FO - Theoretical Sweater (Does this make it Actual Sweater?)

My mom’s reaction was (of course) that she wants one as well. She also said I should email the pattern designer, and show them how I changed the neckline. I don’t think she realized all the times I was bitching about knit math was because there was no pattern to go with.

So the specs:
Saxon braid (pick a source! I used the chart from “Welcome Back, Old Friend” (Kathy Zimermann, Fall 2000). But you could pick any Saxon Braid chart). Also: Cables Pull In. Swatch the cable! I had to cast on an extra 20 stitches for the front.

Basic outline from Ann Budd’s Handy Book of Sweater patterns. I used short row shoulders on the body, which was much better than steps and seams. I want to use more short rows in the future, they’re fun. I started the V-neck shaping a lot lower than she has in the book, so I pulled in the knitting equation from “Stitch and Bitch Nation.”

Yarn: KnitPicks Merino Style, Hollyberry. 13 skeins (for $2.29 each — less than $30 for a hand knit sweater!) I think this is going to be one of my new favorite sweater staples. I found two knots in 13 skeins, and only one snag. Felt very nice in my hands the whole time. It did turn my bamboo needles pink, so I’m a wee concerned about wearing a white shirt under the sweater. Also, I tried spit splicing for the first time. Why haven’t I done this sooner?! So quick! So few ends to weave (hate the ends! I wove ends and seamed for about 7 hours today! Okay, so I still have to hem the edges. Bah. Not like I can wear it until Octobor anyway. I hear there’s some DMC thread in the same color available, and that makes for easier hemming. Will investigate.).

The V-Neck Detail