The story of the "Merlot Buckwheat", aka my new sweater

I was thinking that it could be fun to write the story of the new sweater I am knitting on the blog instead of the little note space in Ravelry. I can document it with pictures and funny faces!!
So here it goes...

Once upon a time...it is beginning of August and I am already thinking back to school, fall, winter and what kind of sweater I am going to wear. I have decided to challenge myself this year and try not to buy any new sweaters. Instead I am going to make them, something like 5 to 7, all ready for the first day of Winter, which in California is Dec 1. (I swear it is true ☺)

I have picked a few (almost 100) favorite patterns in my ravelry, created a Pinterest board "Sweaters I want to knit", so I am ready for it.

Chapter 1

"Buckwheat" by Veera Välimäki in Merlot Wollmeise Sockenwolle 80/20 Twin.

8/5/2012
Started swatching with 3.0 mm needle, liking it.
[Got these needles from Europe by accident, I ordered a US 2 thinking it was a 2.75 mm but it came as a 3 mm. I was annoyed at first but now very happy because I can’t find them in the US and they are useful for a bunch of my patterns ☺.]
Got 3 skeins of the same color for my sweater but will start the body with 2 skeins, hoping I will only need 2. I’m mixing up the 2 skeins just in case (I am not familiar with hand dye yarn), changing every row.

8/7/2012
Finished with ribbing, that went fast!! Yarn feels a little different than “Pure” 100% Merino Superwash but let’s knit more before I get a definitive opinion about it.

8/8/2012
I have decided to keep the same needle to knit the stockinette part of the body. So far I like the tight knit.
I have tried it to see if I had picked the correct side and it looks like it is going to be a perfect fit.

more of my adventure soon...