Avoiding Gauge Problems Still Longer

Newsflash: have found new, good reason to avoid dealing with that nasty gauge problem (see prev. post). We're going to visit mom in a few weeks, and here's that Mom Sweater, still languishing. Can I finish it in time for our trip? Or at least finish it there? The race is on, and the bad, bad Viking Sweater can stay in the corner a while longer....