November 11, 2016

All colors have now been introduced. Making steady headway after the first increase which I did with YOs since it was a large number (72) in one row to make. The following row I knitted these thru the back.

November 12, 2016

Second increase round (26) completed. This one was a bit trickier so I placed coil-less pins along the way to mark these exactly. Although not specified as in other parts of the chart, these increases needed to be done in purl which is noted by Solveig in The Revival (page 47) as being one of the more challenging patterns to knit. I used the right twist version of a running thread increase for purl by inserting left needle from back to front of that thread and purling thru the front. It worked nicely. Photo of Thru rnd 26 shows the colors in daylight which are closer to reality. Color #28, a pale, pale gray, has made its last appearance in the chart (1g remaining).

November 13, 2016

Thru round 36 last night which included another increase in purl. I sewed the neckband into place which gives it some added body.

November 14, 2016

Steady knitting now on 350 stitches with two more increases yet to come. Color #115 (the gray lambswool) has made its last appearance (3g remaining) so the next part of the chart will be mostly natural white with specks of dark green gray and black. Working on 40” long circular and will switch to 47” at rnd 48 when next increase is due.

November 16, 2016

Yoke completed. What a delicate piece to knit…it feels almost lace like. Also interesting that there is much more of the dark green gray color in the ‘feathers’ than the black which appears mostly as an accent.

November 20, 2016

The short rows and raglan increases are completed and I have separated the sleeves from the body and will keep knitting straight for a while.

November 27, 2016

Body of sweater is slowly growing and is about 6 inches from underarms. Will need to have a conversation with my SIL soon about the final length and hem!

December 3, 2016

Frogged the first sleeve after 15” of knitting since it was too blouse-y. I think this pattern is supposed to have a loose arm but the cuff would have been too large if I continued with the set decreases.

Much happier with the new sleeve making decreases every 8 rows down the length with a goal of 80 stitches for cuff where I will make small feather pattern with a black edge for help with wear.

December 7, 2016

Finished first sleeve and cuff details. I was constrained by the pattern repeat I wanted to use (16) and the number of stitches desired for the cuff and settled on 80. I ended with the black at the edge, did a purl row for the turn, another knit row of black and then with a larger needle, k2tog across. Changed to white and continued with larger needle for 10 rows of SS, thus making a lace type of facing as others have done. Finally, did an elastic BO with US7 needles and stitched down lightly.

December 13, 2016

Both sleeves are finished. Now another 2 inches to go on the body so that it will measure 15” from underarm to hem line.

December 14, 2016

Finished Knitting with 10 days to spare! Will weave in the few yarn tails and attach lower hem and send to the blocking table!

Garment weighs 286 grams.
Remaining yarn:
MC 82 gr
#318 6gr
#115 2 gr
#28 1 gr
Used all the black and had to supplement from previous kit (New Azalea) to finish cuffs that were not part of the kit.

December 15, 2016

I really should not post pre-blocking pix since they are so inferior to final state. For instance, besides the overall lumpiness, you can see where I steamed the hem area before sewing in place and it created a ‘line’ at the bottom that will block out.

Also, I put it into the sink to soak and thought I would have sufficiently soaked after 20 minutes or so. NOT! The yarn was not thoroughly wetted (one of the wonder properties of warm, warm wool) and so I popped it back in - with fresh water - for a longer bath! They say a drop of dish soap in the water helps the yarn to accept the moisture. We will see.

December 17, 2016

Putting in the mail to Boston today! Hoping I will get some photos of Ann modeling! Both my brother and his wife are excited about the impending arrival in time for Christmas!

Now, on to the next Bohus project for ME!

December 25, 2016

“Success” was the message I received from my brother upon the gift opening of the Stora Svanen for his wife, Ann today! I was fairly confident that I had adjusted the fit as she wanted so I was gratified to have the Christmas morning photo with her cheering image to add here. YAY!