another stashbusting project. i have had this yarn for 1000 years. originally bought to make a twinset; i wore the turtleneck shell a million times so it’s half felted and half worn-through, but never started the cardigan.

until now.

3 march: zomg this is tedious. co 160 with 2mm needles. so far i’ve done 15 of 24 rows of 1x1 rib. gack. this is how i started my last cardigan too, so i know it will be worth it, but yikes!

5 march: determined to get the ribbing done today!! also figuring out the pattern. plan is to have a band of maple leaves going up each side of the button band. if i can figure it out.

5 march (later): ribbing is finito, hallelujah!

8 march: i think i have finally figured out the maple leaf pattern. one more swatch! argh.

9 march: done with the swatches, and have started actual knitting again. hooray! halfway through the first leaf!

10 march: finished the first skein, started the second. whoooo!

11 march: finished the first pattern repeat, i.e. 2 maple leaves, which is 56 rows x 172 stitches

13 march: finished the second skein, & third leaf. ready to start shaping neckline & armscye!

15 march: just finished the third skein, thisclose to finishing the back & joining the shoulders.

16 march: had to re-think the shoulders a bit, but got them done & joined, and have picked up sts & started knitting the first sleeve!

19 march: first sleeve is done except for cuff. naturally i can’t find my smaller gauge needles to do the cuff. hmm.

20 march: finished first sleeve & started second.

22 march: home stretch! finished short-row shaping the cap of second sleeve last night, so i’m on the straightaway. so pleased with this!

30 march: done!! just finished the button band. still need to block and run in ends, though.

1 april: ends are run in and it’s currently blocking. so pleased to have gotten this done so quickly (for me)

october: ripped out and re-knit the button band because in my hurry to get it done, i didn’t really pick up enough stitches, it didn’t hang right, and i never wore it. now it’s fixed and it’s the best!