3/15/14: Cut it close but I finished! Pockets added, seams seamed, ends woven in and everything. Woohoo! I finished almost an hour after the last mushers had left Safety.

3/12/14: Collar/front trim was finished over the weekend. Talked it out of a hood, so just side pockets left. Will be cutting it close, but hopefully I will finish by end of Iknitarod.

3/1/2014: Didn’t finish during the Ravellenic Games, so will use it as a WIP entry for the Iknitarod because I am DETERMINED to get this done sooner rather than later.

2/14/14: This is becoming a very demanding cardi. First it told me that it wanted pockets. Then it wanted a 60+ stitch wide cabled trim/collar. Now it is starting to whisper that it wants a hood. I am trying to ignore it. Doesn’t it realize that I am trying to finish it (among other things) before the Ravellenics are over???
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Designing this on the needles; these are my construction/design notes for reference as I go.

Back: cast on 200 w/ stitch markers every 40 stitches. 2 rows of seed stitch. Stockinette w/ paired decreases approx. every 8 rows until 10 sets of decreases (120 stitches). Remove stitch markers and knit plain until desired length and start decreases for arm holes. Variation: after removing stitch markers, knit plain for about 10 rows and then add stitch markers after 42nd and 78th stitch (so center section of 36 stitches are marked off). Improvise a cable pattern to add additional slight waist shaping (center section may be adjusted as necessary to fit cabling).

Front panels (2): cast on 80 stitches w/ stitch marker after 40th stitch. 2 rows of seed stitch. Stockinette with paired decreases approx every 8 rows until 10 sets of decreases (60 stitches). Remove stitch markes and knit plain. Use short rows for bust shaping. Knit until desired length and start decreases for arm holes.

Assemble back and front panels leaving space near hips to add side seam pockets.

Sleeves: knit in the round plain from shoulder down using short row shoulder shaping. Finish with 2 rows of seed stitch.

Finishing: knit wide cabled trim separately and sew on. Make pockets in the round like small hats and sew in on sides. Finish side seams.