Rather than follow the pattern provided, I’m making this up as I go along, bottom-up, following a series of close-up screen caps of the original. Such a dork. But, I wanted to be counted among the Watson sweater-ers.

Stage 1.0: Cast on 240 stitches on US 7, join, work ~4” of 2x2 ribbing.

Stage 1.1: Having cast on 228 sts for no discernable reason, start over and cast on 240 sts for real this time.

State 2 (body): Switch to US 8s, because they’re longer than the 9s you brought, and begin working chart over 120 stitches, twice. Work until sweater measures 16” from bottom edge, or to preferred length (16” was 3 balls of Ultra Alpaca). End with row 1 (must be an odd row so cable-crossing rows are on RS).

Stage 3 (divide for front/back): 10 sts from the end of round (row 1), bind off 19 stitches. Work to 10 sts before other side marker, bind of 19 sts. Work to end.

Stage 4 (back): Work flat in cable/V pattern until back measures 8 inches from armhole, ending with WS row. Begin short rows-- work to first purl stitch before middle V panel, w&t, work back; work to first purl stitch before 3rd cable in set, w&t, work back; work to first purl stitch before 2nd cable in set, w&t, work back; work to first purl stitch before 1st cable in set, w&t, work back. Work across entire row, picking up wraps if you like (since they’re around purl stitches, I didn’t). Repeat short rows as above for second side of neck. End with yarn at end of RS row. Here, I bound off all stitches just to hold them where they were, so I didn’t have to carry around two needles with live stitches on them.

Stage 5 (front): Beginning by working WS row, work flat in cable/V pattern until front measures 5 inches, ending with WS row. Work short rows as follows: work to first purl before center V panel, w&t, work back; work to 2nd stitch before last wrapped stitch, w&t, work back; repeat twice (4 wraps total); work to 1 st before last wrapped stitch, w&t, work back; repeat until last wrapped stitch is second purl after second 6-stitch cable. Work across to opposite end of front, picking up wraps. Repeat short row sequence as above on WS. End on far left of front panel.

Turn sweater inside out and line up front and back shoulders. Using a 3-needle bind off, bind off 30 stitches from each edge. 41 stitches remain on both front and back center collar stitches.

Stage 6 (neck): Starting at either shoulder edge, purl 41, pick up and purl 1 stitch at shoulder join, purl 41, pick up and purl 1 stitch at shoulder join. Place marker, purl 84. Switch to size US 7 needles and work ~1.5” of 2x2 ribbing. Bind off or whatever.

Stage 7 (sleeves): (Modified drop sleeves: http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/FEATfall04TBP.html)
Pick up 93 stitches around armhole, using magic. Hold in place. Starting at sleeve cuff with US 7 double points, cast on 52 stitches and work ~2” of 2x2 ribbing (although I should have cast on 48 and worked 2 increases immediately, as I switched to the 8s). Switch to US 8s and work chart once with NO REPEATS. Increase 2 stitches on underside of sleeve every 5th row 16 times, then every 6th row 5 times, incorporating cable/V pattern as appropriate. 94 stitches.

Work two more rows, at the end of the second of which work an SSK to eliminate the final purl stitch (93 sts). Work flat for 10 rows.

Stage 8 (attach sleeves): Turn sweater body and sleeve inside-out. Using 3 needle bind off, bind off armhole and sleeve together. Use leftover tail to sew up armpit. Attach other sleeve the same way.

Stage 9 (finishing): Weave in all ends like a boss.

Final Notes: I could have made the sleeves longer. They sit just at my wrist when worn comfortably/naturally, and I could have knit them a little longer/wider to end the cuffs at the bottom of my thumb joint. Pulling them down achieves this effect. Overall, I could have made a bigger sweater for a slouchier effect, but it is very comfortable and cozy!