Mods: used a variation of Ysolda Teague’s tubular cast on for the neckline and adjusted ribbing depth accordingly.

Notes: the pattern doesn’t really make the sleeve directions -- as far as stitch pattern is concerned -- very clear, so I left the cast-on stitches in stockinette; when I decreased down to 2 sts in stockinette per side on the sleeves, I maintained that for the rest of the sleeve.

Dec 23/13: cast on last night by candlelight due to the extended power outage. I wouldn’t be typing this now but for the fact that we’re at Caty’s place today. I brought my knitting with me, ‘though! The gauge wasn’t spot-on in either direction, falling a bit short, but I’m hoping that with the way alpaca behaves, it works out exactly right.

Dec 27/13: it’s only technically the 27th, as it’s 12:21 am as I type this. After thinking I had completed the increases, I had to tink back four rounds because I had botched the stitch pattern by somehow jumping ahead a round. After fixing the error, things went a lot more smoothly and I managed to split the sleeves tonight. I only started to get the flow of the stitch repeat as I was nearing the end of the increases; it was tedious going until that point. For anyone else making this sweater, I found it helpful to use stitch markers to mark where the stitch pattern repeats on the front and back, each. I hope that wasn’t gobbledygook.

Dec 31/13: started the ribbing on the body. I might actually knit the sleeves individually to keep the stitch pattern straight.

Jan 1/14: I’ve finished the body, using this Stretchy Bind-off. I like the fit and only wish I could’ve taken the pictures in a more flattering light -- tungsten does nothing for this colour. I’m going to have to set the project aside for a few days while I finish off the Totoro sweater.

Jan 4/14: I was able to resume this sweater last night, opting to work the sleeves two-at-a-time from two different balls of yarn. So far, it’s going well (touch wood). Update: sleeves are about half-done now.

Jan 6/14: I’ve begun the sleeve ribbing! Update: everything has been bound off, ends have been woven in. I’m holding off on blocking until after this “Polar Vortex” has moved on (i.e., I’m going to wear this before it’s blocked).

Jan 10/14: the sweater is dry today! Sadly, these washroom photos aren’t doing a damn thing to show how flattering a colour this is on my skintone, but at least you can see the fantastic stitch definition. I love this sweater: it’s warm, soft, not as itchy as wool (still slightly itchy against bare skin, for me), is in a great colour and is visually interesting without being “busy”.

The pattern was easy enough once I sorted out the stitch pattern, but doing so took a damn long time for my poor, sleep-deprived brain. In case I make this again, I’m reminding myself now that the four rows of the chart are actually two rows, with rows 1 & 2 comprised of 2 repeats of p2, k2, p2 on either side of a k1 or k3 centre “motif”, and rows 3 & 4 comprised of 2 repeats of p2, k2 or k2, p2 on either side of a k5 or p1, k1, p1 centre “motif”. When stacked, the purls are always 2-high. I hope that’s vague enough to deter any would-be pattern decipherers, but detailed enough that I’ll “get it” if I make this again.