Knit, knit, knit. K1, P1 rib on size 1 needles takes a long time! I worked almost a week after work hours on the ribbing alone so far. Ah well, it’s very satisfying to come out with these wonderful small stretchy stitches. Last night I did complete the back piece of my sweater. As you’d have it, 4 rows before the end my ball of yarn runs out and I have to start a new ball. C’est La Vie!

I started working on the left front side first, the side with out button holes. What is interesting about this pattern so far is that once the bottom ribbing is done you put the button hole row of stitches on a spare needle to come back to as that part is done with smaller needles. Later you just sew this piece together. What struck me as interesting and some what of a challenge is that size 1 needles and ribbing make for much shorter rows. You need to do many more rows of this for the buttonhole row than you do on the main body. Yes, again my vintage pattern is very vague, never telling me exactly how many rows or inches of ribbing to do for this button hole area. I assume they use the measure of the gauge and tell you to do 17 rows between button holes. Being that stockinette stitch gives you 11 sts. per inch in height, I am assuming it is about 17 rows that will give me an inch in ribbing. This seems about right from my measurements. I still am weary about button holes ending up in the right place. I also have not seamed up anything that does not have matching rows on either side. I will be sewing 2-3 rows of ribbing to 1 row of stockinette stitch when done. Like I’ve said before though, you can’t let these things scare you. There is always a first time for everything!

Here pictured are some very useful things I keep close while knitting. You see here my Cavallini & Co. “Flora” journal. I have found it so handy to write down how many rib or knit rows I do so I can match up front and back pieces the same. It is also great keep a log of what increases or decreases I used on a certain pattern so I can come back to my favorites later on. I also draw diagrams to help me understand exactly what shape my knitting piece will take on when complete. Every new sweater I work on seems to have different construction. It’s some times hard to piece it together in your head. Each page I just title the name of the current project I am working on. The handy attached elastic band helps keep my page while working but keep everything closed up tight when I travel with the journal.

Also shown is this great plastic matchstick like trinket box I found at my LYS, Article Pract. The front has an image of a glamorous 1920’s lady with dramatic feather in her hair side by side with a parrot. For $4.95 how could I resist making my life that much prettier? In it I keep all my stitch markers, tip ends and needles.