Ribbing also takes me forever because the alternating stiches. But ones I get to the leg or feet it is often quicker. But that of course depends on what stitch pattern you are going to use.
I look forward to more updates on your progress (and the end result of course)!
I never thought about alternating rows like that. That is pretty smart!
I also do it with a kitchen scale. I weigh the whole ball and then wind two smaller ones based on that weight so I have two (almost) identical ones in weight. I also try to keep an eye on where the colors change so I start both balls with the same colour change if it is self striping.
I'm still doing the r/fitness beginner workout and I have liked it up till now. I love the simplicity of it. The think I am struggling with is squats because of my limited flexibility but I am making progress!
But at the moment I am starting to stall on my lifts so I am thinking of switching to a 531 program, perhaps the beginner one from the wiki. I have run it before and liked it but had to stop lifting because life got in the way.
The thing I do dislike about 531 is constantly having to adjust the weight on the bar. I like to set it once for my warmup and once for the actual lifts but I think I can live with it.
Might run one cycle soon and see if I still like it.