Ariana Cardigan

9/9 – This project will likely take more than one or two months to complete, but I’m hoping to finish it within the Pigskin Party timeframe.

One skein of each of my five contrast colors were my actual September Personal Stash Yarn skeins, but when I decided on this sweater (which seems perfect for this yarn), I knew I’d need much more than I had, so I’ve ordered a second skein of each of those colors and four skeins of Ash, as my main color (joining and bands). Fingers crossed it’ll be enough!

This is quite an oversized cardi and I definitely do NOT want as much positive ease as the largest size would give me (almost 20″!). So I’m going to work from the smaller size and adjust as needed. I need to do a test square to get an idea of how much size difference there will be in the squares to begin with since I’m working with sport instead of worsted. One I get the yarn I have caked up, I’ll start that process.

9/12 – I’ve done two “swatch” squares trying to find the right hook size to get the fabric I want. First a G, which was ridiculous as it was larger than what the pattern even called for; next an E, which might have been ok had I not added the single crochet stitch between the granny clusters on the sides that the pattern calls for (I never do them in my usual granny squares). So I’m going to try again with an E and no extra chain stitch and see what I get. My squares both ended up being about 6″ on the diagonal, which is definitely too big.

What I wrote above was kind of confusing. If I work with the smaller size and adjust up, my squares WILL need to be larger than the 5.5″ called for, and I’d prefer smaller than larger squares. So I think I’ll try for smaller squares and the larger size? I’m not really sure at this point. We’ll see how it goes.

10/28 – I’m finally moving forward with this, having finished my orange Dechain.

Using a D hook, with no chain stitch between the side DC clusters, I am getting an approximately 5.5″ square, which is what the pattern calls for. I’m not sure how this is going to work out, to be honest, but I’m just going to forge ahead and try to modify as needed for fit.

Because this is a super sticky woolly wool, I’m planning to weave in my ends as I go because they want to stick to each other and to the area I’m crocheting, which is annoying. I am going to do all of the squares at once in rounds, so centers first, then first round, then second round, etc. until they’re finished, weaving in each round’s ends as I do them.

11/10 – I’ve decided to modify this (shocker!). I don’t want the sweater to end up the full 65″ size as it written for the large, so I’m omitting the sixth round and joining color (which was going to be Ash) and use the blue (Azure) instead as the last round and to join, so I’ll only have five round squares. I’m going to do a single crochet chain join because I like that method better than what is written in the pattern.

I’m also not loving the shape of the cardigan as designed because of the super baggy nature under the arms, so I’m going to adapt it to a more conventional sweater shape. At least that’s my plan. Stay tuned. LOL

I’ve ordered more Azure, Ochre, and Poppy, just to be sure I have enough. I have the feeling  I’m going to end up with more of this yarn than I started with, especially since I have four skeins of Ash that I’m not now using. It’s lovely yarn, and I’m sure I’ll use it for something else, but this really defeats the purpose in the “stash challenge” part of this yarn! :}

1/6/24 – I’m back working on this now that the holidays are past. Started 10 more squares while watching the Barbie Movie and added additional rounds after that.

1/13 – Wound a new skein of the blue by hand in hopes of getting that round on the squares, but that was during a movie I was watching with Bill that ended up definitely NOT being my cup of tea and I abruptly retreated out of the bedroom and abandoned the project. Sigh. Will get back to it soon, hopefully.