Main mods: added a couple inches in length (see 8/11 notes below)

7/18 - Cast on and started German Short Rows for back shaping.

7/19 - Finished all short rows and now on to straight stockinette until I get to 9.75”. So far, this pattern is very well written and clear!! Love how this yarn is knitting up as well!

7/23 - Judy’s magic provisional cast on was a new skill for me! I’ve never done any kind of provisional cast on before. I used this video to learn the steps for Judy’s magic cast on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEnk-Kl513A&t=0s

And I used this video to understand the provisional cast on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROx-9OY_xGg

7/27 - ok so I think I must have screwed up the provisional cast on because when I started the Left Side of Collar part, the right side sts looked like they were purled where they should have been knit and the yarn I had left attached was on the wrong side from where the tutorial would have had me start knitting… so I must have screwed it up somehow?!? In any case, I undid the row and fudged my way to putting 16 sts on the needle in the correct ribbing. Oy!!!

8/11 - after joining the fronts and back, I added about 20 rows (~2.5 inches) - i.e., repeated Rows 1 and 2 nine times rather than 1 time.

8/18 - UGH! Got notified I was a close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID at work on the 16th. Did a test and got a SUPER FAINT line indicating positive. Going into quarantine.

8/20 - have been so fortunate to only have a low grade fever and some fatigue. I’ve actually gotten quite a lot of knitting done. Finished the second buttonhole and over halfway through working even to the third.

9/3 - finally finished the body (used the Very Pink Knits stretchy bind off). Need to take a few days away from this project to knit a quick baby hat for a colleague - then I’ll tackle the sleeves!

9/14 - starting the second sleeve! Note: rather than K2L, I just used SSK for the sleeve decreases.

9/16 - finished the second sleeve! I played serious yarn chicken after adding a couple inches to the body but 7 skeins was just perfect (had a very small amount left - maybe 10-15 yards, I haven’t measured).

Blocking tonight. Will sew on buttons and weave in ends tomorrow!

I have to say I think the sleeves turned out a bit longer than I would have liked (I am very petite!) and I think I would have liked longer ribbed cuffs. So if I knit this again, I might do 3 even rounds between each of the last 4 or 5 decreases and then added a few more rounds in 1x1 rib at the end.

9/17 - amazed at how much this grew with blocking! I probably should have knit the XS but I’m not mad at an oversized cardigan for fall!!