…arises the Phoenix! Okay, too much! But this one was truly in the trash heap and pulled out by a thread –groan– at the last moment. I had counted the “ten count” down to zero, and then it raised its head for one more round-double groan! Anyway, I did finally finish my Alexandria Cardigan. It was traumatic at worst and rewarding at best.
Alexandria Cardigan in Shepherd’s Wool, 5 skeins, US 5 and 6 needles
Mods:
1- the sleeve change (see below)
2- i-cord bind off on neckline
3- reverse stockinette at hem of sleeves (#2&3 mods were done to reduce the number of different finishes on the edges)
4- I did my neck decreases right at the edges instead of in a few sts so there would not be a distinct decrease line formed, and I did not bind off the back neck sts
The sleeve picture below shows how I did a faux seam at the underarm.
The blue arrow indicates where the underarm bind off was supposed to occur. I did not bind off the underarm sts but rather placed them (both front and back sts) onto a holder and then knit them when I picked up the sleeve cap sts. I continued the faux seam down the sleeve and did my decreases thus: knit to one st before faux seam st, slip 2 sts tog as to knit, k1, pass the two slipped sts over the st just worked (central double dec). I do like the clean line and the uninterrupted “seam.”
Project Grade:
Pattern: A (once I got the drift 
)
Yarn: A+
Fit: A++
I love it. I L-O-V-E it! It fits like a dream. It is cashmere soft. I am so glad I did not listen to my inner [pouty] child and instead let a voice of reason speak to me. Whew!
