Or, rather, I did think it through, I just don’t like the answer.
So, it’s my sweater from last week. I like it. The design is going to be solid (at least it is in my head). The yarn is nice and soft. It’s fun to knit stripes.
But here’s the thing: This is a not-small adult sweater being knit on US5s. When I finish the raglan increases (knitting around the chest and shoulders, just before I split for arms), I’m going to have more than 400 stitches on my needle. That’s more than I had when I was making my big blanket. Ridiculous. It’s going to take forever.
Here’s what happened: I’ve used this yarn before, and while Swish is a super soft yarn (superwash merino), it’s really not hard-wearing. I’ve used it for sweaters before and they end up pilled about fifteen minutes after you try them on for the first time. I’m hoping to combat that by going down a needle size or two. So here we are with US5s (4s on the cuffs). I think it’s the right decision in the long term, but, man. It’s going to be a heck of a slog.
But, honestly, there’s something to be said for just miles and miles of stockinette. Nothing’s more meditative. Right? …Right??
Have you ever miscalculated about how much work a project was going to be?
On the Needles 
Yes, I have miscalculated how long it was going to take to make just a Baby blanket! I started one several years ago and now the poor baby is 5 or 6 now and the blanket has languished in a WIP box ever since. It was just a simple pattern with a Garter stitch border and Stockinette interior but, OMG, so much Stockinette for a barely seasoned beginning knitter! At least I taught myself (along with the internet and YouTube) how to knit Continental. I get hung up on Purling and I just need to practice, practice, and practice more. I’m 66 now and used to work in automotive and heavy equipment repair and I have some degree of arthritis in both of my hands/wrists so I can only knit for so long at a time before I am in pain. I certainly feel your pain but your sweater is looking good and we just need to buckle down and plod on don’t we? Hang in there!
I was also struggling to knit because of arthritis in my hands and retaught myself to knit continental-ish. l HATE continental purling which l could never master and purl Eastern style. It’s SO much easier and, the bonus is, l can now knit for hours at a time without my hands cramping. The only real difference is a different leg faces forward but is no problem and actually makes the knit stitch easier to do. Google combination or combined knitting. 🙂
I hear your pain. I find having a small project to work alongside helps. When l don’t feel l’m making progress l switch to my socks or scarf for an hour or 2 so l can see SOME progress. I’m plodding through a wrap cardigan that l coveted for ages and have now decided probably won’t suit me. It’s knit in double moss stitch and cable and in one piece. I’ve put the 2nd front on hold and am knitting the sleeves so l can, at least try it on and, hopefully, make a decision.
I think going down a needle size or 2 is a great idea. I saw someone on another blog commenting on a sweater that was years old and hadn’t pilled at all. They were saying they swear by it and always do it.