I mean it. I am So. Close to finishing this sweater. There’s still alot to do, but in the grand scheme, alot less then what I’ve already done. I have to finish shortening it (!), pickup and knit the button bands, sew in the sleeves, and weave in a bijillion ends. No problem, right?! Right? Right? Do you want to hear about the shortening part? Sure you do. When I was about to knit the hood (which I finished this afternoon) I joined the shoulder, and seamed the side seams. Then I tried it on. It was long, so long. Bottom of the pockets on my jeans kind of long. Too long for me. I like these kinds of sweaters to end at the bottom of my belt, or just longer.
I had that impending sense of too longness while I was knitting it, but against my better Knitters judgement, I kept going. You know how it is. Then I blocked it, and it grew, and at the end of it all it was 18″(18!!) from the arm holes to the hem. This is already 2 and 3/4″ longer than the pattern. There was no way, no how, I was going to rip and reknit. I already did that.
So what to do? Why cut and graft, that’s what! I did that to the left front today, while I was at work at the yarn shop. I feel better doing these drastic things while I’m surrounded by pretty yarns, and needles, and all that. First I picked up a row of stitches with a us 4 needle, a row in the fairisle pattern. Tricky. I choose to cut out some fairisle, because there is no shaping, and I could graft the top of the cable part to the bottom of the fairisle, and it would be barely noticable. To anyone but me, that is. You notice in the photo how much shorter the left is than the right? As you would wear the sweater, that is.
I tried it on agian, and it is much better, but I won’t know for absolutely sure until I reseam it, or at least baste the seam shut. If I have to take out more I’ll take it from the bottom, before the waist shaping. I also used those locking stitch markers to join the sleeve seam, and attach it to the armhole. I needed to be sure that after all this, the sleeves would be absolutley fine. If I had to reknit any of them, I would cry, and shove this thing way down deep into my wip pile, and not speak to it for a long, long time. I rewrote them, and they are completely differant than the pattern sleeves. Thankfully, they should fit fine, on both me, and into the armholes. I want this to be a great wearable sweater. Wear-a-ble. Not something I spent a long time knitting, just for the enjoyment of it, or to have it end up at the bottom of my sweater pile. Tha would be awful.
What really gets me about all this, is if I had listened to that little knitters voice, I would have been done with the body knitting much sooner!!! Will I never learn!
Oh how frustrating! If I were you, I would only seam down the sides a few inches from the armpit. Then, if you need to take out, take it up from the bottom. That way, you won’t have to undo any seaming before ripping. Good luck. I would have lost my knitting mojo waaaaay back.
It will be so worth it when it’s done. It’s sooo pretty.
You’re seriously devoted to this sweater – I’d have probably tossed it in a bag and buried it in a closet! I’m sure that it will be worth all your perseverance though!!
I am just amazed. Honestly: cutting and grafting? You’re the woman. Wow.
That is a totally gorgrous sweater. It will all be worth it when you are finished!
Ok, cut and graft? You are my new hero…
It will be worth it in the end- it’s very nice and I can just picture it on you. Someday we’ll all learn to listen to that little knitter’s voice!
Man, that sucks. But you’re making a good fix, and it looks great!
Good to know, lady. I’ll make sure to shorten mine when I make it… Or maybe I would like it a little long, because if it’s long on you it’s going to be tunic length on me.
It’s looking fabulous though!
how frustrating…I always try to listen to my inner knitter, but sometimes it just gets ignored. usually I end up ripping and re-knitting because of it. that was a great idea to graft – it looks wonderful!
Stop the madness, leave it long and donate it to a friendly and tall reader of your blog!! I am always adding two inches or so to the length of my sweaters. Oh, the agony! It is beautiful by the way, any chance you will be wearing it Friday to see the Harlot?!?!
Beautiful! That sweater is so full of details… I can see why you’ll be happy once it is finished, but WOW! It’s going to be gorgeous!
OMG. I already knew you were a total rock star, but this?–cutting and grafting fair isle? That takes guts. Wow.
Wow, that is a lot of work! At least it is fixable and it looks great even in pieces.
None of us listen to the little Voice of Doom. I guess it keeps blogging interesting. I’m glad you have a solution!
wondering what did you end up changing about the sleeves? as this is definitely on my dream list…
it’s so close you can taste it, can’t you?!
oh it looks soooo good! i can’t wait to see it finished! the cables and fair-isle just look so nice! xoxo to louie! :o)
Wow! I am impressed – a lot of work, but the results will be great, I am sure!
Wow. For what it’s worth, I don’t think *any* of us has always listened to that inner knitter.
But even with all of the trouble, the sweater will be just divine.
the sweater is looking gorgeous!
what pattern are you using?