My Modifications For The Second Exeter Cardigan.

With my first Exeter I tried to follow the instructions very closely but with the second one I took quite a many liberties and cut a few corners. Here are details of my modifications.

Note: The modifications I made are for a cardigan with a size 41 1/2 " body and 37 1/2 " sleeves. I usually knit sleeves in a size smaller than the body because I have narrow shoulders and I often feel like the standard sizing of sleeves is way too big and wide for me. So keep the sizing in mind when reading my mods. They might not work for other sizes!

1. I knitted the whole cardigan using size 4.0mm needles. I didn't change for anything bigger after the ribbing.

2. Obviously I changed the charted pattern. Here's the chart for my modified pattern. Hope you can read my handwriting. 

These might help you understand the chart a little better:

1/1 RT = Sl next st to cn and hold in back of work; k1 tbl, then k1 tbl from cn.

1/1 RPT = Sl next st to cn and hold in back of work; k1 tbl, then p1 from cn

1/1 LT = Sl next st to cn and hold in front of work; k1 tbl, then k1 tbl from cn.

1/1 LPT = Sl next st to cn and hold in front of work; p1, then k1 tbl from cn.

wrap 3 = Insert right needle into third st on left needle and draw this st over first 2 sts on left needle, and off the needle; k1, yo, k1.

Other than those everything should be standard knitting abbreviations. If you don't understand, feel free to ask.

I've outlined the pattern repeat with red. It's a 16 stitch repeat. 

The first row and all the following odd numbered rows are WS rows; which naturally means that the even numbered rows are RS rows. K tbl stitches are of course p tbl sts on the WS. 

The back: on the last row of the bottom ribbing (RS) I decreased one stitch, so that the stitch count was now 141 sts. Next row (WS) I knitted *k 5, p 3*17 times, then k 5 (row 1 of the chart, 8 pattern repeats). Next row (RS) = row 2 of the chart: k 1 (selvage st in garter stitch), p 4, work the chart over the next 131 sts, p 4, k1 (selvage st in garter stitch). And so on.

The fronts: I decreased as instructed = 48 sts for the ribbed plackets, 43 sts for the charted section
WS: after ribbing k 3, *p 3, k 5* 4 times, p 3, k 5 (2 pattern repeats)
RS: k 1 (selvage st in garter stitch), p 4, charted section over next 35 sts, p 3 + ribbing

For the sleeves (knitted in round): I casted on 56 sts, worked the ribbing, and then decreased 9 sts to 47 sts:
p 6, *k 3, p 5* 4 times, k 3, p 6 

3. I didn't separate the fronts so I didn't knit the ribbed side plackets and the charted sections in two separate parts and then seam them together like the instructions tell you to. Instead I knitted them in one piece. It looks good.

4. I only used three pairs of buttons leaving out the bottommost pair. I saw gussie had done this on Ravelry and I liked it better that way (I actually made this mod already for my first Exeter)

5. Pockets: last time around I had some difficulties with the pockets. You are supposed to knit them as you go, but I thought they felt really awkward when trying to continue with the chart and seemed to get caught everywhere and be in the way all the time. The finished pockets look great though. This time I made the pockets a bit like an afterthought thumb or heel by knitting a piece of scrap yarn where the pockets were supposed to be and then later on removing it and picking up the live stitches. Also I didn't knit the pockets back and forth like in the instructions with the seams on the sides of the pockets, but in the round and then grafting the bottom of the pocket together with kitchener stitch.

6. I knitted the sleeves in the round.

7. I left out one set of increases for the ribbed plackets/collars. So only 3 sets of increases of four stitches.

I might have made some other small alterations as well but I can't remember them anymore/right now. It shouldn't be anything radical though. :)