9/27/2014 Although I ended up using #11 needles for Luke’s bonnet to achieve gauge, I am endeavoring to knit more lightly, and am using a different brand of wool, so I am attempting the 10-1/2’s called for in the pattern and casting on a gauge swatch.

9/28/2014 Swatch is done. I am very close to the pattern gauge having used the 10-1/2 needle and knitting VERY loosely. Also easier to knit without making the extra motion to tighten up every stitch.

Cast on! Completed three garter st rows and joined in round. Started the first row of the knot pattern. Never tied long floats before, and am learning on this piece. Ended up having to frog back the row several times. I think I’ve got it now.

9/30/2014 Urgh! Despite the generous use of markers and repeated recounting, I’m a couple of rows into the pattern, and I have an extra stitch! Not going to frog back now to fix it, but it will drive me crazy knowing it’s there.

Close inspection. Slipped stitch. Some other weird stuff going on. FROGGED THE WHOLE THING. I’m not happy with it. This experience will make next time go better.

Cast on (again). Knitted 3 garter stitch rows in the flat and joined in the round. Checked my count repeatedly.

10/3/2014 The knot pattern is done, and it is perfect. Stitch count is perfect. Glad that I frogged the whole thing when I did and started over.

10/4/2014 Got past the big decrease and really big increase. Stitch count still dead on.

10/5/2014 9-1/2 rows into the tedious even rows of the maximum (135 sts) width. Or is carefully following the pattern or increases and decreases more tedious? Anyway, in this part, I can knit while watching TV or at Luke’s Karate class. I have to hide away somewhere with the pattern spread out to do the other. But I do get a sense of satisfaction watching the pattern emerge, or complete a complicated increase/decrease section without any errors.

10/6/2014 13 of 19 even rows done, and finished the first 50 g ball of yarn. Checked count, and still right.

10/7/2014 Finished the even rows while at Luke’s karate lesson tonight.

So mad at myself - found a slipped stitch about six rows into the even rows. At this point, I should drop a stitch in straightforward stockinette. Fulling might hide it, but I am afraid of a hole, so will probably darn it (weave some yarn through the gap.)

Did something I haven’t seen taught (yet). When ending a ball, just overlapped the beginning of the new yarn with the last of the old and just knitted it in. Same final state as with weaving in, but easier and much neater than I would probably have done.

Wondering if I’m going to need the third ball.

10/8/2014 2 decrease rows and six even rows. This is where things seem to accelerate, since the rows quickly get shorter.

10/9/2014 Down to the 81 sts row. No no. Just a few more rows before bed. I consider the 72 sts row a milestone - it is now the shortest row on the work. Hey, almost out of yarn on this ball. Let’s just stay up a little late and finish the ball. Part way through the 54 sts even row when it runs out. Looks like a good place to stop for the night. This will also be a good time to add the second circular needle, as things are getting a little tight. It looks like I’ll have the knitting done this weekend, if not tomorrow.

10/10/2014 Finishing this up after work should have been easy, right? I’ll spare the details, but it seems between the two circulars, frequent interruptions, and my eagerness to finish, I knitting half a row backwards. Frogged back to the 27 sts row - very tedious - and quickly finished. Very late. So knitting is finished.

10/11/2014. Fulling in front loader twice, but intend to finish by hand. I overfulled Luke’s balmoral with the third trip through the washer.

Urgh! Completely fulled on the second trip through the washer! (With Luke’s, there will still visible furrows between stitch columns.) Got it stretched out on a pot slightly larger than my head.

10/15/2014 Finished the sewing. I am very pleased with this one. So much more so than with Luke’s. Used 28” of ribbon for the ties (I omitted the superfluous ones). My COTS Balmoral used 27” and the 22” on Luke’s was hard to ties.