 5.5 to work. My bust is 37, so 36.4 is only half an inch of negative ease and I can always add some short rows for bust shaping. This also allows me some wiggle room if the garment blooms. Anxiety! Hope I’m making the right choice.

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