• Pattern: Sugar Maple by Carina Spencer
• Yarn: Katia Polynesia Gradient in 305.

This is my first knitted garment. Actually the third, but we’ll get to that. I got this gradient yarn during my trip to Spain last September. Initially I had no plans on what I would do with it, I had mostly knit accesories and just dipped my toes into shawls, which is what I originally thought I’d make. But when I got back home I though I might try kniting my first piece of garment so off I went to Ravelry and found this lovely pattern from Carina Spencer.

I initially knitted this in my usual size (38) and with US 4 (3.5mm) needles… and it ended waaay too large. My mom said it was because it’s a linen/viscose blend and it tends to “give” a lot. So I frogged it and re-knit it in a couple sizes down (same needle size). Still. Too. Large.

At this point I realized knitting willy-nilly wasn’t going to work anymore so went ahead and knit a gauge sample, which ended up resulting that I needed to size down to US 2 1/2 (3.00mm) needles. On this third attempt I decided to knit with the colors reversed (teal to burgundy).

MUCH BETTER.

It is not 100% perfect fit, but it’s good enough that I’m happy to actually wear this outside so I’m declaring it finished. Finally.