8/13 Update when finished. I used size 9 needles and made the large size. Blocks to about 40/42”. It called for four skeins so that is what I ordered. I used very little of the 4th skein to finish the front and then used the 4th skein on the crew neck. It is a long sweater, so if making again, I would make it two inches shorter and buy only 3 skeins.

It is a very intense pattern. With this stitch count though would be a good pattern to put your own pattern on the same number of stitches and make it less complicated. The sleeve pattern doesn’t have the big cable, and the sleeve pattern would make a pretty pattern for the front. I would have enjoyed the pattern better without the center cable. It is pretty though, so maybe worth it.

I started on Jan 1, 2013, but frogged 8 rows on Jan 8 and started all over. I understood the pattern better then. I am using size 9 needles because I wanted it a bit bigger but not the XL size. This pattern is shown twice on the Lion Brand site. The blue sweater has a different name, Inishturk Sweater but same pattern and gives stitches for size 2XL. That pattern also has charts and the written pattern. I printed them both off since I am trying to learn to read charts.

I put the link to the ecru natural Aran Sweater here, because I hope that is what mine will look like. I won’t make the sleeves that long though.

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/1101AD.html?noImages=