GAUGE - STITCH
Washed 23 st per 4”
Unwashed 26 st per 4”
Multiply unwashed count by .885 to get washed count

GAUGE - ROW
Washed 40 st per 4”
Unwashed 44 st per 4”
Multiply unwashed count by 0.91 to get washed count

12/07/2012
I swatched on 4 and 4.5 mm needles. I like the fabric of the 4 a lot more than the 4.5s. I’m getting 23 sts per 4” on the 4 mms and a nicer looking fabric. The 4.5 mms knit a looser fabric and starts looking kind of lacy (bleh).

I hand washed then measured my swatch AND machine washed & dried then measured my swatch again. After drying for both methods, I get the same gauge. (I didn’t aggressively block for the hand wash, just kinda laid my swatch out flat) Note that I did get some colour bleed in the wash, I washed in HOT water with Orvus paste when I washed by hand.

I know I want to knit the 42 3/4” chest to fit Landon’s 37 1/2” measurements with wearing/design ease.

I will follow the pattern as per the 42 3/4” size but will be changing my stitch count using this tool. Which is awesome! Click to view.

If I were to just ‘knit a larger size’ I still won’t get the size I need in critical areas like the cuff (largest size starts with 52st, but I need 60!).

I really do like this yarn! I just didn’t realize the weight when I purchased it. It seems to be listed as worsted everywhere, but it’s more like a DK. I guess it’s time to start paying more attention to the ball-band knit gauge as opposed to the weight label.

12/17/2012
I started knitting the sleeves. I knit the cuffs on 3.5 mm and switched to 4 mm when directed. I misinterpreted the first increase. What I assumed was just a definition on how to knit the increase row. This ‘definition’ also wants you to make the increase just then. To be a bit clearer I would word the pattern as “… work 7 rounds even THEN AN INCREASE ROW AS DEFINED BELOW”.

Then the definition block makes a ton more sense instead of just assuming they want you to work the increase rounds as listed below the definition.

12/27/2012
Sleeves have been done for a while now, they’re sitting to the side waiting for me to knit the bottom portion of the cardigan. I’ve got about 12 inches done, just a FEW MORE THEN SHORT ROWS, WOOT WOOT.

This part of the knitting is a bit boring. No shaping, no anything, just straight ranger pattern. Not a bad thing, in fact it’s great to do at work! Tee hee.

12/28/2012
Sleeves have been joined, working the yoke now. It’s getting HEAVY AND CUMBERSOME AND IT MAKES MY LAP ALL HOT :( Boo hoo. But I’m seeing the end! Hehehe

02/10/2013
Bound off body, fit looks good. While working the top half of the yoke I FINALLY figured out why my saddle stitch/raglan join rows look different from pattern, it’s because the first stitch before and after the column of 5 MUST be slipped. Do not purl to keep the pattern, then work the 5 stitches. It finally makes sense to me that yes, you will have 2 slipped stitches in a row.

Now I could frog back to correct the entire thing, but frankly, I don’t give that much of a hoot. I really do want to knit this pattern again in a yarn with proper gauge, so I’ll just make a note for next time.